Isaiah 1 — Covenant Lawsuit and Faithful City

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Hebrew focus

Focus on sound-play, repeated roots, and contrasts. Verse references open the BLB Hebrew interlinear.

פָּשַׁע pāšaʿ — rebel, transgress Isaiah 1:2

יָדַע yādaʿ — know Isaiah 1:3

שָׁמַע šāmaʿ — hear, listen, obey Isaiah 1:2

מִשְׁפָּט mišpāṭ — justice, judgment Isaiah 1:17

צְדָקָה ṣĕdāqâ — righteousness Isaiah 1:21

שָׁנִי / שֶׁלֶג šānî / šeleg — scarlet / snow Isaiah 1:18

קִרְיָה נֶאֱמָנָה qiryâ neʾĕmānâ — faithful city Isaiah 1:21

זוֹנָה zônâ — harlot / unfaithful woman Isaiah 1:21

כֶּסֶף / סִיגִים kesef / sîgîm — silver / dross Isaiah 1:22

פָּדָה pādâ — redeem Isaiah 1:27

Contrasts that hold the chapter together

Isaiah begins with animals who know their owner while Israel “does not know.” He then contrasts abundant worship with absent justice.

Verse 18 turns color into theology: scarlet → snow; crimson → wool. Verses 21–25 shift to civic and metallurgical imagery: the faithful city → harlot and silver → dross → refined silver.

Rashi on Isaiah 1 — Sefaria

Prepare for Oct 29 — Isaiah 2

Read the chapter as two contrasting movements: Zion exalted and human pride brought low.
Mark mountain / low, exalted / humbled, swords / plowshares, and light / idolatry.

← Isaiah 64 — Rend the Heavens Isaiah 2 — The Mountain of the Lord →