Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away. New Living Translation We are all infected and impure with sin. When we display our righteous deeds, they are nothing but filthy rags. Like autumn leaves, we wither and fall, and our sins sweep us away like the wind. English Standard Version We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away. Berean Standard Bible Each of us has become like something unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all wither like a leaf, and our iniquities carry us away like the wind. King James Bible But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. New King James Version But we are all like an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; We all fade as a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, Have taken us away. New American Standard Bible For all of us have become like one who is unclean, And all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment; And all of us wither like a leaf, And our wrongdoings, like the wind, take us away. NASB 1995 For all of us have become like one who is unclean, And all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment; And all of us wither like a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, take us away. NASB 1977 For all of us have become like one who is unclean, And all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment; And all of us wither like a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, take us away. Legacy Standard Bible For all of us have become like one who is unclean, And all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment; And all of us wither like a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, carry us away. Amplified Bible For we all have become like one who is [ceremonially] unclean [like a leper], And all our deeds of righteousness are like filthy rags; We all wither and decay like a leaf, And our wickedness [our sin, our injustice, our wrongdoing], like the wind, takes us away [carrying us far from God’s favor, toward destruction]. Christian Standard Bible All of us have become like something unclean, and all our righteous acts are like a polluted garment; all of us wither like a leaf, and our iniquities carry us away like the wind. Holman Christian Standard Bible All of us have become like something unclean, and all our righteous acts are like a polluted garment; all of us wither like a leaf, and our iniquities carry us away like the wind. American Standard Version For we are all become as one that is unclean, and all our righteousnesses are as a polluted garment: and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away. Contemporary English Version We are unfit to worship you; each of our good deeds is merely a filthy rag. We dry up like leaves; our sins are storm winds sweeping us away. English Revised Version For we are all become as one that is unclean, and all our righteousnesses are as a polluted garment: and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away. GOD'S WORD® Translation We've all become unclean, and all our righteous acts are like permanently stained rags. All of us shrivel like leaves, and our sins carry us away like the wind. Good News Translation All of us have been sinful; even our best actions are filthy through and through. Because of our sins we are like leaves that wither and are blown away by the wind. International Standard Version All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like a filthy rag; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind, our iniquities sweep us away. NET Bible We are all like one who is unclean, all our so-called righteous acts are like a menstrual rag in your sight. We all wither like a leaf; our sins carry us away like the wind. New Heart English Bible For we have all become as one who is unclean, and all our righteousness is as a polluted garment: and we all fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away. Webster's Bible Translation But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleEach of us has become like something unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all wither like a leaf, and our iniquities carry us away like the wind. World English Bible For we have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteousness is like a polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd we are as unclean—all of us, "" And all our righteous acts [are] as garments of menstruation; And we fade as a leaf—all of us. And our iniquities take us away as wind. Young's Literal Translation And we are as unclean -- all of us, And as a garment passing away, all our righteous acts; And we fade as a leaf -- all of us. And our iniquities as wind do take us away. Smith's Literal Translation And we were all as the unclean, and all our justice as the garment of monthly courses; and we shall all fail away as the leaf; and our iniquities as the wind will take us away. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd we are all become as one unclean, and all our justices as the rag of a menstruous woman: and we have all fallen as a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. Catholic Public Domain Version And we have all become like the unclean. And all our justices are like a rag of menstruation. And we have all fallen away, like a leaf. And our iniquities have carried us away, like the wind. New American Bible We have all become like something unclean, all our just deeds are like polluted rags; We have all withered like leaves, and our crimes carry us away like the wind. New Revised Standard Version We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a filthy cloth. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleFor we have all become like an unclean thing, and all our righteousness is like filthy rags; we all fall off like leaves; and our iniquities, like the whirlwind, have taken us away. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated For we all are as a defiled thing and all our righteousness is like the patch of cloth of a menstruous woman. We all fall like leaves, and our sins have carried us off like a hurricane OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And we are all become as one that is unclean, And all our righteousnesses are as a polluted garment; And we all do fade as a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, take us away. Brenton Septuagint Translation and we are all become as unclean, and all our righteousness as a filthy rag: and we have fallen as leaves because of our iniquities; thus the wind shall carry us away. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context A Prayer for God's Power…5You welcome those who gladly do right, who remember Your ways. Surely You were angry, for we sinned. How can we be saved if we remain in our sins? 6Each of us has become like something unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all wither like a leaf, and our iniquities carry us away like the wind. 7No one calls on Your name or strives to take hold of You. For You have hidden Your face from us and delivered us into the hand of our iniquity.… Cross References Romans 3:10-12 As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one. / There is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. / All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.” Philippians 3:8-9 More than that, I count all things as loss compared to the surpassing excellence of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ / and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God on the basis of faith. Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, Titus 3:5 He saved us, not by the righteous deeds we had done, but according to His mercy, through the washing of new birth and renewal by the Holy Spirit. Job 14:4 Who can bring out clean from unclean? No one! Psalm 14:1-3 For the choirmaster. Of David. The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt; their acts are vile. There is no one who does good. / The LORD looks down from heaven upon the sons of men to see if any understand, if any seek God. / All have turned away, they have together become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one. Romans 7:18 I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh; for I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. Ephesians 2:8-9 For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God, / not by works, so that no one can boast. Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? Galatians 2:16 know that a man is not justified by works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have believed in Christ Jesus, that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified. Job 15:14-16 What is man, that he should be pure, or one born of woman, that he should be righteous? / If God puts no trust in His holy ones, if even the heavens are not pure in His eyes, / how much less man, who is vile and corrupt, who drinks injustice like water? 1 John 1:8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. Psalm 51:5 Surely I was brought forth in iniquity; I was sinful when my mother conceived me. Romans 8:8 Those controlled by the flesh cannot please God. Matthew 15:19-20 For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, and slander. / These are what defile a man, but eating with unwashed hands does not defile him.” Treasury of Scripture But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. are all Isaiah 6:5 Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts. Isaiah 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. Job 14:4 Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one. all our Isaiah 57:12 I will declare thy righteousness, and thy works; for they shall not profit thee. Zechariah 3:3 Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel. Philippians 3:9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: we all Isaiah 40:6-8 The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field: … Psalm 90:5,6 Thou carriest them away as with a flood; they are as a sleep: in the morning they are like grass which groweth up… James 1:10,11 But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away… our iniquities Isaiah 57:13 When thou criest, let thy companies deliver thee; but the wind shall carry them all away; vanity shall take them: but he that putteth his trust in me shall possess the land, and shall inherit my holy mountain; Psalm 1:4 The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. Jeremiah 4:11,12 At that time shall it be said to this people and to Jerusalem, A dry wind of the high places in the wilderness toward the daughter of my people, not to fan, nor to cleanse, … Jump to Previous Acts Fade Filthy Garment Iniquities Leaf Polluted Rags Righteous Righteousness Righteousnesses ses Shrivel Unclean WindJump to Next Acts Fade Filthy Garment Iniquities Leaf Polluted Rags Righteous Righteousness Righteousnesses ses Shrivel Unclean WindIsaiah 64 1. The church prays for the illustration of God's power4. Celebrating God's mercy, it makes confession of their natural corruptions 9. It complains of their afflictions Each of us has become like something unclean This phrase reflects the concept of ritual impurity found in the Old Testament, particularly in Leviticus, where certain actions, conditions, or objects could render a person ceremonially unclean. In Isaiah's context, this uncleanness symbolizes moral and spiritual corruption. The Israelites, despite being God's chosen people, have fallen into sin and idolatry, making them unclean in God's sight. This echoes the broader biblical theme of humanity's fallen nature, as seen in Romans 3:23, which states that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all wither like a leaf, and our iniquities carry us away like the wind. Persons / Places / Events 1. IsaiahA major prophet in the Old Testament, Isaiah is traditionally credited with authoring the Book of Isaiah. He prophesied to the Kingdom of Judah and is known for his messages of both judgment and hope. 2. Judah The southern kingdom of Israel during the time of Isaiah. The people of Judah were often called to repentance by the prophets due to their idolatry and social injustices. 3. The Exile Although not directly mentioned in this verse, the context of Isaiah often points to the Babylonian Exile, a period when the Israelites were taken captive due to their disobedience to God. Teaching Points The Universality of SinIsaiah 64:6 reminds us that sin affects every person. No one is exempt from the stain of sin, and our best efforts are insufficient to achieve righteousness on our own. The Insufficiency of Human Righteousness Our righteous acts, when done apart from God, are like "filthy rags." This calls us to rely on God's grace rather than our own deeds for salvation. The Transience of Life The imagery of withering leaves serves as a reminder of the fleeting nature of human life and the need to focus on eternal matters. Dependence on God's Mercy Recognizing our own inadequacy should lead us to a deeper dependence on God's mercy and grace, which are sufficient to cleanse and renew us. Call to Repentance Understanding our sinful nature should drive us to repentance and a renewed commitment to live according to God's will. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Isaiah 64:6?2. How does Isaiah 64:6 describe our righteousness compared to God's holiness? 3. What does "filthy rags" symbolize in Isaiah 64:6 for our good deeds? 4. How can Isaiah 64:6 deepen our understanding of grace and salvation? 5. Connect Isaiah 64:6 with Romans 3:23 on human sinfulness and need for Christ. 6. How should Isaiah 64:6 influence our reliance on God's grace daily? 7. What does Isaiah 64:6 mean by "all our righteous acts are like filthy rags"? 8. How does Isaiah 64:6 challenge the concept of human righteousness? 9. Why does Isaiah 64:6 emphasize human unworthiness before God? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Isaiah 64? 11. Considering Isaiah 64:6 says even righteous acts are like “filthy rags,” how can this be reconciled with other biblical passages that praise good deeds? 12. Are our righteous acts like filthy rags? 13. What defines true righteousness according to the Bible? 14. What does "repentance from dead works" mean? What Does Isaiah 64:6 Mean Each of us has become like something unclean“Each of us has become like something unclean”. • Uncleanness under the Law (Leviticus 13:45-46) shut a person out from the camp and sanctuary; Isaiah borrows that image to say every person is spiritually shut out. • Even the prophet himself admitted, “Woe to me… I am a man of unclean lips” (Isaiah 6:5). The condition is universal, not selective. • Paul echoes this truth: “There is no one righteous, not even one” (Romans 3:10-12). The point is unmistakable—sin has defiled every heart, leaving none fit to stand before a holy God on personal merit. All our righteous acts are like filthy rags “and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags”. • What people often parade as goodness is still tainted by self-interest, pride, or unbelief; therefore, before the spotlight of divine holiness it is “filthy.” • In Philippians 3:8-9 Paul calls his finest religious credentials “rubbish” and seeks a righteousness that comes through faith in Christ. • Titus 3:5 reminds us, “He saved us, not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to His mercy.” • The parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector (Luke 18:11-14) shows how self-congratulating righteousness is rejected while humble faith is accepted. Isaiah exposes the bankruptcy of human virtue so that God’s grace alone shines. We all wither like a leaf “we all wither like a leaf”. • Life’s brevity and vulnerability are pictured in a leaf that dries out and crumbles (Psalm 103:15-16; Isaiah 40:6-8). • Sin accelerates that decay, cutting us off from the life-giving root who is God Himself. • No amount of human progress can stop the inevitable wilting; only new life from the Spirit can. Our iniquities carry us away like the wind “and our iniquities carry us away like the wind”. • Sin is not static; it sweeps us along, much like chaff blown off the threshing floor (Psalm 1:4). • Hosea 13:3 pictures the guilty “like chaff swirling from the threshing floor,” an image of helpless drift. • Romans 6:23 clarifies the destination of that drift: death—unless grace intervenes. • Israel literally experienced exile because of accumulated iniquity; every sinner faces a more profound exile from God unless redeemed. summary Isaiah 64:6 layers four vivid pictures to declare one central truth: every human being is defiled, powerless to produce true righteousness, fading under the curse of mortality, and driven along by personal sin toward judgment. The verse strips away self-confidence so that we will cling to the only sufficient answer—God’s saving righteousness given freely through the promised Messiah. (6) We are all as an unclean thing . . .--Better, as he who is unclean, scil., like the leper of Leviticus 13:45.Filthy rags point to that which to the Israelite was the other extremest form of ceremonial uncleanness, as in Ezekiel 36:17. Have taken us away--scil., afar off from the light and favour of Jehovah. Verse 6. - But we are all as an unclean thing; rather, we are all become as one who is unclean (comp. Isaiah 35:8; Isaiah 52:1). A moral leprosy is upon us. We are like the leprous man, who has to rend his clothes, and to go about crying "Tame! tame!" "Unclean: unclean!" that those who hear may get out of his way. All our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; or, as a menstruous garment (see Lamentations 1:17). In the best deeds of the best men there is some taint of evil. As Hooker says, "Our very repentances require to be repented of." We all do fade as a leaf (comp. Isaiah 1:30, "Ye shall be as an oak whose leaf fadeth;" see also Isaiah 34:4). Our iniquities... have taken as away; or, carried us away; i.e. taken us far from God, carried us into a region where God is not, or where at any rate "his presence is not felt" (Cheyne).Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew Allכֻּלָּ֔נוּ (kul·lā·nū) Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common plural Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every of us have become וַנְּהִ֤י (wan·nə·hî) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common plural Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be like one who is unclean, כַטָּמֵא֙ (ḵaṭ·ṭā·mê) Preposition-k, Article | Adjective - masculine singular Strong's 2931: Unclean and all כָּל־ (kāl-) Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every our righteous acts צִדְקֹתֵ֑ינוּ (ṣiḏ·qō·ṯê·nū) Noun - feminine plural construct | first person common plural Strong's 6666: Rightness, subjectively, objectively are like a polluted עִדִּ֖ים (‘id·dîm) Noun - masculine plural Strong's 5708: The menstrual flux, soiling garment; וּכְבֶ֥גֶד (ū·ḵə·ḇe·ḡeḏ) Conjunctive waw, Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 899: A covering, clothing, treachery, pillage we all כֻּלָּ֔נוּ (kul·lā·nū) Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common plural Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every wither וַנָּ֤בֶל (wan·nā·ḇel) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common plural Strong's 5034: To wilt, to fall away, fail, faint, to be foolish, wicked, to despise, disgrace like a leaf, כֶּֽעָלֶה֙ (ke·‘ā·leh) Preposition-k, Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 5929: A leaf, foliage and our iniquities וַעֲוֺנֵ֖נוּ (wa·‘ă·wō·nê·nū) Conjunctive waw | Noun - common plural construct | first person common plural Strong's 5771: Iniquity, guilt, punishment for iniquity carry us away יִשָּׂאֻֽנוּ׃ (yiś·śā·’u·nū) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural | first person common plural Strong's 5375: To lift, carry, take like the wind. כָּר֥וּחַ (kā·rū·aḥ) Preposition-k, Article | Noun - common singular Strong's 7307: Wind, breath, exhalation, life, anger, unsubstantiality, a region of the sky, spirit Links Isaiah 64:6 NIVIsaiah 64:6 NLT Isaiah 64:6 ESV Isaiah 64:6 NASB Isaiah 64:6 KJV Isaiah 64:6 BibleApps.com Isaiah 64:6 Biblia Paralela Isaiah 64:6 Chinese Bible Isaiah 64:6 French Bible Isaiah 64:6 Catholic Bible OT Prophets: Isaiah 64:6 For we have all become as one (Isa Isi Is) |
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