I’ve always wondered what Isaiah meant when he revealed in his vision that their leaders’ “hands are filled with blood.” Isaiah opens his book with a preface dated 701 B.C. explaining it is a vision “concerning Judea and Jerusalem during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.” And yet, his vision not only depicts his time but a future, end-time, when leaders will also be guilty of their hands filled with blood. I get it for Isaiah’s time, as that has played out. But applying it to an end-time scene is a little confusing. I cannot see the leaders guilty in this way. What have they been doing to be bloody? Murder? It just does not seem feasible. So, I’ve always wondered if this verse might have another meaning based on Hebrew. Isaiah writes in the first chapter of his book that God is not happy with His people:
When you spread forth your hands,
I will conceal my eyes from you;
though you pray at length, I will not hear—
your hands are filled with blood.
Now, I have heard it explained that the leaders were guilty of murder. Or today, it could include abortions. But also, it may mean more because Isaiah uses metaphor and other poetic devices in his writings. So, I’ve always wondered what it could mean.
While I was reading about the meanings of Hebrew numbers, I discovered another possible meaning. Previously I’ve read that numbers are often metaphors, such as the number forty — which symbolizes suffering. And the number seven — which symbolizes completion or perfection. Anyway, I was wondering about the number three. I wondered if it was a metaphor and not the digital “three” — I wondered this in the context of the book of Revelation’s three years if it could be a metaphor instead of the number of years.
What I discovered or read was that the Hebrew “three” looks like this —
Third Hebrew letter: Gimel Numerical value of three. Pictographic meaning to ripen, reward, nourish, mature, recompense, benefit, foot, and camel. (graceintorah)
Can you see the seed and root at the base of the letter? And the stem and leaf at the top?
And it means:
Shelosh [f.], sheloshah [m.] Seeds, trees, fruit. Revelation, resurrection, gathering balance, equilibrium, pattern, counsel, witness, and strength. New life, sprouting, resurrection, fruitfulness, words of life (counsel), unity, the giving of the Torah and the Spirit, and the foundation of the Temple/House are all signified by the number three. (ibid.)
Well, there is a negative side to this number three as well, which I believe may help us understand a further meaning of the Hebrew — “hands filled with blood”:
Negative side: Hands that shed innocent blood, deeds that tear down instead of ones that gather and build, sowing seeds of death and discord. (Pr. 6:16-19) It’s important to note that “hands shedding innocent blood” is also figurative. When we speak slander or even the truth in anger, our words can cause major destruction and damage. Words have the power to shed innocent blood and strangle the life out of another person. This is the antitheses to the 3rd Spirit of God, Counsel (Etzah). Hence, wicked counsel is hands that shed innocent blood. The fruit and seeds from our lips (pens & keyboards) should be pure, not poison. (ibid.)
Isaiah’s vision
Since Isaiah’s vision relates to his time and the end-time, we may better understand what it means when leaders are guilty of having their hands with blood — more than murder as we understand it today.
The word “blood” not only implies extreme injustice (Isaiah 26:21; 59:3, 7), it encapsulates injustices in general. Although “hands filled with blood” alludes to murder and abortion, it further epitomizes societal failings and abuses whose ripple effects include suicides to which an unrighteous people contribute. (Commentary, Gileadi)
So, that was my train of thought and discovery of what that verse may entail for an end-time situation. If you read the entire chapter one of Isaiah, you will certainly get a feel for the Lord’s dismay or anger with his people — who have become “those” people and not “his” people.
The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz which he beheld concerning Judea and Jerusalem during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah:
2 Hear, O heavens! Give heed, O earth!
Jehovah has spoken:
I have reared sons, brought them up,
but they have revolted against me.3 The ox knows its owner,
the ass its master’s stall,
but Israel does not know;
my people are insensible.4 Alas, a nation astray,
a people weighed down by sin,
the offspring of wrongdoers,
perverse children:
they have forsaken Jehovah,
they have spurned the Holy One of Israel,
they have lapsed into apostasy.5 Why be smitten further
by adding to your waywardness?
The whole head is sick,
the whole heart diseased.6 From the soles of the feet even to the head
there is nothing sound,
only wounds and bruises and festering sores;
they have not been pressed out or bound up,
nor soothed with ointment.7 Your land is ruined,
your cities burned with fire;
your native soil is devoured by aliens in your presence,
laid waste at its takeover by foreigners.8 The Daughter of Zion is left
like a shelter in a vineyard,
a hut in a melon field,
a city under siege.9 Had not Jehovah of Hosts left us a few survivors,
we should have been as Sodom,
or become like Gomorrah.10 Hear the word of Jehovah,
O leaders of Sodom;
give heed to the law of our God,
you people of Gomorrah!11 For what purpose are your abundant
sacrifices to me? says Jehovah.
I have had my fill of offerings of rams
and fat of fatted beasts;
the blood of bulls and sheep and he-goats
I do not want.12 When you come to see me,
who requires you to trample my courts so?13 Bring no more worthless offerings;
they are as a loathsome incense to me.
As for convening meetings at the New Month
and on the Sabbath,
wickedness with the solemn gathering
I cannot approve.14 Your monthly and regular meetings
my soul detests.
They have become a burden on me;
I am weary of putting up with them.15 When you spread forth your hands,
I will conceal my eyes from you;
though you pray at length, I will not hear—
your hands are filled with blood.16 Wash yourselves clean:
remove your wicked deeds
from before my eyes;
cease to do evil.17 Learn to do good: demand justice,
stand up for the oppressed;
plead the cause of the fatherless,
appeal on behalf of the widow.18 Come now, let us put it to the test,
says Jehovah:
though your sins are as scarlet,
they can be made white as snow;
though they have reddened as crimson,
they may become white as wool.19 If you are willing and obey,
you shall eat the good of the land.20 But if you are unwilling and disobey,
you shall be eaten by the sword.
By his mouth Jehovah has spoken it.21 How the faithful city
has become a harlot!
She was filled with justice;
righteousness made its abode in her,
but now murderers.22 Your silver has become dross,
your wine diluted with water.23 Your rulers are renegades,
accomplices of robbers:
with one accord they love bribes
and run after rewards;
they do not dispense justice to the fatherless,
nor does the widow’s case come before them.24 Therefore the Lord, Jehovah of Hosts,
the Valiant One of Israel, declares,
Woe to them! I will relieve me
of my adversaries,
avenge me of my enemies.25 I will restore my hand over you
and smelt away your dross as in a crucible,a
and remove all your alloy.26 I will restore your judges as at the first,
and your counsellors as in the beginning.
After this you shall be called
the City of Righteousness, a faithful city.27 For Zion shall be ransomed by justice,
those of her who repent by righteousness.28 But criminals and sinners
shall be altogether shattered
when those who forsake Jehovah are annihilated.29 And youb will be ashamed of the oaks you cherished
and blush for the parks you were fond of;30 you shall become like an oak whose leaves wither,
and as a garden that has no water.31 The mighty shall be as refuse,
and their works a spark;
both shall burn up alike,
and there shall be none to extinguish.
