Isaiah 64:6

¶ But we are all as an unclean [thing], and all our righteousnesses [are] as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

But we are all as an unclean {H2931} thing, and all our righteousnesses {H6666} are as filthy {H5708} rags {H899}; and we all do fade {H5034}{H1101} as a leaf {H5929}; and our iniquities {H5771}, like the wind {H7307}, have taken us away {H5375}.

All of us are like someone unclean, all our righteous deeds like menstrual rags; we wither, all of us, like leaves; and our misdeeds blow us away like the wind.

Each of us has become like something unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all wither like a leaf, and our iniquities carry us away like the wind.

For we are all become as one that is unclean, and all our righteousnesses are as a polluted garment: and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.

Isaiah 64:6 is a profound confession of sin and human inadequacy, forming part of a powerful prayer offered by the prophet on behalf of the exiled or future exiled people of Israel. It starkly contrasts human efforts with God's perfect holiness.

Context

This verse is found within a fervent prayer (Isaiah 63:7-64:12) where the prophet Isaiah, speaking for the nation, laments Israel's spiritual decline and pleads for God's merciful intervention. The people acknowledge their deep unworthiness and separation from God due to their persistent sin. This prayer expresses a desperate longing for God to "rend the heavens, and come down" to deliver them from their plight and revive His work among them. It's a recognition that their suffering is a direct consequence of their unfaithfulness, not God's abandonment.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Universal Sinfulness: The phrase "we are all as an unclean thing" underscores that sin has corrupted every individual, making them ritually and morally defiled before a holy God. This is a confession of pervasive human depravity, a theme consistent throughout scripture, as seen in Romans 3:23 which states, "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God."
  • Inadequacy of Human Righteousness: The powerful imagery of "all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags" reveals that even humanity's best attempts at goodness, morality, or religious observance are utterly insufficient and abhorrent in God's sight. They cannot earn salvation or merit divine favor. This highlights the crucial need for a righteousness that comes from God, not from human effort, as discussed by Paul in Philippians 3:9.
  • Transience of Life and Consequences of Sin: "We all do fade as a leaf" vividly portrays human mortality and fragility, emphasizing that life's brevity is compounded by sin's destructive power. Just as a leaf withers and falls, so do individuals and nations decline when separated from God. The concluding phrase, "our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away," signifies that sin doesn't just defile; it actively sweeps people away from God's presence and blessing, leading to judgment and exile.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew term for "unclean thing" is tameh, which refers to ritual impurity, something unfit for holy use or presence. The phrase "filthy rags" translates the Hebrew bēged 'iddim (בֶּגֶד עִדִּים), which most scholars agree refers to garments defiled by menstrual discharge, a highly vivid and repulsive image of uncleanness and utter defilement according to Levitical law. This choice of words profoundly emphasizes the loathsomeness of human sin and self-righteousness in God's eyes. The verb "fade" (nābēl) is commonly used for plants withering, underscoring human fragility and the inevitable decay brought about by sin.

Practical Application

Isaiah 64:6 serves as a powerful reminder of several timeless truths. Firstly, it cultivates humility, prompting believers to recognize their inherent sinfulness and the futility of relying on personal merit for salvation. Secondly, it magnifies the necessity and glory of God's grace and the perfect righteousness provided through Jesus Christ, who alone could offer a spotless sacrifice (2 Corinthians 5:21). Finally, it calls for genuine repentance and a continuous reliance on God's mercy, fostering a spirit of gratitude for a salvation that is entirely a gift, not an achievement.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Romans 7:18

    For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but [how] to perform that which is good I find not.

  • Romans 7:24

    O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?

  • Ephesians 2:1

    ¶ And you [hath he quickened], who were dead in trespasses and sins;

  • Ephesians 2:2

    Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

  • Zechariah 3:3

    Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel.

  • Isaiah 53:6

    All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

  • Revelation 3:17

    Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:

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