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Isaiah 64

BSB·12 verses ·Old Testament
✦ Tap any verse to open Scripture Explorer — original Hebrew/Greek, commentary, notes & highlights
1If onlyלוּא־lū- — If; expressing conditional desire or wishH3863 — Full Word Study → You would rendקָרַ֤עְתָּqā·ra‘·tā — to tear, rend, or split apartH7167 — Full Word Study → the heavensשָׁמַ֙יִם֙šā·ma·yim — The heavens; sky; dwelling place of GodH8064 — Full Word Study → and come downיָרַ֔דְתָּyā·raḏ·tā — To descend, go down, come downH3381 — Full Word Study →, so that mountainsהָרִ֥יםhā·rîm — Mountain, hill, or elevated land massH2022 — Full Word Study → would quakeנָזֹֽלּוּ׃nā·zōl·lū — to shake violently; to act wastefully or immorallyH2151 — Full Word Study → at Your presenceמִפָּנֶ֖יךָmip·pā·ne·ḵā — face; presence; beforeH6440 — Full Word Study →, 2as fireאֵ֣שׁ’êš — Fire; flame; burningH784 — Full Word Study → kindlesכִּקְדֹ֧חַkiq·ḏō·aḥ — to kindle, burn, inflameH6919 — Full Word Study → the brushwoodהֲמָסִ֗יםhă·mā·sîm — melting, dissolving, liquefactionH2003 — Full Word Study → and causes the waterמַ֚יִםma·yim — Water; liquid; fluidsH4325 — Full Word Study → to boilתִּבְעֶה־tiḇ·‘eh- — to inquire, seek, or ask for informationH1158 — Full Word Study →, to make Your nameשִׁמְךָ֖šim·ḵā — Name; reputation; renownH8034 — Full Word Study → knownלְהוֹדִ֥יעַlə·hō·w·ḏî·a‘ — to know, understand, perceiveH3045 — Full Word Study → to Your enemiesלְצָרֶ֑יךָlə·ṣā·re·ḵā — Narrow, tight, or distress; an adversary or enemyH6862 — Full Word Study →, so that the nationsגּוֹיִ֥םgō·w·yim — Nation; a people or ethnic groupH1471 — Full Word Study → will trembleיִרְגָּֽזוּ׃yir·gā·zū — to tremble, shake, or be disturbedH7264 — Full Word Study → at Your presenceמִפָּנֶ֖יךָmip·pā·ne·ḵā — face; presence; beforeH6440 — Full Word Study →! 3When You didבַּעֲשׂוֹתְךָ֥ba·‘ă·śō·wṯ·ḵā — to do, make, or accomplish; to act or performH6213 — Full Word Study → awesome worksנוֹרָא֖וֹתnō·w·rā·’ō·wṯ — to fear, revere, or be afraidH3372 — Full Word Study → that we did notלֹ֣אlō — not; negation; absenceH3808 — Full Word Study → expectנְקַוֶּ֑הnə·qaw·weh — To wait for; to expect with hopeH6960 — Full Word Study →, You came downיָרַ֕דְתָּyā·raḏ·tā — To descend, go down, come downH3381 — Full Word Study →, and the mountainsהָרִ֥יםhā·rîm — Mountain, hill, or elevated land massH2022 — Full Word Study → trembledנָזֹֽלּוּ׃nā·zōl·lū — to shake violently; to act wastefully or immorallyH2151 — Full Word Study → at Your presenceמִפָּנֶ֖יךָmip·pā·ne·ḵā — face; presence; beforeH6440 — Full Word Study →. 4From ancient timesוּמֵעוֹלָ֥םū·mê·‘ō·w·lām — forever, eternity, perpetual durationH5769 — Full Word Study → noלֹא־lō- — not; negation; absenceH3808 — Full Word Study → one has heardשָׁמְע֖וּšā·mə·‘ū — to hear, listen, obeyH8085 — Full Word Study →, noלֹ֣אlō — not; negation; absenceH3808 — Full Word Study → ear has perceivedהֶאֱזִ֑ינוּhe·’ĕ·zî·nū — to listen, give ear, hear attentivelyH238 — Full Word Study →, noלֹֽא־lō- — not; negation; absenceH3808 — Full Word Study → eyeעַ֣יִן‘a·yin — Eye; sight; appearance; fountainH5869 — Full Word Study → has seenרָאָ֗תָהrā·’ā·ṯāh — to see, perceive, behold, experienceH7200 — Full Word Study → any Godאֱלֹהִים֙’ĕ·lō·hîm — God, the divine beingH430 — Full Word Study → besides Youזוּלָ֣תְךָ֔zū·lā·ṯə·ḵā — except, only, but, saveH2108 — Full Word Study →, who actsיַעֲשֶׂ֖הya·‘ă·śeh — to do, make, or accomplish; to act or performH6213 — Full Word Study → on behalf of those who waitלִמְחַכֵּה־lim·ḥak·kêh- — to wait, tarry, lingerH2442 — Full Word Study → for Him. 5You welcomeפָּגַ֤עְתָּpā·ḡa‘·tā — to meet, encounter, or intercedeH6293 — Full Word Study → those who gladlyשָׂשׂ֙śāś — To rejoice, be glad, make mirthH7797 — Full Word Study → doוְעֹ֣שֵׂהwə·‘ō·śêh — to do, make, or accomplish; to act or performH6213 — Full Word Study → rightצֶ֔דֶקṣe·ḏeq — Righteousness, justice, right standingH6664 — Full Word Study →, who rememberיִזְכְּר֑וּךָyiz·kə·rū·ḵā — to remember, recall, or mentionH2142 — Full Word Study → Your waysבִּדְרָכֶ֖יךָbiḏ·rā·ḵe·ḵā — way, path, journey, conductH1870 — Full Word Study →. Surelyהֵן־hên- — Look! Behold! — an attention-directing particleH2005 — Full Word Study → Youאַתָּ֤ה’at·tāh — You; second-person pronoun (singular or plural)H859 — Full Word Study → were angryקָצַ֙פְתָּ֙qā·ṣap̄·tā — to be angry, to become wrathfulH7107 — Full Word Study →, for we sinnedוַֽנֶּחֱטָ֔אwan·ne·ḥĕ·ṭā — To sin; to miss the mark; to commit wrongdoingH2398 — Full Word Study →. How can we be savedוְנִוָּשֵֽׁעַ׃wə·niw·wā·šê·a‘ — To deliver, rescue, or save from dangerH3467 — Full Word Study → if we remain in our sinsעוֹלָ֖ם‘ō·w·lām — forever, eternity, perpetual durationH5769 — Full Word Study →? 6Each of usכֻּלָּ֔נוּkul·lā·nū — All, every, whole, totalityH3605 — Full Word Study → has becomeוַנְּהִ֤יwan·nə·hî — to be, become, exist, happenH1961 — Full Word Study → like something uncleanכַטָּמֵא֙ḵaṭ·ṭā·mê — Unclean, defiled, impureH2931 — Full Word Study →, and allכָּל־kāl- — All, every, whole, totalityH3605 — Full Word Study → our righteous actsצִדְקֹתֵ֑ינוּṣiḏ·qō·ṯê·nū — Righteousness, justice, right conductH6666 — Full Word Study → are like filthyעִדִּ֖ים‘id·dîm — filth, refuse, dungH5708 — Full Word Study → ragsוּכְבֶ֥גֶדū·ḵə·ḇe·ḡeḏ — Clothing; treachery or deceptionH899 — Full Word Study →; we allכֻּלָּ֔נוּkul·lā·nū — All, every, whole, totalityH3605 — Full Word Study → witherוַנָּ֤בֶלwan·nā·ḇel — to wilt, fall away, become foolish or vileH5034 — Full Word Study → like a leafכֶּֽעָלֶה֙ke·‘ā·leh — Leaf or foliage of a treeH5929 — Full Word Study →, and our iniquitiesוַעֲוֺנֵ֖נוּwa·‘ă·wō·nê·nū — Iniquity, guilt, or moral wrongdoingH5771 — Full Word Study → carry us awayיִשָּׂאֻֽנוּ׃yiś·śā·’u·nū — To lift up, raise, or bear; to carry or supportH5375 — Full Word Study → like the windכָּר֥וּחַkā·rū·aḥ — Spirit, breath, wind, or inner dispositionH7307 — Full Word Study →. 7Noוְאֵין־wə·’ên- — nothing, nonexistence, absenceH369 — Full Word Study → one callsקוֹרֵ֣אqō·w·rê — To call, summon, or proclaimH7121 — Full Word Study → on Your nameבְשִׁמְךָ֔ḇə·šim·ḵā — Name; reputation; renownH8034 — Full Word Study → or strives to take holdלְהַחֲזִ֣יקlə·ha·ḥă·zîq — To strengthen, make firm, establishH2388 — Full Word Study → of You. Forכִּֽי־kî- — because, since, that (conjunction/reason marker)H3588 — Full Word Study → You have hiddenהִסְתַּ֤רְתָּhis·tar·tā — To hide, conceal, or keep secretH5641 — Full Word Study → Your faceפָנֶ֙יךָ֙p̄ā·ne·ḵā — face; presence; beforeH6440 — Full Word Study → from usמִמֶּ֔נּוּmim·men·nū — from, out of, by means ofH4480 — Full Word Study → and delivered usוַתְּמוּגֵ֖נוּwat·tə·mū·ḡê·nū — to melt, dissolve, soften, or become weakH4127 — Full Word Study → into the handבְּיַד־bə·yaḏ- — hand; power, strength, controlH3027 — Full Word Study → of our iniquityעֲוֺנֵֽנוּ׃‘ă·wō·nê·nū — Iniquity, guilt, or moral wrongdoingH5771 — Full Word Study →. 8But nowוְעַתָּ֥הwə·‘at·tāh — Now; at the present timeH6258 — Full Word Study →, O LORDיְהוָ֖הYah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study →, Youאָ֑תָּה’āt·tāh — You; second-person pronoun (singular or plural)H859 — Full Word Study → are our Fatherאָבִ֣ינוּ’ā·ḇî·nū — H1 — Full Word Study →; weאֲנַ֤חְנוּ’ă·naḥ·nū — We, us, ourselves (first person plural pronoun)H587 — Full Word Study → are the clayהַחֹ֙מֶר֙ha·ḥō·mer — clay, mire, or a dry measure (homer)H2563 — Full Word Study →, and Youוְאַתָּ֣הwə·’at·tāh — You; second-person pronoun (singular or plural)H859 — Full Word Study → are the potterיֹצְרֵ֔נוּyō·ṣə·rê·nū — to form, shape, fashion, or createH3335 — Full Word Study →; we are allכֻּלָּֽנוּ׃kul·lā·nū — All, every, whole, totalityH3605 — Full Word Study → the workוּמַעֲשֵׂ֥הū·ma·‘ă·śêh — Work, deed, or actionH4639 — Full Word Study → of Your handיָדְךָ֖yā·ḏə·ḵā — hand; power, strength, controlH3027 — Full Word Study →. 9Do notאַל־’al- — do not; negative imperative particleH408 — Full Word Study → be angryתִּקְצֹ֤ףtiq·ṣōp̄ — to be angry, to become wrathfulH7107 — Full Word Study →, O LORDיְהוָה֙Yah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study →, beyondעַד־‘aḏ- — until, till, up to (temporal or spatial limit)H5704 — Full Word Study → measureמְאֹ֔דmə·’ōḏ — Much, greatly, very, exceedinglyH3966 — Full Word Study →; do notוְאַל־wə·’al- — do not; negative imperative particleH408 — Full Word Study → rememberתִּזְכֹּ֣רtiz·kōr — to remember, recall, or mentionH2142 — Full Word Study → our iniquityעָוֺ֑ן‘ā·wōn — Iniquity, guilt, or moral wrongdoingH5771 — Full Word Study → foreverלָעַ֖דlā·‘aḏ — perpetuity, eternity, foreverH5703 — Full Word Study →. Ohהֵ֥ןhên — Look! Behold! — an attention-directing particleH2005 — Full Word Study →, look upon usהַבֶּט־hab·beṭ- — To look upon, regard, or behold with attentionH5027 — Full Word Study →, we prayנָ֖אnā — Please, I beseech, I prayH4994 — Full Word Study →; we are allכֻלָּֽנוּ׃ḵul·lā·nū — All, every, whole, totalityH3605 — Full Word Study → Your peopleעַמְּךָ֥‘am·mə·ḵā — a people; nation; communityH5971 — Full Word Study →! 10Your holyקָדְשְׁךָ֖qāḏ·šə·ḵā — Holiness, sacred, consecrated, set apartH6944 — Full Word Study → citiesעָרֵ֥י‘ā·rê — City; fortified settlement or townH5892 — Full Word Study → have becomeהָי֣וּhā·yū — to be, become, exist, happenH1961 — Full Word Study → a wildernessמִדְבָּ֑רmiḏ·bār — Desert; wilderness; pasture; speechH4057 — Full Word Study →. Zionצִיּוֹן֙ṣî·yō·wn — The Lord's MountainH6726 — Full Word Study → has becomeהָיָ֔תָהhā·yā·ṯāh — to be, become, exist, happenH1961 — Full Word Study → a wastelandמִדְבָּ֣רmiḏ·bār — Desert; wilderness; pasture; speechH4057 — Full Word Study → and Jerusalem a desolationשְׁמָמָֽה׃šə·mā·māh — desolation, devastation, ruin, astonishmentH8077 — Full Word Study →. 11Our holyקָדְשֵׁ֣נוּqā·ḏə·šê·nū — Holiness, sacred, consecrated, set apartH6944 — Full Word Study → and beautifulוְתִפְאַרְתֵּ֗נוּwə·ṯip̄·’ar·tê·nū — Beauty, glory, splendor, or magnificenceH8597 — Full Word Study → templeבֵּ֧יתbêṯ — A house; dwelling place; household; familyH1004 — Full Word Study →, whereאֲשֶׁ֤ר’ă·šer — who, which, that; when, where, becauseH834 — Full Word Study → our fathersאֲבֹתֵ֔ינוּ’ă·ḇō·ṯê·nū — H1 — Full Word Study → praised Youהִֽלְל֙וּךָ֙hil·lū·ḵā — To praise, boast, or shine; to celebrate or make a displayH1984 — Full Word Study →, has beenהָיָ֖הhā·yāh — to be, become, exist, happenH1961 — Full Word Study → burnedלִשְׂרֵ֣פַתliś·rê·p̄aṯ — Burning, fire, combustionH8316 — Full Word Study → with fireאֵ֑שׁ’êš — Fire; flame; burningH784 — Full Word Study →, and allוְכָל־wə·ḵāl — All, every, whole, totalityH3605 — Full Word Study → that was dear to usמַחֲמַדֵּ֖ינוּma·ḥă·mad·dê·nū — Something desired or precious; an object of delightH4261 — Full Word Study → liesהָיָ֥הhā·yāh — to be, become, exist, happenH1961 — Full Word Study → in ruinsלְחָרְבָּֽה׃lə·ḥā·rə·bāh — Desolation, ruin, or waste placeH2723 — Full Word Study →. 12Afterהַעַל־ha·‘al- — upon, over, against; concerningH5921 — Full Word Study → all thisאֵ֥לֶּה’êl·leh — These; those; the onesH428 — Full Word Study →, O LORDיְהוָ֑הYah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study →, will You restrain Yourselfתִתְאַפַּ֖קṯiṯ·’ap·paq — To restrain, hold back, or contain oneselfH662 — Full Word Study →? Will You keep silentתֶּחֱשֶׁ֥הte·ḥĕ·šeh — to be silent, keep silence, hold peaceH2814 — Full Word Study → and afflict usוּתְעַנֵּ֖נוּū·ṯə·‘an·nê·nū — To afflict, humble, or oppress; to treat harshlyH6031 — Full Word Study → beyondעַד־‘aḏ- — until, till, up to (temporal or spatial limit)H5704 — Full Word Study → measureמְאֹֽד׃סmə·’ōḏ — Much, greatly, very, exceedinglyH3966 — Full Word Study →?
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Chapter Commentary — Isaiah 64
Chapter Overview

Chapter Overview

Isaiah 64 is a passionate prayer of lament and intercession, written during a time of national crisis and spiritual despair. The prophet begins by urgently calling upon God to intervene dramatically in history, then transitions into a profound confession of national sin and unworthiness. This chapter beautifully illustrates the tension between God's past faithfulness, human sinfulness, and the desperate hope that God will yet act as Father and Potter to restore His people. It serves as a model of honest, heartfelt prayer that acknowledges both God's majesty and human depravity.

Verses 1–5: A Cry for God's Manifest Presence

Isaiah begins with an earnest plea: "Oh that thou wouldest rend the heavens, that thou wouldest come down" (v. 1). The prophet is not asking for a quiet, private intervention but for a visible, undeniable manifestation of God's power. He longs for the kind of theophany (divine appearance) that would shake the physical world—mountains flowing down, fire burning with such intensity that it boils water (v. 2). The purpose is clear: to make God's name known to His adversaries and cause the nations to tremble.

In verse 3, Isaiah recalls how God did terrible things in the past that exceeded human expectations—moments when His power was so evident that creation itself responded. Verse 4 contains one of Scripture's most profound statements about God's future plans: "For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him." This verse speaks of blessings reserved for those who patiently trust in God—a promise ultimately fulfilled in the gospel and the New Heavens and New Earth.

Yet verse 5 introduces a critical turning point: God does meet with the righteous, but He is angry because of sin. The people have sinned, yet paradoxically, there is continuance in God's covenant, and salvation is still possible through repentance.

Verses 6–12: Confession of Sin and Plea for Mercy

The tone shifts dramatically. Isaiah's confession is brutally honest: "we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags" (v. 6). This is not self-deprecation but biblical realism about human sinfulness. Even our best works, apart from God's grace, are like polluted garments. We fade like leaves, scattered by the wind of our own iniquities (v. 6).

Verses 7 further describes the consequence of sin: God has "hid thy face from us, and hast consumed us, because of our iniquities." This withdrawal of God's presence is a terrifying reality for believers. Yet immediately, in verse 8, the prayer pivots to hope: "But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter." Despite judgment, the relationship remains—God is still Father, and His people are still His workmanship.

The final plea (vv. 9–12) is moving and humble. Isaiah begs God not to remain angry forever, reminding Him that the people belong to Him. He paints a picture of devastation—holy cities in ruins, the Temple burned, all pleasant things laid waste—and asks God if He will continue to hold His peace while His people suffer such affliction.

Application for Today

Isaiah 64 teaches us that honest prayer includes both boldness and brokenness. We should come before God with passionate conviction about His power and purpose, yet also with genuine repentance for our sin. Like Isaiah, we need not pretend to righteousness; we confess our weakness while clinging to God's fatherly love and covenant faithfulness. In our own seasons of divine silence, we can pray as Isaiah did, anchoring ourselves in God's character rather than our circumstances, trusting that the God who acted faithfully in history will act again for those who wait upon Him.

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