Chapter Overview
Summary
Isaiah 63 contains the BLOOD-STAINED-WARRIOR-FROM-EDOM vision (vv. 1–6) — Christologically-applied at-Revelation 19:13–15 (Christ's-robe-dipped-in-blood). Verses 7–14 narrate-the-LORD's-historical-mercies. Verses 15–19 are an exilic-prayer.
Notable Variants
63:1 'Edom / Bozrah' warrior-from-the-south; 63:3 'I have trodden the winepress alone' → Rev 14:19, 19:13–15; 63:9 'in all their affliction he was afflicted' → Christological-suffering; 63:10 'they grieved his Holy Spirit' → Eph 4:30.
Structural Notes
MT Isaiah 63 = LXX Isaiah 63. 19 verses.
Who is this coming from Edom, in crimson garments from Bozrah — this one splendid in His apparel, striding in the greatness of His strength? "It is I, who speak in righteousness, mighty to save."
'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' tracks MT. CRIMSON-GARMENTS-FROM-BOZRAH. Christologically — Christ's-robe-dipped-in-blood (Rev 19:13). Bozrah is-Edomite-capital; Edom-Esau the-paradigmatic-enemy.
Why is Your apparel red, and Your garments like one who treads in the winepress?
'Why is your apparel red, and your garments like his who treads in the winepress?' tracks MT.
"I have trodden the winepress alone, and from the peoples no one was with Me. I trampled them in My anger and trod them down in My wrath; their lifeblood spattered on My garments, and I stained all My clothing."
'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' tracks MT. TRODDEN-WINEPRESS-ALONE. Revelation 14:19–20 ('he threw it into the great winepress of the wrath of God; and the winepress was trodden outside the city, and blood flowed from the winepress'), Revelation 19:13–15 ('he treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty') Christologically-extends. The eschatological-judgment imagery. The-WINEPRESS-OF-WRATH theology.
"For the day of vengeance was in My heart, and the year of My redeemed had come."
'For the day of vengeance was in my heart, and my year of redemption had come' tracks MT. DAY-OF-VENGEANCE / YEAR-OF-REDEMPTION.
"I looked, but there was no one to help; I was appalled that no one upheld Me. So My own arm brought salvation, and My wrath — it sustained Me."
'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' tracks MT.
"I trampled the peoples in My anger and made them stagger in My wrath, and I poured out their lifeblood on the earth."
'I trampled down the peoples in my anger; I made them drunk in my wrath, and I poured out their lifeblood on the earth' tracks MT.
I will recount the faithful love of the LORD, the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD, according to all that the LORD has granted us — the great goodness to the house of Israel that He granted them according to His compassion and according to the abundance of His faithful love.
'I will recount the steadfast love of the LORD, the praises of the LORD, according to all that the LORD has granted us, and the great goodness to the house of Israel that he has granted them according to his compassion, according to the abundance of his steadfast love' tracks MT. RECOUNT-THE-CHESED.
For He said, "Surely they are My people, children who will not deal falsely." And so He became their Savior.
'For he said: Surely they are my people, children who will not deal falsely. And he became their Savior' tracks MT.
In all their affliction He was afflicted, and the angel of His presence saved them. In His love and in His compassion He redeemed them; He lifted them up and carried them all the days of old.
'In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them; in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old' tracks MT. IN-ALL-THEIR-AFFLICTION-HE-WAS-AFFLICTED. The OT's-strongest divine-suffering-with-the-people text. Hebrews 4:15 ('we have not a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses') Christologically-extends. ANGEL-OF-HIS-PRESENCE — Christological-pre-incarnate identification (cf. Ex 23:20–23).
But they rebelled and grieved His Holy Spirit. So He turned to become their enemy; He Himself fought against them.
'But they rebelled and grieved his Holy Spirit; therefore he turned to be their enemy, and himself fought against them' tracks MT. GRIEVED-HOLY-SPIRIT. Ephesians 4:30 ('do not GRIEVE the Holy Spirit of God') directly-echoes.
Then he remembered the days of old, of Moses and his people. Where is He who brought them up out of the sea with the shepherds of His flock? Where is He who put His Holy Spirit in their midst?
'Then he remembered the days of old, of Moses and his people. Where is he who brought them up out of the sea with the shepherds of his flock? Where is he who put in the midst of them his Holy Spirit?' tracks MT. HOLY-SPIRIT in-the-Exodus.
Who caused His glorious arm to go at the right hand of Moses, who divided the waters before them to make for Himself an everlasting name?
'Who caused his glorious arm to go at the right hand of Moses, who divided the waters before them to make for himself an everlasting name' tracks MT.
Who led them through the depths? Like a horse in the wilderness, they did not stumble.
'Who led them through the depths? Like a horse in the desert, they did not stumble' tracks MT.
As cattle go down into the valley, the Spirit of the LORD gave them rest. So You led Your people, to make for Yourself a glorious name.
'Like livestock that go down into the valley, the Spirit of the LORD gave them rest. So you led your people, to make for yourself a glorious name' tracks MT.
Look down from heaven and see, from Your holy and glorious dwelling. Where are Your zeal and Your mighty deeds? The yearning of Your heart and Your compassion — are they withheld from me?
'Look down from heaven and see, from your holy and beautiful habitation. Where are your zeal and your might? The stirring of your inner parts and your compassion are held back from me' tracks MT.
For You are our Father, though Abraham does not know us and Israel does not acknowledge us. You, LORD, are our Father; our Redeemer from of old is Your name.
'For you are our Father, though Abraham does not know us, and Israel does not acknowledge us; you, O LORD, are our Father, our Redeemer from of old is your name' tracks MT. YOU-ARE-OUR-FATHER. The Fatherhood-of-God explicit. Matthew 6:9 ('Our Father in heaven') Christologically-extends. Romans 8:15, Galatians 4:6's 'Abba, Father' completes.
Why, LORD, do You make us wander from Your ways and harden our hearts so that we do not fear You? Return, for the sake of Your servants, the tribes of Your inheritance.
'O LORD, why do you make us wander from your ways and harden our heart, so that we fear you not? Return for the sake of your servants, the tribes of your heritage' tracks MT.
Your holy people possessed it but a little while; our adversaries have trampled Your sanctuary.
'Your holy people held possession for a little while; our adversaries have trampled down your sanctuary' tracks MT.
We have become like those over whom You have never ruled, like those not called by Your name.
'We have become like those over whom you have never ruled, like those who are not called by your name' tracks MT.