Isaiah63
New International Version
1Who is this coming from Edom, from Bozrah, with his garments stained crimson? Who is this, robed in splendor, striding forward in the greatness of his strength? “It is I, proclaiming victory, mighty to save.”
2Why are your garments red, like those of one treading the winepress?
3“I have trodden the winepress alone; from the nations no one was with me. I trampled them in my anger and trod them down in my wrath; their blood spattered my garments, and I stained all my clothing.
4It was for me the day of vengeance; the year for me to redeem had come.
5I looked, but there was no one to help, I was appalled that no one gave support; so my own arm achieved salvation for me, and my own wrath sustained me.
6I trampled the nations in my anger; in my wrath I made them drunk and poured their blood on the ground.”
7I will tell of the kindnesses of the Lord, the deeds for which he is to be praised, according to all the Lord has done for us— yes, the many good things he has done for Israel, according to his compassion and many kindnesses.
8He said, “Surely they are my people, children who will be true to me”; and so he became their Savior.
9In all their distress he too was distressed, and the angel of his presence saved them. In his love and mercy he redeemed them; he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old.
10Yet they rebelled and grieved his Holy Spirit. So he turned and became their enemy and he himself fought against them.
11Then his people recalled the days of old, the days of Moses and his people— where is he who brought them through the sea, with the shepherd of his flock? Where is he who set his Holy Spirit among them,
12who sent his glorious arm of power to be at Moses’ right hand, who divided the waters before them, to gain for himself everlasting renown,
13who led them through the depths? Like a horse in open country, they did not stumble;
14like cattle that go down to the plain, they were given rest by the Spirit of the Lord. This is how you guided your people to make for yourself a glorious name.
15Look down from heaven and see, from your lofty throne, holy and glorious. Where are your zeal and your might? Your tenderness and compassion are withheld from us.
16But you are our Father, though Abraham does not know us or Israel acknowledge us; you, Lord, are our Father, our Redeemer from of old is your name.
17Why, Lord, do you make us wander from your ways and harden our hearts so we do not revere you? Return for the sake of your servants, the tribes that are your inheritance.
18For a little while your people possessed your holy place, but now our enemies have trampled down your sanctuary.
19We are yours from of old; but you have not ruled over them, they have not been called by your name.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Isaiah 63.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: Christ's victory over his enemies. (1-6). His mercy toward his church. (7-14). The prayer of the church. (15-19).
vv1-6
The prophet, in vision, beholds the Messiah returning in triumph from the conquest of his enemies, of whom Edom was a type. Travelling, not as wearied by the combat, but, in the greatness of his strength, prepared to overcome every opposing power. Messiah declares that he had been treading the wine-press of the wrath of God, Rev. 14:19; 19:13, and by his own power, without any human help, he had crushed his obstinate opposers, for the day of vengeance was determined on, being the appointed season for rescuing his church. Once, he appeared on earth in apparent weakness, to pour out his precious blood as an atonement for our sins; but he will in due time appear in the greatness of his strength. The vintage ripens apace; the day of vengeance, fixed and determined on, approaches apace; let sinners seek to be reconciled to their righteous Judge, ere he brings down their strength to the earth. Does Christ say, "I come quickly?" let our hearts reply, "Even so, come; let the year of the redeemed come."
vv7-14
The latter part of this chapter, and the whole of the next, seem to express the prayers of the Jews on their conversation. They acknowledge God's great mercies and favours to their nation. They confess their wickedness and hardness of heart; they entreat his forgiveness, and deplore the miserable condition under which they have so long suffered. The only-begotten Son of the Father became the Angel or Messenger of his love; thus he redeemed and bare them with tenderness. Yet they murmured, and resisted his Holy Spirit, despising and persecuting his prophets, rejecting and crucifying the promised Messiah. All our comforts and hopes spring from the loving-kindness of the Lord, and all our miseries and fears from our sins. But he is the Saviour, and when sinners seek after him, who in other ages glorified himself by saving and feeding his purchased flock, and leading them safely through dangers, and has given his Holy Spirit to prosper the labours of his ministers, there is good ground to hope they are discovering the way of peace.
vv15-19
They beseech him to look down on the abject condition of their once-favoured nation. Would it not be glorious to his name to remove the veil from their hearts, to return to the tribes of his inheritance? The Babylonish captivity, and the after-deliverance of the Jews, were shadows of the events here foretold. The Lord looks down upon us in tenderness and mercy. Spiritual judgments are more to be dreaded than any other calamities; and we should most carefully avoid those sins which justly provoke the Lord to leave men to themselves and to their deceiver. "Our Redeemer from everlasting" is thy name; thy people have always looked upon thee as the God to whom they might appeal. The Lord will hear the prayers of those who belong to him, and deliver them from those not called by his name.
Key Words
מִי: who? (occasionally, by a peculiar idiom, of things); also (indefinitely) whoever; often used in oblique construction with prefix or suffix
זֶה: the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that
בּוֹא: to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
מִן: properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses
אֱדֹם: Edom, the elder twin-brother of Jacob; hence the region (Idumaea) occupied by him
חָמֵץ: to be pungent; i.e. in taste (sour, i.e. literally fermented, or figuratively, harsh), in color (dazzling)
בֶּגֶד: a covering, i.e. clothing; also treachery or pillage
בׇּצְרָה: Botsrah, a place in Edom
הָדַר: to swell up (literally or figuratively, active or passive); by implication, to favor or honour, be high or proud
לְבוּשׁ: a garment (literally or figuratively); by implication (euphemistically) a wife
Cross References
Isaiah 63The victorious King arriving with garments dipped in blood parallel to Christ's depiction.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB
Direct geographical parallel with Bozrah and Edom as scenes of divine judgment.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The eschatological treading of the winepress of God's wrath outside the city.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB
Identical wording describing God's wonder that there was no helper to bring salvation.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The Lord treading His enemies as in a winepress, describing severe judgment.
Supported by JFB
The parallel pairing of the 'day of vengeance' and the 'year' of redemption.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
The 'Angel of his presence' identifying with the Angel sent before Israel.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB
The Angel/Messenger of the Covenant who brings redemption and presence.
Supported by JFB
God bearing and carrying Israel on eagles' wings during the days of old.
Supported by JFB
Grieving/vexing the Holy Spirit, echoing Israel's rebellion in the wilderness.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Stephen's indictment of Israel for always resisting the Holy Spirit, just like their fathers.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
The Lord turning to be His people's enemy and actively fighting against them.
Supported by JFB
God leading His flock through the sea by the hand of Moses and Aaron.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, John Calvin
The dividing of the Red Sea waters before Moses to make a name.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
The liturgical cry to 'Look down from heaven, thy holy habitation' to bless Israel.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The sounding/troubling of the bowels as an expression of divine maternal compassion.
Supported by JFB
The community's continued appeal to Yahweh as Father and potter.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The theme of judicial hardening of hearts and spiritual blindness sent by God.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Adversaries treading down the sanctuary of God's holy people.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Israel designated as 'the people of thy holiness'—a special, set-apart possession.
Supported by JFB