Isaiah 1:6 kjv

From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment.

Isaiah 1:6 nkjv

From the sole of the foot even to the head, There is no soundness in it, But wounds and bruises and putrefying sores; They have not been closed or bound up, Or soothed with ointment.

Isaiah 1:6 niv

From the sole of your foot to the top of your head there is no soundness? only wounds and welts and open sores, not cleansed or bandaged or soothed with olive oil.

Isaiah 1:6 esv

From the sole of the foot even to the head, there is no soundness in it, but bruises and sores and raw wounds; they are not pressed out or bound up or softened with oil.

Isaiah 1:6 nlt

You are battered from head to foot ?
covered with bruises, welts, and infected wounds ?
without any soothing ointments or bandages.

Isaiah 1 verses

Isaiah 1 6 Meaning

Isaiah 1:6 graphically portrays Judah's spiritual and moral corruption as a pervasive bodily disease. From the lowest parts of their society to the highest, there is no spiritual soundness, only wounds, bruises, and festering sores. This imagery signifies the profound and widespread nature of their sin and rebellion against God, likened to untended injuries that have grown worse and are spreading infection. The lack of proper care – the wounds neither cleaned, bandaged, nor soothed with ointment – highlights the nation's stubborn refusal to acknowledge their sinful state, repent, or seek the divine healing God offers.

Isaiah 1 6 Context

Isaiah chapter 1 serves as a prophetic indictment against the nation of Judah, functioning as a legal brief presenting God's case against His rebellious people. Leading up to verse 6, God Himself addresses the heavens and earth, lamenting His children's revolt (1:2-3) and describing them as a sinful nation "loaded with iniquity," comparable to children who have completely forsaken Him (1:4). He speaks of their unresponsiveness to past discipline (1:5), likening them to a persistent and unrepentant patient.

Historically, this period encompasses the reigns of kings Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, during which Judah experienced relative prosperity but was also riddled with social injustice, idolatry, and religious hypocrisy. Despite outward religious observance, the nation's spiritual heart was corrupt. Isaiah 1:6 thus vividly portrays the consequences of this deep-seated rebellion, not merely as external affliction but as a comprehensive spiritual sickness permeating every aspect of their national life. It sets the grim stage for the prophecies of judgment and the eventual promises of redemption found throughout the book.

Isaiah 1 6 Word analysis

• From the sole of the foot even unto the head:
  • From the sole of the foot (מִכַּף רֶגֶל - mikkaf regel): "Kaf" (sole/palm) here signifies the lowest part. It emphasizes a complete lack of soundness even from the ground up, affecting every stratum of society.
  • unto the head (וְעַד רֹאשׁ - v'ad rosh): Denotes the highest part. This is a merism, a literary figure where two extremes represent the totality. It underscores that the corruption is universal, from common people to leadership, leaving no healthy part within the nation.
• there is no soundness in it:
  • no soundness (אֵין בּוֹ מְתֹם - ein bo m'tom): "M'tom" (soundness, wholeness, integrity) signifies completeness and health. Its negation implies an utter lack of spiritual health or integrity, a state of spiritual sickness or rottenness. This highlights that Judah is not merely partially diseased but wholly corrupted.
• but wounds, and bruises, and putrefying sores:
  • wounds (פֶּצַע - petza): Refers to an open cut or gash. These are acute, often violent injuries, representing the visible and direct consequences of sin.
  • bruises (חַבּוּרָה - chabburah): Refers to contusions, marks of beating or striking. These are deeper, subcutaneous injuries, symbolizing the cumulative damage from unaddressed spiritual transgressions and judgments.
  • putrefying sores (מַכָּה טְרִיָּה - makkah t'riyah): "Makkah" is a blow/plague; "t'riyah" implies fresh but here implies festering or raw. These are chronic, suppurating, and unhealed infections, signifying spiritual conditions that have worsened over time, become chronic, and are spreading their corrupting influence. This progression emphasizes the escalating nature of Judah's spiritual illness due to neglect.
• they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment:
  • not been closed (לֹא זֻמְרוּ - lo zum'ru): The word implies squeezing out or cleansing the wound to prevent infection. This points to a refusal to clean or confront the festering aspects of their sin.
  • neither bound up (וְלֹא חֻבָּשׁוּ - v'lo chubbashu): Refers to bandaging or dressing wounds. This indicates a lack of proper care, protection, or setting for the damaged parts, leaving them vulnerable to further harm.
  • neither mollified with ointment (וְלֹא רֻכְּכָה בַּשָּׁמֶן - v'lo ruk'k'khah bashshamen): "Mollified" means softened or soothed; "ointment" (shemen) was typically olive oil used for soothing and healing. This signifies the complete absence of compassion, comfort, or genuine restorative spiritual remedies applied to their spiritual condition, leading to further hardening and pain.
  • This triple negation profoundly emphasizes the utter neglect and abandonment of their spiritual injuries, leading to their exacerbated state. It points to a profound spiritual apathy and a rejection of God's attempts at spiritual remedy.

Isaiah 1 6 Bonus section

• Theological Parallel to Humanity's State: This verse foreshadows the broader biblical truth about humanity's condition after the fall. Just as Judah was completely diseased, all of humanity is born into sin, inheriting a corrupted nature (Psa 51:5). There is "no soundness" in us apart from God's grace.
• Call for Divine Healing: The severe diagnosis in this verse creates an urgent need for divine intervention, paving the way for Isaiah's later prophecies of the Messiah, who would ultimately bring healing (Isa 53:5).
• Judgment as Love: Although presented as a stark condemnation, this prophetic utterance also stems from God's loving concern for His people, akin to a surgeon's painful but necessary assessment before treatment. It expresses God's heartbreak over their state and a final plea before further judgment.

Isaiah 1 6 Commentary

Isaiah 1:6 serves as God's stark medical diagnosis of Judah's spiritual state. The vibrant, visceral imagery of a diseased body, corrupted from head to toe, powerfully communicates the totality and depth of their rebellion. This isn't just about isolated sins; it’s a systemic breakdown, impacting every level of the nation—its leadership, its common people, and all its institutions. The progression from acute wounds to deeper bruises to festering, putrefying sores highlights the escalating and chronic nature of their spiritual illness, exacerbated by unaddressed transgression.

The absence of any proper care—no cleaning, no binding, no soothing with oil—is particularly poignant. It is not merely that Judah has wounds, but that these wounds have been deliberately neglected. This reflects their refusal to repent, their hardened hearts, and their stubborn rejection of God’s redemptive call and disciplinary actions. They would not allow God, the ultimate Physician, to heal them. This verse underscores the pervasive, destructive nature of sin when left untended and its inevitable outcome of increasing corruption and suffering. It underscores God's deep anguish over His people's condition and serves as a dire warning about the consequences of spiritual apathy.