Isaiah 1:19-20

Context

1:19 If you have a willing attitude and obey,¹

then you will again eat the good crops of the land.

1:20 But if you refuse and rebel,

you will be devoured² by the sword.”

Know for certain that the Lord has spoken.³

[1:19] ¹tn Heb “listen”; KJV “obedient”; NASB “If you consent and obey.”

[1:20] ²sn The wordplay in the Hebrew draws attention to the options. The people can obey, in which case they will “eat” v. 19 (תֹּאכֵלוּ [to’khelu], Qal active participle of אָכַל) God’s blessing, or they can disobey, in which case they will be devoured (Heb “eaten,” תְּאֻכְּלוּ, [tÿ’ukkÿlu], Qal passive/Pual of אָכַל) by God’s judgment.

[1:20] ³tn Heb “for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” The introductory כִּי (ki) may be asseverative (as reflected in the translation) or causal/explanatory, explaining why the option chosen by the people will become reality (it is guaranteed by the divine word).