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Isaiah 59:2

Old Testament Major Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Isaiah 59:2 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “but your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, so that he will not hear.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

but your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, so that he will not hear.
Isaiah 59:2 — American Standard Version

Context — Isaiah 59

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
1Behold, Jehovah`s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear:
2but your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, so that he will not hear.
3For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue muttereth wickedness.
4None sueth in righteousness, and none pleadeth in truth: they trust in vanity, and speak lies; they conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity.
5They hatch adders` eggs, and weave the spider`s web: he that eateth of their eggs dieth; and that which is crushed breaketh out into a viper.
← Isaiah 59:1Isaiah 59:3 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“hid--Hebrew, "caused Him to hide" (Lam 3:44).”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“But your iniquities - That is, the sins which the prophet had specified in the previous chapter, and which he proceeds further to specify in this. Have separated - The word used here (בדל bâdal) conveys the idea of division, usually by a curtain or a wall Exodus 26:33; Ezekiel 42:20. Thus the ‘firmament’ (רקיע râqı̂ya‛, “expanse”) is said to have “divided” or “separated” (מבדיל mabedı̂yl) the waters from the waters Genesis 1:6. The idea here is, that their sins were like a partition between them and God, so that there was no contact between them and him. And your sins have hid his face from you - Margin, ‘Made him hide.’ The Hebrew word here is in Hiphil, meaning ‘to cause to hide.’ Kimchi…”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“59:2 your sins . . . cut you off: The Israelites, like all people (Rom 3:15-17), had sinned, which resulted in alienation from God (he has turned away).”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“your iniquities: Isa 50:1; Deu 32:19; Jos 7:11; Pro 15:29; Jer 5:25 hid: or, made him hide, Isa 57:17; Deu 31:17, Deu 31:18, Deu 32:20; Eze 39:23, Eze 39:24, Eze 39:29; Mic 3:4 Isaiah 59:3”
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Related study paths

Read Isaiah 59 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification