ישעיהו, פרק נ״ט, פסוק ג׳

A profound spiritual disconnect occurs when every aspect of human life, from physical deeds to spoken words, becomes saturated with wrongdoing. The prophet rebukes the people, illustrating how their pervasive evil has built an impassable barrier between them and God [אבן עזרא, רד״ק, ביאור שטיינזלץ].

The rebuke begins with physical actions. The primary approach among commentators is that the people's hands are deeply soiled and stained by the spilling of innocent blood [רש״י, מצודת ציון, ביאור שטיינזלץ, שד״ל]. Moving to the fingers, various perspectives emerge regarding how they actively participate in sin. Some explain this as acts of robbery, theft, and extortion [אבן עזרא, שד״ל], while others view it as physical violence, such as pointing aggressively or striking with fists [רד״ק]. Another approach suggests that the fingers sin by writing words of falsehood and deceit [מצודת דוד]. A deeper distinction is also drawn between the hands and the fingers. The hand represents the broad, general act of violence, such as shedding blood. In contrast, the fingers symbolize precise, detailed craftsmanship. This highlights that their wrongdoings are not accidental; they are performed with deliberate intent, stemming from heresy and deep contempt [מלבי״ם].

Following physical actions, the focus shifts to the realm of speech [אבן עזרא, רד״ק]. A clear division is established: while the sins of the hands are offenses committed against other people, the sins of speech are directed against God. Within the realm of speech, there is a further distinction between the lips and the tongue. The lips represent outward expression, symbolizing the superficial voicing of false beliefs. The tongue, however, is deeply connected to internal thought and meditation. The people do not merely utter lies; they actively think about them, using logic and reason to justify and firmly establish their false convictions [מלבי״ם].