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In the foregoing verses we have a heavy accusation drawn up against the Jews. But no severity follows hereupon; but, "I, even I, am He that blotteth out thy transgressions for Mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins." The like parallel place we have concerning Ephraim (Isaiah 57:17, 18). Here is the prerogative of free grace: to infer pardon where the guilty themselves can infer only their own execution. It is the guise of mercy, to make strange and abrupt inferences from sin to pardon.

I. Here is THE PERSON that gives out the pardon, i.e., God. God seems more to triumph in the glory of His pardoning grace and mercy than He doth in any other of His attributes. "I, even I, am He.' Such a stately preface must needs usher in somewhat wherein God's honour is much advanced.

II. As for THE PARDON itself; that is expressed in two things: "blotteth out"; "will not remember."

1. Blotting out implies(1) That our transgressions are written down. Written they are in a twofold book — God's remembrance; our own conscience.

(2) A legal discharge of the debt. A book that is once blotted and crossed stands void in law. "I will not remember thy sins."

III. THE IMPULSIVE CAUSE, that moves God's hand, as it were, to blot out our transgressions. "For Mine own sake."

1. That is, because it is My pleasure.

2. Because of that great honour and glory that will accrue to My great name by it.

(E. Hopkins, D. D.)

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KJV: I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.

WEB: I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake; and I will not remember your sins.