Isaiah 57:12
I will declare thy righteousness, and thy works; for they shall not profit thee.
Original Language Analysis
אַגִּ֖יד
I will declare
H5046
אַגִּ֖יד
I will declare
Strong's:
H5046
Word #:
2 of 7
properly, to front, i.e., stand boldly out opposite; by implication (causatively), to manifest; figuratively, to announce (always by word of mouth to
צִדְקָתֵ֑ךְ
thy righteousness
H6666
צִדְקָתֵ֑ךְ
thy righteousness
Strong's:
H6666
Word #:
3 of 7
rightness (abstractly), subjectively (rectitude), objectively (justice), morally (virtue) or figuratively (prosperity)
וְאֶֽת
H853
וְאֶֽת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
4 of 7
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
מַעֲשַׂ֖יִךְ
and thy works
H4639
מַעֲשַׂ֖יִךְ
and thy works
Strong's:
H4639
Word #:
5 of 7
an action (good or bad); generally, a transaction; abstractly, activity; by implication, a product (specifically, a poem) or (generally) property
Cross References
Matthew 23:13But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.Isaiah 29:15Woe unto them that seek deep to hide their counsel from the LORD, and their works are in the dark, and they say, Who seeth us? and who knoweth us?Isaiah 64:5Thou meetest him that rejoiceth and worketh righteousness, those that remember thee in thy ways: behold, thou art wroth; for we have sinned: in those is continuance, and we shall be saved.Matthew 23:5But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,
Historical Context
This divine threat was fulfilled when Babylon conquered Judah. All their religious activities, sacrifices, and supposed righteousness could not prevent judgment. The temple was destroyed, Jerusalem burned, and the people exiled—proving that externally religious observance without heart devotion is worthless. This same pattern repeated in Jesus' day when He condemned the Pharisees' righteousness as insufficient (Matthew 5:20, 23:27-28), leading to Jerusalem's destruction in AD 70.
Questions for Reflection
- What forms of self-righteousness do we trust in apart from Christ's imputed righteousness?
- How does God's exposure of worthless works lead us to despair of self and trust in Christ?
- In what ways might religious activity become a substitute for genuine heart transformation?
Analysis & Commentary
The divine irony is crushing: "I will declare thy righteousness, and thy works; for they shall not profit thee." God promises to expose their so-called "righteousness" for what it truly is—worthless works that cannot save. The Hebrew tsedaqah (righteousness) is used sarcastically; their supposed righteous deeds are filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6). This anticipates Paul's teaching that works of the law cannot justify (Romans 3:20, Galatians 2:16). The phrase "they shall not profit thee" echoes throughout prophetic literature (Jeremiah 2:8, 11, Habakkuk 2:18)—idols and self-righteousness are utterly useless for salvation. From a Reformed perspective, this strikes at the heart of human pride and self-justification. Natural man trusts in his own efforts, religious observances, and moral achievements. God's declaration of judgment exposes all such confidence as delusional. Only the imputed righteousness of Christ, received through faith alone, can save (2 Corinthians 5:21, Philippians 3:9).