Isaiah 44:22 kjv
I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee.
Isaiah 44:22 nkjv
I have blotted out, like a thick cloud, your transgressions, And like a cloud, your sins. Return to Me, for I have redeemed you."
Isaiah 44:22 niv
I have swept away your offenses like a cloud, your sins like the morning mist. Return to me, for I have redeemed you."
Isaiah 44:22 esv
I have blotted out your transgressions like a cloud and your sins like mist; return to me, for I have redeemed you.
Isaiah 44:22 nlt
I have swept away your sins like a cloud.
I have scattered your offenses like the morning mist.
Oh, return to me,
for I have paid the price to set you free."
Isaiah 44 22 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isaiah 1:18 | "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be white as snow;" | Theme of forgiveness and cleansing from sin. |
| Isaiah 43:25 | "I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake;" | Direct parallel emphasizing God's initiative in blotting out transgressions. |
| Jeremiah 31:34 | "For I will forgive their wickedness and remember their sin no more." | Echoes the concept of God not remembering sins after forgiveness. |
| Micah 7:19 | "He will again have compassion on us; he will tread our iniquities underfoot. He will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea." | Similar imagery of casting sins away, deep into the sea. |
| Psalm 103:12 | "as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us." | Illustrates the completeness of the removal of sin. |
| Romans 8:1 | "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." | New Testament parallel of freedom from condemnation due to Christ. |
| Colossians 2:14 | "by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross." | Spiritual parallel of debt (sin) being canceled through Christ's sacrifice. |
| 1 John 1:7 | "But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin." | Links cleansing from sin to the blood of Jesus. |
| Acts 3:19 | "Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out." | Connects the blotting out of sins to repentance. |
| Psalm 51:1-2 | "Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin!" | A prayer for blotting out and cleansing of sins. |
| Hebrews 10:17 | "then he adds, 'I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.'" | Repetition from Jeremiah, confirming God's remembrance of sins no more. |
| 2 Corinthians 5:17 | "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." | Implies a transformation that accompanies the blotting out of sins. |
| Isaiah 38:17 | "Behold, it was for my welfare that I had great bitterness; but you have held back my life from the pit of destruction, for you have cast all my sins behind your back." | God casting sins behind His back as a metaphor for their removal. |
| Ephesians 1:7 | "In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace," | Forgiveness of sins through Christ's blood and God's grace. |
| Romans 3:24-25 | "and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith." | Redemption and justification as a gift of grace through Christ's blood. |
| Psalm 32:1 | "Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered." | The blessedness associated with the forgiveness of sins. |
| Acts 10:43 | "To him all the prophets bear witness that through his name everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins.” | All prophets bear witness to forgiveness through belief in Jesus. |
| Isaiah 1:18 | "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool." | Reinforces the theme of profound purification. |
| Psalm 130:8 | "and he will redeem Israel from all its iniquities." | God's redemptive action encompassing all Israel's iniquities. |
| Isaiah 62:5 | "for as a young man marries a young woman, so shall your builders marry you, and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you." | The joy of God over His redeemed people. |
Isaiah 44 verses
Isaiah 44 22 Meaning
God declares that He has forgiven and redeemed His people. He has completely blotted out their transgressions, like clouds disappearing from the sky. This act of forgiveness is a demonstration of God's sovereign grace and power.
Isaiah 44 22 Context
This verse is part of Isaiah's prophecy in a section dealing with God's restoration and future hope for Israel, particularly after the Babylonian exile. The preceding verses (44:1-20) vividly portray the folly of idolatry, contrasting the lifelessness of man-made idols with the living power of the God of Israel. Chapter 44 concludes with the affirmation of God's sovereignty and His choice of Cyrus, the Persian king, to facilitate Israel's return. Verse 22 then directly addresses the people, announcing a comprehensive forgiveness and a new beginning. The overarching message is one of redemption, comfort, and assured deliverance for God's people.
Isaiah 44 22 Word analysis
"I have," (pronounced "anokhi") - First person singular pronoun of God, emphasizing His personal involvement and authority.
"blotted out" (pronounced "makhiti") - From the root "makhah," meaning to wipe away, erase, or blot out. This suggests a complete removal, as one would wipe away writing from a tablet or dust from a surface. It conveys the idea of obliteration and finality.
"your transgressions," (pronounced "pesha'eikhem") - Plural of "pesha'," meaning rebellion, revolt, or grievous sin. It signifies not just accidental sin but a deliberate turning away from God.
"as with a cloud," (pronounced "k'vootz") - This phrase compares the blotting out of sin to the way clouds disappear from the sky, perhaps referring to a sudden or complete vanishing. Another possible interpretation relates to a cloud formation that obstructs the sun but then dissipates. The context suggests an overwhelming presence that is then completely gone.
"and as with a mist" (pronounced "v'khokhut") - From the root "khuk," meaning to cover or conceal, often referring to dew or a light fog. The combination with "cloud" emphasizes the thoroughness of the removal, leaving no trace.
"your sins." (pronounced "khata'eikhem") - Plural of "khatta't," generally meaning sin, fault, or offense. It refers to a broader spectrum of wrongdoing, encompassing errors in judgment, actions, or attitudes that go against God's will.
Group analysis of "blotted out your transgressions, as with a cloud, and as with a mist, your sins.": This powerful phrase describes the complete cancellation of sin. It is not merely covered or partially forgiven, but thoroughly erased and dissipated, much like a heavy cloud or a lingering mist that is completely removed from the sky, leaving it clear. This signifies God's ability and willingness to completely pardon His people.
Isaiah 44 22 Bonus section
The metaphor of "blotting out" has roots in ancient writing practices, where sins or debts might have been inscribed on tablets, and their removal would involve literally erasing them. The imagery of clouds and mists vanishing conveys an assurance that God does not merely obscure sins but completely removes them from His sight. This prophetic declaration assures the Israelites, facing the consequences of sin and exile, that their past failures will not define their future. This radical forgiveness is an expression of God's covenant faithfulness and His desire to see His people live in freedom.
Isaiah 44 22 Commentary
Isaiah 44:22 announces a profound assurance of divine forgiveness and restoration. God Himself declares the blotting out of His people's transgressions and sins, likening it to the disappearance of a cloud or mist. This imagery emphasizes the totality and completeness of the pardon. It signifies a fresh start, a release from the burden of guilt and condemnation. This divine action is motivated by God's own faithfulness and love, preparing the way for the complete restoration He promises. It is a foreshadowing of the ultimate atonement provided through Jesus Christ, who perfectly fulfills this prophetic assurance by washing believers clean from all sin.