Isaiah 64 9

Isaiah 64:9 kjv

Be not wroth very sore, O LORD, neither remember iniquity for ever: behold, see, we beseech thee, we are all thy people.

Isaiah 64:9 nkjv

Do not be furious, O LORD, Nor remember iniquity forever; Indeed, please look?we all are Your people!

Isaiah 64:9 niv

Do not be angry beyond measure, LORD; do not remember our sins forever. Oh, look on us, we pray, for we are all your people.

Isaiah 64:9 esv

Be not so terribly angry, O LORD, and remember not iniquity forever. Behold, please look, we are all your people.

Isaiah 64:9 nlt

Don't be so angry with us, LORD.
Please don't remember our sins forever.
Look at us, we pray,
and see that we are all your people.

Isaiah 64 verses

Isaiah 64 9 Meaning

Isaiah 64:9 declares that God's people are His creation, and He considers them His own, akin to the work of His hands. The verse conveys a deep sense of possession and tender care that God has for Israel. It speaks to their identity as those whom God Himself formed and sustains. This relationship implies responsibility on God's part and belonging on the part of His people, highlighting God's enduring covenantal faithfulness.

Isaiah 64 9 Context

Isaiah 64 is a powerful prophetic lament, where Isaiah, acting as a voice for the exiled people of Judah, pleads with God for intervention and restoration. The chapter expresses deep sorrow over sin, national disaster, and the apparent silence of God. The verses leading up to verse 9 speak of their past glories, their present suffering, and their humble recognition of God's sovereignty and power. They acknowledge that their suffering is due to their sins and that God is their Father and their Creator. Verse 9, therefore, follows a plea for God to remember His people as His creation and His covenantal possession, despite their current brokenness and sins.

Isaiah 64 9 Word Analysis

• O LORD, our Father:

  • "O LORD" (Hebrew: יהוה, Yahweh) - The covenant name of God, signifying His personal relationship with Israel.
  • "our Father" (Hebrew: אָבִינוּ, Aviynu) - This title emphasizes God's parental love, care, and provision. It highlights a tender, intimate relationship.

• we are the clay:

  • "we" (Hebrew: אֲנַ֫חְנוּ, 'anachnu) - Refers to the people of Israel, the entire community.
  • "are" (Hebrew: אֲנַ֫חְנוּ, 'anachnu) - Implies being, existence, and a state of being.
  • "the clay" (Hebrew: חֹ֫מֶר, chomer) - This metaphor represents Israel as malleable material in the hands of the Divine Potter. It speaks of origin and dependence.

• and You are our potter:

  • "and" (Hebrew: וְ, v' ) - Connective.
  • "You" (Hebrew: אַ֫תָּה, 'atta) - God, the subject performing the action.
  • "are" (Hebrew: הְיֵה, hiyeh) - Linking verb, present tense.
  • "our potter" (Hebrew: יוֹצְרֵ֫נוּ, yotzrenu) - From the root יצר (yatzar), meaning to form, shape, fashion. This is a direct statement of God's role in creating and forming His people.

• and all of us are the work of Your hands:

  • "and all of us" (Hebrew: וְכֻלָּנוּ, v'kullanu) - Encompasses every individual within the community.
  • "are" (Hebrew: אֲנַ֫חְנוּ, 'anachnu) - Continuation of the state of being.
  • "the work" (Hebrew: מַעֲשֵׂה, ma'aseh) - The product of action, a creation, a deed. It signifies something made, constructed.
  • "of Your hands" (Hebrew: יָדֶיךָ, yadeycha) - Indicates the direct, intentional action of God's creative power. The hands symbolize agency and detailed workmanship.

• Group Analysis: "We are the clay, and You are our potter; and all of us are the work of Your hands."

  • This phrase forms a cohesive statement of relationship and divine agency. It emphasizes humanity's absolute dependence on God for existence and form. It highlights God's active and purposeful role in creation and preservation, likening His creation to skilled craftsmanship where every detail is intended. This emphasizes divine authority and the people's submissive posture before Him.

Isaiah 64 9 Bonus Section

The imagery of God as a potter and Israel as clay is prevalent throughout Scripture (Jeremiah 18). This emphasizes not only God's power over His creation but also His intricate knowledge of each part and His sovereign right to shape it for His purposes. In this specific context, the people are acknowledging their complete dependence on God for their present existence and their future hope of restoration. Their confession that they are "all the work of Your hands" is a recognition of God's foundational role in their being, a basis for asking Him to act on their behalf. This verse echoes the sentiment of humility and reliance that should characterize the relationship between the Creator and His created beings. It serves as a reminder of God's faithfulness despite human frailty.

Isaiah 64 9 Commentary

Isaiah 64:9 is a profound expression of God's intimate relationship with His people. Despite the nation's sins and the resulting suffering, the prophet reminds God that they are His creation, formed by His own hands. This is not an excuse for sin, but a foundational plea rooted in identity. It underscores that God's concern for Israel is not based on their merit but on His creative decree and covenantal commitment. They are His possession, made by Him. This truth should lead to a posture of humility and reliance on God, the divine Potter, who has the authority and ability to re-form and restore them according to His will.

• Practical Application: When facing personal struggles or collective hardships, remember your identity in Christ as God's workmanship. Just as Israel was God's clay, believers are "created in Christ Jesus for good works" (Eph 2:10). Trust that God, who began a good work in you, will carry it on to completion (Phil 1:6). When you feel broken or marred, recall that the Potter has the ability to remold you, but you must remain in His hands.