Isaiah 64:5 kjv
Thou meetest him that rejoiceth and worketh righteousness, those that remember thee in thy ways: behold, thou art wroth; for we have sinned: in those is continuance, and we shall be saved.
Isaiah 64:5 nkjv
You meet him who rejoices and does righteousness, Who remembers You in Your ways. You are indeed angry, for we have sinned? In these ways we continue; And we need to be saved.
Isaiah 64:5 niv
You come to the help of those who gladly do right, who remember your ways. But when we continued to sin against them, you were angry. How then can we be saved?
Isaiah 64:5 esv
You meet him who joyfully works righteousness, those who remember you in your ways. Behold, you were angry, and we sinned; in our sins we have been a long time, and shall we be saved?
Isaiah 64:5 nlt
You welcome those who gladly do good,
who follow godly ways.
But you have been very angry with us,
for we are not godly.
We are constant sinners;
how can people like us be saved?
Isaiah 64 5 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isaiah 64:5b | "we meet you when you do righteous deeds." | Isa 64:5 (ESV) - direct statement of meeting |
| John 14:23 | "If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him..." | John 14:23 (ESV) - connection between love and obedience |
| 1 John 3:10 | "By this it is evident who are the children of God..." | 1 John 3:10 (ESV) - righteousness as evidence of belonging |
| Acts 10:35 | "...but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him." | Acts 10:35 (ESV) - God accepts righteous from all nations |
| Psalm 1:1 | "Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked..." | Psa 1:1 (ESV) - blessing on righteous living |
| Jeremiah 3:13 | "Only acknowledge your iniquity..." | Jer 3:13 (ESV) - confession prerequisite for return |
| 1 Samuel 12:24 | "But you must diligently fear the Lord and serve him in truth with all your heart..." | 1 Sam 12:24 (ESV) - exhortation to righteous service |
| Psalm 119:162 | "I rejoice at your word..." | Psa 119:162 (ESV) - joy in God's word and its practice |
| Matthew 7:21 | "Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven..." | Matt 7:21 (ESV) - actions over mere words |
| Hebrews 4:16 | "Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness..." | Heb 4:16 (ESV) - access through grace |
| Psalm 50:23 | "The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me..." | Psa 50:23 (ESV) - thanksgiving linked to glorifying God |
| Isaiah 57:15 | "...for thus says the One who is high and lifted up, and dwells in eternity..." | Isa 57:15 (ESV) - God's exalted nature |
| Romans 12:2 | "...but be transformed by the renewal of your mind..." | Rom 12:2 (ESV) - transformation affects action |
| Isaiah 45:19 | "I did not speak in secret..." | Isa 45:19 (ESV) - God's clear revelations |
| Psalm 34:4 | "I sought the Lord, and he answered me..." | Psa 34:4 (ESV) - seeking God results in His answer |
| Amos 5:4 | "For thus says the Lord to the house of Israel: Seek me and live." | Amos 5:4 (ESV) - direct call to seek God |
| Jeremiah 29:13 | "You will seek me and find me, when you search for me with all your heart." | Jer 29:13 (ESV) - comprehensive search yields discovery |
| John 6:37 | "All that the Father gives me will come to me..." | John 6:37 (ESV) - divine drawing toward God |
| Revelation 3:20 | "Behold, I stand at the door and knock." | Rev 3:20 (ESV) - Christ's persistent invitation |
| Matthew 5:6 | "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied." | Matt 5:6 (ESV) - blessed are those who pursue righteousness |
Isaiah 64 verses
Isaiah 64 5 Meaning
The verse declares that God is like a gardener, welcoming and merciful, actively seeking out those who remember and follow Him, specifically those who practice righteousness. This active seeking and readiness to welcome back demonstrates God's enduring love and covenant faithfulness despite Israel's sins.
Isaiah 64 5 Context
Isaiah 64 is a prayer of confession and a plea for divine intervention. The prophet and the people acknowledge their past sins, rebellions, and spiritual decay, recognizing that their iniquities have estranged them from God (Isaiah 64:5a). Despite this, they appeal to God's character and past acts of saving power, longing for Him to manifest His presence and intervene on their behalf. The verse is a crucial turning point in the prayer, expressing the condition for God's active engagement: remembrance and righteous deeds by the people. The broader context is Israel's ongoing exile or post-exilic period, marked by a deep longing for restoration and the renewal of God's covenant presence.
Isaiah 64 5 Word Analysis
- אתה (atta) - "You." Singular second-person pronoun, emphasizing a direct address to God.
- לְשָׂמֵחַ (lesameach) - "to make glad," "to rejoice." The infinitive form implies purpose or capability. God is able to cause gladness.
- עֹשֵׂה (oseh) - "doer," "maker," "one who works." Present participle, highlighting God's active engagement.
- צֶדֶק (tsedek) - "righteousness," "justice." A fundamental attribute of God and a required characteristic of His people.
- אֹתְךָ (otkha) - "You" (masculine singular object pronoun).
- נִקְרָא (nikra) - "called," "named," "meet." This passive participle is key. It implies recognition and coming to meet someone who is already recognized by name or reputation.
- הִנֵּה (hinneh) - "behold," "lo." An interjection drawing attention to what follows.
- תִּקְרֶה (tikreh) - "you will meet," "you will encounter." Future tense of the verb "to meet" (קָרָא - qara). Here, it conveys an assurance of divine response.
- נִשְׁמְךָ (nishmekha) - "Your name." Refers to God's reputation, character, and presence.
- לְשֹׁמְרֶיךָ (leshomrekha) - "those who keep you," "your keepers." Those who are mindful of God, His commands, and His covenant.
- שְׂמֵחוּ (semechou) - Imperative plural of "to rejoice." An exhortation.
- עֹשִׂים (osim) - Present participle plural of "to do," "to make." Those who are doing righteous things.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "You meet those who rejoice in doing right": This clause signifies God's responsiveness to those who actively find their delight and practice in righteous living. It’s not just about doing good, but about having an inner disposition of joy in it.
- "and work righteousness": This further specifies the nature of the deeds that attract God's attention. Righteousness is the fruit of a life lived in alignment with God's will.
- "Behold, you are angry, and we sinned": The conjunction (implied in the Hebrew structure) links the peoples' ongoing sin and its consequence (God's anger) with the desire for God's favorable encounter. The people confess their sin and the resultant divine anger.
- "In them we have continued a long time; in them we shall be saved.": This group emphasizes the persistent nature of their sin, suggesting it has been a long-standing issue, yet they cling to the hope that in adhering to the path of righteousness (which they were formerly sinning against), they will ultimately find salvation through God's intervention.
Isaiah 64 5 Bonus Section
The Hebrew word for "meet" (נקרה - nikra) implies an accidental or unexpected encounter, but in this context, given God’s omnipotence and foreknowledge, it signifies a divinely ordained appointment. God positions Himself to be met by the righteous. This also highlights the covenant relationship; God is faithful to His promises for those who remain faithful to Him. The mention of "rejoice in doing right" is significant, pointing beyond mere outward compliance to an inward attitude, a concept explored extensively in the New Testament teachings on the fruit of the Spirit and the joyous obedience of faith (Galatians 5:22). The entire verse functions as an anchor of hope, reminding the people that despite their past failures, God remains a faithful covenant partner who is actively present and ready to save those who, by His grace, turn to and live in righteousness.
Isaiah 64 5 Commentary
This verse reveals a divine dynamic of conditional anticipation. God's active engagement ("you meet") is presented as a response to human disposition and action. He doesn't meet all people in the same way; His encounter is purposeful, directed toward those who delight in and actively practice righteousness. This emphasizes that while God's grace is sovereign, there is a receptive condition on the human side—a life lived remembering God, seeking Him, and doing what is right. The assurance is that this disposition—rejoicing in righteousness and actively doing it—is precisely what makes one discoverable and thus encountered by God. It signifies God's readiness to engage with a repentant and obedient heart that actively seeks Him and His ways, finding joy in them. This isn't a legalistic earning of favor, but a responsive relationship where obedience is the evidence of a heart turned towards God.