But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.
What does Isaiah 64:8 mean?
The people of God, in affliction, confess and bewail their sins, owning themselves unworthy of his mercy. Sin is that abominable thing which the Lord hates.
Key themes
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Keep this verse inside Isaiah 64:6-8 and alongside a few nearby related passages.
Commentary on Isaiah 64:8
But now, O Lord, thou art our Father - (See the notes at Isaiah 63:16 ). We are the clay - The idea seems to be, that their condition then had been produced by him as clay is moulded by the potter, and that they were to be returned and restored entirely by him - as they had no more power to do it than the clay had to shape itself. The sense is, that they were wholly in his hand and at his disposal (see the notes at Isaiah 29:16 ; Isaiah 45:9 ). And thou our potter - Thou hast power to mould us as the potter does the clay.
Key words
- LORD
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But now, O Lord, thou art our father,.
- father
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But now, O Lord, thou art our father,.
Context in Isaiah 64
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Isaiah 64 belongs to the middle movement of the book, especially the section often described as new exodus, Zion, and new creation. Isaiah is one of Scripture’s grandest prophetic books, moving from holy judgment to consolation, servant imagery, and new-creation hope. Read this chapter with the wider themes of holiness, judgment, and remnant in view so the individual verses keep their proper weight.
Related topics
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