(Isaiah 1:31) And the strong shall be as tow, and the maker of it as a spark, and they shall both burn together, and none shall quench them.
Another interesting thing that we see in the first chapter of Isaiah are the abundant and profound use of metaphors to illustrate the mind of God and the sin of his people. There’s quite a few. Therefore, I have just a few things to relate regarding each one with the exception of the tow and spark. I didn’t know what tow meant so I spent more time learning what it was. And then I ran into a snag in my understanding of what Isaiah was trying to convey. So consequently, we spent much more time with the tow and the spark. Notice how Isaiah uses very extreme metaphors to make his point, yet they are very familiar.
The ox and the ass
(Isaiah 1:3) The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master’s crib: but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider. In an agrarian society, all knew the personality of the ox and the ass; the load bearers of the work. Nothing got done but by the power of the ox and the ass. (Proverbs 14:4) Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox. The beasts, dumb and witless as they were, knew where the food came from. They knew who was in charge. They knew their owner and master. Yes Jesus said, (John 1:11) He came unto his own, and his own received him not. What a shame that (John 1:10) The world was made by him, and the world knew him not. Isaiah compares the people of Israel to dumb witless animals. Their relationship with their God is debased and lower than that of the beast; a beast that they were familiar with and worked with everyday.
Wounds, bruises, and putrifying sores
(Isaiah 1:6) From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment. These have a significant meaning to the Jew in the matter of uncleanness. But nevertheless, help and healing is what is needed. The sinner is plagued with rampant infection. There’s no peace to calm the anxiety, no relief for the pain, and no end to the oozing. Usually back in the day, these type of wounds would end in either amputation or death. This was a serious condition; a dire situation. Isaiah uses health and their familiarity with the wounds of the body to diagnose their sinful condition. Their immorality and corruption was putrid and severe.
Sodom and Gomorrah
(Isaiah 1:9-10) Except the LORD of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, and we should have been like unto Gomorrah. 10 Hear the word of the LORD, ye rulers of Sodom; give ear unto the law of our God, ye people of Gomorrah. Sodom and Gomorrah. The worst of the worst. They may have not know at this point all the law: (Romans 9:4) The adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises. But they knew the wickedness of Sodom and Gomorrah. Mentions of Sodom are littered throughout the bible. Everybody knows of the sin of Sodom. Even to this day, those who are engaged in that sort of evil are still considered Sodomites. The sarcasm, and irony, and insult for the beloved people of God to be called rulers and people of Sodom and Gomorrah! Even Jesus used that same analogy in his days. (Matthew 10:15) Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city. I’ve heard preachers say If God doesn’t judge America, he’s going to have to apologize to Sodom and Gomorrah. That kind of sarcasm may go a little too far for my taste, but what I’m getting at is that Sodom and Gomorrah are the world’s standard of wickedness through out all ages. When Israel thought they were okay and safe and secure and prosperous, God said No, the worst of the worst.(Revelation 3:17) Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
Scarlet and crimson
(Isaiah 1:18) Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. Now I’m not sure when the words scarlet and crimson turned from nouns to adjectives. These are nouns and refer to the dies of scarlet and crimson. But somewhere along the line, the color red, scarlet, and crimson have become associated with sin. Not sure if already was so, or if the impact of Isaiah on a sinful world has left it’s mark. Now scarlet and crimson have always been associated with extravagance and luxury. It has been associated with the delicacy and allurements of the strange woman. In some circles, make-up is strictly forbidden. Red lips and blush are the invitations and advertisements of the strange woman. But once again, there is an innate understanding that red represents sin and white represents purity. The color of blood is crimson. And since the beginning of time, blood speaks regarding sin. (Genesis 4:10) And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother’s blood crieth unto me from the ground. Scarlet and crimson speak to the heart of man also, as does white. They carried on them the mark of sin and their guilt is evident to all.
Oak and garden
(Isaiah 1:30) For ye shall be as an oak whose leaf fadeth, and as a garden that hath no water. Now the oaks and gardens they were very familiar with being that these were their objects and places of their idolatry. We may not know nowadays much of these idols but they did back then. And they were not the only ones. The Druids, a name we recognize, was a religious people of the ancient Celtic nations in Gaul, Britain, and Germany. They offered their worship in groves of oak. The oak is where their name was derived; from δρῦς drus, an oak. So tree worship (or hugging) goes back a long way and was not uncommon or unknown. No. The people of Israel were much into idolatry. They built gardens that were places of worship with altars, temples, and trees. During these times of the kings, they are often called high places. Nevertheless, the very things they worshipped for their preservation were used to describe their own destruction. We see the extreme contrast and irony in the metaphor usage of Isaiah.
Tow and spark
(Isaiah 1:31) And the strong shall be as tow, and the maker of it as a spark, and they shall both burn together, and none shall quench them. Tow is a fiber used as tinder. It’s a fiber taken from the flax plant. And tinder is a very flammable stubstance. Many things can be used for tinder; tow being one of them. Anyhow, tow and a spark is a recipe for fire. A spark around tow means ignition; fast and furious. So what exactly is going on here? In studying about the tow and spark, I came across some very interesting findings.
Firstly, I’d like to say that my hat goes off to the King James Bible translators. I’m am just in awe at the work they have done on this verse. In checking the meaning of the text by parsing through commentaries, my flags and alarms always go off when the commentator starts belittling the King James translation. This is what Barnes had to say:
And the maker of it – This is an unhappy translation. The word פעלו poalo may be indeed a participle, and be rendered ‘its maker,’ but it is more commonly a noun, and means his work, or his action. This is its plain meaning here.
Now, the word actually used is וּפֹעֲל֖וֹ (ū·p̄ō·‘ă·lōw) not פעלו poalo . So if it was that plain, then why would the King James translators, some of the greatest scholars to live, get this wrong? Well, because they didn’t. Barnes goes on to explain his interpretation:
It means, that as a spark enkindles tow, so the works or deeds of a wicked nation shall be the occasion or cause of their destruction… So it means here, that the crimes and hypocrisy of the nation would be the real cause of all the calamities that would come upon them as a people…. So the people and their works would be enkindled and destroyed together.
Sounds good, doesn’t it? The problem is that this is not what it says. In order to maintain this interpretation, you have change what the King James translators wrote. They didn’t say their works. They said the maker of it. Surely the King James translators considered the relationship between the toe and the spark and would have endeavored to come up with something that makes sense. How can the strong and the maker of it possible relate to each other as the tow and the spark? And in trying to answer that question is why the translators and commentators change worker to the work or their work. That way, we can understand that the strong and their work shall be consumed together, and that makes sense to us. It makes no sense to most the King James way. Or does it?
Interestingly, out of 26 of the most widely used English translations of the bible, every single one but the King James translation translates it like Barnes does and most all commentator make the subsequent interpretation: That Isaiah is saying that the worker and their work shall be consumed together. So this is where the King James Bible stands apart and alone. How can they all be wrong and one be right? Let me explain. If you look at Isaiah, you will see that it’s actually written in a poetic fashion. Here is the stanza in question:
28 And the destruction of the transgressors and of the sinners shall be together, and they that forsake the LORD shall be consumed.
29 For they shall be ashamed of the oaks which ye have desired, and ye shall be confounded for the gardens that ye have chosen.
30 For ye shall be as an oak whose leaf fadeth, and as a garden that hath no water.
31 And the strong shall be as tow, and the maker of it as a spark, and they shall both burn together, and none shall quench them.
Firstly, look at verse 28, the first line of the stanza. It says very clearly that two shall be destroyed together: the transgressors and the sinners. And then it groups them together and says that they shall be consumed. So that’s the main idea of the stanza. The two shall burn together; the transgressor and the sinner. God makes a distinction between two people: the transgressor and the sinner. Now, what exactly is the difference? We’ll cover that later. Follow me for now.
Then look at the subsequent verses. Verse 29 now makes another double distinction and addresses two different people: those that have desires oaks, and those that had chosen gardens. And no doubt that Isaiah is referring to the idolatry of the day; the worship of trees, and the gardens of worship. These were different ways that the people of Israel had gone off into idolatry.
Then look at verse 30. Isaiah now carries out that distinction into two different descriptions. So, this is a bit of an assumption, but it makes more sense than changing the meaning of words. They that desired oaks in verse 29 shall be as an oak in verse 30. And they that have chosen gardens in verse 29 shall be as a garden in verse 30. This is poetry.
So, in keeping with the pattern and the main idea of the stanza, we enter into verse 31 and see the same distinctions made. The transgressors (28) that desires oaks (29) that shall be as an oak (30) are the strong that shall be as tow (31). And the sinners (28) that chose gardens (29) that shall be as a garden (30) are the maker of it that shall be as a spark (31). And these two that shall be consumed in verse 28 are the same that shall both burn together and none shall quench in verse 31.
Now if that is how we are to understand this, then the King James translators were precisely right in how they translated that word and the multitude of other bibles and their commentators are wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong. I think these translators shall be as tow, and these commentators as a spark, and they shall both burn together. I just happened to stumble upon this. It’s just one little word. Most people would never give it a second thought. But I ask this: What else have they changed? What else have they gotten wrong? I am finding that every time I see a commentator bash the King James Bible, if I take the time to study it, I’ll find every time the King James translators vindicated; I’ll learn more and get a deeper, better, and more accurate understanding of God’s word. Every time!
A better interpretation…
So there’s nothing wrong with saying that the worker and his work shall burn together. Sure. Who disagrees with that? But that is not what Isaiah is getting at. He’s not saying that these certain people and their works shall burn together. He’s saying that these certain people and these other certain people shall both become what they have sought after and burn together. I see a theme. (Proverbs 23:7) For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he. And I see another theme. (Galatians 6:7) Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
Think of the irony and satire that Isaiah, or God for that matter, is using to reprove his people. You want to worship a tree? You shall become as tree! We saw this in the wilderness (Numbers 11:18-20) Sanctify yourselves against to morrow, and ye shall eat flesh: for ye have wept in the ears of the LORD, saying, Who shall give us flesh to eat? for it was well with us in Egypt: therefore the LORD will give you flesh, and ye shall eat. 19 Ye shall not eat one day, nor two days, nor five days, neither ten days, nor twenty days; 20But even a whole month, until it come out at your nostrils, and it be loathsome unto you: because that ye have despised the LORD which is among you, and have wept before him, saying, Why came we forth out of Egypt?
They have sought after oaks, but they will become as an oak; but dry, dread, and lifeless, ready for the fire. They have sought after gardens, but they will beomce as a garden without water; also dry dead and lifeless. Both of these are highly flammable, ready to burn and easily burned. They together will be as the tow and the spark. Their consummation will ignite suddenly and with intensity as the tow and the spark. And they together will burn and none shall be able to quench them. It will start quickly. And once it starts, it cannot be stopped.
A new question…
Now, this brings us to the question: What is the difference between the transgressor and the sinner? So the first verses that come to mind is this: (Romans 5:12-14) Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: So we’re all sinners. But then read on. 13 (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. 14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come. Notice the word transgression. Paul is saying that they were sinners, but not transgressors. They didn’t do what Adam did, but they came under the same condemnation. Interesting thought. This is how the Holy Ghost works: My wife, just last night, shared this verse with the family during our bible reading:
(Leviticus 5:14-19) And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 15 If a soul commit a trespass, and sin through ignorance, in the holy things of the LORD; then he shall bring for his trespass unto the LORD a ram without blemish out of the flocks, with thy estimation by shekels of silver, after the shekel of the sanctuary, for a trespass offering: 16 And he shall make amends for the harm that he hath done in the holy thing, and shall add the fifth part thereto, and give it unto the priest: and the priest shall make an atonement for him with the ram of the trespass offering, and it shall be forgiven him. 17 And if a soul sin, and commit any of these things which are forbidden to be done by the commandments of the LORD; though he wist it not, yet is he guilty, and shall bear his iniquity. 18 And he shall bring a ram without blemish out of the flock, with thy estimation, for a trespass offering, unto the priest: and the priest shall make an atonement for him concerning his ignorance wherein he erred and wist it not, and it shall be forgiven him. 19 It is a trespass offering: he hath certainly trespassed against the LORD.
Here God makes a distinction between tresspassing and sinning through ignorance. You can cross over a line knowingly or unknowingly. Either way, you crossed the line. God gives the same instructions in offering to those who sinned through ignorance as those that did so knowingly and then says vehemently It is a trespass offering: he hath certainly trespassed against the LORD.
So looking back in Isaiah and the idolatry of the people of Israel, what I am seeing is there is a distinction between those that knowingly transgressed the law of God and those that have done so unknowingly. Look, let’s face it. Most church members don’t ready and study their bibles. They take for granted that what that man up on the pulpit is telling them is correct. Though they have heard the word of God, they have unknowingly followed unsound doctrine into error; and consequently into sin. The point is that the one on the pulpit and the one on the pew will both suffer the consequences together.
The word transgressors is translated from the word פֹּשְׁעִ֛ים (pō-šə-‘îm) with comes from the word pasha פָּשַׁע (paw-shah’). This word speaks of rebellion and revolting, absolute transgression against God. A transgressor is knowingly and willingly against God. The word sinners is translated from the word וְחַטָּאִ֖ים (wə-ḥaṭ-ṭā-’îm) which comes from the word chatta חַטָּאּים (khat-taw’). This word speaks of a criminal, one who has been accounted guilty, one who is reckoned as an offender; a condemned man.
So can you see how one can be a sinner, but not necessarily a transgressor. None the less, they both will suffered the same consequences as the transgressor. The proud enemy of God will suffer the same fate as the ignorant poor wretch. Both are ready for the fire. But I’ll say this: Though they both are deserving of the same condemnation, they are also both eligible for the same salvation. He will save the transgressor (Isaiah 53:12) He was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. Paul said (Romans 5:10) When we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son.
And he will save the sinner. (Romans 5:8) But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. That is the ignorant sinner. He saved Paul, (1 Timothy 1:13) Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. In Athens, when Paul stood on Mar’s hill and preached the Lord Jesus Christ he said (Acts 17:23) For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.
More application…
I believe Isaiah was an ambassador of God, declaring judgment to all of Israel; not just to the rulers, the priests, the prophets, and the scribes. No, to all that ignorantly followed them and partook in their trespasses did Isaiah address. (Galatians 6:7) Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. We will undoubtedly reap whether we sow knowingly, or unknowingly. What a stern warning! They, the commentators, all say that the transgressor will burn along with their works. But the King James Bible says that they will burn along with all them follow them. Be careful who you follow. Be careful what you believe. Be not deceived.
So, what Isaiah is addressing, is the relationship between the transgressors and the sinners. An ignorant sinner is tempted to think that his sin will somehow be excused because of his ignorance; that his transgression is not as bad; that there is a distance that should be established between the two. In other words the relationship between the sinner and the transgressor is one of neutrality; and inert.
But contrarily, God says no. It is one of an explosive nature. The ignorant sinner is just as offensive and abominable to God as the proud fist-shaking transgressor. He cares not the mind of God. The ignorant sinner is aloof and oblivious to the things of God. It’s all foolishness to him. And together with the transgressor they kindle the wrath of Almighty God.
Remember the warning to Ezekiel concerning the watchman? (Ezekiel 33:6) But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman’s hand. My point is that regardless whether or not the watchman does his job, his blood, which is the people’s blood, is going to spill. God is saying that it will be as if the watchman killed them himself. Either way, they’re gonna be killed.
The sinner, at the judgement bar, will say, I didn’t know; but God will say, No, you didn’t care. The sinner will say, I was mislead; but God will say, No, you didn’t have to follow. The sinner will say, I’ve been deceived; but God will say, No, you’ve been a fool. God turns to the proud fist-shaking transgressor and says, Repent; turn ye from your wicked ways; I will forgive. And they say, Take a hike; we don’t want you or your laws! We worship the oaks! God says, You’ll be as an oak, but dead, dry, and ready to burn like the tow. Then God turns to the ignorant sinner that knew no better and says, Repent, turn ye from your wicked ways; I will forgive. And they say nothing. They just smile and pass God by and walk on to their gardens. And God says, There goes the spark!
And this is why we use the King James Bible. The message is lost in all the other versions. God help us!
Conclusion
These metaphors are all things that people of that time understood; things of their trade, their knowledge, things common and familiar. In pondering this task of reading and understanding Isaiah, what a surprise and wonder it is to me that the Holy Ghost has inspired the use of such plain and common things to reveal the mind of God. Isaiah is not so difficult and mysterious aswe initially believed.