Contradiction with Isaiah 1:18
This verse suggests that sins can be made white as snow, contradicting the idea that no amount of soap or nitre can cleanse the iniquity mentioned in Jeremiah 2:22.
Isaiah 1:18: Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
Contradiction with Psalm 51:7
This verse indicates that purging with hyssop will make one clean, contradicting the notion in Jeremiah 2:22 that external cleansing agents are ineffective.
Psalm 51:7: Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Paradox #1
Jeremiah 2:22 might seem to contradict the idea of forgiveness and redemption found elsewhere in the Bible. In some parts, the Bible emphasizes that people can be cleansed from their sins through repentance and faith. However, Jeremiah 2:22 emphasizes that certain actions or efforts made by people might not be enough to remove their guilt or impurity. This can seem inconsistent unless understood in the context of highlighting the limitations of relying solely on human efforts for spiritual cleansing, as opposed to seeking divine forgiveness.
Paradox #2
Certain interpretations of this verse might be seen as contradictory to scientific understandings of cleanliness or moral purity. While the verse uses metaphors related to washing to address moral issues, science treats cleanliness in a physical or biological sense, unrelated to moral conditions. Thus, the contradiction lies in the metaphorical versus literal approach to cleanliness.