Isaiah 63:2

2 Why is your 1apparel red, and your garments like his 2who treads in the winepress?

Isaiah 63:2 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 63:2

Wherefore art thou red in thy apparel
Christ having satisfied the church as to her first question, concerning his person, who he was; she puts a second to him, about the colour of his garments, which was red, and the reason of it. His garments at his transfiguration were white as snow, whiter than any fuller on earth could whiten them; his robe of righteousness is fine linen, clean and white; the garment of his human nature, or his form as man, was white and ruddy; but this, through his bloody sufferings, became red, being all over bloody through the scourges he received, the crown of thorns he wore, the piercing of his hands, feet, and sides, with the nails and spear; but here it appears of this colour not with his own blood, but with the blood of his enemies, as is hereafter explained: and thy garments like him that treadeth in the winefat?
or winepress, into which clusters of grapes are cast, and these are trodden by men, the juice of which sparkles on their garments, and stains them, so that they become of a red colour.

Isaiah 63:2 In-Context

1 Who is this who comes from Edom, in crimsoned garments from Bozrah, he who is splendid in his apparel, marching in the greatness of his strength? "It is I, speaking in righteousness, mighty to save."
2 Why is your apparel red, and your garments like his who treads in the winepress?
3 "I have trodden the winepress alone, and from the peoples no one was with me; I trod them in my anger and trampled them in my wrath; their lifeblood spattered on my garments, and stained all my apparel.
4 For the day of vengeance was in my heart, and my year of redemption had come.
5 I looked, but there was no one to help; I was appalled, but there was no one to uphold; so my own arm brought me salvation, and my wrath upheld me.

Cross References 2

  • 1. Revelation 19:13
  • 2. [Lamentations 1:15; Revelation 14:20; Revelation 19:15]
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.