King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
Thy silver is become dross, thy wine mixed with water:
Complete Jewish Bible:
Your silver is no longer pure, your wine is watered down.
Berean Standard Bible:
Your silver has become dross; your fine wine is diluted with water.
American Standard Version:
Thy silver is become dross, thy wine mixed with water.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
Thy silver{H3701} is become dross{H5509}, thy wine{H5435} mixed{H4107} with water{H4325}:
Cross-References (KJV):
Hosea 4:18
- Their drink is sour: they have committed whoredom continually: her rulers [with] shame do love, Give ye.
Jeremiah 6:28
- They [are] all grievous revolters, walking with slanders: [they are] brass and iron; they [are] all corrupters.
Jeremiah 6:30
- Reprobate silver shall [men] call them, because the LORD hath rejected them.
Ezekiel 22:18
- Son of man, the house of Israel is to me become dross: all they [are] brass, and tin, and iron, and lead, in the midst of the furnace; they are [even] the dross of silver.
Ezekiel 22:22
- As silver is melted in the midst of the furnace, so shall ye be melted in the midst thereof; and ye shall know that I the LORD have poured out my fury upon you.
Lamentations 4:1
- ¶ How is the gold become dim! [how] is the most fine gold changed! the stones of the sanctuary are poured out in the top of every street.
Lamentations 4:2
- The precious sons of Zion, comparable to fine gold, how are they esteemed as earthen pitchers, the work of the hands of the potter!
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Isaiah 1:22
1. **Themes:**
- **Judgment and Corruption:** Isaiah 1:22 is a part of the prophet Isaiah's message to Judah, specifically addressing the moral and spiritual decay of Jerusalem. The verse uses the metaphor of silver turned to dross (a worthless byproduct of silver refining) to symbolize the people's loss of integrity and purity. Similarly, the wine mixed with water represents a dilution of quality and strength, indicating the people's abandonment of true faith and worship for hollow, impure practices.
- **Economic and Spiritual Decline:** The reference to silver and wine also alludes to economic corruption, suggesting that even the wealth and prosperity of the nation have been tainted. This economic imagery serves as a parallel to the spiritual bankruptcy of the people.
2. **Historical Context:**
- **Time Period:** The Book of Isaiah is set during the 8th century BCE, a time of political upheaval and moral decline in the Kingdom of Judah. Isaiah's prophetic ministry spanned the reigns of four kings, and his messages were calls to repentance and warnings of impending judgment if the people did not return to righteousness.
- **Cultural Practices:** During this period, silver was a common measure of wealth, and wine was a staple in daily life as well as religious ceremonies. The act of mixing wine with water was a practice in the ancient world, often to make the wine last longer or to make it more palatable, but in this context, it symbolizes the adulteration of the sacred and the dilution of true worship.
In summary, Isaiah 1:22 conveys a powerful message of divine displeasure with Judah's moral and spiritual state. The verse reflects the broader themes of the Book of Isaiah, which include calls for justice and righteousness, the importance of true worship, and the consequences of turning away from God's laws. The historical context underscores the relevance of these themes to the people of Judah, who were struggling with corruption and idolatry at the time. Through this verse, Isaiah emphasizes that external wealth and religious observance are meaningless without genuine faith and ethical conduct.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H3701
There are 343 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: כֶּסֶף
Transliteration: keçeph
Pronunciation: keh'-sef
Description: from כָּסַף; silver (from its pale color); by implication, money; money, price, silver(-ling). - Strong's Number: H5509
There are 7 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: סִיג
Transliteration: çîyg
Pronunciation: seeg
Description: or סוּג; (Ezekiel 22:18), from סוּג in the sense of refuse; scoria; dross. - Strong's Number: H5435
There are 3 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: סֹבֶא
Transliteration: çôbeʼ
Pronunciation: so'-beh
Description: from סָבָא; potation, concretely (wine), or abstractly (carousal); drink, drunken, wine. - Strong's Number: H4107
There are 1 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מָהַל
Transliteration: mâhal
Pronunciation: maw-hal'
Description: a primitive root; properly, to cut down or reduce, i.e. by implication, to adulterate; mixed. - Strong's Number: H4325
There are 525 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מַיִם
Transliteration: mayim
Pronunciation: mah'-yim
Description: dual of a primitive noun (but used in a singular sense); water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen; [phrase] piss, wasting, water(-ing, (-course, -flood, -spring)).