And I will turn my hand upon thee, and purely purge away thy dross, and take away all thy tin:

ISAIAH 1:25KJV
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Isaiah 1:25 (KJV)

What does Isaiah 1:25 mean?

Isaiah 1:25 describes God’s intention to deal with the corruption of Jerusalem, pictured as unwanted material mixed into metal. God speaks of removing what has spoiled the city, using the image of a metalworker making metal clean.

The words “turn my hand upon thee” picture God acting against the city. After the warning to enemies in verse 24, the image of refining shows that God’s action also has a purpose for Jerusalem itself.

The Hebrew behind Isaiah 1:25

  • “purely” — בֹּר (bor): This word can refer to a cleansing substance used in refining. The KJV’s “purely” emphasizes the result: the dross is purged away.
  • “tin” — בְּדִיל (bedil): This word can mean tin or another substance separated from valuable metal. Here it belongs to the picture of removing material mixed with silver.

Why Isaiah 1:25 matters

  • The metal picture gives force to an earlier description of Jerusalem. In verse 22, God says, “Thy silver is become dross”; verse 25 answers that image with the removal of the dross.
  • The verse looks beyond punishment toward a changed city. The next verse speaks of judges and counsellors being restored, followed by Jerusalem being called “The city of righteousness,” meaning a city known for doing what is right.

Where else these words appear

“purely” Hebrew H1253 · used in 2 verses

  • Job 9:30 If I wash myself with snow water, and make my hands never so clean;

“tin” Hebrew H913 · used in 6 verses

  • Numbers 31:22 Only the gold, and the silver, the brass, the iron, the tin, and the lead,
  • Ezekiel 22:18 Son of man, the house of Israel is to me become dross: all they are brass, and tin, and iron, and lead, in the midst of the furnace; they are even the dross of silver.
  • Ezekiel 27:12 Tarshish was thy merchant by reason of the multitude of all kind of riches; with silver, iron, tin, and lead, they traded in thy fairs.

“dross” Hebrew H5509 · used in 7 verses

  • Psalms 119:119 Thou puttest away all the wicked of the earth like dross: therefore I love thy testimonies.
  • Proverbs 26:23 Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross.
  • Ezekiel 22:18 Son of man, the house of Israel is to me become dross: all they are brass, and tin, and iron, and lead, in the midst of the furnace; they are even the dross of silver.

“away” Hebrew H6884 · used in 29 verses

  • Judges 7:4 And the LORD said unto Gideon, The people are yet too many; bring them down unto the water, and I will try them for thee there: and it shall be, that of whom I say unto thee, This shall go with thee, the same shall go with thee; and of whomsoever I say unto thee, This shall not go with thee, the same shall not go.
  • Psalms 66:10 For thou, O God, hast proved us: thou hast tried us, as silver is tried.
  • Jeremiah 6:29 The bellows are burned, the lead is consumed of the fire; the founder melteth in vain: for the wicked are not plucked away.