What does Isaiah 64:5 mean?
"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 64:5

Isaiah 64:5 in the King James Version of the Bible states, "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."
This verse comes in the midst of a prayer for God's intervention and salvation in Isaiah 64. The prophet Isaiah is pleading for God to rend the heavens and come down to save His people. The verse captures the tension between God's grace and the reality of sin. On one hand, it speaks of God's meeting those who rejoice and work righteousness, while on the other hand acknowledging the wrath of God for their sins.
The verse begins with the affirmation that God meets those who rejoice and work righteousness. This highlights the idea that God is present and attentive to those who are joyful and seek to live according to His ways. This speaks to the theme of God's favor and blessings for those who live in accordance with His will. It emphasizes the importance of living a righteous life and finding joy in God's ways.
The verse then acknowledges that God is wroth, or angry, because of the sins of the people. This demonstrates the reality of sin and its consequences in the eyes of a holy and just God. It serves as a reminder that our actions have consequences, and that God's righteousness demands a response to sin.
The verse continues with the acknowledgement that their sins have caused them to be in a state of continuance, or ongoing sinfulness. Despite this, there is hope expressed in the statement that "we shall be saved." This illustrates the theme of God's mercy and salvation, even in the face of sin. It conveys the idea that God's grace is greater than our sins, and that He is able to save and redeem His people.
The overall context of this verse is one of repentance, pleading, and hope for God's intervention. It reflects the tension between God's holiness and righteousness on one hand, and His mercy and salvation on the other. It emphasizes the need for the people to turn from their sins, and the assurance of God's saving power.
Symbolically, this verse represents the complex relationship between humanity and God. It encapsulates the dynamic of sin and grace, as well as the tension between God's justice and mercy. The meeting of those who rejoice and work righteousness with God symbolizes the intimacy and favor that comes with living according to His will. On the other hand, the acknowledgement of God's wrath and their sinful state represents the reality of the human condition and the need for repentance and redemption.
In conclusion, Isaiah 64:5 in the King James Version of the Bible conveys a profound message about the nature of God and His relationship with humanity. It addresses the themes of righteousness, sin, repentance, and salvation. It serves as a reminder of the complexities of the human condition and the depth of God's grace and mercy. This verse challenges us to examine our own lives, to seek righteousness, and to turn to God in repentance, knowing that He is able to save and redeem us.
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Isaiah 64:5 - "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."
"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 64:5
Isaiah 64:8
Isaiah 64:10 - "Thy holy cities are a wilderness, Zion is a wilderness, Jerusalem a desolation."
Isaiah 64:12 - "Wilt thou refrain thyself for these things, O LORD? wilt thou hold thy peace, and afflict us very sore?"
Isaiah 64:1 - "Oh that thou wouldest rend the heavens, that thou wouldest come down, that the mountains might flow down at thy presence,"
Isaiah 64:8 - "But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand."
Isaiah 64:3 - "When thou didst terrible things which we looked not for, thou camest down, the mountains flowed down at thy presence."
Psalms 64:5 - "They encourage themselves in an evil matter: they commune of laying snares privily; they say, Who shall see them?"
Isaiah 64:11 - "Our holy and our beautiful house, where our fathers praised thee, is burned up with fire: and all our pleasant things are laid waste."
Isaiah 64:2 - "As when the melting fire burneth, the fire causeth the waters to boil, to make thy name known to thine adversaries, that the nations may tremble at thy presence!"
"Thy holy cities are a wilderness, Zion is a wilderness, Jerusalem a desolation." - Isaiah 64:10
Isaiah 64:9 - "¶ Be not wroth very sore, O LORD, neither remember iniquity for ever: behold, see, we beseech thee, we are all thy people."
"Oh that thou wouldest rend the heavens, that thou wouldest come down, that the mountains might flow down at thy presence," - Isaiah 64:1
Isaiah 64:6 - "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."
Isaiah 64:4 - "For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him."
Isaiah 64:7 - "And there is none that calleth upon thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee: for thou hast hid thy face from us, and hast consumed us, because of our iniquities."
"They encourage themselves in an evil matter: they commune of laying snares privily; they say, Who shall see them?" - Psalms 64:5
"Oh that thou wouldest rend the heavens, that thou wouldest come down, that the mountains might flow down at thy presence," - Isaiah 64:1
"When thou didst terrible things which we looked not for, thou camest down, the mountains flowed down at thy presence." - Isaiah 64:3
"Wilt thou refrain thyself for these things, O LORD? wilt thou hold thy peace, and afflict us very sore?" - Isaiah 64:12
"But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand." - Isaiah 64:8
"¶ 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
Isaiah 37:5 - "So the servants of king Hezekiah came to Isaiah."
"Our holy and our beautiful house, where our fathers praised thee, is burned up with fire: and all our pleasant things are laid waste." - Isaiah 64:11
"As when the melting fire burneth, the fire causeth the waters to boil, to make thy name known to thine adversaries, that the nations may tremble at thy presence!" - Isaiah 64:2
Isaiah 39:5 - "Then said Isaiah to Hezekiah, Hear the word of the LORD of hosts:"
Isaiah 5:21
Isaiah 53:5
Isaiah 5:21