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Jeremiah 1:9
Then the LORD put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth.

Daniel 10:16
And, behold,one like the similitude of the sons of men touched my lips: then I opened my mouth, and spake, and said unto him that stood before me, O my lord, by the vision my sorrows are turned upon me, and I have retained no strength.

thine iniquity

Isaiah 43:25
I,even I,am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.

Isaiah 53:5,10
But hewas wounded for our transgressions,he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peacewas upon him; and with his stripes we are healed…

Matthew 9:2
And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.

and said: “Now that this has touched your lips,
The lips are symbolic of speech and communication. In the ancient Near Eastern context, the mouth and lips were often seen as the instruments of prophecy. The touching of Isaiah's lips signifies a transformation and preparation for his prophetic role. This act is reminiscent of the purification rituals in the temple, where contact with holy objects was believed to impart holiness and readiness for service.

your iniquity is removed
Iniquity refers to moral impurity or sin. The removal of iniquity is a central theme in the Old Testament, often associated with the sacrificial system where offerings were made to atone for sin. This phrase indicates a divine act of forgiveness and cleansing, preparing Isaiah to stand in God's presence and serve as His messenger. It echoes the promise of forgiveness found in passages likePsalm 103:12, where God removes transgressions from His people.

and your sin is atoned for.”
Atonement involves reconciliation between God and humanity, often through a sacrificial act. In the Old Testament, atonement was achieved through the shedding of blood, as seen inLeviticus 17:11. This phrase foreshadows the ultimate atonement through Jesus Christ, whose sacrifice on the cross provides the final and complete atonement for sin (Hebrews 9:14). Isaiah's experience here prefigures the cleansing and redemption available through Christ, highlighting the continuity of God's redemptive plan throughout scripture.

• The seraph brings a live coal from the altar (Isaiah 6:6), the very place where sacrifices are offered—already hinting that cleansing requires a sacrifice.

• God acts first; Isaiah simply receives. As inJeremiah 1:9, where the LORD “touched my mouth,” this touch signifies divine commissioning.

• Fire both purifies and empowers (Malachi 3:2-3;Hebrews 12:29). The same God who burns away impurity also ignites a life for service.

• Isaiah had just confessed, “I am a man of unclean lips” (v 5). The touch lands exactly where he felt most unworthy, showing God deals specifically with our confessed sin.

• The focus on lips is intentional: Isaiah’s future ministry will depend on speaking God’s words (Isaiah 6:9).

• When God cleanses, the very area once dominated by sin becomes an instrument for His glory—comparePsalm 51:15, “O Lord, open my lips.”

• The verb tense stresses a completed act. Like1 John 1:9, forgiveness is granted the moment God applies His remedy.

• Personal contact matters. A coal from the altar is powerful, yet nothing changes until it “touches” Isaiah. Salvation is never merely theoretical (Romans 10:10).

• “Removed” means taken away, not just overlooked.Psalm 103:12 pictures our sins cast as far as east from west;Micah 7:19 shows God hurling them into the depths of the sea.

• Guilt no longer clings to Isaiah; he is free to stand in God’s holy presence and later to declare judgment on Judah without hypocrisy.

•John 1:29 reveals the ultimate fulfillment: “The Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.” The coal foreshadows the Lamb.

• Atonement satisfies God’s justice and restores fellowship.Leviticus 17:11 teaches that “the life of the flesh is in the blood… it is the blood that makes atonement.”

• This single word bridgesIsaiah 6 withIsaiah 53:5, where the Suffering Servant is “pierced for our transgressions.” The coal prefigures the cross—both originate from God’s altar of sacrifice.

•Hebrews 9:12 says Christ entered the Most Holy Place “once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.” Isaiah’s momentary cleansing points to that once-for-all work.

• With sin covered, Isaiah can answer God’s call in v 8. Cleansing precedes commissioning.

Isaiah’s vision moves from conviction to cleansing to calling. A live coal from God’s altar touches the prophet’s unclean lips, showing that holy fire both purifies and equips. The specific sin he confessed is forgiven; his guilt is removed; atonement is applied. This scene anticipates the perfect sacrifice of Christ, who forever takes away sin and qualifies His people to speak for Him.

Thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged.--The clauses express the two elements of the great change which men, according to their varying systems, have called Conversion, the New Birth, Regeneration; but which is at all times a necessary stage in the perfecting of the saints of God. Pardon and purity are the conditions alike of the prophet's work and of the completeness of his own spiritual life.

(1) that sin could be purged;

(2) that the highest angelic nature could not, alone and of its own force, purge it; and

(3) that the purging could come only from that fire which consumes the incense that is laid upon the altar of God. Dr. Kay suggests that this fire is "the Divine love."

Parallel Commentaries ...