Isaiah 1:17

17 Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed.^[a]Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow.

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Isaiah 1:17 in Other Translations

KJV

17 Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.

ESV

17 learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow's cause.

NLT

17 Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the cause of orphans. Fight for the rights of widows.

MSG

17 Learn to do good. Work for justice. Help the down-and-out. Stand up for the homeless. Go to bat for the defenseless. Let's Argue This Out

CSB

17 Learn to do what is good. Seek justice. Correct the oppressor. Defend the rights of the fatherless. Plead the widow's cause.

Isaiah 1:17 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 1:17

Learn to do well
Which men are naturally ignorant of; to do good they have no knowledge; nor can they that are accustomed to do evil learn to do well of themselves; but the Lord can teach them to profit, and of him they should ask wisdom, and desire, under the influence of his grace, to learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, and particularly to do acts of beneficence to all men, and especially to the household of faith; and also, the following ones, seek judgment;
seek to do justice between man and man in any cause depending, without respect of persons: relieve the oppressed;
the poor that are oppressed by their neighbours that are richer and mightier than they, right their wrongs, and deliver them out of the hands of their oppressors ^F9: judge the fatherless;
do justice to them who have none to take care of them, and defend them: plead for the widow;
that is desolate, and has none to plead her cause.

FOOTNOTES:

F9 Misn. Sabbat, c. 9. sect. 3. T. Bab. Yoma, fol. 67. 1,

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

Isaiah 1:17 In-Context

15 When you spread out your hands in prayer, I hide my eyes from you; even when you offer many prayers, I am not listening. Your hands are full of blood!

16 Wash and make yourselves clean. Take your evil deeds out of my sight; stop doing wrong.

17 Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed.Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow.

18 “Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.

19 If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the good things of the land;

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Cross References 5

1. S Psalms 34:14
2. S Psalms 72:1; Isaiah 11:4; Isaiah 33:5; Isaiah 56:1; Isaiah 61:8; Amos 5:14-15; Micah 6:8; Zephaniah 2:3
3. S Deuteronomy 14:29
4. ver 23; Job 22:9; Psalms 82:3; Psalms 94:6; Isaiah 10:2
5. S Exodus 22:22; Ezekiel 18:31; Ezekiel 22:7; Luke 18:3; James 1:27