Albert Barnes Commentary Isaiah 1:22

"Thy silver is become dross, thy wine mixed with water." — Isaiah 1:22 (ASV)

Your silver - The sentiment in this verse, as it is explained by the following, is that your princes and people have become corrupt and polluted. Silver is used here to denote what should have been more valuable—virtuous princes.

Dross - This word—סיג sı̂g—means the scoriae, or baser metal, which is separated from the purer in smelting. It is of little or no value; and the expression means that the rulers had become debased and corrupt, as if pure silver had been converted wholly to dross.

Your wine - Wine was regarded as the most pure and valuable drink among the ancients. It is used, therefore, to express that which should have been most valued and esteemed among them—namely, their rulers.

Mixed with water - Diluted, made weak. According to Gesenius, the word rendered “mixed”—מהוּל mâhûl—is from מהל mâhal—the same as מוּל mûl—to circumcise; and hence, by a figure common among the Arabians, to adulterate or dilute wine. The word does not occur in this sense elsewhere in the Scriptures, but the connection evidently requires it to be so understood.

Wine mixed with water is that which is weakened, diluted, and rendered comparatively useless. So it was with the rulers and judges. They had lost the strength and purity of their integrity by intermingling those things which tended to weaken and destroy their virtue: pride, the love of gifts, bribes, and other such things. Divested of the figure, the passage means that the rulers had become wholly corrupt.