Isaiah 63

King James Version

Full text for Isaiah Chapter 63

1¶ Who [is] this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this [that is] glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save.

2Wherefore [art thou] red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the winefat?

3I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people [there was] none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment.

4For the day of vengeance [is] in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come.

5And I looked, and [there was] none to help; and I wondered that [there was] none to uphold: therefore mine own arm brought salvation unto me; and my fury, it upheld me.

6And I will tread down the people in mine anger, and make them drunk in my fury, and I will bring down their strength to the earth.

7¶ I will mention the lovingkindnesses of the LORD, [and] the praises of the LORD, according to all that the LORD hath bestowed on us, and the great goodness toward the house of Israel, which he hath bestowed on them according to his mercies, and according to the multitude of his lovingkindnesses.

8For he said, Surely they [are] my people, children [that] will not lie: so he was their Saviour.

9In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old.

10But they rebelled, and vexed his holy Spirit: therefore he was turned to be their enemy, [and] he fought against them.

11Then he remembered the days of old, Moses, [and] his people, [saying], Where [is] he that brought them up out of the sea with the shepherd of his flock? where [is] he that put his holy Spirit within him?

12That led [them] by the right hand of Moses with his glorious arm, dividing the water before them, to make himself an everlasting name?

13That led them through the deep, as an horse in the wilderness, [that] they should not stumble?

14As a beast goeth down into the valley, the Spirit of the LORD caused him to rest: so didst thou lead thy people, to make thyself a glorious name.

15¶ Look down from heaven, and behold from the habitation of thy holiness and of thy glory: where [is] thy zeal and thy strength, the sounding of thy bowels and of thy mercies toward me? are they restrained?

16Doubtless thou [art] our father, though Abraham be ignorant of us, and Israel acknowledge us not: thou, O LORD, [art] our father, our redeemer; thy name [is] from everlasting.

17O LORD, why hast thou made us to err from thy ways, [and] hardened our heart from thy fear? Return for thy servants' sake, the tribes of thine inheritance.

18The people of thy holiness have possessed [it] but a little while: our adversaries have trodden down thy sanctuary.

19We are [thine]: thou never barest rule over them; they were not called by thy name.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

The chapter opens with a dramatic vision of the Lord returning from Edom, His garments stained red from treading the winepress of divine wrath against His adversaries. This act of solitary vengeance is contrasted with a remembrance of God's enduring lovingkindness and past salvation towards Israel, despite their rebellion. The chapter concludes with a lament from the people, appealing to God's fatherhood and mercy, questioning His apparent restraint and the desolation of their sanctuary.

Medium Summary

Isaiah 63 begins with a powerful dialogue, where a figure, identified as the Lord, appears from Edom with blood-stained garments, having executed divine vengeance alone. He declares that the day of vengeance and the year of His redeemed have come, emphasizing that His own arm brought salvation as there was none to help. The chapter then shifts to a remembrance of the Lord's great goodness and lovingkindnesses towards Israel, recounting how He was their Saviour in all their affliction, bearing and carrying them through the days of old. However, Israel rebelled and vexed His Holy Spirit, causing Him to turn and fight against them. Yet, God remembered the Exodus, when He gloriously led His people through the sea to make an everlasting name. The chapter concludes with a lament from the people, pleading with God to look down from heaven, questioning the restraint of His zeal and mercies. They affirm Him as their eternal Father and Redeemer, lamenting their hardened hearts and the treading down of their sanctuary by adversaries.

Long Summary

The chapter opens with a dramatic inquiry concerning a figure arriving from Edom, whose garments are dyed red as if from treading the winepress. This figure, revealed as the Lord, explains that He has trodden the winepress of His wrath alone, trampling His enemies in His anger, with their blood staining His raiment. He declares that the day of vengeance was in His heart, and the year of His redeemed had come, emphasizing that He found no one to help, and His own arm brought salvation. Following this declaration of judgment, the prophet recounts the Lord's enduring lovingkindnesses and great goodness towards the house of Israel. He remembers how God considered them His people, children who would not lie, and became their Saviour. In all their affliction, the Lord was afflicted, and the angel of His presence saved them, redeeming them in His love and pity, and carrying them throughout their history. Despite this unwavering care, Israel rebelled and vexed His Holy Spirit, leading God to turn against them and fight as their enemy. Yet, God remembered the days of old, recalling Moses and the Exodus, asking where was He who brought them out of the sea and put His Holy Spirit within them. The text highlights God's glorious arm dividing the waters, leading them through the deep, and causing them to rest, all to make Himself an everlasting and glorious name. The chapter then shifts to a poignant lament and prayer from the people. They earnestly appeal to God, asking Him to look down from His holy habitation and behold their plight. They question the restraint of His zeal, strength, and mercies towards them. They affirm God as their Father and Redeemer, whose name is from everlasting, even if Abraham and Israel might not acknowledge them. They lament that God has seemingly made them err from His ways and hardened their hearts, pleading for Him to return for the sake of His servants and the tribes of His inheritance. The people mourn that their holy possession has been held for only a short while, and their sanctuary has been trodden down by adversaries, asserting that they belong to God, over whom their enemies have no rule.

Core Concepts

  • Divine VengeanceThe Lord's solitary act of treading the winepress of wrath, with His garments stained by the blood of His enemies from Edom, signifying a day of judgment.
  • God's LovingkindnessA remembrance of the Lord's enduring mercies, great goodness, and pity towards Israel, as He saved and carried them through their history.
  • Israel's RebellionThe people's act of vexing God's Holy Spirit and rebelling against Him, which caused Him to turn and fight against them.
  • The Exodus and DeliveranceGod's past glorious acts of salvation, particularly leading Israel out of Egypt through Moses, dividing the sea, and making an everlasting name for Himself.
  • God as Father and RedeemerThe people's appeal to God's eternal relationship with them, acknowledging Him as their Father and the one who redeems them from everlasting.
  • Lament and PleaThe people's heartfelt prayer for God to restore His zeal and mercy, lamenting their hardened hearts and the desolation of their sanctuary.
  • Solitary SalvationThe Lord's declaration that His own arm brought salvation and upheld Him in His work of judgment and redemption, as there was none to help.