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 64:5KJVWhat does Isaiah 64:5 mean?
Isaiah 64:5 says that God meets with those who rejoice in doing what is right and remember Him by following His ways, but acknowledges that God is angry because the people have sinned; yet, in continuing in God’s ways, there is hope for salvation. The verse highlights both God’s readiness to respond to the faithful and the reality of human sin, while holding out the possibility of being saved through ongoing faithfulness.
In context, Isaiah is speaking on behalf of the people of Israel, praying to God during a time when they feel distant from Him because of their sins. The verse recognizes that God favors those who live righteously, but also honestly confesses the nation’s wrongdoing and appeals to God’s mercy. This is part of a larger prayer where Isaiah is asking God to remember His relationship with Israel and to restore them.
The Hebrew behind Isaiah 64:5
- "Meetest" (פָּגַע, paga‘): This word often means to encounter or come to meet, sometimes with the sense of intervening. Here, it suggests God actively drawing near to those who are joyful in doing right, not just passively waiting.
- "Righteousness" (צֶדֶק, tsedeq): This word means doing what is just or right according to God’s standard. The verse connects God’s favor with those who practice this kind of living.
- "Continuance" (עוֹלָם, ‘olam): This word usually means something lasting or enduring, often translated as "forever" or "perpetual." In this verse, it points to the idea that in God’s ways, there is lasting hope or ongoing salvation, not just a one-time event.
Why Isaiah 64:5 matters
- Isaiah 64:5 clarifies that God responds to those who genuinely seek Him by living rightly and remembering His ways, not just those who claim to belong to Him.
- The verse balances the reality of God’s anger over sin with the hope that comes from turning back to God and continuing in His ways, showing both honesty about failure and confidence in God’s mercy.
- This verse helps set the tone for the surrounding passage, which is a heartfelt prayer for God’s presence and forgiveness, reminding readers that relationship with God involves both honest confession and a commitment to live according to His ways.