Isaiah 1:5-6

5, 6. Why should… more It is doubtful whether the question in Hebrew is, “For what reason should ye,” or, “Upon what part will ye,” be stricken any more? The latter is philologically less harsh, and it falls in better with the sense of the connecting words. The sense then is, Why permit yourselves to be smitten more? your whole person is already bruised in every part, as the proper punishment, of your voluntary evil doings. As to the word which means to smite, see it illustrated in Deuteronomy 28:22; Deuteronomy 28:27; Deuteronomy 28:35.

The whole head… the whole heart In this figure the nation is meant, and in the figure continued in the words from the sole of the foot even unto the head, the desperate moral state of all Judah subjects and rulers, priests and prophet is indicated. All are involved, not only in this condition, but in punishment for it. Not a spot in Church or body politic is left unsmitten. Isaiah 9:13-16. The intent here is not so much total depravity, (for which this passage is often quoted,) as the retributive consequences of departure from God.

Wounds Contusions, effects of blows where skin is not broken.

Putrefying sores Either recent or old, which admit not of healing.

Closed… bound… molified This language refers to the surgical treatment in that age. Medical applications were external, (Luke 10:34, James 5:14,) chiefly oil ( ointment in the text) and hand pressure, and binding with cloth no sewing up of wounds. The moral is, that priests and false prophets did not turn the people to God, who alone could heal their maladies and pardon sin, but adopted a worldly policy in their training of the nation.