Isaiah 59 12

Isaiah 59:12 kjv

For our transgressions are multiplied before thee, and our sins testify against us: for our transgressions are with us; and as for our iniquities, we know them;

Isaiah 59:12 nkjv

For our transgressions are multiplied before You, And our sins testify against us; For our transgressions are with us, And as for our iniquities, we know them:

Isaiah 59:12 niv

For our offenses are many in your sight, and our sins testify against us. Our offenses are ever with us, and we acknowledge our iniquities:

Isaiah 59:12 esv

For our transgressions are multiplied before you, and our sins testify against us; for our transgressions are with us, and we know our iniquities:

Isaiah 59:12 nlt

For our sins are piled up before God
and testify against us.
Yes, we know what sinners we are.

Isaiah 59 verses

Isaiah 59 12 Meaning

Isaiah 59:12 serves as a stark confession of Israel's profound and pervasive sin, directly acknowledging before God that their transgressions are numerous and act as an accuser against them. It expresses a deep awareness that their iniquities are an ever-present reality, shaping their condition and obstructing their relationship with God. The verse underscores the people's recognition of their culpability and the deep-seated nature of their disobedience.

Isaiah 59 12 Context

Isaiah chapter 59 vividly portrays the spiritual decay of Judah, detailing the deep-seated sin and its devastating consequences for the nation. Verses 1-8 describe how Israel's iniquities have created a barrier between them and God, preventing His hand from saving them and His ear from hearing. Their actions—lying, injustice, violence, and perverted paths—are cataloged. Verses 9-15a represent the people's collective lament and confession, recognizing their spiritual blindness and the absence of justice and truth. This confession serves as a crucial turning point, paving the way for God's redemptive intervention. Verse 12 is at the heart of this national acknowledgment of guilt. Historically, this prophecy likely addresses a period where a significant portion of the Israelite people had lapsed into injustice and formalistic religion, even after periods of judgment, demonstrating a stubbornness to fully turn to God. It confronts any notion that God is powerless or unconcerned, instead placing the blame squarely on the people's moral failures.

Isaiah 59 12 Word analysis

• For our transgressions (כִּֽי־פְשָׁעֵ֙ינוּ֙, kî-p̄əšāʿê:nû):
  • כִּֽי (kî): "For," a causal conjunction, introducing the reason or explanation for the prior statements (the lament of injustice and absence of light).
  • פְשָׁעֵ֙ינוּ֙ (pəšāʿê:nû): Plural of pesha', meaning "transgression," "rebellion," "revolt." This is a strong word, signifying a deliberate breach of covenant or trust, an open defiance against an authority figure, particularly against God. It suggests not just an accidental misstep, but an intentional act of rebellion. Its intensity is significant.
• are multiplied (רָ֣בוּ, rāḇû):
  • רָ֣בוּ (rāḇû): From the root rabah, "to be many," "to be great," "to multiply." It indicates an overwhelming quantity, not just one or two but a vast accumulation of defiant acts, suggesting the pervasive nature of their sin across the society.
• before You (נֶגְדֶּ֔ךָ, neḡ·deḵā):
  • נֶגְדֶּ֔ךָ (neḡ·deḵā): "Before your face," "in your presence," "in opposition to you." This highlights that their numerous transgressions are directly in God's sight, an affront to His holiness and justice. There is no hiding from God's full awareness, reinforcing His righteous judgment.
• and our sins (וְחַטֹּאותֵ֖ינוּ, wəḥaṭṭō’wōṯê:nū):
  • וְ (wə): "And," connecting to the previous clause.
  • חַטֹּאותֵ֖ינוּ (ḥaṭṭō’wōṯê:nū): Plural of chaṭṭa’ah, meaning "sin," "missing the mark." This term refers to failure to meet a standard, often implying falling short, error, or unwitting wrongdoing. While generally milder than pesha', its conjunction here with "transgressions" shows the comprehensive nature of their moral failing – both deliberate rebellion and general shortcomings.
• testify against us; (עָ֣נוּ בָ֑נוּ, ‘ā:nū ḇā:nū):
  • עָ֣נוּ (‘ā:nū): From ‘anah, "to answer," "to testify," "to bear witness." Personifies their sins as actively giving evidence, like witnesses in a court of law. This vivid imagery emphasizes that their own deeds serve as undeniable proof of their guilt.
  • בָ֑נוּ (ḇā:nū): "Against us." Clearly identifies the accused party.
• for our transgressions (כִּֽי־פְשָׁעֵ֙ינוּ֙, kî-p̄əšāʿê:nû):
  • A repetition of the opening phrase, underscoring the severity and persistent presence of their deliberate rebellions. The recurrence emphasizes that pesha' is the fundamental problem.
• are with us, (אִתָּ֙נוּ הֵ֔מָּה, ’it·tā:nū hēm·māh):
  • אִתָּ֙נוּ הֵ֔מָּה (’it·tā:nū hēm·māh): "They are with us." This signifies not just past actions, but a present reality. The sins are not merely external deeds but have become ingrained, part of their identity and existence. It suggests a persistent, internal presence.
• and we know our iniquities. (וַעֲוֹנֹתֵ֖ינוּ יָדַֽעְנוּ׃, waʿăwō:nōwōṯê:nū yā:ḏa‘·nū):
  • וַעֲוֹנֹתֵ֖ינוּ (waʿăwō:nōwōṯê:nū): Plural of ‘awon, meaning "iniquity," "guilt," "perversity." This word often refers to the moral crookedness or twisting of what is right, and frequently implies the punishment or consequence of sin as well. It speaks to the perverted nature of their actions and character.
  • יָדַֽעְנוּ (yā:ḏa‘·nū): "We know," from yada', "to know." This isn't just intellectual knowledge, but intimate, experiential knowing. It suggests a full, self-aware acknowledgment of their sinful condition, admitting culpability. This deeply contrasts with prior prophetic laments of ignorance or denial among the people.

Words-Group by Words-Group Analysis:

• "For our transgressions are multiplied before You,": This opening statement sets the tone by confessing a vast quantity of intentional rebellion directly aimed at God, asserting that these acts are evident to Him. The collective "our" signifies national culpability.
• "and our sins testify against us;": This phrase highlights the self-incriminating nature of their wrongdoings. Their own actions serve as their accusers, making any defense impossible and emphasizing personal responsibility for the consequences.
• "for our transgressions are with us,": This reiteration underscores the pervasive, deeply rooted, and ever-present nature of their rebellious actions. It's not a past mistake, but an ongoing condition, implying difficulty in self-extrication.
• "and we know our iniquities.": This final clause signifies a critical point: conscious awareness and admission of their inherent crookedness and guilt. It demonstrates an honest, albeit painful, introspection necessary for any potential spiritual restoration. This 'knowing' makes denial impossible and signifies genuine conviction.

Isaiah 59 12 Bonus section

The communal "we" and "our" throughout this verse is significant. It represents a collective confession on behalf of the nation, implying a remnant or a group within Israel recognizing the shared corporate guilt. This collective confession often precedes moments of national restoration or the promise of a future redeemer in prophetic literature. It speaks to a deep, corporate understanding that their suffering and alienation from God are not arbitrary but directly linked to their cumulative unrighteousness. This recognition forms the necessary foundation for God's action as the lone rescuer, as depicted in the following verses (Isa 59:15b-20), where He intervenes precisely because "there was no man" and no one to intercede or provide true justice. The intensity of their confessed iniquity (transgressions, sins, iniquities—a powerful trilogy of terms) makes God's subsequent provision of salvation, through a Davidic redeemer, even more glorious and profound.

Isaiah 59 12 Commentary

Isaiah 59:12 is a powerful and candid confession, articulating the profound moral depravity and spiritual awareness of a people facing divine judgment. The repeated emphasis on "our transgressions," employing the strong term pesha', highlights intentional rebellion and defiance against God's covenant. This is not merely an admission of mistakes, but a recognition of a deep-seated rejection of divine authority. The image of sins "multiplied before You" indicates the overwhelming scale of their wrongdoing, all transparently visible to a holy God, against whom these offenses are committed. Furthermore, "our sins testify against us" paints a picture of their deeds acting as accusers, sealing their guilt in God's righteous court, a direct precursor to judgment if not met by repentance. The declaration that "our transgressions are with us" denotes an internalized, persistent state of sin rather than isolated incidents; it has become part of their very fabric, making self-salvation impossible. Finally, "and we know our iniquities" marks a crucial point of genuine, self-aware conviction. This isn't a casual observation but an intimate, personal recognition of their inherent twistedness and guilt (‘awon). Such a profound confession is essential; it breaks the cycle of denial and opens the possibility for divine mercy and intervention, setting the stage for the dramatic revelation of God's redemptive plan in the subsequent verses of Isaiah 59. This verse reminds believers that true repentance begins with an honest, humble acknowledgment of the depth and breadth of one's sin before God, recognizing that our faults are fully known to Him and ingrained within us.