Isaiah 59:2
New International Version
But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.

New Living Translation
It’s your sins that have cut you off from God. Because of your sins, he has turned away and will not listen anymore.

English Standard Version
but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.

Berean Standard Bible
But your iniquities have built barriers between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He does not hear.

King James Bible
But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.

New King James Version
But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear.

New American Standard Bible
But your wrongdoings have caused a separation between you and your God, And your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear.

NASB 1995
But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, And your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear.

NASB 1977
But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, And your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He does not hear.

Legacy Standard Bible
But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, And your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear.

Amplified Bible
But your wickedness has separated you from your God, And your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear.

Christian Standard Bible
But your iniquities are separating you from your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not listen.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
But your iniquities have built barriers between you and your God, and your sins have made Him hide His face from you so that He does not listen.

American Standard Version
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.

Contemporary English Version
Your sins are the roadblock between you and your God. That's why he doesn't answer your prayers or let you see his face.

English Revised Version
but your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
But your wrongs have separated you from your God, and your sins have made him hide his face so that he doesn't hear you.

Good News Translation
It is because of your sins that he doesn't hear you. It is your sins that separate you from God when you try to worship him.

International Standard Version
Instead, your iniquities have been barriers between you and your God, and your sins have concealed his face from you so that he won't listen.

Majority Standard Bible
But your iniquities have built barriers between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He does not hear.

NET Bible
But your sinful acts have alienated you from your God; your sins have caused him to reject you and not listen to your prayers.

New Heart English Bible
but your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.

Webster's Bible Translation
But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.

World English Bible
But your iniquities have separated you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
But your iniquities have been separating "" Between you and your God, "" And your sins have hidden "" The Presence from you—from hearing.

Young's Literal Translation
But your iniquities have been separating Between you and your God, And your sins have hidden The Presence from you -- from hearing.

Smith's Literal Translation
But your iniquities were separating between you and between your God, and your sins caused to hide the face from you from hearing.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
But your iniquities have divided between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you that he should not hear.

Catholic Public Domain Version
But your iniquities have made a division between you and your God, and your sins have concealed his face from you, so that he would not hear.

New American Bible
Rather, it is your crimes that separate you from your God, It is your sins that make him hide his face so that he does not hear you.

New Revised Standard Version
Rather, your iniquities have been barriers between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
But it is your iniquities that have separated you and your God; and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
But your debts have separated between you and your God, and your sins turned his face from you that he will not hear
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
But your iniquities have separated Between you and your God, And your sins have hid His face from you, That He will not hear.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Nay, your iniquities separate between you and God, and because of your sins has he turned away his face from you, so as not to have mercy upon you.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Sin Separates Us from God
1Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor His ear too dull to hear. 2But your iniquities have built barriers between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He does not hear. 3For your hands are stained with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, and your tongue mutters injustice.…

Cross References
Romans 3:23
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Psalm 66:18
If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.

Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

1 John 1:8-10
If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. / If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. / If we say we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar, and His word is not in us.

Isaiah 1:15
When you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide My eyes from you; even though you multiply your prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are covered with blood.

Proverbs 15:29
The LORD is far from the wicked, but He hears the prayer of the righteous.

Micah 3:4
Then they will cry out to the LORD, but He will not answer them. At that time He will hide His face from them because of the evil they have done.

James 4:3
And when you do ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may squander it on your pleasures.

Isaiah 1:4
Alas, O sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a brood of evildoers, children who act corruptly! They have forsaken the LORD; they have despised the Holy One of Israel and turned their backs on Him.

Jeremiah 5:25
Your iniquities have diverted these from you; your sins have deprived you of My bounty.

Ezekiel 39:23-24
And the nations will know that the house of Israel went into exile for their iniquity, because they were unfaithful to Me. So I hid My face from them and delivered them into the hands of their enemies, so that they all fell by the sword. / I dealt with them according to their uncleanness and transgressions, and I hid My face from them.

Isaiah 64:7
No 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.

John 9:31
We know that God does not listen to sinners, but He does listen to the one who worships Him and does His will.

Isaiah 50:1-2
This is what the LORD says: “Where is your mother’s certificate of divorce with which I sent her away? Or to which of My creditors did I sell you? Look, you were sold for your iniquities, and for your transgressions your mother was sent away. / Why was no one there when I arrived? Why did no one answer when I called? Is My hand too short to redeem you? Or do I lack the strength to deliver you? Behold, My rebuke dries up the sea; I turn the rivers into a desert; the fish rot for lack of water and die of thirst.

Lamentations 3:44
You have covered Yourself with a cloud that no prayer can pass through.


Treasury of Scripture

But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.

your iniquities

Isaiah 50:1
Thus saith the LORD, Where is the bill of your mother's divorcement, whom I have put away? or which of my creditors is it to whom I have sold you? Behold, for your iniquities have ye sold yourselves, and for your transgressions is your mother put away.

Deuteronomy 32:19
And when the LORD saw it, he abhorred them, because of the provoking of his sons, and of his daughters.

Joshua 7:11
Israel hath sinned, and they have also transgressed my covenant which I commanded them: for they have even taken of the accursed thing, and have also stolen, and dissembled also, and they have put it even among their own stuff.

hid, or made him hide

Isaiah 57:17
For the iniquity of his covetousness was I wroth, and smote him: I hid me, and was wroth, and he went on frowardly in the way of his heart.

Deuteronomy 31:17,18
Then my anger shall be kindled against them in that day, and I will forsake them, and I will hide my face from them, and they shall be devoured, and many evils and troubles shall befall them; so that they will say in that day, Are not these evils come upon us, because our God is not among us? …

Deuteronomy 32:20
And he said, I will hide my face from them, I will see what their end shall be: for they are a very froward generation, children in whom is no faith.

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Doings Evil Face Hear Hearing Hid Hidden Iniquities Presence Separated Separating Separation Sins Veiled
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Doings Evil Face Hear Hearing Hid Hidden Iniquities Presence Separated Separating Separation Sins Veiled
Isaiah 59
1. Calamities are not due to lack of saving power in God, but to their own sins
16. Salvation is only of God
20. The covenant of the Redeemer














But your iniquities have built barriers between you and your God
This phrase highlights the concept of sin creating a separation between humanity and God. In the biblical context, iniquities refer to moral wrongdoings or sins that are contrary to God's laws. The imagery of "barriers" suggests a wall or obstruction that prevents a close relationship with God. This idea is consistent with the broader biblical narrative, where sin is often depicted as a hindrance to fellowship with God (Genesis 3:8-10). Theologically, this separation underscores the need for atonement and reconciliation, which is a central theme throughout Scripture. The sacrificial system in the Old Testament, particularly the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16), was instituted to temporarily bridge this gap, pointing forward to the ultimate reconciliation through Jesus Christ (Hebrews 9:11-14).

and your sins have hidden His face from you
The phrase "hidden His face" is a metaphor for God's withdrawal of favor and presence. In ancient Near Eastern culture, the face of a deity symbolized favor and blessing. When God "hides His face," it indicates a withdrawal of His presence and blessing due to the people's disobedience. This concept is echoed in other parts of Scripture, such as Deuteronomy 31:17-18, where God warns Israel of the consequences of forsaking Him. Theologically, this highlights the holiness of God and His intolerance of sin. It also emphasizes the need for repentance and turning back to God to restore the relationship, as seen in 2 Chronicles 7:14.

so that He does not hear
This phrase suggests that sin affects not only the relationship with God but also the efficacy of prayer. The idea that God does not hear is not about His inability to hear but rather His choice not to respond favorably to the prayers of those who are in unrepentant sin. This is consistent with other biblical passages, such as Psalm 66:18 and Proverbs 28:9, which indicate that sin can hinder prayer. Theologically, this underscores the importance of righteousness and repentance in maintaining a communicative relationship with God. It also points to the intercessory role of Jesus Christ, who, as the sinless mediator, enables believers to approach God with confidence (Hebrews 4:14-16).

Persons / Places / Events
1. Isaiah
A major prophet in the Old Testament, Isaiah is known for his prophecies concerning the judgment and salvation of Israel. He served during the reigns of several kings of Judah and is traditionally credited with authoring the Book of Isaiah.

2. Israel
The nation to whom Isaiah is prophesying. At this time, Israel is experiencing spiritual decline and is being warned of the consequences of their sins.

3. God (Yahweh)
The one true God of Israel, who is holy and just. He desires a relationship with His people but is separated from them by their sins.

4. Sin/Iniquity
The moral and spiritual failures of the people of Israel, which create a barrier between them and God.

5. Judah
The southern kingdom of Israel, where Isaiah primarily ministered. The people of Judah are being called to repentance through Isaiah's message.
Teaching Points
The Reality of Sin's Consequences
Sin creates a real and tangible barrier between us and God. It is not just a moral failing but a spiritual separation that affects our relationship with Him.

The Importance of Repentance
Acknowledging and turning away from sin is crucial for restoring our relationship with God. Repentance is the first step toward reconciliation.

God's Desire for Relationship
Despite the separation caused by sin, God's ultimate desire is to be in communion with His people. His face is hidden not out of disinterest but because of the barrier of sin.

The Role of Jesus Christ
Jesus is the bridge that overcomes the separation caused by sin. Through His sacrifice, believers have access to God and can restore the broken relationship.

The Call to Holiness
As believers, we are called to live lives that reflect God's holiness, continually seeking to remove any barriers of sin through confession and obedience.(2) Have separated--i.e., have become, as it were, a "middle wall of partition" excluding them from the Divine presence.

His face.--Better, the face. The Hebrew has neither article nor possessive pronoun, the substantive being treated almost as a proper name.

Verse 2. - Have separated; literally, have been separating. The force of the form used is continuous, and implies that Israel had now for a long time been heaping up a barrier between itself and Jehovah. Your sins have hid his face; literally, your sins have caused his face to be hidden from you, i.e. "have made him avert it."

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
But
כִּ֤י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

your iniquities
עֲוֺנֹֽתֵיכֶם֙ (‘ă·wō·nō·ṯê·ḵem)
Noun - common plural construct | second person masculine plural
Strong's 5771: Iniquity, guilt, punishment for iniquity

have built barriers
מַבְדִּלִ֔ים (maḇ·di·lîm)
Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 914: To be divided, separate

between you
בֵּינֵכֶ֕ם (bê·nê·ḵem)
Preposition | second person masculine plural
Strong's 996: An interval, space between

and your God,
אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶ֑ם (’ĕ·lō·hê·ḵem)
Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine plural
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

and your sins
וְחַטֹּֽאותֵיכֶ֗ם (wə·ḥaṭ·ṭō·w·ṯê·ḵem)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine plural construct | second person masculine plural
Strong's 2403: An offence, its penalty, occasion, sacrifice, expiation, an offender

have hidden
הִסְתִּ֧ירוּ (his·tî·rū)
Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 5641: To hide, conceal

[His] face
פָנִ֛ים (p̄ā·nîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 6440: The face

from you,
מִכֶּ֖ם (mik·kem)
Preposition | second person masculine plural
Strong's 4480: A part of, from, out of

so that He will not hear.
מִשְּׁמֽוֹעַ׃ (miš·šə·mō·w·a‘)
Preposition-m | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 8085: To hear intelligently


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OT Prophets: Isaiah 59:2 But your iniquities have separated between you (Isa Isi Is)
Isaiah 59:1
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