Isaiah 63:4-14

4 For why a day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year of my yielding cometh.
5 I looked about, and none helper was; I sought, and none was that helped; and mine arm saved to me, and mine indignation, that helped me. (I looked about, but no one would help me; I sought everywhere, but no one would help; so my own arm saved me, and my anger, that upheld me.)
6 And I defouled peoples in my strong vengeance; and I made them drunken in mine indignation, and I drew down their strength into the earth. (And I defiled the nations in my strong vengeance; and I made them drunk in my indignation, and I poured out their blood onto the ground.)
7 I shall have mind on the merciful doings of the Lord, I shall preach the praising of the Lord, on all things which the Lord [hath] yielded to us, and the multitude of [the] goods of the house of Israel, which he gave to them, by his forgiveness, and by the multitude of his mercies. (I shall remember the merciful doings of the Lord, I shall preach the praises of the Lord, for all the things which the Lord hath given to us, and for the multitude of his goodness to the house of Israel, which he gave to them, by his forgiveness, and by the multitude of his mercies.)
8 And the Lord said, Nevertheless it is my people, sons not denying (me), and (so) he was made a saviour to them, (And the Lord said, Yea, they be my people, and my sons and daughters shall not deceive me, and so he was made their Saviour,)
9 in all the tribulation of them. It was set in tribulation, and the angel of his face saved them. In his love and in his forgiveness he again-bought them, and he bare them, and raised them in all [the] days of the world. (in all their trials and tribulation. For he was set in tribulation with them, and it was not the angel sent from him, but he himself who saved them. In his love and in his forgiveness he redeemed, or he rescued, them, and he carried them, and he raised them up in all the days of the world.)
10 Forsooth they excited him to wrathfulness, and tormented the spirit of his holy; and he was turned into an enemy of them, and he overcame them in battle. (But they rebelled against him, and tormented his Holy Spirit; and he was turned into their enemy, and he defeated them in battle.)
11 And he had mind on the days of the world, of Moses, and of his people. Where is he, that led them out of the sea, with the shepherds of his flock? Where is he, that setted the spirit of his holy in the middle thereof; (And then they remembered the old days, the days of Moses, and his people, and they said, Where is he, who led them out of the Red Sea, or out of the Sea of Reeds/who led them up from the Nile River, with the shepherds of his flock? Where is he, who put his Holy Spirit within him?)
12 which led out Moses to the right half in the arm of his majesty? which parted waters before them, that he should make to himself a name everlasting; (who led them out by the right hand of Moses with his majestic arm? who parted the waters before them, so that he would make an everlasting name for himself?)
13 which led them out through depths of waters, as an horse not stumbling in desert, (who led them out through the depths of the waters, like a horse not stumbling in the wilderness,)
14 as a beast going down in the field? The Spirit of the Lord was the leader thereof; so thou leddest thy people, that thou madest to thee a name of glory. (like a beast going down into the field? The Spirit of the Lord was their leader; so thou leddest thy people, and thou madest a glorious name for thyself.)

Isaiah 63:4-14 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.

Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.