richmahn_en_tn/isa/01/21.md

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General Information:

Isaiah speaks to the people of Judah in the form of a poem. (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-parallelism)

How the faithful city

This exclamation shows Isaiah's anger and sadness about the people of Jerusalem. AT: "See how the people of Jerusalem, who had been faithful to God" (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy)

has become a prostitute

Isaiah compared the people to a woman who is not loyal to her husband but who sleeps with other men for money. The people were no longer loyal to God but were worshiping false gods. AT: "acts like a prostitute" (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor)

She who was full of justice

The word "she" refers to Jerusalem and its people. Those who wrote the Bible often refer to cities as women. AT: "The people of Jerusalem were fair and did what was right" (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor)

but now she is full of murderers

The word "she" refers to Jerusalem and its people. Those who wrote the Bible often refer to cities as women. AT: "but now the people of Jerusalem are murderers" (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor)

Your silver has become impure, your wine mixed with water

Possible meanings are that Isaiah uses silver and wine as metaphors for 1) the people of Jerusalem. AT: "You are like silver that is no longer pure, and like wine that is mixed with water" or 2) the good deeds that the people formerly did. AT: "You used to do good deeds, but now your bad deeds make your good deeds worthless" (See: rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor)

silver ... impure

Someone needs to clean silver often or it will no longer shine brightly.

wine ... water

Wine with water in it has little taste and so is no better than water.

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