I have blotted out your transgressions like a cloud and your sins like mist; return to me, for I have redeemed you.
English Standard Version (ESV)
God's promise to blot out transgressions like a cloud isn't just about removing past sins; it's about making them completely vanish, like mist evaporating in the sun. This complete removal is the foundation for His urgent call to "return to me," because it is through His act of redemption that we are even able to turn back to Him.
I have blotted out your transgressions like a cloud and your sins like mist; return to me, for I have redeemed you.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This passage comes after God's declaration that He alone is the Creator and Redeemer, contrasting Himself with worthless idols. It follows a section where God is proclaiming His unfailing power and forgiveness, particularly in the context of the Israelites' exile in Babylon and their impending return. The verse emphasizes the complete and total cancellation of their sins, paving the way for God's renewed relationship with them.
Imagine a cloud so dense it obscures the sun, then imagine that cloud being completely dispersed. That's the powerful image God uses here for His forgiveness.
God declares, 'I have blotted out your transgressions like a cloud and your sins like mist.' This isn't just a gentle wiping away; it's a complete removal.
Why should we turn back to God? The verse gives a profound reason that shifts our perspective entirely.
The verse doesn't say, 'Return to me so that I will redeem you.' Instead, it states, 'Return to me, for I have redeemed you.' This highlights a crucial order:
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Understand the original words
ga'al · Hebrew Verb
A legal and theological term referring to the act of purchasing someone or something out of slavery or bondage through the payment of a price, leading to freedom and restoration. In Scripture, it highlights God’s gracious intervention to deliver His people from sin and captivity.
pesha · Hebrew Noun
Rebellious acts or willful departures from the law and covenant of God; a violation of the relationship between God and His people, requiring atonement.
chattath · Hebrew Noun
Missing the mark of God's holy standard; an act of moral failure or falling short of divine righteousness. It encompasses both the act of wrongdoing and the state of being separated from God.
shuv · Hebrew Verb
To turn back or turn around; in a spiritual sense, it denotes repentance—a fundamental change of heart and direction that leads a person back into fellowship with God.
This verse comes from a period of deep national crisis and exile in Babylon. The imagery of blotted-out sins speaks powerfully to a people longing for restoration and seeking assurance from God after experiencing the devastating consequences of their unfaithfulness.
c. 701 BC
Assyrian Siege of Jerusalem
Isaiah prophesies Jerusalem's deliverance from the Assyrian siege, reinforcing its inviolability. This event shapes the national confidence.
621 BC
Discovery of the Book of the Law
King Josiah's religious reforms follow the discovery of the Law, leading to a period of national renewal and apparent righteousness.
609 BC
Battle of Megiddo and Josiah's Death
Josiah's death in battle shatters national confidence and leads to a return to idolatry, weakening Judah's spiritual and political standing.
597 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar deports many of Judah's elite, including Ezekiel, to Babylon. This marks the beginning of the Babylonian exile.
587 BC— this verse
Fall of Jerusalem and Second Deportation
Jerusalem is destroyed, the Temple is burned, and a second, larger group of exiles is taken to Babylon. This is the context for much of Isaiah's message of comfort and redemption.
c. 550 BC
Rise of Cyrus the Great
Cyrus begins his conquests, creating a political climate where liberation from Babylon becomes a realistic hope.
This verse is directly alluded to, showing God's willingness to wipe away transgressions for His own sake, reinforcing the theme of complete forgiveness.
Micah 7:19This passage uses a similar image of God casting sins into the depths of the sea, conveying the same idea of complete removal and forgiveness.
Colossians 2:13-14This New Testament passage parallels the blotting out of sins with the cancellation of debt, emphasizing God's act of forgiveness through Christ's sacrifice.
Zechariah 12:10This verse connects the idea of repentance ('return to me') with God's Spirit being poured out, highlighting the connection between forgiveness and a transformed heart that desires to return to God.
Jeremiah 31:34This verse speaks of God forgiving iniquity and remembering sins no more, echoing the complete forgiveness promised in Isaiah and encouraging the 'return' called for.
cambridgeIsaiah 44:22: "I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee."
22 . Cf. ch. Isaiah 43:25 . “The sense of being forgotten of God is produced by the consciousness of guilt; hence the promise of forgiveness is here repeated” (Dillmann). as a thick cloud … as a cloud ] An image of transitoriness; Hosea 6:4 ; Hosea 13:3 ; Job 7:9 ; Job 30:15 .
pulpitIsaiah 44:22: "I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee."
Verse 22. - I have blotted out... thy sins (comp. Isaiah 43:25). The promise there made is here represented as having its fulfilment. Before God reverses his sentence and restores his people, he must first forgive them. As a thick cloud... as a cloud. It would be better to translate, as a cloud... as a thick cloud. The latter of the two Hebrew words u…
God's promise to blot out transgressions like a cloud isn't just about removing past sins; it's about making them completely vanish, like mist evaporating in the sun. This complete removal is the foundation for His urgent call to "return to me," because it is through His act of redemption that we are even able to turn back to Him.
This passage comes after God's declaration that He alone is the Creator and Redeemer, contrasting Himself with worthless idols. It follows a section where God is proclaiming His unfailing power and forgiveness, particularly in the context of the Israelites' exile in Babylon and their impending return. The verse emphasizes the complete and total cancellation of their sins, paving the way for God's renewed relationship with them.
This passage comes after God's declaration that He alone is the Creator and Redeemer, contrasting Himself with worthless idols. It follows a section where God is proclaiming His unfailing power and forgiveness, particularly in the context of the Israelites' exile in Babylon and their impending return. The verse emphasizes the complete and total cancellation of their sins, paving the way for God's renewed relationship with them.
"I have blotted out your transgressions like a cloud and your sins like mist; return to me, for I have redeemed you." — God's promise to blot out transgressions like a cloud isn't just about removing past sins; it's about making them completely vanish, like mist evaporating in the sun. This complete removal is the fou…
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Last reviewed October 2026