Isaiah 1:17

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Isaiah 1:17

(17) Relieve the oppressed.—More accurately, correct the oppressor. The prophet calls on the rulers not merely to acts of benevolence, but to the courageous exercise of their authority to restrain the wrong-doing of the men of their own order. We are reminded of what Shakespeare says of Time, that it is his work—“To wrong the wronger till he render right.”(Rape of Lucrece.)Judge the fatherless.—The words are still primarily addressed to men in office. They are told that they must be true to... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - Isaiah 1:1-31

CHAPTER ITHE ARGUMENT OF THE LORD AND ITS CONCLUSIONIsaiah 1:1-31 -His General PrefaceTHE first chapter of the Book of Isaiah owes its position not to its date, but to its character. It was published late in the prophet’s life. The seventh verse describes the land as overrun by foreign soldiery, and such a calamity befell Judah only in the last two of the four reigns over which the first verse extends Isaiah’s prophesying. In the reign of Ahaz, Judah was invaded by Syria and Northern Israel,... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - Isaiah 1:1-31

Analysis and Annotations The reader will find that every chapter has been analyzed as to its contents. We have not made copious annotations, because the three lectures on the book of Isaiah as found at the close of the analysis cover the contents of this book in such a manner that detailed annotations for a study of the book can be omitted. We suggest that all who desire to study this great prophecy in a closer way read carefully the introduction, and after that the three lectures on “The... read more

John Calvin

Geneva Study Bible - Isaiah 1:17

1:17 Learn to {z} do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.(z) This kind of reasoning by the second table, the scriptures use in many places against the hypocrites who pretend holiness and religion in word, but when charity and love for their brethren should appear they declare that they have neither faith nor religion. read more

James Gray

James Gray's Concise Bible Commentary - Isaiah 1:1-31

GENERAL DISCOURSES The first five chapters of Isaiah form a natural division, to which, for want of a better title, we give that of General Discourses, or messages. The first is limited to chapter 1, the second covers chapters 2-4, and the third chapter 5. But first notice the introduction, Isaiah 1:1 . By what word is the whole book described? What genealogy of the prophet is given? To which kingdom was he commissioned, Israel or Judah? In whose reigns did he prophesy? Examine 2 Kings,... read more

Joseph Parker

The People's Bible by Joseph Parker - Isaiah 1:1-17

A Catechetical Note Accusations Isa 1:1-17 It is a living man who speaks to us. This is not an anonymous book. Much value attaches to personal testimony. The true witness is not ashamed of day and date and all the surrounding chronology; we know where to find him, what he sprang from, who he is, and what he wants. "The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah" ( Isa 1:1 ). This man is a... read more

Joseph Parker

The People's Bible by Joseph Parker - Isaiah 1:16-17

Exhortations Isa 1:16-17 "Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless", plead for the widow" ( Isa 1:16-17 ). How easy to say "Cease to do evil"! Have we considered how much is meant by these words? Does evil get so slight a hold upon a man that he can detach the hand that grasps him without effort or difficulty? By what image would we represent the hold which... read more

Robert Hawker

Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary - Isaiah 1:10-20

I make no break in this address of the prophet. The whole forms but one sermon, and a most striking one it is. I beg the reader to remark with me the very pointed terms made use of by the man of God. He calls them by the name of the men of Sodom and Gomorrah. Perhaps to intimate, that their place and people merited equal judgment. And had the Lord done so, there would have been no injustice on the part of God. Reader! let us pause over this thought, and not too hastily dismiss the solemn... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 1:16-20

16-20 Not only feel sorrow for the sin committed, but break off the practice. We must be doing, not stand idle. We must be doing the good the Lord our God requires. It is plain that the sacrifices of the law could not atone, even for outward national crimes. But, blessed be God, there is a Fountain opened, in which sinners of every age and rank may be cleansed. Though our sins have been as scarlet and crimson, a deep dye, a double dye, first in the wool of original corruption, and afterwards in... read more

Paul E. Kretzmann

The Popular Commentary by Paul E. Kretzmann - Isaiah 1:16-20

Suggesting the only Way of Relief v. 16. Wash you, in a true and thorough cleansing of the heart, make you clean, namely, from the polluting effect of their wicked behavior; put away the evil of your doings from before Mine eyes, so that it will no longer be within the range of His vision, these three admonitions being the negative demands made by the Lord; cease to do evil, withdrawing from its influence, overcoming it by a steady wrestling against its influence; v. 17. learn to do well,... read more

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