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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Isaiah 5:20 Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who turn darkness to light and light to darkness, who replace bitter with sweet and sweet with bitter.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/isaiah/5-20.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/13/23_Isa_05_20.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Isaiah 5:20 - Woes to the Wicked" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who turn darkness to light and light to darkness, who replace bitter with sweet and sweet with bitter." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/isaiah/5-20.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/isaiah/5-20.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/isaiah/">Isaiah</a> > <a href="/isaiah/5.htm">Chapter 5</a> > Verse 20</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad20.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/isaiah/5-19.htm" title="Isaiah 5:19">◄</a> Isaiah 5:20 <a href="/isaiah/5-21.htm" title="Isaiah 5:21">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv">Verse<a href="/bsb/isaiah/5.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><a href="/niv/isaiah/5.htm">New International Version</a> 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. <a href="/nlt/isaiah/5.htm">New Living Translation</a> What sorrow for those who say that evil is good and good is evil, that dark is light and light is dark, that bitter is sweet and sweet is bitter. <a href="/esv/isaiah/5.htm">English Standard Version</a> 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! <a href="/bsb/isaiah/5.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a> Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who turn darkness to light and light to darkness, who replace bitter with sweet and sweet with bitter. <a href="/kjv/isaiah/5.htm">King James Bible</a> Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! <a href="/nkjv/isaiah/5.htm">New King James Version</a> 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! <a href="/nasb_/isaiah/5.htm">New American Standard Bible</a> Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; Who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter! <a href="/nasb/isaiah/5.htm">NASB 1995</a> Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; Who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter! <a href="/nasb77/isaiah/5.htm">NASB 1977 </a> Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; Who substitute bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! <a href="/lsb/isaiah/5.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a> Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness, Who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter! <a href="/amp/isaiah/5.htm">Amplified Bible</a> Woe (judgment is coming) to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; Who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter! <a href="/csb/isaiah/5.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a> Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness, who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter. <a href="/hcsb/isaiah/5.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a> Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness, who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter. <a href="/asv/isaiah/5.htm">American Standard Version</a> Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! <a href="/cev/isaiah/5.htm">Contemporary English Version</a> You are headed for trouble! You say wrong is right, darkness is light, and bitter is sweet. <a href="/erv/isaiah/5.htm">English Revised Version</a> Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! <a href="/gwt/isaiah/5.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a> How horrible it will be for those who call evil good and good evil, who turn darkness into light and light into darkness, who turn what is bitter into something sweet and what is sweet into something bitter. <a href="/gnt/isaiah/5.htm">Good News Translation</a> You are doomed! You call evil good and call good evil. You turn darkness into light and light into darkness. You make what is bitter sweet, and what is sweet you make bitter. <a href="/isv/isaiah/5.htm">International Standard Version</a> "How terrible it will be for those who call evil good and good evil, who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness, who substitute what is bitter for what is sweet and what is sweet for what is bitter!" <a href="/msb/isaiah/5.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a> Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who turn darkness to light and light to darkness, who replace bitter with sweet and sweet with bitter. <a href="/net/isaiah/5.htm">NET Bible</a> Those who call evil good and good evil are as good as dead, who turn darkness into light and light into darkness, who turn bitter into sweet and sweet into bitter. <a href="/nheb/isaiah/5.htm">New Heart English Bible</a> 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. <a href="/wbt/isaiah/5.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a> Woe to them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! <a href="/web/isaiah/5.htm">World English Bible</a> 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! <div class="vheading2">Literal Translations</div><a href="/lsv/isaiah/5.htm">Literal Standard Version</a> Woe [to] those saying to evil “good,” and to good “evil,” "" Putting darkness for light, and light for darkness, "" Putting bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter. <a href="/ylt/isaiah/5.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a> Woe to those saying to evil 'good,' And to good 'evil,' Putting darkness for light, and light for darkness, Putting bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter. <a href="/slt/isaiah/5.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a> Wo to those saying, to evil, good, and to the good, evil; putting darkness for light, and light for darkness; putting bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitten.<div class="vheading2">Catholic Translations</div><a href="/drb/isaiah/5.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a> Woe to you that call evil good, and good evil: that put darkness for light, and light for darkness: that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter. <a href="/cpdv/isaiah/5.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a> Woe to you who call evil good, and good evil; who substitute darkness for light, and light for darkness; who exchange bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! <a href="/nabre/isaiah/5.htm">New American Bible</a> Ah! Those who call evil good, and good evil, who change darkness to light, and light into darkness, who change bitter to sweet, and sweet into bitter! <a href="/nrsvce/isaiah/5.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a> Ah, you 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!<div class="vheading2">Translations from Aramaic</div><a href="/lamsa/isaiah/5.htm">Lamsa Bible</a> Woe to them 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! <a href="/hpbt/isaiah/5.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a> Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, and put light for darkness and darkness for light, and put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!<div class="vheading2">OT Translations</div><a href="/jps/isaiah/5.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a> Woe unto them that call evil good, And good evil; That change darkness into light, And light into darkness; That change bitter into sweet, And sweet into bitter! <a href="/sep/isaiah/5.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a> Woe to them that call evil good, and good evil; who make darkness light, and light darkness; who make bitter sweet, and sweet bitter. <a href="/parallel/isaiah/5-20.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv">Audio Bible</div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Xv9bHT-nr9s?start=1061" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="vheadingv">Context</div><a href="/bsb/isaiah/5.htm">Woes to the Wicked</a> …19to those who say, “Let Him hurry and hasten His work so that we may see it! Let the plan of the Holy One of Israel come so that we may know it!” 20<a href="/hebrew/1945.htm" title="1945: hō·w (Interjection) -- Ah! alas! ha! A prolonged form of how; oh!">Woe</a> <a href="/hebrew/559.htm" title="559: hā·’ō·mə·rîm (Art:: V-Qal-Prtcpl-mp) -- To utter, say. A primitive root; to say.">to those who call</a> <a href="/hebrew/7451.htm" title="7451: lā·ra‘ (Prep-l, Art:: Adj-ms) -- Bad, evil. From ra'a'; bad or evil.">evil</a> <a href="/hebrew/2896.htm" title="2896: ṭō·wḇ (N-ms) -- Pleasant, agreeable, good.">good</a> <a href="/hebrew/2896.htm" title="2896: wə·laṭ·ṭō·wḇ (Conj-w, Prep-l, Art:: N-ms) -- Pleasant, agreeable, good.">and good</a> <a href="/hebrew/7451.htm" title="7451: rā‘ (Adj-ms) -- Bad, evil. From ra'a'; bad or evil.">evil,</a> <a href="/hebrew/7760.htm" title="7760: śā·mîm (V-Qal-Prtcpl-mp) -- To put, place, set. Or siym; a primitive root; to put.">who turn</a> <a href="/hebrew/2822.htm" title="2822: ḥō·šeḵ (N-ms) -- From chashak; the dark; hence darkness; figuratively, misery, destruction, death, ignorance, sorrow, wickedness.">darkness</a> <a href="/hebrew/216.htm" title="216: lə·’ō·wr (Prep-l:: N-cs) -- A light. From 'owr; illumination or luminary.">to light</a> <a href="/hebrew/216.htm" title="216: wə·’ō·wr (Conj-w:: N-cs) -- A light. From 'owr; illumination or luminary.">and light</a> <a href="/hebrew/2822.htm" title="2822: lə·ḥō·šeḵ (Prep-l:: N-ms) -- From chashak; the dark; hence darkness; figuratively, misery, destruction, death, ignorance, sorrow, wickedness.">to darkness,</a> <a href="/hebrew/7760.htm" title="7760: śā·mîm (V-Qal-Prtcpl-mp) -- To put, place, set. Or siym; a primitive root; to put.">who replace</a> <a href="/hebrew/4751.htm" title="4751: mar (Adj-ms) -- Bitter, bitterness. Or marah; from marar; bitter; also bitterness, or bitterly.">bitter</a> <a href="/hebrew/4966.htm" title="4966: lə·mā·ṯō·wq (Prep-l:: Adj-ms) -- Sweet, sweetness. Or mathuwq; from mathaq; sweet.">with sweet</a> <a href="/hebrew/4966.htm" title="4966: ū·mā·ṯō·wq (Conj-w:: Adj-ms) -- Sweet, sweetness. Or mathuwq; from mathaq; sweet.">and sweet</a> <a href="/hebrew/4751.htm" title="4751: lə·mār (Prep-l:: Adj-ms) -- Bitter, bitterness. Or marah; from marar; bitter; also bitterness, or bitterly.">with bitter.</a> 21Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div> <a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><a href="/proverbs/17-15.htm">Proverbs 17:15</a> Acquitting the guilty and condemning the righteous—both are detestable to the LORD. <a href="/amos/5-7.htm">Amos 5:7</a> There are those who turn justice into wormwood and cast righteousness to the ground. <a href="/micah/3-2.htm">Micah 3:2</a> You hate good and love evil. You tear the skin from my people and strip the flesh from their bones. <a href="/malachi/2-17.htm">Malachi 2:17</a> You have wearied the LORD with your words; yet you ask, “How have we wearied Him?” By saying, “All who do evil are good in the sight of the LORD, and in them He delights,” or, “Where is the God of justice?” <a href="/romans/1-18.htm">Romans 1:18</a> The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness. <a href="/2_timothy/3-1.htm">2 Timothy 3:1-5</a> But understand this: In the last days terrible times will come. / For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, / unloving, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, without love of good, ... <a href="/matthew/6-23.htm">Matthew 6:23</a> But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness! <a href="/john/3-19.htm">John 3:19-20</a> And this is the verdict: The Light has come into the world, but men loved the darkness rather than the Light because their deeds were evil. / Everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come into the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. <a href="/ephesians/5-8.htm">Ephesians 5:8-11</a> For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light, / for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth. / Test and prove what pleases the Lord. ... <a href="/2_corinthians/11-13.htm">2 Corinthians 11:13-15</a> For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. / And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. / It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their actions. <a href="/1_john/1-5.htm">1 John 1:5-6</a> And this is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you: God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. / If we say we have fellowship with Him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. <a href="/1_john/2-9.htm">1 John 2:9-11</a> If anyone claims to be in the light but hates his brother, he is still in the darkness. / Whoever loves his brother remains in the light, and there is no cause of stumbling in him. / But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness. He does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes. <a href="/jeremiah/23-14.htm">Jeremiah 23:14</a> And among the prophets of Jerusalem I have seen a horrible thing: They commit adultery and walk in lies. They strengthen the hands of evildoers, so that no one turns his back on wickedness. They are all like Sodom to Me; the people of Jerusalem are like Gomorrah.” <a href="/ezekiel/22-26.htm">Ezekiel 22:26</a> Her priests do violence to My law and profane My holy things. They make no distinction between the holy and the common, and they fail to distinguish between the clean and the unclean. They disregard My Sabbaths, so that I am profaned among them. <a href="/zephaniah/3-4.htm">Zephaniah 3:4</a> Her prophets are reckless, faithless men. Her priests profane the sanctuary; they do violence to the law.</div> <a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div>Woe to them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!them<a href="/proverbs/17-15.htm">Proverbs 17:15</a> He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD.<a href="/malachi/2-17.htm">Malachi 2:17</a> Ye have wearied the LORD with your words. Yet ye say, Wherein have we wearied him? When ye say, Every one that doeth evil is good in the sight of the LORD, and he delighteth in them; or, Where is the God of judgment?<a href="/malachi/3-15.htm">Malachi 3:15</a> And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are set up; yea, they that tempt God are even delivered.call evil good.<div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/isaiah/3-15.htm">Bitter</a> <a href="/proverbs/31-8.htm">Change</a> <a href="/isaiah/5-18.htm">Cursed</a> <a href="/isaiah/2-20.htm">Dark</a> <a href="/ecclesiastes/11-8.htm">Darkness</a> <a href="/isaiah/5-18.htm">Evil</a> <a href="/isaiah/5-4.htm">Good</a> <a href="/isaiah/2-5.htm">Light</a> <a href="/isaiah/5-8.htm">Putting</a> <a href="/leviticus/27-33.htm">Substitute</a> <a href="/isaiah/3-24.htm">Sweet</a> <a href="/isaiah/5-18.htm">Woe</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/isaiah/8-21.htm">Bitter</a> <a href="/isaiah/9-10.htm">Change</a> <a href="/isaiah/5-21.htm">Cursed</a> <a href="/isaiah/5-30.htm">Dark</a> <a href="/isaiah/5-30.htm">Darkness</a> <a href="/isaiah/6-7.htm">Evil</a> <a href="/isaiah/7-15.htm">Good</a> <a href="/isaiah/9-2.htm">Light</a> <a href="/isaiah/10-31.htm">Putting</a> <a href="/leviticus/27-10.htm">Substitute</a> <a href="/isaiah/16-7.htm">Sweet</a> <a href="/isaiah/5-21.htm">Woe</a><div class="vheading2">Isaiah 5</div>1. <a href="/isaiah/5-1.htm">Under the parable of a vineyard, God excuses his severe judgment</a> 8. <a href="/isaiah/5-8.htm">His judgments upon covetousness</a> 11. <a href="/isaiah/5-11.htm">Upon lasciviousness</a> 13. <a href="/isaiah/5-13.htm">Upon impiety</a> 20. <a href="/isaiah/5-20.htm">And upon injustice</a> 26. <a href="/isaiah/5-26.htm">The executioners of God's judgments</a> </div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/isaiah/5.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/isaiah/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/isaiah/5.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div>Woe to those who call evil good and good evil This phrase is a strong denunciation of moral relativism and the distortion of truth. In the biblical context, "woe" is a pronouncement of judgment and lamentation. The prophet Isaiah is addressing the leaders and people of Judah who have strayed from God's commandments. This reversal of moral values is a direct violation of God's law, which clearly defines good and evil. The cultural context of Isaiah's time was one where idolatry and injustice were prevalent, leading to a society where moral standards were compromised. This warning is echoed in other scriptures, such as <a href="/proverbs/17-15.htm">Proverbs 17:15</a>, which condemns justifying the wicked and condemning the righteous. The New Testament also addresses this theme, as seen in <a href="/romans/1-18.htm">Romans 1:18-32</a>, where Paul speaks of those who suppress the truth in unrighteousness.who turn darkness to light and light to darkness This phrase highlights the confusion and deception that occurs when truth is obscured. In biblical symbolism, light often represents truth, righteousness, and the presence of God, while darkness symbolizes sin, ignorance, and evil. Isaiah's use of this imagery underscores the gravity of misleading others by presenting falsehoods as truth. This concept is further explored in the New Testament, where Jesus is described as the "light of the world" (<a href="/john/8-12.htm">John 8:12</a>), and believers are called to walk in the light (1 <a href="/john/1-7.htm">John 1:7</a>). The deliberate inversion of light and darkness is a tactic of the enemy, as seen in <a href="/2_corinthians/11-14.htm">2 Corinthians 11:14</a>, where Satan masquerades as an angel of light.who replace bitter with sweet and sweet with bitter This phrase continues the theme of moral inversion, using the metaphor of taste to illustrate the perversion of values. In the ancient Near Eastern culture, taste was a common metaphor for experience and discernment. The replacement of bitter with sweet and vice versa signifies a distortion of reality and an inability to discern what is truly beneficial or harmful. This imagery is reminiscent of the deception in the Garden of Eden, where the serpent presented the forbidden fruit as desirable (<a href="/genesis/3.htm">Genesis 3:1-6</a>). The prophet Amos also speaks against those who pervert justice and righteousness (<a href="/amos/5-7.htm">Amos 5:7</a>). In the New Testament, <a href="/hebrews/5-14.htm">Hebrews 5:14</a> emphasizes the importance of mature discernment to distinguish good from evil.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <a href="/topical/i/isaiah.htm">Isaiah</a> A major prophet in the Old Testament, Isaiah is the author of the book bearing his name. He prophesied to the Kingdom of Judah during a time of moral and spiritual decline. 2. <a href="/topical/j/judah.htm">Judah</a> The southern kingdom of Israel, which Isaiah addressed in his prophecies. The people of Judah were often rebuked for their idolatry and injustice. 3. <a href="/topical/p/prophetic_warnings.htm">Prophetic Warnings</a> Isaiah 5 is part of a series of "woes" pronounced by the prophet, warning the people of Judah about the consequences of their moral and spiritual corruption.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><a href="/topical/m/moral_clarity.htm">Moral Clarity</a> Christians are called to discern between good and evil, using Scripture as the ultimate guide. <a href="/topical/c/cultural_discernment.htm">Cultural Discernment</a> Believers must be vigilant against cultural trends that redefine morality contrary to biblical standards. <a href="/topical/s/spiritual_vigilance.htm">Spiritual Vigilance</a> Regular self-examination and repentance are necessary to avoid falling into the trap of moral inversion. <a href="/topical/i/influence_of_light.htm">Influence of Light</a> As followers of Christ, we are to be the light in a world that often confuses darkness for light. <a href="/topical/g/guarding_the_heart.htm">Guarding the Heart</a> Protecting our hearts and minds through prayer and Scripture helps us maintain a clear understanding of God's truth.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_isaiah_5.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Isaiah 5</a> <a href="/q/what's_'conversations_with_god'_about.htm">What is "Conversations with God" about?</a> <a href="/q/why_call_evil_good_and_good_evil.htm">Why label evil as good and good as evil?</a> <a href="/q/why_is_the_thessalonian_church_important.htm">Why label evil as good and good as evil?</a> <a href="/q/is_it_a_necessary_evil.htm">Is it a necessary evil?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/isaiah/5.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(20) Woe unto them that call evil good.--The moral state described was the natural outcome of the sins condemned in the preceding verses. So Thucydides (iii. 82-84) describes the effects of the spirit of party in the Peloponnesian war. Rashness was called courage, and prudence timidity, and treachery cleverness, and honesty stupidity. That deliberate perversion is in all ages the ultimate outcome of the spirit that knows not God, and therefore neither fears nor loves Him, whether it shows itself in the licence of profligacy, or the diplomacy of Machiavellian statesmen, or the speculations of the worshippers of Mammon.<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/isaiah/5.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div>Verse 20. - Woe unto them that call evil good. This is the fourth woe. There are persons who gloss over evil deeds and evil habits by fair-sounding names, who call cowardice caution, and rashness courage, stinginess thrift, and wasteful profusion generosity. The same men are apt also to call good evil; they brand prudence with the name of cunning, call meekness want of proper spirit, sincerity rudeness, and firmness obstinacy. This deadness to moral distinctions is the sign of deep moral corruption, and fully deserves to have a special "woe" pronounced against it. That put darkness for light. "Light" and "darkness" symbolize good and evil throughout Scripture (<a href="/1_samuel/2-9.htm">1 Samuel 2:9</a>; <a href="/2_samuel/22-29.htm">2 Samuel 22:29</a>; <a href="/job/29-3.htm">Job 29:3</a>; <a href="/psalms/112-4.htm">Psalm 112:4</a>; <a href="/proverbs/2-13.htm">Proverbs 2:13</a>; <a href="/ecclesiastes/2-13.htm">Ecclesiastes 2:13</a>; <a href="/isaiah/9-2.htm">Isaiah 9:2</a>; <a href="/matthew/6-22.htm">Matthew 6:22</a>; <a href="/john/1-19.htm">John 1:19</a>; <a href="/acts/26-18.htm">Acts 26:18</a>; <a href="/romans/13-12.htm">Romans 13:12</a>; <a href="/1_corinthians/4-5.htm">1 Corinthians 4:5</a>, etc.). They are sometimes mere synonyms, as here; but sometimes they express rather the intellectual side of morality. Bitter for sweet. More symbolism, but of a rarer kind. Jeremiah calls wickedness "bitter" (Jeremiah 2:9; 4:18), and the psalmist calls the judgments of God" sweet" (Psalm 109:103). But the terms are not often used with any moral bearing. <a href="/commentaries/isaiah/5-20.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a> <a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div>Woe ה֣וֹי (hō·w) Interjection <a href="/hebrew/strongs_1945.htm">Strong's 1945: </a> Ah! alas! ha! to those who call הָאֹמְרִ֥ים (hā·’ō·mə·rîm) Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_559.htm">Strong's 559: </a> To utter, say evil לָרַ֛ע (lā·ra‘) Preposition-l, Article | Adjective - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_7451.htm">Strong's 7451: </a> Bad, evil good ט֖וֹב (ṭō·wḇ) Noun - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_2896.htm">Strong's 2896: </a> Pleasant, agreeable, good and good וְלַטּ֣וֹב (wə·laṭ·ṭō·wḇ) Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_2896.htm">Strong's 2896: </a> Pleasant, agreeable, good evil, רָ֑ע (rā‘) Adjective - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_7451.htm">Strong's 7451: </a> Bad, evil who turn שָׂמִ֨ים (śā·mîm) Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_7760.htm">Strong's 7760: </a> Put -- to put, place, set darkness חֹ֤שֶׁךְ (ḥō·šeḵ) Noun - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_2822.htm">Strong's 2822: </a> The dark, darkness, misery, destruction, death, ignorance, sorrow, wickedness to light לְאוֹר֙ (lə·’ō·wr) Preposition-l | Noun - common singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_216.htm">Strong's 216: </a> Illumination, luminary and light וְא֣וֹר (wə·’ō·wr) Conjunctive waw | Noun - common singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_216.htm">Strong's 216: </a> Illumination, luminary to darkness, לְחֹ֔שֶׁךְ (lə·ḥō·šeḵ) Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_2822.htm">Strong's 2822: </a> The dark, darkness, misery, destruction, death, ignorance, sorrow, wickedness who replace שָׂמִ֥ים (śā·mîm) Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural <a href="/hebrew/strongs_7760.htm">Strong's 7760: </a> Put -- to put, place, set bitter מַ֛ר (mar) Adjective - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_4751.htm">Strong's 4751: </a> Bitter, bitterness, bitterly with sweet לְמָת֖וֹק (lə·mā·ṯō·wq) Preposition-l | Adjective - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_4966.htm">Strong's 4966: </a> Sweet, sweetness and sweet וּמָת֥וֹק (ū·mā·ṯō·wq) Conjunctive waw | Adjective - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_4966.htm">Strong's 4966: </a> Sweet, sweetness with bitter. לְמָֽר׃ (lə·mār) Preposition-l | Adjective - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_4751.htm">Strong's 4751: </a> Bitter, bitterness, bitterly <div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/isaiah/5-20.htm">Isaiah 5:20 NIV</a> <a href="/nlt/isaiah/5-20.htm">Isaiah 5:20 NLT</a> <a href="/esv/isaiah/5-20.htm">Isaiah 5:20 ESV</a> <a href="/nasb/isaiah/5-20.htm">Isaiah 5:20 NASB</a> <a href="/kjv/isaiah/5-20.htm">Isaiah 5:20 KJV</a> <a href="//bibleapps.com/isaiah/5-20.htm">Isaiah 5:20 BibleApps.com</a> <a href="//bibliaparalela.com/isaiah/5-20.htm">Isaiah 5:20 Biblia Paralela</a> <a href="//holybible.com.cn/isaiah/5-20.htm">Isaiah 5:20 Chinese Bible</a> <a href="//saintebible.com/isaiah/5-20.htm">Isaiah 5:20 French Bible</a> <a href="/catholic/isaiah/5-20.htm">Isaiah 5:20 Catholic Bible</a> <a href="/isaiah/5-20.htm">OT Prophets: Isaiah 5:20 Woe to those who call evil good (Isa Isi Is)</a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/isaiah/5-19.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Isaiah 5:19"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Isaiah 5:19" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/isaiah/5-21.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Isaiah 5:21"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Isaiah 5:21" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>