Isaiah 6:5

Sin Shame Repentance God's holiness

³ And they were calling out to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of Hosts; all the earth is full of His glory.”

⁴ At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook, and the temple was filled with smoke.

Then I said: “Woe is me, for I am ruined, because I am a man of unclean lips dwelling among a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of Hosts.”

⁶ Then one of the seraphim flew to me, and in his hand was a glowing coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar.

⁷ And with it he touched my mouth and said: “Now that this has touched your lips, your iniquity is removed and your sin is atoned for.”

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: Then I said: “Woe is me, for I am ruined, because I am a man of unclean lips dwelling among a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of Hosts.”
KJV: Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.
WEB: Then I said, “Woe is me! For I am undone, because I am a man of unclean lips and I live among a people of unclean lips, for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of Armies!”
ASV: Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, Jehovah of hosts.
DARBY: And I said, Woe unto me! for I am undone; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, Jehovah of hosts.
BLB: And I said, “Woe to me, for I am finished! For I [am] a man of unclean lips, and I am dwelling in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for the King YHWH of Hosts, my eyes have seen!”

ÅB: Da sa jeg: Ve meg! Jeg er fortapt; for jeg er en mann med urene lepper, og jeg bor midt iblant et folk med urene lepper, og mine øyne har sett kongen, Herren, hærskarenes Gud.
OTB: Da sa jeg: "Ve meg, for jeg er fortapt! For jeg er en mann med urene lepper, og jeg bor blant et folk med urene lepper; for mine øyne har sett Kongen, hærskarenes Herre."
B1930: Da sa jeg: Ve mig! Jeg er fortapt; for jeg er en mann med urene leber, og jeg bor midt iblandt et folk med urene leber, og mine øine har sett kongen, Herren, hærskarenes Gud.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Luke 5:8–9
When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees. “Go away from me, Lord,” he said, “for I am a sinful man.”
Read in context
James 3:6–10
The tongue also is a fire, a world of wickedness among the parts of the body. It pollutes the whole person, sets the course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.
Read in context
Jeremiah 9:3–8
“They bend their tongues like bows; lies prevail over truth in the land. For they proceed from evil to evil, and they do not take Me into account,” declares the LORD.
Read in context
Jeremiah 1:6
“Ah, Lord GOD,” I said, “I surely do not know how to speak, for I am only a child!”
Read in context
Matthew 12:34–37
You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks.
Read in context
Exodus 6:30
But in the LORD’s presence Moses replied, “Since I am unskilled in speech, why would Pharaoh listen to me?”
Read in context
Isaiah 29:13
Therefore the Lord said: “These people draw near to Me with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. Their worship of Me is but rules taught by men.
Read in context
Exodus 4:10
“Please, Lord,” Moses replied, “I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since You have spoken to Your servant, for I am slow of speech and tongue.”
Read in context