Isaiah 1:18

“Come now, let us reason together,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are as red as crimson, they will become like wool.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Yahweh addresses Judah and Jerusalem, immediately after indicting their bloodshed and corrupt worship (1:2–15) and immediately before commanding them to do justice (1:17) and offering a conditional reward for obedience (1:19).

The words — נָא (na') is a softening particle ("please") that turns the imperative into an invitation. נִוּֽכְחָ֖ה (ni.va.khe.Chah), from נכח (H3198), is a Niphal form meaning "let us be clear/opposed together" — a mutual legal hearing, not a one-sided verdict.

The thread — The motif of sin removed and whiteness restored runs through Psalm 51:7 ("wash me, and I will be whiter than snow"), Isaiah 44:22 (transgressions blotted out like a cloud), and Revelation 7:14 (robes washed white in the Lamb's blood).

Why it lands — The verse is an invitation, not a decree: the reader must "come" and be present for the hearing. The promise is total reversal — scarlet to snow — not gradual improvement, and it is contingent on the reader's willingness to engage.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

לְכוּ־le.khu-come נָ֛אna'please וְנִוָּֽכְחָ֖הve./ni.va.khe.Chahso/ let us argue our case together יֹאמַ֣רyo.Marhe says יְהוָ֑הYah.wehYahweh אִם־'im-though יִֽהְי֨וּyih.Yuthey are חֲטָאֵיכֶ֤םcha.ta.'ei./Khemsins/ your כַּשָּׁנִים֙ka./sha.Nimlike <the>/ scarlet כַּשֶּׁ֣לֶגka./She.leglike <the>/ snow יַלְבִּ֔ינוּyal.Bi.nuthey will become white אִם־'im-though יַאְדִּ֥ימוּya'.Di.muthey are red כַתּוֹלָ֖עkha./to.La'like <the>/ crimson כַּצֶּ֥מֶרka./Tze.merlike <the>/ wool יִהְיֽוּ׃yih.Yuthey will be

King James Version

Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

Cross-references

Isaiah 44:22 I have blotted out your transgressions like a cloud, and your sins like a mist. Return to Me, for I have redeemed you.
Revelation 7:14 “Sir,” I answered, “you know.” So he replied, “These are the ones who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
Psalms 51:7 Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
Micah 7:18 Who is a God like You, who pardons iniquity and passes over the transgression of the remnant of His inheritance—who does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in loving devotion?
Isaiah 43:24 You have not bought Me sweet cane with your silver, nor satisfied Me with the fat of your sacrifices. But you have burdened Me with your sins; you have wearied Me with your iniquities.
Ephesians 1:6 to the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the Beloved One.
Isaiah 41:21 “Present your case,” says the LORD. “Submit your arguments,” says the King of Jacob.
Isaiah 41:1 “Be silent before Me, O islands, and let the peoples renew their strength. Let them come forward and testify; let us together draw near for judgment.
Romans 5:20 The law came in so that the trespass would increase; but where sin increased, grace increased all the more,
1 Samuel 12:7 Now present yourselves, so that I may confront you before the LORD with all the righteous acts He has done for you and your fathers.