From the sole of the foot even to the head, there is no soundness in it, but bruises and sores and raw wounds; they are not pressed out or bound up or softened with oil.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The prophet uses vivid imagery from ancient surgery, highlighting that not only are the wounds of the nation widespread and festering, but no attempt has even been made to address them. They haven't been "pressed out," meaning the pus wasn't even squeezed out to begin healing.
From the sole of the foot even to the head, there is no soundness in it, but bruises and sores and raw wounds; they are not pressed out or bound up or softened with oil.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Isaiah's prophecy opens with a powerful indictment of Judah and Jerusalem. God declares that the entire nation, from the lowest to the highest, is diseased and wounded by sin, with no attempt made to heal or treat these festering moral injuries. This widespread corruption is the backdrop against which God laments their unfaithfulness, even comparing them to senseless elements that show more loyalty than His own people.
Imagine a body where every inch, from your toes to the top of your head, is afflicted. Isaiah paints a stark picture of Israel's condition, not just physically, but spiritually.
Isaiah uses a powerful metaphor of a diseased body to describe the state of Judah and Jerusalem.
Total Breakdown
From the 'sole of the foot to the head,' there is 'no soundness.' This isn't just a few minor ailments; it's a pervasive sickness affecting every part. This imagery highlights the complete corruption that has taken hold of the nation.
Neglected Treatment
The verse continues, 'but bruises and sores and raw wounds; they are not pressed out or bound up or softened with oil.' This speaks to the complete lack of healing or care. Ancient medical practices involved pressing out infection, bandaging wounds, and softening them with oil. None of this has been done. The wounds are left to fester, indicating a severe neglect of both physical and spiritual health.
The prophet describes wounds left untreated, a stark image of a people refusing any form of healing. But what does 'healing' truly mean in God's eyes?
The lack of treatment for these wounds—not being 'pressed out or bound up or softened with oil'—points to a deeper issue than just a lack of medical skill.
The Cause of the Wounds
Commentators note that this imagery is drawn from ancient Near Eastern surgery. The failure to treat these wounds wasn't accidental; it reflects a deliberate turning away from God's ways. The 'wounds' are the consequences of sin, and the lack of 'treatment' signifies the people's refusal to repent or seek God's restoration.
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God's Ultimate Healing
While the people neglected their own healing, God's intention was always for restoration. The oil and wine used in ancient healing were symbolic of God's mercy and the cleansing power that He alone could provide. The passage implies that true healing comes not from human remedies alone, but from God's intervention and the nation's turning back to Him.
Understand the original words
kap regel ad rosh · Hebrew Noun Phrase
A Hebrew idiom describing the entirety of a person or entity; in this context, it signifies the comprehensive nature of Israel’s moral and spiritual corruption.
metom · Hebrew Noun
In a theological context, this refers to wholeness, health, or integrity. Its absence signifies spiritual sickness, corruption, and the pervasive effects of sin.
Isaiah's powerful imagery of a diseased and wounded nation reflects the deep-seated corruption and impending judgment that plagued Judah. The verse speaks to a time when the kingdom was deeply fractured, facing both internal decay and external threats from powerful empires like Assyria and later Babylon.
Late 8th century BC
Assyrian Empire's Zenith
The Assyrian Empire, a major power, exerted significant influence and military pressure on the region, including Judah and Jerusalem. This era of imperial dominance created a backdrop of fear and political instability.
c. 740 BC
Isaiah Begins Prophetic Ministry
Isaiah receives his call to prophesy concerning Judah and Jerusalem during the reign of King Uzziah (or perhaps Jotham). His ministry spans several decades, witnessing significant political and religious turmoil.
c. 734-732 BC
Syro-Ephraimite War
The northern kingdom of Israel (Ephraim) and Syria invade Judah, attempting to force King Ahaz into an anti-Assyrian coalition. Isaiah advises against alliances and urges trust in God.
c. 722 BC
Fall of Samaria and Northern Kingdom
The Assyrian Empire conquers the northern kingdom of Israel, destroying its capital, Samaria, and deporting many Israelites. This event served as a stark warning to Judah about the consequences of disobedience and foreign entanglements.
c. 701 BC— this verse
Assyrian Siege of Jerusalem
Under King Hezekiah, Judah revolts against Assyrian rule. The Assyrian king Sennacherib invades and besieges Jerusalem, but ultimately withdraws after a divine intervention and a heavy tribute payment.
c. 605 BC - 586 BC
Babylonian Exile
Following multiple attempts and rebellions, the Babylonian Empire conquers Judah, destroys Jerusalem and the Temple, and deports large segments of the population into exile. This marked the end of Judah as an independent kingdom.
This passage describes a superficial healing of a deep wound, mirroring Isaiah's imagery of untreated injuries. Both highlight a failure to address the root cause of a nation's sickness.
Lamentations 1:18This verse speaks of the prophet's profound grief over Jerusalem's sin and suffering, much like Isaiah's lament over the diseased state of the people and land.
Luke 10:34The parable of the Good Samaritan shows the application of oil and wine to wounds, contrasting with Isaiah's description of wounds left untreated and unsoftened.
Hosea 5:13This passage describes sickness and wounds inflicted as a divine judgment, aligning with the idea in Isaiah that the nation's condition is a consequence of spiritual ailment.
clarkeIsaiah 1:6: "From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment."
They have not been closed, etc. "It hath not been pressed," etc. - The pharmaceutical art in the East consists chiefly in external applications: accordingly the prophet's images in this place are all taken from surgery. Sir John Chardin, in his note on Proverbs 3:8 , "It shall be healt…
henryIsaiah 1:1-9: "The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah."
1:1-9 Isaiah signifies, The salvation of the Lord; a very suitable name for this prophet, who prophesies so much of Jesus the Saviour, and his salvation. God's professing people did not know or consider that they owed their lives and comforts to God's fatherly care and kindness. How many are very careless in the affairs of their sou…
The prophet uses vivid imagery from ancient surgery, highlighting that not only are the wounds of the nation widespread and festering, but no attempt has even been made to address them. They haven't been "pressed out," meaning the pus wasn't even squeezed out to begin healing.
Isaiah's prophecy opens with a powerful indictment of Judah and Jerusalem. God declares that the entire nation, from the lowest to the highest, is diseased and wounded by sin, with no attempt made to heal or treat these festering moral injuries. This widespread corruption is the backdrop against which God laments their unfaithfulness, even comparing them to senseless elements that show more loyalty than His own people.
Isaiah's prophecy opens with a powerful indictment of Judah and Jerusalem. God declares that the entire nation, from the lowest to the highest, is diseased and wounded by sin, with no attempt made to heal or treat these festering moral injuries. This widespread corruption is the backdrop against which God laments their unfaithfulness, even comparing them to senseless elements that show more loyalty than His own people.
"From the sole of the foot even to the head, there is no soundness in it, but bruises and sores and raw wounds; they are not pressed out or bound up or softened with oil." — The prophet uses vivid imagery from ancient surgery, highlighting that not only are the wounds of the nation widespread and festering, but no attempt has even been made to address them. They haven't…
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Last reviewed October 2026