And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood.

ISAIAH 1:15KJV
Know the Bible

Isaiah 1:15 (KJV)

What does Isaiah 1:15 mean?

Isaiah 1:15 describes God telling the people that He will not listen to their prayers or accept their outward acts of worship because their hands are stained with blood, symbolizing guilt and wrongdoing. The verse shows that religious rituals are meaningless to God when people are living unjustly or harming others.

In this verse, the prophet Isaiah is speaking to the people of Judah on behalf of God. The people are performing religious ceremonies—raising their hands in prayer and offering many prayers—but God says He will ignore them because of their violent actions and injustice. Isaiah 1:15 is part of a larger passage where God rebukes empty religion and calls for genuine repentance and justice.

The Hebrew behind Isaiah 1:15

  • "hands" (כַּפַּיִם, kaphayim): This word refers specifically to the palms of the hands, which were often lifted in prayer. The image highlights the act of public worship.
  • "hide" (עָלַם, 'alam): This word means to conceal or cover. God is saying He will deliberately turn away and not look upon their prayers.
  • "full" (מָלֵא, male): This word means filled up or overflowing. The phrase "your hands are full of blood" emphasizes the extent of their guilt and wrongdoing.
  • "blood" (דָּם, dam): This word refers to literal bloodshed but also stands for violence, injustice, or harm done to others, showing the seriousness of their actions.

Why Isaiah 1:15 matters

  • Isaiah 1:15 clears up the misunderstanding that outward religious acts can make up for injustice or wrongdoing; God cares more about the state of a person's heart and actions.
  • The verse highlights that God rejects worship that is not matched by ethical living, emphasizing the need for integrity between faith and daily life.
  • Isaiah 1:15 connects to the wider passage where God calls for repentance and justice, setting the stage for the call to "wash yourselves" and "cease to do evil" in the following verses.

Where else these words appear

“hide” Hebrew H5956 · used in 27 verses

  • Leviticus 4:13 And if the whole congregation of Israel sin through ignorance, and the thing be hid from the eyes of the assembly, and they have done somewhat against any of the commandments of the LORD concerning things which should not be done, and are guilty;
  • Deuteronomy 22:4 Thou shalt not see thy brother's ass or his ox fall down by the way, and hide thyself from them: thou shalt surely help him to lift them up again.
  • Psalms 26:4 I have not sat with vain persons, neither will I go in with dissemblers.

“forth” Hebrew H6566 · used in 66 verses

  • Exodus 9:29 And Moses said unto him, As soon as I am gone out of the city, I will spread abroad my hands unto the LORD; and the thunder shall cease, neither shall there be any more hail; that thou mayest know how that the earth is the LORD'S.
  • 2 Kings 8:15 And it came to pass on the morrow, that he took a thick cloth, and dipped it in water, and spread it on his face, so that he died: and Hazael reigned in his stead.
  • Isaiah 33:23 Thy tacklings are loosed; they could not well strengthen their mast, they could not spread the sail: then is the prey of a great spoil divided; the lame take the prey.

“prayers” Hebrew H8605 · used in 70 verses

  • 2 Samuel 7:27 For thou, O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, hast revealed to thy servant, saying, I will build thee an house: therefore hath thy servant found in his heart to pray this prayer unto thee.
  • Nehemiah 11:17 And Mattaniah the son of Micha, the son of Zabdi, the son of Asaph, was the principal to begin the thanksgiving in prayer: and Bakbukiah the second among his brethren, and Abda the son of Shammua, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun.
  • Psalms 102:1 A Prayer of the afflicted, when he is overwhelmed, and poureth out his complaint before the LORD. Hear my prayer, O LORD, and let my cry come unto thee.