Isaiah 1:15

KJV

And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood.

KJV (with Strong's)

And when ye spread forth {H6566} your hands {H3709}, I will hide {H5956} mine eyes {H5869} from you: yea, when ye make many {H7235} prayers {H8605}, I will not hear {H8085}: your hands {H3027} are full {H4390} of blood {H1818}.

Complete Jewish Bible

"When you spread out your hands, I will hide my eyes from you; no matter how much you pray, I won't be listening; because your hands are covered with blood.

Berean Standard Bible

When you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide My eyes from you; even though you multiply your prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are covered with blood.

American Standard Version

And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you; yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Isaiah 1:15 delivers a severe divine indictment against the people of Judah, exposing the profound hypocrisy of their religious practices. Despite their outward displays of piety, such as spreading forth hands in prayer and offering numerous supplications, God declares His absolute refusal to acknowledge or hear them. The stark reason for this divine rejection is unequivocally stated: their hands are stained with "blood," a potent metaphor for pervasive social injustice, violence, and moral corruption that rendered their rituals an abomination in God's holy sight. This verse underscores God's demand for genuine righteousness and internal transformation over superficial religiosity.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Isaiah 1 serves as a powerful opening indictment against Judah and Jerusalem, setting the stage for the prophet's entire message. The chapter begins with a lament over the nation's spiritual rebellion, likening them to a physically diseased body (e.g., [Isaiah 1:5-6](/isaiah/1-5 "Isaiah 1:5-6 - Judah's Sickness")). Prior to verse 15, God explicitly expresses His weariness and disdain for their empty religious rituals—sacrifices, new moons, Sabbaths, and solemn assemblies—which He declares burdensome and detestable because they are performed by people whose lives are devoid of justice and righteousness ([Isaiah 1:11-14](/isaiah/1-11 "Isaiah 1:11-14 - God's Weariness with Empty Rituals")). Verse 15 directly follows this declaration, providing the climactic reason for God's rejection of their most intimate act of worship: prayer. The subsequent verses (e.g., [Isaiah 1:16-17](/isaiah/1-16 "Isaiah 1:16-17 - The Call to Repentance and Justice")) then offer a pathway to reconciliation through genuine repentance, moral cleansing, and the pursuit of justice, contrasting sharply with the condemned practices of verse 15.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Isaiah prophesied during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah in Judah (late 8th century BCE). This period was marked by significant political instability, external threats from Assyria, and internal social decay. While Judah maintained its religious institutions and practices, including temple worship, sacrifices, and festivals, the society was rife with injustice. The powerful oppressed the poor, widows, and orphans; bribery corrupted the legal system; and violence was prevalent. The people believed that their adherence to outward religious forms would guarantee God's favor and protection, regardless of their moral conduct. The act of "spreading forth hands" was a common and ancient posture of prayer and supplication in the Near East, symbolizing an appeal to the heavens. God's rejection of this deeply ingrained practice highlights the severity of their moral failings and His unyielding demand for ethical living as a prerequisite for true worship.

* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within Isaiah and the broader prophetic literature. It underscores the theme of **Hypocrisy in Worship**, revealing God's absolute rejection of external religious performance when it is disconnected from internal righteousness and ethical conduct. It highlights the **Consequences of Unrighteousness**, demonstrating that persistent sin, particularly social injustice and violence, creates an impenetrable barrier between humanity and God, rendering even sincere-looking prayers ineffective. Furthermore, it emphasizes **God's Moral Purity and Justice**, asserting that the holy God cannot condone or accept worship from those whose hands are stained with "blood," symbolizing a profound disregard for His covenantal laws and the well-being of their neighbors. Implicitly, it also introduces the theme of the **Call to Genuine Repentance and Transformation**, setting the stage for Isaiah's subsequent exhortations for the people to "wash yourselves, make yourselves clean" and "seek justice" ([Isaiah 1:16-17](/isaiah/1-16 "Isaiah 1:16-17 - Wash and Make Clean")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **pâras (Hebrew, _pâras'_):** From H6566, meaning "to break apart, disperse, etc.; spread (abroad, forth, selves, out), stretch (forth, out)." In this context, "spread forth" describes the physical posture of prayer, where hands are extended upwards or outwards in supplication. It signifies an act of appeal, a gesture of seeking divine attention and favor. The irony lies in the fact that while the physical posture is one of humility and seeking, the spiritual reality of the petitioners is one of rebellion and defilement.
* **ʻâlam (Hebrew, _ʻâlam'_):** From H5956, meaning "to veil from sight, i.e. conceal (literally or figuratively); hide (self)." When God declares, "I will hide mine eyes from you," it is an anthropomorphic expression signifying His active refusal to look upon, acknowledge, or respond to their prayers. It conveys a profound sense of divine disapproval and a deliberate withdrawal of attention, indicating that their prayers are not merely unheard but actively ignored due to their unrighteousness.
* **dâm (Hebrew, _dâm'_):** From H1818, meaning "blood (as that which when shed causes death) of man or an animal; figuratively (especially in the plural) bloodshed (i.e. drops of blood); blood(-y, -guiltiness, (-thirsty), [phrase] innocent." The phrase "your hands are full of blood" is a powerful metaphor. While it could literally refer to murder, its primary prophetic meaning here extends to deep moral guilt, pervasive social injustice, violence, and oppression. It signifies that their actions, particularly those involving exploitation and harm to others, have defiled them to such an extent that their religious acts are an abomination.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And when ye spread forth your hands":** This clause describes the outward act of prayer, a common posture of supplication in the ancient world, where individuals would stretch out their hands, often with palms open, towards heaven in an appeal to God. It highlights the visible, ritualistic aspect of their worship.
* **"I will hide mine eyes from you":** This is God's direct and emphatic response. As an anthropomorphism, it communicates that God will deliberately turn away and refuse to acknowledge their prayers. It signifies a divine withdrawal of attention and favor, indicating that their outward piety is utterly ineffective and offensive to Him.
* **"yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear":** This reinforces the previous statement, emphasizing that not only will God hide His eyes, but He will also actively refuse to listen, regardless of the quantity or frequency of their prayers. The repetition underscores the finality of God's rejection of their insincere supplications.
* **"your hands are full of blood.":** This is the climactic and foundational reason for God's rejection. The "hands" represent their actions, power, and means, while "blood" symbolizes deep moral defilement, injustice, violence, and oppression. It reveals that their lives are characterized by unrighteousness and exploitation, rendering their religious rituals hollow and unacceptable to a holy God.

#### Literary Devices
Isaiah 1:15 is rich with **Anthropomorphism**, attributing human characteristics to God when He states, "I will hide mine eyes from you" and "I will not hear." This device makes God's rejection palpable and relatable, conveying His deliberate disengagement from their insincere worship. The most striking device is **Metaphor** in the phrase "your hands are full of blood." This is not necessarily a literal accusation of murder for every individual, but a powerful symbolic representation of pervasive moral guilt, social injustice, violence, and oppression that permeated their society. It vividly portrays the depth of their corruption. There is also a strong sense of **Irony** present: the very hands outstretched in prayer, seeking divine favor, are simultaneously depicted as defiled by unrighteous deeds, highlighting the profound disconnect between their outward religious performance and their inward moral state. The verse also employs **Repetition** ("I will hide mine eyes... I will not hear") to emphasize the certainty and severity of God's refusal.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Isaiah 1:15 profoundly impacts our understanding of the nature of true worship and God's character. It unequivocally asserts that God is not merely concerned with outward religious observances but demands genuine righteousness, justice, and purity of heart. Rituals performed by those whose lives are marked by injustice and moral corruption are not only ineffective but are an abomination to a holy God. This passage highlights the inseparable link between worship and ethics, demonstrating that a broken relationship with humanity (through injustice) inevitably leads to a broken relationship with God. It serves as a timeless reminder that God prioritizes obedience and a transformed life over mere religious performance, calling His people to a holistic faith that integrates belief with righteous action.

* [Proverbs 28:9](/proverbs/28-9 "Proverbs 28:9 - Turning Away from the Law")
* [Amos 5:21-24](/amos/5-21 "Amos 5:21-24 - God's Rejection of Empty Worship")
* [Micah 6:6-8](/micah/6-6 "Micah 6:6-8 - What the Lord Requires")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Isaiah 1:15 serves as a potent and enduring challenge to all who claim to worship God, urging a profound self-examination of the authenticity of our faith. It compels us to look beyond the superficiality of religious routines—our church attendance, our prayers, our giving—and honestly assess the state of our hearts and the integrity of our actions in the world. Are our hands, representing our daily lives, interactions, and choices, "full of blood" in the sense of injustice, exploitation, indifference to suffering, or unconfessed sin? Or are they extended in genuine love, service, and pursuit of righteousness? This verse reminds us that God desires a transformed life that reflects His character of justice and mercy, rather than mere lip service or ritualistic performance. True worship flows from a heart made clean by repentance and a life committed to living out God's commands, especially in how we treat the vulnerable and uphold justice in our communities.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what ways might my own religious practices become mere rituals, disconnected from a genuine heart of obedience and justice?**
* **What "blood" (injustice, unkindness, indifference) might my "hands" be holding that hinders my communion with God?**
* **How can I ensure that my prayers and worship are truly sincere and accompanied by a life that seeks righteousness and justice, as Isaiah 1:16-17 encourages?**

### FAQ
**Does "hands full of blood" mean literal murder, or something else?**

Answer: While "blood" (H1818, _dâm_) can certainly refer to literal bloodshed and murder, in the prophetic context of Isaiah 1:15, "your hands are full of blood" is primarily a powerful metaphor for pervasive moral guilt, social injustice, and oppression. The prophets frequently used such vivid imagery to condemn the systemic exploitation of the poor, widows, and orphans, the corruption of justice, and the general disregard for human dignity that characterized the society. It signifies that the people's actions, particularly those involving the abuse of power and harm to others, had thoroughly defiled them, rendering their religious rituals an abomination to God. This interpretation aligns with the broader message of Isaiah 1, which calls for seeking justice and relieving the oppressed, as seen in [Isaiah 1:17](/isaiah/1-17 "Isaiah 1:17 - Seek Justice").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Isaiah 1:15, with its stark condemnation of hypocritical worship and hands stained with "blood" (injustice), finds its ultimate fulfillment and resolution in Jesus Christ. The Old Testament law and prophetic calls like Isaiah's continuously exposed humanity's inability to cleanse its own hands or to offer truly acceptable worship due to inherent sinfulness. Jesus, however, is the perfect High Priest who offered the perfect sacrifice, not with defiled hands, but with pure obedience and self-giving love. His own hands, far from being full of blood from injustice, were pierced for the shedding of His innocent blood on the cross, which alone has the power to cleanse us from all sin and guilt ([1 John 1:7](/1_john/1-7 "1 John 1:7 - The Cleansing Blood of Jesus")). Through His atoning work, He provides the true spiritual washing and cleansing that Isaiah yearned for ([Isaiah 1:18](/isaiah/1-18 "Isaiah 1:18 - Though Your Sins Be as Scarlet")). In Christ, our prayers are heard not because of our own merit or ritualistic performance, but because we approach God through Him, the one mediator ([1 Timothy 2:5](/1_timothy/2-5 "1 Timothy 2:5 - One Mediator, Christ Jesus")). He teaches that true worship is "in spirit and truth" ([John 4:24](/john/4-24 "John 4:24 - Worship in Spirit and Truth")), emphasizing internal transformation and genuine righteousness that flows from a heart made new by His grace, rather than empty outward displays. Thus, the barrier of "blood-stained hands" is removed by the very blood of the Lamb of God, inviting all who believe into authentic communion with a holy God.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Micah 3:4

Then shall they cry unto the LORD, but he will not hear them: he will even hide his face from them at that time, as they have behaved themselves ill in their doings.

Proverbs 1:28

Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me:

Isaiah 59:2

But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid [his] face from you, that he will not hear.

Isaiah 59:3

For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue hath muttered perverseness.

Zechariah 7:13

Therefore it is come to pass, [that] as he cried, and they would not hear; so they cried, and I would not hear, saith the LORD of hosts:

Jeremiah 7:8

Behold, ye trust in lying words, that cannot profit.

Jeremiah 7:10

And come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name, and say, We are delivered to do all these abominations?