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Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!

Verse Takeaways

1

The Danger of Moral Inversion

Commentators stress that this "woe" is for those who deliberately twist morality, calling evil "good" and good "evil." This isn't an innocent mistake but a willful perversion of God's standards. Scholars like John Calvin describe it as a sign of "desperate wickedness," where people rationalize their sins and condemn righteousness, effectively trying to change the very nature of reality.

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Book Overview

Isaiah

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Commentaries

5

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes

On Isaiah 5:20

18th Century

Theologian

Wo unto them that call evil good ... - This is the fourth class of sins denounced. The sin which is condemned here is that of “perv…

Charles Ellicott

Charles Ellicott

On Isaiah 5:20

19th Century

Bishop

Woe unto them that call evil good. —The moral state described was the natural outcome of the si…

John Calvin

John Calvin

On Isaiah 5:20

16th Century

Theologian

Woe to them that call evil good. Though some limit this statement to judges, yet if it is carefully examined, we will easily learn from th…

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John Gill

John Gill

On Isaiah 5:20

17th Century

Pastor

Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil That call evil actions good, and good actions evil; that excuse the one,…

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry

On Isaiah 5:8–23

17th Century

Minister

Here is a woe to those who set their hearts on the wealth of the world. It is not that it is sinful for those who have a house and a field to purch…