The Meaning of Isaiah 1:20 Explained

Isaiah 1:20

KJV: But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.

YLT: And if ye refuse, and have rebelled, By the sword ye are consumed, For the mouth of Jehovah hath spoken.

Darby: but if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of Jehovah hath spoken.

ASV: but if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword; for the mouth of Jehovah hath spoken it.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

But if ye refuse  and rebel,  ye shall be devoured  with the sword:  for the mouth  of the LORD  hath spoken  [it]. 

What does Isaiah 1:20 Mean?

Context Summary

Isaiah 1:10-20 - Religion Without Righteousness Vain
The prophet points out, first the misery that had overtaken the country, Isaiah 1:4-9; and then the sins of the ruling classes, Isaiah 1:10; Isaiah 1:17; Isaiah 1:21-23. What may be called personal and private sins, such as drunkenness, vanity, bribery, and the oppression of the poor, are viewed in their public hearing, as bringing wrath and disaster on the whole nation. No man can sin by himself. His most private sins react on the whole community. Thistle-down floats far and wide. In reply, the nation pointed to the splendid ritual and innumerable sacrifices of the Temple service. But these observances only added to the tale of their sins, because they were formal and perfunctory. The sacrifice of God is a broken and contrite heart. The outward is absolutely worthless, unless it is the expression of the inward and the spiritual. But where a pure and holy spirit is present, the simplest forms are magnificent in their significance and value. To atone becomes the base of a ladder to heaven, and the thorn-bush flames with Deity. But forgiveness is freely offered to the guilty. Crimson and scarlet are the most lasting of all colors, and their removal impresses the completeness of God's pardoning love. [source]

Chapter Summary: Isaiah 1

1  Isaiah complains of Judah for her rebellion
5  He laments her judgments
10  He upbraids their whole service
16  He exhorts to repentance, with promises and threats
21  Bewailing their wickedness, he denounces God's judgments
25  He promises grace
28  And threatens destruction to the wicked

What do the individual words in Isaiah 1:20 mean?

But if you refuse and rebel the sword You shall be devoured by for the mouth of Yahweh has spoken -
וְאִם־ תְּמָאֲנ֖וּ וּמְרִיתֶ֑ם חֶ֣רֶב תְּאֻכְּל֔וּ כִּ֛י פִּ֥י יְהוָ֖ה דִּבֵּֽר ס

וְאִם־  But  if 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Conjunction
Root: אִם  
Sense: if.
תְּמָאֲנ֖וּ  you  refuse 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect, second person masculine plural
Root: מָאַן  
Sense: (Piel) to refuse.
וּמְרִיתֶ֑ם  and  rebel 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, second person masculine plural
Root: מָרָה  
Sense: to be contentious, be rebellious, be refractory, be disobedient towards, be rebellious against.
חֶ֣רֶב  the  sword 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: חֶרֶב  
Sense: sword, knife.
תְּאֻכְּל֔וּ  You  shall  be  devoured  by 
Parse: Verb, QalPass, Imperfect, second person masculine plural
Root: אָכַל  
Sense: to eat, devour, burn up, feed.
פִּ֥י  the  mouth 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: פֶּה  
Sense: mouth.
יְהוָ֖ה  of  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
דִּבֵּֽר  has  spoken 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: דָּבַר 
Sense: to speak, declare, converse, command, promise, warn, threaten, sing.
ס  - 
Parse: Punctuation