What Does Isaiah 64:9 Mean in the King James?

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 · KJV

The analysis reads the King James wording.

King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.

This verse in the Selah Decoded Version

THE KEY

The plea moves from “do not remember the crookedness forever” to “look: we are all thy people,” shifting attention from the wrong to the bond.

THE MEANING

You can name the wrong without making it the final truth of your relationship with God. The verse asks that the crookedness not be kept in remembrance forever, and asks that the people themselves be seen within the bond they still name: “we are all thy people.”

WHAT THIS UNDOES

It undoes the belief that your wrongdoing must remain the permanent, defining truth of your relationship with God.

THE ROOT

תִּזְכֹּר

tizkor

GROWS FROM

זכר

z-k-r: remember, call to mind, keep in remembrance.

“remember” in this verse is tizkor. The verb describes active remembrance, not simply a thought that passes through the mind. The plea asks that the crookedness no longer be kept in view forever, then turns to “behold, see” and the people themselves.

ALSO GROWS

zikkaron: remembrance; memorial

זִכָּרוֹן

A memorial keeps something present in memory, showing the active force of the root.

hizkir: mention; bring to remembrance

הִזְכִּיר

This form brings something into remembrance, echoing the verse’s concern with what is kept before God.

עָוֹן

avon

GROWS FROM

עון

ʿ-w-n: crookedness, with the guilt it carries.

“iniquity” in this verse is avon. The word can name both the crookedness and its guilt. The plea reaches beyond the act itself to ask that its burden not remain held in remembrance forever.

ALSO GROWS

avonot: iniquities; crooked acts

עֲוֹנוֹת

This plural form carries the same root consonants and names multiple acts of crookedness.

avono: his iniquity; his guilt

עֲוֹנוֹ

This possessive form keeps the root while showing the crookedness as someone’s burden.

THE PATTERN

Wrongdoing can be named plainly while a bond remains present and a plea asks that anger and guilt not be held forever.

He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever.

Psalm 103:9 · KJVLike Isaiah’s plea, this verse names anger and says it is not held forever.

Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy.

Micah 7:18 · KJVIt joins iniquity and anger with the release of what might otherwise remain against the people.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

1 John 1:9 · KJVThe naming of wrongdoing is met with release and cleansing rather than permanent condemnation.

THE THREAD

And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob.

Exodus 2:24 · KJV

The same Hebrew root ⁨זכר⁩ (z-k-r), meaning remember or call to mind, appears here. Isaiah asks that crookedness not remain in remembrance forever; Exodus shows covenant held in remembrance.

Read the SDV Bible.

Every verse has a Deep Dive in the app.

Get Selah Verse

The iPhone Bible app with the Selah Decoded Version.

Does something in this reading look wrong? Tell us