Isaiah 64:7

KJV

And [there is] none that calleth upon thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee: for thou hast hid thy face from us, and hast consumed us, because of our iniquities.

KJV (with Strong's)

And there is none that calleth {H7121} upon thy name {H8034}, that stirreth up {H5782} himself to take hold {H2388} of thee: for thou hast hid {H5641} thy face {H6440} from us, and hast consumed {H4127} us, because {H3027} of our iniquities {H5771}.

Complete Jewish Bible

No one calls on your name or bestirs himself to take hold of you, for you have hidden your face from us and caused our misdeeds to destroy us.

Berean Standard Bible

No one calls on Your name or strives to take hold of You. For You have hidden Your face from us and delivered us into the hand of our iniquity.

American Standard Version

And there is none that calleth upon thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee; for thou hast hid thy face from us, and hast consumed us by means of our iniquities.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Isaiah 64:7 presents a profound confession from the people of Israel, acknowledging their deep spiritual apathy and failure to earnestly seek God. The verse laments that no one actively calls upon God's name or rouses themselves to cling to Him. This spiritual neglect is directly linked to God's perceived withdrawal—His hidden face—and the subsequent suffering and desolation experienced by the nation, all attributed to their pervasive iniquities. It is a stark admission of human responsibility for divine judgment and a cry from a people aware of their spiritual distance.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Isaiah 64 is a fervent communal prayer of lament and confession, situated within the latter half of the book of Isaiah (often referred to as Deutero-Isaiah, chapters 40-66). This section primarily addresses the exilic or post-exilic community, offering messages of comfort, restoration, and judgment. Chapter 64 specifically opens with a passionate plea for God to "rend the heavens and come down" [Isaiah 64:1](/isaiah/64-1 "Isaiah 64:1 - A Plea for Divine Intervention"), recalling His mighty acts of old. However, before appealing for mercy, the prophetic voice, on behalf of the people, engages in deep introspection, confessing their unworthiness and sin. Verse 7 serves as a crucial pivot, explaining *why* God's intervention seems withheld, attributing it not to divine caprice but to the people's own spiritual failings and persistent iniquity, setting the stage for the desperate cry for restoration that follows.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The historical backdrop for Isaiah 64 is likely the period following the Babylonian exile, or perhaps the late exilic period, when the Jewish people had returned to a desolate homeland, with Jerusalem and the Temple in ruins. This era was marked by immense hardship, disillusionment, and a struggle to rebuild both physically and spiritually. Culturally, the concept of God "hiding His face" [Deuteronomy 31:17](/deuteronomy/31-17 "Deuteronomy 31:17 - God Hides His Face") was a well-understood idiom in ancient Israel, signifying divine displeasure, a withdrawal of favor, and the experience of abandonment or judgment. It often implied a broken covenant relationship where God's protective presence was no longer evident, leading to vulnerability and suffering. The people's confession reflects a recognition of the covenantal consequences of their unfaithfulness, where national calamity was understood as a direct result of corporate sin.
* **Key Themes:** This verse contributes significantly to several overarching themes in Isaiah and the broader prophetic literature. First, it highlights **Spiritual Apathy and Neglect of Prayer**, underscoring the deep spiritual slumber of the nation. The absence of fervent seeking and "stirring up" oneself to "take hold" of God reveals a profound detachment from their covenant Lord, a theme echoed in other prophetic calls to repentance (e.g., [Hosea 10:12](/hosea/10-12 "Hosea 10:12 - Sow Righteousness, Reap Steadfast Love")). Second, it powerfully illustrates the theme of **Divine Judgment and Withdrawal**, specifically through the idiom of God's "hidden face" [Psalm 30:7](/psalms/30-7 "Psalm 30:7 - God's Hidden Face"). This is not an arbitrary act but a direct, sorrowful response to human unfaithfulness. Finally, the verse explicitly links suffering to **The Consequences of Iniquity**, reinforcing the biblical principle that sin has tangible repercussions, leading to desolation and a sense of being "consumed" by divine discipline ([Romans 6:23](/romans/6-23 "Romans 6:23 - The Wages of Sin")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **stirreth up (Hebrew, _ʻûwr'_):** A primitive root meaning to wake, awaken, arouse, or rouse oneself. It implies an active, deliberate effort to move from a state of passivity or slumber to one of zealous pursuit or engagement. In this context, it highlights the absence of internal motivation and intentionality in seeking God, suggesting a spiritual lethargy that has settled over the people.
* **take hold (Hebrew, _châzaq'_):** A primitive root meaning to fasten upon, seize, be strong, courageous, or to hold fast. It conveys the idea of a determined grasp, a resolute clinging, or an earnest effort to secure something. When paired with "stirreth up," it paints a picture of a people lacking the spiritual vigor and determination to firmly grasp God's promises, presence, or intervention, indicating a profound lack of faith and spiritual resolve.
* **iniquities (Hebrew, _ʻâvôn'_):** This word refers to perversity, moral evil, fault, or sin, often carrying the connotation of guilt and the punishment associated with sin. It is derived from a root meaning "to bend, twist, or distort," suggesting a deviation from what is right or straight. Here, "iniquities" are presented as the direct cause for God's withdrawal and the nation's suffering, underscoring the severe consequences of their moral corruption and rebellion against God's standards.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And there is none that calleth upon thy name":** This opening clause immediately establishes the core problem: a pervasive lack of active, vocal prayer and invocation of God. It suggests a spiritual silence, where the people have ceased to acknowledge God's authority, character, or presence through direct address, indicating a broken relationship.
* **"that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee":** This phrase intensifies the preceding one, specifying the *kind* of calling that is absent. It's not just a lack of formal prayer, but a complete absence of internal spiritual energy, zeal, or determination to actively pursue and cling to God. It implies a profound spiritual apathy, where the people lack the will or desire to exert effort in seeking divine connection or intervention.
* **"for thou hast hid thy face from us":** This clause presents the direct consequence of the people's spiritual neglect. God's "hidden face" is a powerful idiom for His withdrawal of favor, presence, and blessing, signifying displeasure and a sense of abandonment. It implies that the perceived divine absence is not arbitrary but a direct, sorrowful response to their unfaithfulness.
* **"and hast consumed us, because of our iniquities":** This final clause explicitly links the nation's suffering and desolation ("consumed us") to their own moral failings ("because of our iniquities"). The term "consumed" suggests a process of wasting away, melting, or being brought to ruin. It underscores the profound truth that their calamities are not random misfortunes but the just and painful consequences of their persistent sin and rebellion against God.

#### Literary Devices
Isaiah 64:7 employs several powerful literary devices to convey its poignant message. The most prominent is **Personification**, seen in the phrase "thou hast hid thy face from us." God is depicted as having a "face" that can be hidden, a vivid anthropomorphism that communicates His deliberate withdrawal of favor and presence. This is a common biblical idiom for divine displeasure or judgment. The phrase "stirreth up himself to take hold of thee" uses **Metaphor** to describe the active, zealous pursuit of God, likening spiritual effort to a physical exertion of rousing oneself and grasping firmly. This highlights the intentionality required in a living relationship with God. Furthermore, the overall tone of the verse, embedded within a larger prayer, is one of **Lament** and **Confession**, a literary genre characterized by expressions of sorrow, an appeal to God, and often an acknowledgment of sin, making the verse deeply evocative and emotionally resonant.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Isaiah 64:7 profoundly underscores the biblical truth that human spiritual apathy and unconfessed sin inevitably lead to a perceived distance from God and consequential suffering. It articulates the principle that divine judgment is often a direct result of human rebellion, not an arbitrary act. The verse challenges the notion of a passive faith, emphasizing that a vibrant relationship with God requires active, zealous pursuit and sincere repentance. It also highlights the covenantal nature of God's relationship with His people, where blessings are tied to obedience and curses to disobedience, a consistent theme throughout the Old Testament. The "hidden face" of God is a terrifying prospect for a people dependent on His manifest presence and favor.

* [Deuteronomy 31:17](/deuteronomy/31-17 "Deuteronomy 31:17 - God's Hidden Face Due to Sin")
* [Psalm 27:9](/psalms/27-9 "Psalm 27:9 - Do Not Hide Your Face from Me")
* [Jeremiah 29:13](/jeremiah/29-13 "Jeremiah 29:13 - Seeking God with All Your Heart")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Isaiah 64:7 serves as a timeless mirror for individuals and communities, prompting a rigorous self-examination of our spiritual vitality. It challenges us to honestly assess whether we are truly "calling upon His name" and "stirring ourselves up to take hold of Him," or if we have succumbed to a spiritual lethargy that creates a perceived distance from God. When we feel God's presence less keenly or experience periods of spiritual dryness, this verse compels us to look inward, rather than outward, to consider if our own "iniquities" or passive faith have contributed to the situation. It reminds us that an active, diligent pursuit of God is not optional but essential for a flourishing relationship, and that unconfessed sin has tangible, often painful, consequences, both individually and corporately. This verse is a powerful call to fervent prayer, honest confession, and a renewed, zealous engagement with the Almighty.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of my life might I be spiritually apathetic, failing to "stir myself up to take hold of" God?**
* **When I feel distant from God, do I first examine my own actions and spiritual disciplines, or do I tend to blame external circumstances or God Himself?**
* **What specific "iniquities" (sins, neglects, or moral failings) might be contributing to a sense of God's "hidden face" in my life or in my community?**
* **How can I cultivate a more fervent and consistent practice of "calling upon God's name" and actively pursuing His presence?**

### FAQ
**What does it mean that God "hid thy face from us" in this verse?**

Answer: The phrase "hid thy face" [Psalm 104:29](/psalms/104-29 "Psalm 104:29 - God Hides His Face, Creation Suffers") is a common biblical idiom signifying God's withdrawal of His favor, presence, and blessing. It indicates a state of divine displeasure or judgment, where God no longer openly displays His protective care or intervenes on behalf of His people. This is not an arbitrary act but is consistently presented in scripture as a consequence of human sin and unfaithfulness, as the latter part of Isaiah 64:7 explicitly states, "because of our iniquities." It implies a broken relationship where the comforting and guiding presence of God is no longer manifest, leaving the people feeling abandoned and vulnerable.

**What is the significance of "stirreth up himself to take hold of thee"?**

Answer: This phrase emphasizes the active, intentional, and zealous effort required in seeking God. "Stirreth up" (from the Hebrew `ʻûwr`) means to awaken or rouse oneself, suggesting a move from spiritual lethargy to energetic pursuit. "To take hold" (from the Hebrew `châzaq`) implies a firm grasp, a determined clinging, or a resolute effort to secure something. Together, they describe a deep spiritual engagement—a fervent, persistent, and deliberate seeking of God's presence, intervention, and covenant promises. The verse laments the *absence* of such zealous pursuit, highlighting the spiritual apathy that contributed to their desolate state. This concept is foundational to biblical calls for repentance and renewed devotion, such as [Jeremiah 29:13](/jeremiah/29-13 "Jeremiah 29:13 - Seeking God with All Your Heart").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Isaiah 64:7 powerfully articulates humanity's desperate spiritual condition: our inability to "stir ourselves up to take hold of" God, our pervasive "iniquities," and the resulting divine withdrawal. This profound human incapacity and the chasm created by sin find their ultimate resolution and fulfillment in Jesus Christ. Where humanity failed to seek God, Christ, the [Good Shepherd](/john/10-11 "John 10:11 - The Good Shepherd"), actively sought out lost sheep. He is the one who, through His perfect obedience and sacrificial death, fully "took hold" of God's will and "took away the sin of the world" [John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"). The "hidden face" of God, a consequence of our iniquities, was fully borne by Christ on the cross, as He cried out, "[My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?](/matthew/27-46 "Matthew 27:46 - The Cry of Dereliction")" In that moment, the Son experienced the ultimate separation from the Father, so that those who believe in Him might never again experience God's hidden face due to their sin. Through Christ, we are not only enabled to "call upon His name" [Romans 10:13](/romans/10-13 "Romans 10:13 - Call Upon the Name of the Lord") but are given the Holy Spirit, who "stirs us up" to worship and draw near to God with confidence, having been reconciled through His blood ([Hebrews 10:19-22](/hebrews/10-19 "Hebrews 10:19-22 - Access to God Through Christ")). He is the one in whom all our iniquities are consumed, and through whom God's face is eternally turned toward us in grace and mercy.

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

Ezekiel 22:30

And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.

Isaiah 59:16

¶ And he saw that [there was] no man, and wondered that [there was] no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him.

Hosea 7:14

And they have not cried unto me with their heart, when they howled upon their beds: they assemble themselves for corn and wine, [and] they rebel against me.

Hosea 7:7

They are all hot as an oven, and have devoured their judges; all their kings are fallen: [there is] none among them that calleth unto me.

Isaiah 54:8

In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the LORD thy Redeemer.

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 27:5

Or let him take hold of my strength, [that] he may make peace with me; [and] he shall make peace with me.