Isaiah 1:18

1:18 ¹ Come, let’s consider your options,” ²  says the Lord.

“Though your sins have stained you like the color red,

you can become ³  white like snow;

though they are as easy to see as the color scarlet,

you can become ⁴  white like wool. ⁵ 

Isaiah 7:25

7:25 They will stay away from all the hills that were cultivated, for fear of the thorns and briers. ⁶  Cattle will graze there and sheep will trample on them. ⁷ 

Isaiah 60:6

60:6 Camel caravans will cover your roads, ⁸ 

young camels from Midian and Ephah.

All the merchants of Sheba ⁹  will come,

bringing gold and incense

and singing praises to the Lord. ¹⁰ 

Isaiah 60:17

60:17 Instead of bronze, I will bring you gold,

instead of iron, I will bring you silver,

instead of wood, I will bring you ¹¹  bronze,

instead of stones, I will bring you ¹²  iron.

I will make prosperity ¹³  your overseer,

and vindication your sovereign ruler. ¹⁴ 

[1:18]  ¹ sn The Lord concludes his case against Israel by offering them the opportunity to be forgiven and by setting before them the alternatives of renewed blessing (as a reward for repentance) and final judgment (as punishment for persistence in sin).

[1:18]  ² tn Traditionally, “let us reason together,” but the context suggests a judicial nuance. The Lord is giving the nation its options for the future.

[1:18]  ³ tn The imperfects must be translated as modal (indicating capability or possibility) to bring out the conditional nature of the offer. This purification will only occur if the people repent and change their ways.

[1:18]  ⁴ tn The imperfects must be translated as modal (indicating capability or possibility) to bring out the conditional nature of the offer. This purification will only occur if the people repent and change their ways.

[1:18]  ⁵ tn Heb “though your sins are like red, they will become white like snow; though they are red like scarlet, they will be like wool.” The point is not that the sins will be covered up, though still retained. The metaphorical language must be allowed some flexibility and should not be pressed into a rigid literalistic mold. The people’s sins will be removed and replaced by ethical purity. The sins that are now as obvious as the color red will be washed away and the ones who are sinful will be transformed.

[7:25]  ⁶ tn Heb “and all the hills which were hoed with a hoe, you will not go there [for] fear of the thorns and briers.”

[7:25]  ⁷ tn Heb “and it will become a pasture for cattle and a trampling place for sheep.”

[60:6]  ¹¹ tn Heb “an abundance of camels will cover you.”

[60:6]  ¹² tn Heb “all of them, from Sheba.”

[60:6]  ¹³ tn Heb “and they will announce the praises of the Lord.”

[60:17]  ¹⁶ tn The words “I will bring you” are supplied in the translation; they are understood by ellipsis (see the preceding lines).

[60:17]  ¹⁷ tn The words “I will bring you” are supplied in the translation; they are understood by ellipsis (see the first two lines of the verse).

[60:17]  ¹⁸ tn Or “peace” (KJV and many other English versions).

[60:17]  ¹⁹ tn The plural indicates degree. The language is ironic; in the past Zion was ruled by oppressive tyrants, but now personified prosperity and vindication will be the only things that will “dominate” the city.