Isaiah 63:1-11

God's Vengeance on the Nations

1 Who is this who comes from 1Edom, With 2garments of glowing colors from 3Bozrah, This One who is majestic in His apparel, Marching in the greatness of His strength? "It is I who speak in righteousness, 4mighty to save."
2 Why is Your apparel red, And Your garments like the one who 5treads in the wine press?
3 "6I have trodden the wine trough alone, And from the peoples there was no man with Me. I also 7trod them in My anger And 8trampled them in My wrath; And 9their lifeblood is sprinkled on My garments, And I stained all My raiment.
4 "For the 10day of vengeance was in My heart, And My year of redemption has come.
5 "I looked, and there was 11no one to help, And I was astonished and there was no one to uphold; So My 12own arm brought salvation to Me, And My wrath upheld Me.
6 "I 13trod down the peoples in My anger And made them 14drunk in My wrath, And I poured out their lifeblood on the earth."

God's Ancient Mercies Recalled

7 I shall make mention of the 15lovingkindnesses of the LORD, the praises of the LORD, According to all that the LORD has granted us, And the great 16goodness toward the house of Israel, Which He has granted them according to His 17compassion And according to the abundance of His lovingkindnesses.
8 For He said, "Surely, they are 18My people, Sons who will not deal falsely." So He became their 19Savior.
9 In all their affliction 20He was afflicted, And the 21angel of His presence saved them; In His 22love and in His mercy He 23redeemed them, And He 24lifted them and carried them all the days of old.
10 But they 25rebelled And grieved His 26Holy Spirit; Therefore He turned Himself to become their enemy, He fought against them.
11 Then 27His people remembered the days of old, of Moses. Where is 28He who brought them up out of the sea with the shepherds of His flock? Where is He who 29put His Holy Spirit in the midst of them,

Isaiah 63:1-11 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO ISAIAH 63

This chapter contains a prophecy of the vengeance of Christ upon the enemies of his church in the latter day, whereby complete salvation would be obtained for them; and this illustrated by the mercies of God to the people of Israel of old; and is concluded with the church s prayer to him. The account of the vengeance taken by Christ on his enemies is introduced by a colloquy between him and his church; who puts a question, in which he is described by the places from whence he came, by his apparel, and by his manner of walking; to which he returns an answer, Isa 63:1, then a second question is put, about the colour of his garments; for which he gives a reason, Isa 63:2,3 it being the time of his vengeance on his enemies, and of the redemption of his people, Isa 63:4 the manner in which he performed both is observed, Isa 63:5 and the thorough work he would make; and the entire riddance of all his enemies is determined upon, Isa 63:6, which puts the prophet, or the church, in mind of former mercies bestowed upon Israel of old, the peculiar people and children of God, the Lord had a great opinion of, and favour for, whom he dealt very tenderly with, and redeemed, and saved, and preserved, Isa 63:7-9 though they acted an ungrateful part to him, which is aggravated by the various kind steps of Providence, in leading them through the Red sea, guiding them in the wilderness, and bringing them to rest safely in Canaan's land, for his own glory, Isa 63:10-14 and all is closed with the church's prayer to God, imploring his grace and mercy; pleading relation to him; expostulating with him about their present case, and observing the difference between them and their enemies, Isa 63:15-19 and which prayer is continued in the next chapter.

Cross References 29

  • 1. Psalms 137:7; Isaiah 34:5, 6; Ezekiel 25:12-14; Ezekiel 35:1-15; Obad 1-14; Malachi 1:2-5
  • 2. Isaiah 63:2
  • 3. Isaiah 34:6; Jeremiah 49:13; Amos 1:12
  • 4. Zephaniah 3:17
  • 5. Revelation 19:13, 15
  • 6. Revelation 14:20; Revelation 19:15
  • 7. Isaiah 22:5; Isaiah 28:3
  • 8. Micah 7:10
  • 9. Revelation 19:13
  • 10. Isaiah 34:8; Isaiah 35:4; Isaiah 61:2; Jeremiah 51:6
  • 11. Isaiah 59:16
  • 12. Psalms 44:3; Isaiah 40:10; Isaiah 52:10
  • 13. Isaiah 22:5; Isaiah 34:2; Isaiah 65:12
  • 14. Isaiah 29:9; Isaiah 51:17, 21
  • 15. Psalms 25:6; Psalms 92:2; Isaiah 54:8, 10
  • 16. 1 Kings 8:66; Nehemiah 9:25, 35
  • 17. Psalms 51:1; Psalms 86:5, 15; Isaiah 54:7, 8; Ephesians 2:4
  • 18. Exodus 6:7; Isaiah 3:15; Isaiah 51:4
  • 19. Isaiah 60:16
  • 20. Judges 10:16
  • 21. Exodus 23:20-23; Exodus 33:14, 15
  • 22. Deuteronomy 7:7, 8
  • 23. Isaiah 43:1; Isaiah 52:9
  • 24. Deuteronomy 1:31; Deuteronomy 32:10-12; Isaiah 46:3
  • 25. Psalms 78:40; Psalms 106:33; Acts 7:51; Ephesians 4:30
  • 26. Psalms 51:11; Isaiah 63:11
  • 27. Psalms 106:44, 45
  • 28. Isaiah 51:10
  • 29. Num 11:17, 25, 29; Haggai 2:5

Footnotes 8

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