Isaiah 64:5 Meaning and Explanation
“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.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →You meet those who rejoice in righteousness and remember Your ways, yet You are angry because we have sinned, yet in Your nature is steadfastness and our salvation.
The Context of Isaiah 64:5
A turn in the prayer toward confession and reliance on God's nature rather than Israel's merit.
What Does Isaiah 64:5 Mean?
The prayer shifts. God does meet the righteous, does come near to those who call on Him in truth. But Israel has sinned, and His wrath is kindled. The tension here is real: justice and mercy stand together. The prayer does not deny the anger, does not excuse the sin. Instead, it rests in what remains stable, what endures in God even when His people fall short. That continuance, that steadfast character, is the ground of salvation. We are not saved because we earn it or because God has forgotten His anger, but because in the midst of His righteous judgment, His mercy holds.
This is the gospel. We deserve wrath; God is indeed angry at sin. But in that very wrath stands the cross, where justice is satisfied and mercy triumphs. The righteous One becomes unrighteous on our behalf. The continuance Isaiah speaks of is God's covenant faithfulness, which Jesus embodied perfectly and which we are invited to trust.
Isaiah 64:5 in the Original Language
Chesed (Hebrew), 'steadfast love, mercy' - though not used here, the concept permeates this verse: God's love endures even in judgment.
How to Apply Isaiah 64:5 Today
We too know that we have sinned. Rather than hide from that reality, we can bring it before God as Israel does here, trusting that His nature is continuance, that He does not cast off those He has loved. Confession becomes a way of anchoring ourselves in His faithfulness.
Frequently Asked Questions About Isaiah 64:5
What does Isaiah 64:5 mean?
You meet those who rejoice in righteousness and remember Your ways, yet You are angry because we have sinned, yet in Your nature is steadfastness and our salvation.
What is the context of Isaiah 64:5?
A turn in the prayer toward confession and reliance on God's nature rather than Israel's merit.
How can I apply Isaiah 64:5 today?
We too know that we have sinned. Rather than hide from that reality, we can bring it before God as Israel does here, trusting that His nature is continuance, that He does not cast off those He has loved. Confession becomes a way of anchoring ourselves in His faithfulness.