Isaiah 59:3

KJV

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

KJV (with Strong's)

For your hands {H3709} are defiled {H1351} with blood {H1818}, and your fingers {H676} with iniquity {H5771}; your lips {H8193} have spoken {H1696} lies {H8267}, your tongue {H3956} hath muttered {H1897} perverseness {H5766}.

Complete Jewish Bible

For your hands are stained with blood and your fingers with crime; your lips speak lies, your tongues utter wicked things.

Berean Standard Bible

For your hands are stained with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, and your tongue mutters injustice.

American Standard Version

For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue muttereth wickedness.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Isaiah 59:3 serves as a stark indictment of the comprehensive moral and spiritual decay within ancient Israel, vividly portraying how sin had permeated every facet of their existence, from their actions to their speech. This verse details the specific manifestations of their pervasive iniquity, explaining why God's promised deliverance seemed distant and why a chasm had formed between the people and their holy God. It underscores the profound corruption that had taken root, affecting their hands with violence and injustice, and their mouths with deceit and perversity.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated within a powerful prophetic lament in [Isaiah 59](/isaiah/59 "Isaiah 59 - A Prophetic Lament and Call for Justice"), where the prophet Isaiah articulates the profound reasons for Israel's suffering and their perceived separation from God. The preceding verse, [Isaiah 59:2](/isaiah/59-2 "Isaiah 59:2 - Sin Separates from God"), explicitly states, "But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear." Verse 3 then elaborates on the specific, tangible manifestations of these iniquities, painting a vivid picture of a nation deeply entangled in sin, both in their deeds and their words. This section of Isaiah's prophecy, particularly from chapter 56 onwards, often addresses the people's hypocrisy, their failure to live according to God's covenant, and the resulting societal breakdown, setting the stage for the later promise of a Redeemer.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Isaiah 59 reflects a period of significant moral decline within Israel, possibly during or after the Babylonian exile, or addressing the conditions that led to it. The people had returned to the land, but not to God in true repentance. Despite the presence of the Temple and religious rituals, widespread injustice, violence, and dishonesty plagued society. The "hands defiled with blood" and "fingers with iniquity" point to a breakdown of legal and social order, where the powerful oppressed the weak, and bloodshed was commonplace, echoing similar condemnations in earlier prophetic books like [Amos](/amos/1 "Amos 1 - God's Judgment on Nations") and [Micah](/micah/2 "Micah 2 - Woes Against Oppressors"). The "speaking lies" and "muttering perverseness" highlight a culture where truth was disregarded, and deceit was a common tool for personal gain or societal manipulation, undermining the very fabric of community and covenant faithfulness.
* **Key Themes:** [Isaiah 59:3](/isaiah/59-3 "Isaiah 59:3 - The Extent of Israel's Sin") powerfully contributes to several major theological and narrative themes prevalent in Isaiah and the broader prophetic literature. Foremost is the theme of **Pervasive Sin**, illustrating how iniquity had infiltrated every aspect of the people's lives, from their physical actions ("hands," "fingers") to their verbal expressions ("lips," "tongue"). This is not merely about isolated transgressions but a widespread moral corruption that had become systemic. The verse also underscores the theme of **Injustice and Violence**, as "blood" and "iniquity" on their hands point directly to acts of oppression, murder, and general wrongdoing against their neighbors and the vulnerable. Furthermore, it highlights **Deceit and Falsehood**, condemning dishonest and corrupt speech, which includes not only outright lies but also uttering twisted, perverse, or malicious intentions. Ultimately, these outward sins are presented as symptoms of a deeper **Spiritual Rebellion** against God's righteousness and covenant demands, demonstrating why God's presence and deliverance seemed withheld, as seen in [Isaiah 59:1-2](/isaiah/59-1 "Isaiah 59:1-2 - God's Power and Man's Sin").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **defiled (Hebrew, _gâʼal'_):** This word, often associated with ritual impurity, is used here in a profound moral sense. It signifies a deep contamination or pollution, indicating that the hands of the people were not merely stained but fundamentally corrupted by their actions. It conveys the idea of being repudiated or made abhorrent due to moral uncleanness.
* **spoken (Hebrew, _dâbar'_):** While this root generally means "to speak" or "to arrange," its combination with "lies" here emphasizes the deliberate and intentional nature of their deceptive communication. It's not accidental error but a purposeful utterance of falsehood, a conscious arrangement of words to mislead or deceive.
* **muttered (Hebrew, _hâgâh'_):** This verb carries a range of meanings, from murmuring and roaring to meditating and uttering. In this context, coupled with "perverseness," it suggests a low, insidious, or continuous utterance of evil. It implies not just casual speech, but a deeper, perhaps even plotted or contemplated, expression of wickedness, reflecting the inner character.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"For your hands are defiled with blood":** This clause points to overt acts of violence, murder, and bloodshed. "Defiled" (gâʼal) emphasizes a deep moral corruption, not just external dirt. It suggests a society where violence and disregard for human life were prevalent, and the very instruments of action (hands) were saturated with guilt.
* **"and your fingers with iniquity":** This expands on the previous clause, indicating that even the most precise and detailed actions (fingers) were tainted by wrongdoing. "Iniquity" (ʻâvôn) denotes perversity, guilt, or the consequence of sin, emphasizing the crookedness and moral distortion of their deeds. It implies involvement in unjust practices, oppression, and corruption.
* **"your lips have spoken lies":** This shifts the focus from actions to speech. "Lips" represent the organ of speech, and "spoken lies" (sheqer) highlights deliberate falsehood, deceit, and untruthfulness in their communication. This points to a society where honesty was scarce, and deception was common in social, legal, or commercial interactions.
* **"your tongue hath muttered perverseness":** This further intensifies the condemnation of their speech. The "tongue" is the instrument of articulation, and "muttered" (hâgâh) suggests a low, continuous, or even contemplative utterance of evil. "Perverseness" (ʻevel) signifies moral evil, wickedness, or injustice. This describes speech that is twisted, malicious, plotting, or designed to cause harm and promote injustice, reflecting a heart full of moral crookedness.

#### Literary Devices
Isaiah 59:3 employs several powerful **Literary Devices** to convey its message of pervasive sin. **Imagery** is central, with vivid pictures of "hands defiled with blood" and "fingers with iniquity," immediately conjuring scenes of violence, injustice, and moral contamination. This physical imagery makes the abstract concept of sin tangible and repulsive. **Parallelism**, a hallmark of Hebrew poetry, is evident in the structure of the verse, where "hands...defiled with blood" is paralleled by "fingers with iniquity," and "lips have spoken lies" by "tongue hath muttered perverseness." This reinforces the message by presenting similar ideas in different but complementary phrases, emphasizing the comprehensive nature of the people's sin. The use of **Synecdoche** is also prominent, where parts of the body ("hands," "fingers," "lips," "tongue") stand in for the whole person and their actions or speech. This device effectively illustrates how sin had permeated every aspect of their being and behavior, leaving no part untouched by corruption. The cumulative effect is a stark and undeniable portrayal of Israel's deep moral depravity.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Isaiah 59:3 profoundly illustrates the pervasive nature of sin, demonstrating how it corrupts not only outward actions but also the very essence of human communication and intent. Theologically, it underscores God's absolute holiness and righteousness, against which such widespread moral defilement stands in stark contrast. The verse reveals that sin creates a barrier between humanity and God, hindering divine intervention and blessings, as explicitly stated in [Isaiah 59:2](/isaiah/59-2 "Isaiah 59:2 - Sin Separates from God"). It emphasizes that true piety is not merely ritualistic but must be accompanied by justice, truth, and righteous living in all spheres of life, a theme echoed throughout the prophetic tradition. The indictment of both violent deeds and deceptive speech highlights God's concern for both social justice and personal integrity, affirming that both are integral to covenant faithfulness.

* [Psalm 14:1](/psalms/14-1 "Psalm 14:1 - The Fool Says There Is No God")
* [Jeremiah 17:9](/jeremiah/17-9 "Jeremiah 17:9 - The Deceitful Heart")
* [Romans 3:10-18](/romans/3-10 "Romans 3:10-18 - No One Is Righteous")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Isaiah 59:3 serves as a timeless mirror, inviting us to a profound self-examination of our own lives. It challenges us to look beyond superficial righteousness and consider the deeper currents of our actions and words. The prophet's indictment reminds us that sin is not merely a collection of isolated transgressions but can become a pervasive condition that defiles our hands (our deeds and interactions), our fingers (our detailed work and subtle choices), our lips (our outward communication), and our tongue (our innermost thoughts and intentions expressed). For believers today, this verse calls us to a radical commitment to personal integrity and truthfulness in all areas of life, recognizing that our words carry immense power to build up or tear down, to bless or to curse. It compels us to seek God's cleansing not just for overt acts but for the subtle ways iniquity might manifest in our daily habits, our attitudes, and the very fabric of our character.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what ways might my "hands" (actions) or "fingers" (detailed choices) be defiled by injustice, neglect, or unrighteousness in my daily life?**
* **How truthful and edifying is my speech? Do my "lips" and "tongue" consistently speak truth, or do they sometimes engage in gossip, exaggeration, or deceit?**
* **What hidden "perverseness" might my "tongue" be muttering, perhaps in my thoughts or private conversations, that needs to be brought before God for cleansing?**
* **How does the pervasive nature of sin described in this verse inform my understanding of the need for daily repentance and reliance on God's grace?**

### FAQ
**Does "defiled with blood" only refer to literal murder?**

Answer: While literal bloodshed is certainly included, the phrase "defiled with blood" in prophetic literature often extends beyond individual acts of murder to encompass a broader sense of societal injustice, oppression, and violence that results in the suffering and death of the innocent. It can refer to a system where the poor are exploited, justice is perverted, and the vulnerable are harmed, leading to a "bloodguilt" on the community. This aligns with the broader prophetic critique of social injustice found throughout Isaiah and other prophets.

**How does "muttered perverseness" differ from "spoken lies"?**

Answer: "Spoken lies" (Hebrew: *sheqer*) refers to outright falsehoods, deliberate untruths uttered to deceive. "Muttered perverseness" (Hebrew: *hâgâh 'evel*) suggests a more insidious and perhaps internal form of corrupt communication. "Muttered" implies a low, continuous, or even contemplative utterance, while "perverseness" (Hebrew: *'evel*) signifies moral evil, wickedness, or injustice. This could refer to plotting evil, speaking ill of others in a subtle or malicious way, uttering twisted or corrupt thoughts, or even engaging in grumbling and complaining that stems from a perverse heart. It points to the underlying evil intent behind the words, not just the words themselves.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Isaiah 59:3, with its stark indictment of human sin and defilement, powerfully sets the stage for the necessity of a divine Redeemer, a theme that culminates in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The "hands defiled with blood" and "fingers with iniquity" find their ultimate resolution in the sinless hands of Christ, who, though innocent, was pierced for our transgressions (as prophesied in [Isaiah 53:5](/isaiah/53-5 "Isaiah 53:5 - Christ's Suffering for Our Sins")). His hands, far from being stained by sin, were stretched out on the cross, offering the perfect, once-for-all sacrifice that cleanses us from all unrighteousness, making atonement for the very "bloodguilt" and "iniquity" that plagued Israel and humanity ([Hebrews 9:14](/hebrews/9-14 "Hebrews 9:14 - Christ's Blood Cleanses")). Similarly, the "lips...spoken lies" and "tongue...muttered perverseness" are contrasted with Christ, who is the embodiment of truth. He spoke no deceit ([1 Peter 2:22](/1_peter/2-22 "1 Peter 2:22 - Christ's Sinless Example")), and His words were always life-giving and pure ([John 6:68](/john/6-68 "John 6:68 - Words of Eternal Life")). He is the one who convicts us of our sinful speech and offers forgiveness, transforming our tongues from instruments of perverseness into instruments of praise and truth ([Ephesians 4:29](/ephesians/4-29 "Ephesians 4:29 - Edifying Speech")). Thus, Isaiah 59:3, by exposing the depth of human depravity, magnifies the redemptive work of Christ, who alone can cleanse our defiled hands and sanctify our deceitful tongues, bridging the chasm between a holy God and sinful humanity.

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

Isaiah 1:15

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.

Ezekiel 13:8

Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because ye have spoken vanity, and seen lies, therefore, behold, I [am] against you, saith the Lord GOD.

Jeremiah 2:34

Also in thy skirts is found the blood of the souls of the poor innocents: I have not found it by secret search, but upon all these.

Jeremiah 2:30

In vain have I smitten your children; they received no correction: your own sword hath devoured your prophets, like a destroying lion.

Isaiah 1:21

¶ How is the faithful city become an harlot! it was full of judgment; righteousness lodged in it; but now murderers.

Hosea 4:2

By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, they break out, and blood toucheth blood.

Ezekiel 7:23

¶ Make a chain: for the land is full of bloody crimes, and the city is full of violence.