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Friday, August 1st, 2025
the Week of Proper 12 / Ordinary 17
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Wycliffe Bible

Isaiah 1:21

Hou is the feithful citee ful of dom maad an hoore? riytfulnesse dwellide ther ynne; but now menquelleris dwellen ther ynne.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Backsliders;   Church;   Israel, Prophecies Concerning;   Sin;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Jerusalem;   Murder;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Harlot;   Isaiah;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Baal;   Prostitution;   Zion;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Murder;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Adultery;   Harlot;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Adultery;   Antichrist;   Babylon, Mystical;   Beast;   Harlot;   Jerusalem;   Marriage;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Court Systems;   Immorality;   Isaiah;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Gift, Giving;   Isaiah;   Isaiah, Book of;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Harlot ;   Synagogue;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Harlot;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Kingdom of Judah;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Crime;   Divorce in Old Testament;   Isaiah;   Joel (2);   Poetry, Hebrew;   Kitto Biblical Cyclopedia - Adultery;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Ekah (Lamentations) Rabbati;   Lamentations;   Melchizedek;   Shabbat Naḥamu;   Sin;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
The faithful town—what an adulteress she has become!She was once full of justice.Righteousness once dwelt in her,but now, murderers!
Hebrew Names Version
How the faithful city has become a prostitute! She was full of justice; righteousness lodged in her, But now murderers.
King James Version
How is the faithful city become an harlot! it was full of judgment; righteousness lodged in it; but now murderers.
English Standard Version
How the faithful city has become a whore, she who was full of justice! Righteousness lodged in her, but now murderers.
New American Standard Bible
How the faithful city has become a prostitute, She who was full of justice! Righteousness once dwelt in her, But now murderers.
New Century Version
The city of Jerusalem once followed the Lord , but she is no longer loyal to him. She used to be filled with fairness; people there lived the way God wanted. But now, murderers live there.
Amplified Bible
How the faithful city has become a prostitute [idolatrous, despicable], She who was full of justice! Right standing with God once lodged in her, But now murderers.
World English Bible
How the faithful city has become a prostitute! She was full of justice; righteousness lodged in her, But now murderers.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Howe is the faithfull citie become an harlot? it was full of iudgement, and iustice lodged therein, but now they are murtherers.
Legacy Standard Bible
How the faithful city has become a harlot,She who was full of justice!Righteousness once lodged in her,But now murderers.
Berean Standard Bible
See how the faithful city has become a harlot! She once was full of justice; righteousness resided within her, but now only murderers!
Contemporary English Version
Jerusalem, you are like an unfaithful wife. Once your judges were honest and your people lived right; now you are a city full of murderers.
Complete Jewish Bible
How the faithful city has become a whore! Once she was filled with justice, righteousness lodged in her; but now murderers!
Darby Translation
How is the faithful city become a harlot! It was full of judgment; righteousness used to lodge in it, but now murderers.
Easy-to-Read Version
Look at Jerusalem. She was a faithful city. What made her become like a prostitute? In the past, Jerusalem was filled with justice, and goodness should live there now. Instead, there are murderers.
George Lamsa Translation
How is the faithful city become a harlot! For once it was full of justice; and righteousness lodged in it, but now murderers.
Good News Translation
The city that once was faithful is behaving like a whore! At one time it was filled with righteous people, but now only murderers remain.
Lexham English Bible
How has a faithful city become like a whore? Full of justice, righteousness lodged in her, but now murderers.
Literal Translation
Oh how the faithful city has become a harlot! She was full of justice; righteousness lodged in it. But now, murderers!
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
How happeneth it then that the rightuous citie (which was full of equite) is become vnfaithfull as an whore? rightuousnes dwelt in it, but now murthur.
American Standard Version
How is the faithful city become a harlot! she that was full of justice! righteousness lodged in her, but now murderers.
Bible in Basic English
The upright town has become untrue; there was a time when her judges gave right decisions, when righteousness had a resting-place in her, but now she is full of those who take men's lives.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
How is the faithful city become a harlot! She that was full of justice, righteousness lodged in her, but now murderers.
King James Version (1611)
Howe is the faithfull citie become an harlot? it was full of iudgement, righteousnesse lodged in it; but now murtherers.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Howe happeneth it then that the righteous citie which was full of equitie, is become vnfaythfull as a whore? Righteousnesse dwelt in it, but nowe murtherers.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
How has the faithful city Sion, once full of judgement, become a harlot! wherein righteousness lodged, but now murderers.
English Revised Version
How is the faithful city become an harlot! she that was full of judgment! righteousness lodged in her, but now murderers.
Update Bible Version
How has the faithful city become a prostitute! she that was full of justice! righteousness lodged in her, but now murderers.
Webster's Bible Translation
How is the faithful city become a harlot! it was full of judgment; righteousness lodged in it; but now murderers.
New English Translation
How tragic that the once-faithful city has become a prostitute! She was once a center of justice, fairness resided in her, but now only murderers.
New King James Version
How the faithful city has become a harlot! It was full of justice; Righteousness lodged in it, But now murderers.
New Living Translation
See how Jerusalem, once so faithful, has become a prostitute. Once the home of justice and righteousness, she is now filled with murderers.
New Life Bible
The faithful city has become like a woman who sells the use of her body. At one time she was full of what was right and fair! Those who are right and good lived in her, but now those who kill.
New Revised Standard
How the faithful city has become a whore! She that was full of justice, righteousness lodged in her— but now murderers!
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
How hath she become unchaste! - The city that was Faithful, - Full of justice, Righteousness lodged in her, But, now, murderers!
Douay-Rheims Bible
How is the faithful city, that was full of judgment, become a harlot? justice dwelt in it, but now murderers.
Revised Standard Version
How the faithful city has become a harlot, she that was full of justice! Righteousness lodged in her, but now murderers.
Young's Literal Translation
How hath a faithful city become a harlot? I have filled it [with] judgment, Righteousness lodgeth in it -- now murderers.
THE MESSAGE
Oh! Can you believe it? The chaste city has become a whore! She was once all justice, everyone living as good neighbors, And now they're all at one another's throats. Your coins are all counterfeits. Your wine is watered down. Your leaders are turncoats who keep company with crooks. They sell themselves to the highest bidder and grab anything not nailed down. They never stand up for the homeless, never stick up for the defenseless.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
How the faithful city has become a harlot, She who was full of justice! Righteousness once lodged in her, But now murderers.

Contextual Overview

21 Hou is the feithful citee ful of dom maad an hoore? riytfulnesse dwellide ther ynne; but now menquelleris dwellen ther ynne. 22 Thi siluer is turned in to dros, ether filthe; thi wyn is medlid with watir. 23 Thi princes ben vnfeithful, the felowis of theuys; alle louen yiftis, suen meedis; thei demen not to a fadirles child, and the cause of a widewe entrith not to hem. 24 For this thing, seith the Lord God of oostis, the stronge of Israel, Alas! Y schal be coumfortid on myn enemyes, and Y schal be vengid on myn enemyes. 25 And Y schal turne myn hond to thee, and Y schal sethe out thi filthe to the cleene, and Y schal do awei al thi tyn. 26 And Y schal restore thi iuges, as thei weren bifor to, and thi counselours, as in elde tyme. Aftir these thingis thou schalt be clepid the citee of the riytful, a feithful citee. 27 Sion schal be ayen bouyt in dom, and thei schulen bringe it ayen in to riytfulnesse; 28 and God schal al to-breke cursid men and synneris togidere, and thei that forsoken the Lord, schulen be wastid. 29 For thei schulen be aschamed of idols, to whiche thei maden sacrifice; and ye shulen be aschamid on the orcherdis, whiche ye chesiden. 30 Whanne ye schulen be as an ook, whanne the leeues fallen doun, and as an orcherd with out watir.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

the faithful: Isaiah 48:2, Nehemiah 11:1, Psalms 46:4, Psalms 48:1, Psalms 48:8, Hosea 11:12, Zechariah 8:3, Hebrews 12:22

become: Jeremiah 2:20, Jeremiah 2:21, Jeremiah 3:1, Lamentations 1:8, Lamentations 1:9, Ezekiel 16:1-63, Ezekiel 22:1 - Ezekiel 23:49, Luke 13:34, Revelation 11:2, Revelation 11:8

it was full: Isaiah 5:7, 2 Samuel 8:15, 2 Chronicles 19:9, Ezekiel 22:3-7, Micah 3:2, Micah 3:3, Zephaniah 3:1-3, Acts 7:52

Reciprocal: 2 Kings 17:13 - all Ezra 4:12 - bad city Psalms 12:1 - godly Isaiah 1:26 - thou shalt Isaiah 5:2 - he looked Isaiah 59:3 - your hands Jeremiah 30:15 - for the Jeremiah 31:23 - O Lamentations 1:6 - from Lamentations 4:1 - How is the gold Ezekiel 5:13 - I will cause Ezekiel 16:15 - and playedst Ezekiel 16:35 - O harlot Hosea 2:5 - their mother Hosea 4:18 - drink Habakkuk 1:4 - for Luke 18:3 - a widow Acts 24:25 - righteousness Revelation 21:2 - the holy

Cross-References

Genesis 1:18
and that tho schulden be bifore to the dai and nyyt, and schulden departe liyt and derknesse. And God seiy that it was good.
Genesis 1:24
And God seide, The erthe brynge forth a lyuynge soul in his kynde, werk beestis, and `crepynge beestis, and vnresonable beestis of erthe, bi her kyndis; and it was don so.
Genesis 1:25
And God made vnresonable beestis of erthe bi her kyndes, and werk beestis, `and ech crepynge beeste of erthe in his kynde. And God seiy that it was good; and seide,
Genesis 1:26
Make we man to oure ymage and liknesse, and be he souereyn to the fischis of the see, and to the volatilis of heuene, and to vnresonable beestis of erthe, and to ech creature, and to ech `crepynge beest, which is moued in erthe.
Genesis 1:31
And God seiy alle thingis whiche he made, and tho weren ful goode. And the euentid and morwetid was maad, the sixte day.
Genesis 6:20
of briddis bi her kynde, and of werk beestis in her kynde, and of ech crepynge beeste of erthe, by her kynde; tweyne and tweyne of alle schulen entre with thee, that thei moun lyue.
Genesis 7:14
Thei entriden, and ech beeste bi his kynde, and alle werk beestis in her kynde, and ech beeste which is moued on erthe in his kynde, and ech volatil bi his kynde; alle briddis and alle volatils entriden to Noe in to the schip,
Genesis 8:17
and lede out with thee alle lyuynge beestis that ben at thee of ech fleisch, as wel in volatilis as in vnresonable beestis, and alle `reptils that crepen on erthe; and entre ye on the erthe, encreesse ye, and be ye multiplied on erthe.
Genesis 8:19
but also alle lyuynge beestis, and werk beestis, and `reptils that crepen on erthe, bi her kynde, yeden out of the schip.
Genesis 9:7
Forsothe encreesse ye, and be ye multiplied, and entre ye on erthe, and fille ye it, Also the Lord seide thes thingis to Noe,

Gill's Notes on the Bible

How is the faithful city become a harlot!.... The city of Jerusalem, in which were the temple, and the pure worship of God, and was in the tribe of Judah, which ruled with God, and was very faithful with the saints when the ten tribes revolted, and fell in with the sin of Jeroboam; but now, in Isaiah's time, was become like a treacherous wife to her husband, unfaithful to the Lord, went after other lovers, committed spiritual adultery, that is, idolatry, with stocks and stones; and in the times of Christ were a wicked and an adulterous generation, corrupting the word and worship of God; see Matthew 12:39

it was full of judgment; strict justice was exercised privately between man and man, as well as in the public courts of judicature;

righteousness lodged in it; that is, righteous men, who walked in all the commandments of the Lord, and lived soberly, righteously, and godly; see 2 Peter 3:13

but now murderers: of the prophets whom they stoned, who were sent unto them, and of the Lord Jesus Christ, of whom they were the betrayers and murderers; see Matthew 23:37.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

How is - This is an expression of deploring, or lamenting. It indicates that that had occurred which was matter of grief. The prophet had stated the principles of the divine government; had urged the people to reason with God; and had affirmed his willingness to pardon. But it was seen that they would not repent. They were so wicked and perverse, that there was no hope of their reformation. His mind is full of this subject; he repeats the charge of their wickedness Isaiah 1:21-23, and states what must be the consequences.

The faithful city - Jerusalem. It is represented here under the image of a wife - once faithful to her husband; once a devoted and attached partner. Jerusalem was thus once. In former days, it was the seat of the pure worship of God; the place where his praise was celebrated, and where his people came to offer sincere devotion. In the Scriptures, the church is often represented under the image of a wife, to denote the tenderness and sacredness of the union; Hosea 2:19-20; Isaiah 62:5; Isaiah 54:6; Revelation 21:9.

An harlot - She has proved to be false, treacherous, unfaithful. The unfaithfulness of the people of God, particularly their idolatry, is often represented under the idea of unfaithfulness to the marriage contract; Jeremiah 3:8-9; Jeremiah 5:7; Jeremiah 13:27; Jeremiah 23:14; Ezekiel 16:32; Ezekiel 23:37; Joshua 2:2; Joshua 4:2.

It was full of judgement - It was distinguished for justice and righteousness.

Lodged in it - This is a figurative expression, meaning that it was characterized as a righteous city. The word ילין yālı̂yn is from לוּן lûn, to pass the night, to remain through the night Genesis 19:2; and then to lodge, to dwell; Psalms 25:13; Job 17:2; Job 29:19. In this place it has the sense of abiding, remaining, continuing permanently. Jerusalem was the home of justice, where it found protection and safety.

Now murderers - By murderers here are meant probably unjust judges; people who did not regard the interests of the poor, the widow, and the orphan; and who therefore, by a strong expression, are characterized as murderers. They had displaced justice from its home; and had become the permanent inhabitants of the city; compare the note at Isaiah 1:15.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Isaiah 1:21. Become a harlot — See before, the Discourse on the Prophetic Style; and see Lowth's Comment on the place, and De Sacr. Poes. Hebr. Prael. xxxi.


 
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