Isaiah 63
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Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
Who is this that cometh from Edom - Probably both Edom and Bozrah are only figurative expressions, to point out the place in which God should discomfit his enemies. Edom signifies red, and Bozrah, a vintage. Kimchi interprets the whole of the destruction of Rome. I that speak in righteousness "I who publish righteousness" - A MS. has המדבר hammedabber, with the demonstrative article added with greater force and emphasis: The announcer of righteousness. A MS. has צדקה tsedakah, without ב be prefixed; and so the Septuagint and Vulgate. And thirty-eight MSS. (seven ancient) of Dr. Kennicott's, and many of De Rossi's, and one of my own, add the conjunction ו vau to רב rab, and mighty; which the Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate confirm. - L.
Open source ↗MESSIAH COMING AS THE AVENGER, IN ANSWER TO HIS PEOPLE'S PRAYERS. (Isa. 63:1-19) Who--the question of the prophet in prophetic vision. dyed--scarlet with blood (Isa 63:2-3; Rev 19:13). Bozrah--(See on Isa 34:6). travelling--rather, stately; literally, "throwing back the head" [GESENIUS]. speak in righteousness--answer of Messiah. I, who have in faithfulness given a promise of deliverance, am now about to fulfil it. Rather, speak of righteousness (Isa 45:19; Isa 46:13); salvation being meant as the result of His "righteousness" [MAURER]. save--The same Messiah that destroys the unbeliever saves the believer.
Open source ↗Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah?.... These are not the words of the angels at the time of Christ's ascension to heaven; or of the people of Israel; but rather of the prophet, or of the church he represents; by whom this question is put, not concerning Michael the archangel returning from fighting the king of Persia, for what has Edom and Bozrah to do with Persia? nor concerning Judas Maccabaeus, in whose times it seems a victory was obtained over the Edomites: the description is too grand and august to agree with any mere man; rather therefore it is to be understood of God himself taking vengeance on the wicked, many of the characters agreeing with the description of him in Isa 59:16 though it seems best of all to interpret it of the Messiah. Aben Ezra observes, that there are some that say this is the Messiah; others that it is Michael; but, says he, it is right that it respects the glorious name, that is, Jehovah himself; the first sense he gives is most correct. Several Jewish writers, ancient as well as modern, interpret this of the Messiah, whom they yet expect to come from Rome to the land of Israel, which they suppose is meant by Edom. So says one (n) of their writers, "when the King Messiah shall come, he will be clothed in purple, beautiful to look at, which in colour shall be like to wine for the clothing of the King Messiah shall be silk, red as blood; and it shall be worked with the needle in various colours, and he shall be the Head of Israel; and this is what is said in Isa 63:1 "wherefore art thou red in thy apparel?"'' And, say others of their ancient writers (o), the Ishmaelites or Turks shall fight three battles in the latter day; one in the forest of Arabia; another in the sea; and a third in the great city Rome, whic…
Open source ↗This is the smallest of all the twenty-seven prophecies. In its dramatic style it resembles Psa 24:1-10; in its visionary and emblematical character it resembles the tetralogy in Isaiah 21:1-22:14. The attention of the seer is attracted by a strange and lofty form coming from Edom, or more strictly from Bozrah; not the place in Auranitis or Hauran (Jer 48:24) which is memorable in church history, but the place in Edomitis or Gebal, between Petra and the Dead Sea, which still exists as a village in ruins under the diminutive name of el-Busaire. "Who is this that cometh from Edom, in deep red clothes from Bozrah? This, glorious in his apparel, bending to and fro in the fulness of his strength?" The verb châmats means to be sharp or bitter; but here, where it can only refer to colour, it means to be glaring, and as the Syriac shows, in which it is generally applied to blushing from shame or reverential awe, to be a staring red (ὀξέως). The question, what is it that makes the clothes of this new-comer so strikingly red? is answered afterwards. But apart from the colour, they are splendid in their general arrangement and character. The person seen approaching is בּלבוּשׁו הדוּר (cf., Arab. ḥdr and hdr, to rush up, to shoot up luxuriantly, ahdar used for a swollen body), and possibly through the medium of hâdâr (which may signify primarily a swelling, or pad, ὄγκος, and secondarily pomp or splendour), "to honour or adorn;" so that hâdūr signifies adorned, grand (as in Gen 24:65; Targ. II lxx ὡραῖος), splendid. The verb tsâ‛âh, to bend or stoop, we have already met with in Isa 51:14. Here it is used to denote a gesture of proud self-consciousness, partly with or without the idea of the proud bending back of the head (or bending forward to listen), and partly with…
Open source ↗It is a glorious victory that is here enquired into first and then accounted for. 1. It is a victory obtained by the providence of God over the enemies of Israel; over the Babylonians (say some), whom Cyrus conquered and God by him, and they will have the prophet to make the first discovery of him in his triumphant return when he is in the country of Edom: but this can by no means be admitted, because the country of Babylon is always spoken of as the land of the north, whereas Edom lay south from Jerusalem, so that the conqueror would not return through that country; the victory therefore is obtained over the Edomites themselves, who had triumphed in the destruction of Jerusalem by the Chaldeans (Psa 137:7) and cut off those who, making their way as far as they could from the enemy, escaped to the Edomites (Oba 1:12, Oba 1:13), and were therefore reckoned with when Babylon was; for no doubt that prophecy was accomplished, though we do not meet in history with the accomplishment of it (Jer 49:13), Bozrah shall become a desolation. Yet this victory over Edom is put as an instance or specimen of the like victories obtained over other nations that had been enemies to Israel. This over the Edomites is named for the sake of the old enmity of Esau against Jacob (Gen 27:41) and perhaps with an allusion to David's glorious triumphs over the Edomites, by which it should seem, more than by any other of his victories, he got himself a name, Psa 60:1-12, title, Sa2 8:13, Sa2 8:14. But this is not all: 2. It is a victory obtained by the grace of God in Christ over our spiritual enemies. We find the garments dipped in blood adorning him whose name is called The Word of God, Rev 19:13. And who that is we know very well; for it is through him that we are more than conquerors over those…
Open source ↗63:1-6 The judgment of Edom typifies God’s judgment of all the nations (see also 34:5-15). 63:1 The Lord’s robes are stained red with blood (63:3; cp. Rev 19:13). • The name Bozrah (Hebrew botsrah) is a wordplay on the verb batsar (“gather grapes”).
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
בּוֹא (bôwʼ, H935) — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications) אֱדֹם (ʼĔdôm, H123) — Edom, the elder twin-brother of Jacob; hence the region (Idumaea) occupied by him חָמֵץ (châmêts, H2556) — to be pungent; i.e. in taste (sour, i.e. literally fermented, or figuratively, harsh), in… בֶּגֶד (beged, H899) — a covering, i.e. clothing; also treachery or pillage בׇּצְרָה (Botsrâh, H1224) — Botsrah, a place in Edom הָדַר (hâdar, H1921) — to swell up (literally or figuratively, active or passive); by implication, to favor or… לְבוּשׁ (lᵉbûwsh, H3830) — a garment (literally or figuratively); by implication (euphemistically) a wife צָעָה (tsâʻâh, H6808) — to tip over (for the purpose of spilling or pouring out), i.e. (figuratively) depopulate;… רֹב (rôb, H7230) — abundance (in any respect) כֹּחַ (kôach, H3581) — vigor, literally (force, in a good or a bad sense) or figuratively (capacity, means,… דָבַר (dâbar, H1696) — perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a… צְדָקָה (tsᵉdâqâh, H6666) — rightness (abstractly), subjectively (rectitude), objectively (justice), morally (virtue)… רַב (rab, H7227) — abundant (in quantity, size, age, number, rank, quality) יָשַׁע (yâshaʻ, H3467) — properly, to be open, wide or free, i.e. (by implication) to be safe; causatively, to…
Open source ↗אָדֹם (ʼâdôm, H122) — rosy לְבוּשׁ (lᵉbûwsh, H3830) — a garment (literally or figuratively); by implication (euphemistically) a wife בֶּגֶד (beged, H899) — a covering, i.e. clothing; also treachery or pillage דָּרַךְ (dârak, H1869) — to tread; by implication, to walk; also to string abow (by treading on it in bending) גַּת (gath, H1660) — a wine-press (or vat for holding the grapes in pressing them)
Open source ↗דָּרַךְ (dârak, H1869) — to tread; by implication, to walk; also to string abow (by treading on it in bending) פּוּרָה (pûwrâh, H6333) — a wine-press (as crushing the grapes) עַם (ʻam, H5971) — a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence… אִישׁ (ʼîysh, H376) — a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term… אַף (ʼaph, H639) — properly, the nose or nostril; hence, the face, and occasionally a person; also (from the… רָמַס (râmaç, H7429) — to tread upon (as a potter, in walking or abusively) חֵמָה (chêmâh, H2534) — heat; figuratively, anger, poison (from its fever) נֵצַח (Nêtsach, H5332) — juice of the grape (as blood red) נָזָה (nâzâh, H5137) — to spirt, i.e. besprinkle (especially in expiation) בֶּגֶד (beged, H899) — a covering, i.e. clothing; also treachery or pillage גָּאַל (gâʼal, H1351) — to soil or (figuratively) desecrate מַלְבּוּשׁ (malbûwsh, H4403) — a garment, or (collectively) clothing
Open source ↗יוֹם (yôwm, H3117) — a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to… נָקָם (nâqâm, H5359) — revenge לֵב (lêb, H3820) — the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the… שָׁנֶה (shâneh, H8141) — a year (as a revolution of time) גָּאַל (gâʼal, H1350) — to be the next of kin (and as such to buy back a relative's property, marry his widow,… בּוֹא (bôwʼ, H935) — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
Open source ↗נָבַט (nâbaṭ, H5027) — to scan, i.e. look intently at; by implication, to regard with pleasure, favor or care עָזַר (ʻâzar, H5826) — to surround, i.e. protect or aid שָׁמֵם (shâmêm, H8074) — to stun (or intransitively, grow numb), i.e. devastate or (figuratively) stupefy (both… סָמַךְ (çâmak, H5564) — to prop (literally or figuratively); reflexively, to lean upon or take hold of (in a… זְרוֹעַ (zᵉrôwaʻ, H2220) — the arm (as stretched out), or (of animals) the foreleg; figuratively, force יָשַׁע (yâshaʻ, H3467) — properly, to be open, wide or free, i.e. (by implication) to be safe; causatively, to… חֵמָה (chêmâh, H2534) — heat; figuratively, anger, poison (from its fever)
Open source ↗בּוּס (bûwç, H947) — to trample (literally or figuratively) עַם (ʻam, H5971) — a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence… אַף (ʼaph, H639) — properly, the nose or nostril; hence, the face, and occasionally a person; also (from the… שָׁכַר (shâkar, H7937) — to become tipsy; in a qualified sense, to satiate with astimulating drink or… חֵמָה (chêmâh, H2534) — heat; figuratively, anger, poison (from its fever) יָרַד (yârad, H3381) — to descend (literally, to go downwards; or conventionally to a lower region, as the… נֵצַח (Nêtsach, H5332) — juice of the grape (as blood red) אֶרֶץ (ʼerets, H776) — the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
Open source ↗זָכַר (zâkar, H2142) — properly, to mark (so as to be recognized), i.e. to remember; by implication, to mention;… חֵסֵד (chêçêd, H2617) — kindness; by implication (towards God) piety; rarely (by opposition) reproof, or… יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God תְּהִלָּה (tᵉhillâh, H8416) — laudation; specifically (concretely) a hymn גָּמַל (gâmal, H1580) — to treat a person (well or ill), i.e. benefit or requite; by implication (of toil), to… רַב (rab, H7227) — abundant (in quantity, size, age, number, rank, quality) טוּב (ṭûwb, H2898) — good (as a noun), in the widest sense, especially goodness (superlative concretely, the… בַּיִת (bayith, H1004) — a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.) יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisrâʼêl, H3478) — Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity רַחַם (racham, H7356) — compassion (in the plural); by extension, the womb (as cherishing the fetus); by… רֹב (rôb, H7230) — abundance (in any respect)
Open source ↗אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) עַם (ʻam, H5971) — a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence… בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… שָׁקַר (shâqar, H8266) — to cheat, i.e. be untrue (usually in words) יָשַׁע (yâshaʻ, H3467) — properly, to be open, wide or free, i.e. (by implication) to be safe; causatively, to…
Open source ↗צָרָה (tsârâh, H6869) — tightness (i.e. figuratively, trouble); transitively, a female rival: צַר (tsar, H6862) — narrow; (as a noun) a tight place (usually figuratively, i.e. trouble); also a pebble ;… מֲלְאָךְ (mălʼâk, H4397) — a messenger; specifically, of God, i.e. an angel (also a prophet, priest or teacher) פָּנִים (pânîym, H6440) — the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and… יָשַׁע (yâshaʻ, H3467) — properly, to be open, wide or free, i.e. (by implication) to be safe; causatively, to… אַהֲבָה (ʼahăbâh, H160) — {affection (in a good or a bad sense)} חֶמְלָה (chemlâh, H2551) — commiseration גָּאַל (gâʼal, H1350) — to be the next of kin (and as such to buy back a relative's property, marry his widow,… נָטַל (nâṭal, H5190) — to lift; by implication, to impose נָשָׂא (nâsâʼ, H5375) — to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relative יוֹם (yôwm, H3117) — a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to… עוֹלָם (ʻôwlâm, H5769) — properly, concealed, i.e. the vanishing point; generally, time out of mind (past or…
Open source ↗מָרָה (mârâh, H4784) — to be (causatively, make) bitter (or unpleasant); (figuratively) to rebel (or resist;… עָצַב (ʻâtsab, H6087) — properly, to carve, i.e. fabricate or fashion; hence (in a bad sense) to worry, pain or… קֹדֶשׁ (qôdesh, H6944) — a sacred place or thing; rarely abstract, sanctity רוּחַ (rûwach, H7307) — wind; by resemblance breath, i.e. a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively,… הָפַךְ (hâphak, H2015) — to turn about or over; by implication, to change, overturn, return, pervert אֹיֵב (ʼôyêb, H341) — hating; an adversary לָחַם (lâcham, H3898) — to feed on; figuratively, to consume; by implication, to battle (as destruction)
Open source ↗זָכַר (zâkar, H2142) — properly, to mark (so as to be recognized), i.e. to remember; by implication, to mention;… יוֹם (yôwm, H3117) — a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to… עוֹלָם (ʻôwlâm, H5769) — properly, concealed, i.e. the vanishing point; generally, time out of mind (past or… מֹשֶׁה (Môsheh, H4872) — Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiver עַם (ʻam, H5971) — a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence… עָלָה (ʻâlâh, H5927) — to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of… יָם (yâm, H3220) — a sea (as breaking in noisy surf) or large body of water; specifically (with the… רָעָה (râʻâh, H7462) — to tend a flock; i.e. pasture it; intransitively, to graze (literally or figuratively);… צֹאן (tsôʼn, H6629) — a collective name for a flock (of sheep or goats); also figuratively (of men) שׂוּם (sûwm, H7760) — to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and… קֹדֶשׁ (qôdesh, H6944) — a sacred place or thing; rarely abstract, sanctity רוּחַ (rûwach, H7307) — wind; by resemblance breath, i.e. a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively,… קֶרֶב (qereb, H7130) — properly, the nearest part, i.e. the center, whether literal, figurative or adverbial…
Open source ↗יָלַךְ (yâlak, H3212) — to walk (literally or figuratively); causatively, to carry (in various senses) יָמִין (yâmîyn, H3225) — the right hand or side (leg, eye) of a person or other object (as the stronger and more… מֹשֶׁה (Môsheh, H4872) — Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiver תִּפְאָרָה (tiphʼârâh, H8597) — ornament (abstractly or concretely, literally or figuratively) זְרוֹעַ (zᵉrôwaʻ, H2220) — the arm (as stretched out), or (of animals) the foreleg; figuratively, force בָּקַע (bâqaʻ, H1234) — to cleave; generally, to rend, break, rip or open מַיִם (mayim, H4325) — water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen פָּנִים (pânîym, H6440) — the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and… עָשָׂה (ʻâsâh, H6213) — to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application עוֹלָם (ʻôwlâm, H5769) — properly, concealed, i.e. the vanishing point; generally, time out of mind (past or… שֵׁם (shêm, H8034) — an appellation, as amark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority,…
Open source ↗יָלַךְ (yâlak, H3212) — to walk (literally or figuratively); causatively, to carry (in various senses) תְּהוֹם (tᵉhôwm, H8415) — an abyss (as a surging mass of water), especially the deep (the main sea or the… סוּס (çûwç, H5483) — a horse (as leaping); also a swallow (from its rapid flight) מִדְבָּר (midbâr, H4057) — a pasture (i.e. open field, whither cattle are driven); by implication, a desert; also… כָּשַׁל (kâshal, H3782) — to totter or waver (through weakness of the legs, especially the ankle); by implication,…
Open source ↗בְּהֵמָה (bᵉhêmâh, H929) — properly, a dumb beast; especially any large quadruped or animal (often collective) יָרַד (yârad, H3381) — to descend (literally, to go downwards; or conventionally to a lower region, as the… בִּקְעָה (biqʻâh, H1237) — properly, a split, i.e. a wide level valley between mountains רוּחַ (rûwach, H7307) — wind; by resemblance breath, i.e. a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively,… יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God נוּחַ (nûwach, H5117) — to rest, i.e. settle down; used in a great variety of applications, literal and… נָהַג (nâhag, H5090) — to drive forth (a person, an animal or chariot), i.e. lead, carry away; reflexively, to… עַם (ʻam, H5971) — a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence… עָשָׂה (ʻâsâh, H6213) — to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application תִּפְאָרָה (tiphʼârâh, H8597) — ornament (abstractly or concretely, literally or figuratively) שֵׁם (shêm, H8034) — an appellation, as amark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority,…
Open source ↗Cross-references
Other passages the community most often connects to this one. Tap to read.
He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and His name is The Word of God.
Remember, O LORD, the sons of Edom on the day Jerusalem fell: “Destroy it,” they said, “tear it down to its foundations!”
God is not a man, that He should lie, or a son of man, that He should change His mind. Does He speak and not act? Does He promise and not fulfill?
Who is this coming up from the wilderness, leaning on her beloved? I roused you under the apple tree; there your mother conceived you; there she travailed and brought you forth.
When Jesus had entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?”
Who is this coming up from the wilderness like a column of smoke, scented with myrrh and frankincense from all the spices of the merchant?
The LORD your God is among you; He is mighty to save. He will rejoice over you with gladness; He will quiet you with His love; He will rejoice over you with singing.”
Who is this who shines like the dawn, as fair as the moon, as bright as the sun, as majestic as the stars in procession?
I have not spoken in secret, from a place in a land of darkness. I did not say to the descendants of Jacob, ‘Seek Me in a wasteland.’ I, the LORD, speak the truth; I say what is right.
Therefore He is able to save completely those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to intercede for them.