Isaiah 1:22

“Thy silver is become dross, &c.] Meaning either that such persons, who had the appearance of goodness, looked like genuine silver, were now become reprobate, and, as the wicked of the earth, like dross, (<240630>Jeremiah 6:30 <19B9119>Psalm 119:119) or that the word of God, which is as silver purified seven times, was now corrupted with false glosses and human traditions, which were as dross: thy wine mixed with waterf36; the wine of the divine word, which was mixed and blended with the inventions of men, as before; so the roof of the church’s mouth, which is no other than the ministry of the word, is compared to the best wine, (<220709>Song of Solomon 7:9,11).”

“Thy princes and people are degenerate in "solid worth," equivalent to "silver" (Jer 6:28, Jer 6:30; Eze 22:18-19), and in their use of the living Word, equivalent to "wine" (Sol 7:9). mixed--literally, "circumcised." So the Arabic, "to murder" wine, equivalent to dilute it.”

“Thy silver - The sentiment in this verse, as it is explained by the following, is, thy 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. Thy 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 - to wit, their…”

“silver: Jer 6:28-30; Lam 4:1, Lam 4:2; Eze 22:18-22; Hos 6:4 wine: Hos 4:18; Co2 2:17 Isaiah 1:23”

“The complaint now turns from the city generally to the authorities, and first of all figuratively. "Thy silver has become dross, thy drink mutilated with water." It is upon this passage that the figurative language of Jer 6:27. and Eze 22:18-22 is founded. Silver is here a figurative representation of the princes and lords, with special reference to the nobility of character naturally associated with nobility of birth and rank; for silver - refined silver - is an image of all that is noble and pure, light in all its purity being reflected by it (Bhr, Symbolik, i. 284). The princes and lords had once possessed all the virtues which the Latins called unitedly Candor animi, viz., the virtues of…”