Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD: Come now translates the Hebrew verb for “go” (in the sense of “come” here) and a small particle that adds emphasis to the call. The Hebrew verb rendered reason has the sense of setting things straight, correcting the record, as it were. With these opening words Yahweh invites Israel to come to a mutual understanding with him. He does not simply invite them to talk about something together, which is what New Jerusalem Bible implies with “Come, let us talk this over.” The meaning is “Let us bring our dispute to an end.” Good News Translation is helpful with “Now, let’s settle the matter,” and so is Revised English Bible with “Now come, let us argue this out.” As readers can see, the direction of the speech is one way in verses 18-20: Yahweh speaks and challenges Israel with a promise followed by a threat. Perhaps a good idiomatic rendering in English is “Now [please], come and listen to reason!”

In many languages says the LORD needs to be placed at the beginning of the verse, as in Good News Translation.

Though your sins are like scarlet: This line describes a situation that already exists, but the next line contrasts it with what it can become if certain conditions are fulfilled. So Revised Standard Version translates the Hebrew particle at the beginning of this line as though, which may also be rendered “although” or “even if.” Like scarlet is a simile used to describe Israel’s sin. Elsewhere in the Old Testament, the color scarlet signifies that something is valuable, and is sometimes parallel with gold (see 2 Sam 1.24; Jer 4.30). Here the context seems to suggest that there is no particular significance in the color itself, although its association with sin implies a negative sense. Others see it as a reminder of “blood” in verse 15; for example, for this line Bible en français courant has “If your crimes have the color of blood.” Probably the best view to take is that scarlet is merely a bright and outstanding color that provides a visible contrast to white. If scarlet is not a familiar color, then “red” can be used in its place since scarlet is a shade of red. Contemporary English Version replaces the simile here with a metaphor by saying “Your sins are scarlet red.” This may be appropriate in other languages.

They shall be as white as snow: There is another color simile here. Yahweh tells Israel that even if its sins are as obvious as a piece of scarlet cloth, they can become something quite different, like something white. Not only can they be white, they can be white as snow, that is, a brilliant white. In Old Testament culture the color white can refer to something glorious (Dan 7.9) as well as to something sinister and threatening, like a terrible skin disease (Exo 4.6). Here it implies something positive: if the people repent, their sins (symbol: scarlet) can be forgiven (symbol: white). Although Revised Standard Version says they shall be white as snow (also New Jerusalem Bible), which seems to suggest that this change is inevitable, a more accurate rendering of the sense is “they may become white as snow.” The conditions that can make this change happen will be mentioned in verse 19. Revised English Bible takes this into account by saying “they may yet be white as snow.” New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh is similar with “They can turn snow-white.”

Comparing whiteness to snow is a problem in tropical areas of the world where snow is never seen and where a term for it may not even exist in the language. Some languages use their word for “hail” whenever snow is mentioned in the Bible. If such an option is not available, another simile could be used, such as sand on the beach, a cloud, or cotton. However, the simile used should fit within the Old Testament cultural context. Maybe it is better in such cases that the color white be simply emphasized by an adverb (“very white”) or by an ideophone.

Though they are red like crimson: This line and the next one are parallel to the previous two lines and provide emphasis. It begins with the same Hebrew particle as the third line. Since it has the same sense here, Revised Standard Version renders it though again. Red and crimson are synonyms in this context; they have a slight difference in shade from scarlet. All are shades of red. The Hebrew verb form rendered are red occurs elsewhere only in Nahum 2.4. It carries the sense of something that has been made red or dyed a red color. The Hebrew word for crimson is found elsewhere only in Lam 4.5 where it is translated “purple.” In Lam 4.5 it refers to clothing of that color and gives us a clue as to the sense here. Israel’s sins are as red as a cloth dyed a crimson color.

They shall become like wool: Although wool is mentioned rather than its color, the sense of this line is parallel with they shall be as white as snow: Israel’s sins can become white. If wool by itself cannot convey the sense of whiteness, translators may say “white like wool” or “white like cloth.” Wool refers to the hair of sheep that is used to make cloth. In cultures where wool is unknown, another simile may be used, but it should fit the culture of the Old Testament.

Translators who do not have sufficient terms available for the color red may consider reducing the last four lines of this verse to two, especially if there is a problem with the translation of snow as well. This would mean that only the whiteness of wool is contrasted with the redness of Israel’s sins. Contemporary English Version combines the lines, but keeps image of snow: “Your sins are scarlet red, but they will be whiter than snow or wool.” Combining the lines in this way invariably means losing some of the impact of the similes. We do not recommend following this model, except in cases of real necessity.

The similes used here could present another problem in some cultures where the colors red and white carry specific overtones. For example, in some Asian cultures red symbolizes all that is good and prosperous, while white symbolizes death. In such cases translators may consider using a term like “stain” for the color red, and “clean” instead of white; for example, the last four lines could be rendered “You are stained with sin, but I will wash you very clean. Although your stains are deep, you will be as clean as wool [or, thoroughly clean].” If the colors are kept, a footnote may be required to explain their significance.

The last four lines have a chiastic arrangement. A literal rendering of these lines reveals this pattern as follows:

Even if your sins are > like scarlet, > < like snow < they may be white; even if they are red > like crimson, > < like wool < they may become. The footnotes in Good News Translation present another possible interpretation of the last four lines, presenting them in the form of rhetorical questions. However, among the modern translations consulted, only Bible en français courant seems to have a rendering with that sense: “If your crimes have the color of blood, can they become white as snow? If they are bright red, can they take the whiteness of wool?” We recommend the more usual translation, such as in Revised Standard Version and in the text of Good News Translation.

Some translation examples for this verse are:

• Now come, [Israel,] and listen to reason, says Yahweh.
Even if your sins are red like scarlet cloth,
they can become as white as snow;
even if they are red like crimson cloth,
they can become white like wool.

• Yahweh says: “Come now and let us talk reason.
Although your sins are like a piece of scarlet cloth,
they can be made dazzling white;
although they are as red as crimson cloth,
they can become as white as wool.

Quoted with permission from Ogden, Graham S. and Sterk, Jan. A Handbook on Isaiah. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2011. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .