Isaiah 63:2-12

2 Why is Your clothing red, and Your garments like one who treads a winepress?
3 I trampled the winepress alone, and no one from the nations was with Me. I trampled them in My anger and ground them underfoot in My fury; their blood spattered My garments, and all My clothes were stained.
4 For I planned the day of vengeance,[a] and the year of My redemption[b] came.
5 I looked, but there was no one to help, and I was amazed that no one assisted; so My arm accomplished victory for Me, and My wrath assisted Me.
6 I crushed nations in My anger; I made them drunk with My wrath and poured out their blood on the ground.

Remembrance of Grace

7 I will make known the Lord's faithful love [and] the Lord's praiseworthy acts, because of all the Lord has done for us- even the many good things [He has done] for the house of Israel and has done for them based on His compassions and the abundance of His faithful love.
8 He said, "They are indeed My people, children who will not be disloyal," and He became their Savior.
9 In all their suffering, He suffered,[c] and the Angel of His Presence saved them. He redeemed them because of His love and compassion; He lifted them up and carried them all the days of the past.
10 But they rebelled, and grieved His Holy Spirit. So He became their enemy [and] fought against them.
11 Then He[d] remembered the days of the past, [the days] of Moses [and] his people. Where is He who brought them up out of the sea with the shepherds[e] of His flock? Where is He who put His Holy Spirit among the flock?
12 He sent His glorious arm at Moses' right hand, divided the waters before them to obtain eternal fame for Himself,

Isaiah 63:2-12 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.

Footnotes 5

  • [a]. Lit For day of vengeance in My heart
  • [b]. Or blood revenge
  • [c]. Alt Hb tradition reads did not suffer
  • [d]. Or he, or they
  • [e]. LXX, Tg, Syr read shepherd
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