Isaiah 1

“The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz…” Naming Judah and Ahaz keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the LORD hath spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they…” Naming Hear keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master’s crib: but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider.” Naming Israel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken…” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“Why should ye be stricken any more? ye will revolt more and more: the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint.” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying…” The line’s distinctive content terms include bound, bruises, closed. Its relationship to verses 5 and 7 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Your country is desolate, your cities are burned with fire: your land, strangers devour it in your presence, and it is…” Naming Your keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And the daughter of Zion is left as a cottage in a vineyard, as a lodge in a garden of cucumbers, as a besieged city.” Naming Zion keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Except the LORD of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, and we should have been…” Naming Except and Gomorrah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Hear the word of the LORD , ye rulers of Sodom; give ear unto the law of our God, ye people of Gomorrah.” Naming Gomorrah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the LORD : I am full of the burnt offerings of…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hand, to tread my courts?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of…” Naming Bring keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them.” Naming Your keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear…” The line’s distinctive content terms include hands, blood, eyes. Its relationship to verses 14 and 16 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil;” Naming Wash keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.” Naming Learn keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD : though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“How is the faithful city become an harlot! it was full of judgment; righteousness lodged in it; but now murderers.” The line’s distinctive content terms include become, city, faithful. Its relationship to verses 20 and 22 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Thy silver is become dross, thy wine mixed with water:” Naming Thy keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Thy princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves: every one loveth gifts, and followeth after rewards: they judge…” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“Therefore saith the Lord, the LORD of hosts, the mighty One of Israel, Ah, I will ease me of mine adversaries, and…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“And I will turn my hand upon thee, and purely purge away thy dross, and take away all thy tin:” The line’s distinctive content terms include dross, hand, purely. Its relationship to verses 26 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And I will restore thy judges as at the first, and thy counsellors as at the beginning: afterward thou shalt be…” The line’s distinctive content terms include city, beginning, counsellors. Its relationship to verses 25 and 27 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Zion shall be redeemed with judgment, and her converts with righteousness.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And the destruction of the transgressors and of the sinners shall be together, and they that forsake the LORD shall be…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“For they shall be ashamed of the oaks which ye have desired, and ye shall be confounded for the gardens that ye have…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“For ye shall be as an oak whose leaf fadeth, and as a garden that hath no water.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“And the strong shall be as tow, and the maker of it as a spark, and they shall both burn together, and none shall…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.