Isaiah 63:3-12

3 The Lord answers, "I have trampled the nations like grapes, and no one came to help me. I trampled them in my anger, and their blood has stained all my clothing. 1
4 I decided that the time to save my people had come; it was time to punish their enemies.
5 I was amazed when I looked and saw that there was no one to help me. But my anger made me strong, and I won the victory myself. 2
6 In my anger I trampled whole nations and shattered them. I poured out their lifeblood on the ground."
7 I will tell of the Lord's unfailing love; I praise him for all he has done for us. He has richly blessed the people of Israel because of his mercy and constant love.
8 The Lord said, "They are my people; they will not deceive me." And so he saved them
9 from all their suffering. It was not an angel, but the Lord himself who saved them. In his love and compassion he rescued them. He had always taken care of them in the past,
10 but they rebelled against him and made his holy spirit sad. So the Lord became their enemy and fought against them.
11 But then they remembered the past, the days of Moses, the servant of the Lord, and they asked, "Where now is the Lord, who saved the leaders of his people from the sea? Where is the Lord, who gave his spirit to Moses?
12 Where is the Lord, who by his power did great things through Moses, dividing the waters of the sea and leading his people through the deep water, to win everlasting fame for himself?" 3 Led by the Lord, they were as sure-footed as wild horses, and never stumbled.

Isaiah 63:3-12 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.

Cross References 3

  • 1. 63.3 aRevelation 14.20; 19.15; bRevelation 19.13.
  • 2. 63.5Isaiah 59.16.
  • 3. 63.12Exodus 14.21.

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. [Probable text] they; [Hebrew] he.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.