Isaiah 63:5

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.)

Isaiah 63:5 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 63:5

And I looked, and there was none to help
As, in the first redemption and salvation by Christ here on earth, there were none among the angels, nor any of the sons of men, to help him and assist him therein, none but Jehovah the Father; so, in this latter salvation, the church and people of God will be reduced to such a low, helpless, and forlorn condition, that there will be none to lend an assisting hand; their deliverance will appear most manifestly to be the sole work of almighty power: and I wondered that there was none to uphold;
not the Saviour and Redeemer, he needed none; but his people under their sufferings, trials, and exercises, and his sinking, dying, cause and interest: this is spoken after the manner of men, and to make the salvation appear the more remarkable, distinguishing, and great, and solely his own work; for otherwise expectation and disappointment, consternation and amazement, as the word ^F18 signifies, cannot be properly ascribed to this great Redeemer: therefore mine own arm brought salvation unto me;
to himself, his mystical self, his church and people, and for his own glory; a salvation which his own omnipotent arm could only effect; (See Gill on Isaiah 59:16), and my fury it upheld me;
his zeal for his church and people, and his indignation against their enemies, excited his almighty power on their behalf, and carried him through the work of their deliverance and salvation he engaged in; see ( Isaiah 9:7 ) .

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FOOTNOTES:

F18 (Mmwtvaw) "et obstupui, Musculus; stupefactus sum", Vatablus; "et obstupesceban", Cocceius; "stupebam", Vitringa.

Isaiah 63:5 In-Context

3 I alone stamped the press, and of folks, either Gentiles, no man is, either was, with me (I stamped the winepress alone, and no one from the nations, or from the Gentiles, was with me); (and so) I stamped them in my strong vengeance, and I defouled them in my wrath; and their blood is sprinkled on my clothes, and I made foul all my clothes.

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.)