Isaiah 6:5 - Then I said, “Woe is me! For I am undone, because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell among a people of unclean lips: for my eyes have seen the King, Yahweh of Armies!”
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What does "Isaiah 6:5" mean?
Isaiah 6:5 is a powerful verse expressing Isaiah's profound sense of unworthiness and the holiness of God. Let's break it down:
"Then I said, “Woe is me!": This is an immediate, involuntary expression of deep distress and lament. "Woe" signifies grief, sorrow, and a sense of impending doom. Isaiah is overwhelmed.
"For I am undone": The word "undone" or "ruined" implies complete spiritual destruction or collapse. Isaiah feels that his encounter with the holy God has exposed his inherent flaws and rendered him unfit for anything. It highlights the distance between human imperfection and divine perfection.
"because I am a man of unclean lips": This is the key to understanding Isaiah's self-assessment. "Unclean lips" is a metaphor for sinful or inadequate speech. In the context of prophecy, it suggests that Isaiah is conscious of the potential for his words to be flawed, deceitful, or unworthy of God's message. It also implies a general imperfection in communication and perhaps a broader implication of sinfulness. In Hebrew thought, the mouth/lips are the main way in which the inner person is expressed (through speech, curses, blessings, etc).
"and I dwell among a people of unclean lips": Isaiah recognizes that he's not alone in his sinfulness. He lives within a society (Israel) that is also morally corrupt and whose speech is similarly tainted. This highlights the pervasive nature of sin within the community and suggests that Isaiah is influenced by the surrounding culture.
"for my eyes have seen the King, Yahweh of Armies!": This is the climax of the verse and the reason for Isaiah's distress. The prophet has just witnessed a vision of God's glory and majesty in the Temple. This direct encounter with the "King, Yahweh of Armies" (the Lord of Hosts) makes Isaiah acutely aware of the vast chasm between the holy, transcendent God and his own sinful nature.
In Summary:
Isaiah 6:5 expresses:
Awareness of Sin: Isaiah is overwhelmed by his own sinfulness and the sinfulness of the society around him.
Holiness of God: Seeing God's glory highlights the immense contrast between divine holiness and human imperfection.
Sense of Unworthiness: Isaiah feels unfit and ruined in the presence of such overwhelming holiness.
Importance of Speech: The "unclean lips" emphasize the importance of pure and truthful communication, especially for a prophet called to deliver God's word.
The verse sets the stage for the purification and commissioning of Isaiah in the following verses. It illustrates the common biblical theme that encountering God's holiness leads to a deep awareness of one's own sinfulness and inadequacy. It is a necessary step before God can use someone for his purposes.
Isaiah 6:5 - Then I said, “Woe is me! For I am undone, because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell among a people of unclean lips: for my eyes have seen the King, Yahweh of Armies!”
What does "Isaiah 6:5" mean?
Isaiah 6:5 is a powerful verse expressing Isaiah's profound sense of unworthiness and the holiness of God. Let's break it down:
"Then I said, “Woe is me!": This is an immediate, involuntary expression of deep distress and lament. "Woe" signifies grief, sorrow, and a sense of impending doom. Isaiah is overwhelmed.
"For I am undone": The word "undone" or "ruined" implies complete spiritual destruction or collapse. Isaiah feels that his encounter with the holy God has exposed his inherent flaws and rendered him unfit for anything. It highlights the distance between human imperfection and divine perfection.
"because I am a man of unclean lips": This is the key to understanding Isaiah's self-assessment. "Unclean lips" is a metaphor for sinful or inadequate speech. In the context of prophecy, it suggests that Isaiah is conscious of the potential for his words to be flawed, deceitful, or unworthy of God's message. It also implies a general imperfection in communication and perhaps a broader implication of sinfulness. In Hebrew thought, the mouth/lips are the main way in which the inner person is expressed (through speech, curses, blessings, etc).
"and I dwell among a people of unclean lips": Isaiah recognizes that he's not alone in his sinfulness. He lives within a society (Israel) that is also morally corrupt and whose speech is similarly tainted. This highlights the pervasive nature of sin within the community and suggests that Isaiah is influenced by the surrounding culture.
"for my eyes have seen the King, Yahweh of Armies!": This is the climax of the verse and the reason for Isaiah's distress. The prophet has just witnessed a vision of God's glory and majesty in the Temple. This direct encounter with the "King, Yahweh of Armies" (the Lord of Hosts) makes Isaiah acutely aware of the vast chasm between the holy, transcendent God and his own sinful nature.
In Summary:
Isaiah 6:5 expresses:
Awareness of Sin: Isaiah is overwhelmed by his own sinfulness and the sinfulness of the society around him.
Holiness of God: Seeing God's glory highlights the immense contrast between divine holiness and human imperfection.
Sense of Unworthiness: Isaiah feels unfit and ruined in the presence of such overwhelming holiness.
Importance of Speech: The "unclean lips" emphasize the importance of pure and truthful communication, especially for a prophet called to deliver God's word.
The verse sets the stage for the purification and commissioning of Isaiah in the following verses. It illustrates the common biblical theme that encountering God's holiness leads to a deep awareness of one's own sinfulness and inadequacy. It is a necessary step before God can use someone for his purposes.