Isaiah 64
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Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
O that thou wouldest rend the heavens - This seems to allude to the wonderful manifestation of God upon Mount Sinai.
Open source ↗TRANSITION FROM COMPLAINT TO PRAYER. (Isa 64:1-12) rend . . . heavens--bursting forth to execute vengeance, suddenly descending on Thy people's foe (Psa 18:9; Psa 144:5; Hab 3:5-6). flow down-- (Jdg 5:5; Mic 1:4).
Open source ↗O that thou wouldst rend the heavens, that thou wouldst come down,.... Before, the church prayed that the Lord would look down from heaven and behold, Isa 63:15, now that he would open the heavens, and descend from thence; not by change of place, for he fills heaven and earth with his presence; but by some visible display of his power, in destroying her enemies, and delivering her from them. Some take this to be a prayer for the first coming of Christ from heaven to earth, by his incarnation, in order to redeem and save his people; and others that it is for his second coming to judgment, to take vengeance on his adversaries, when his wrath will burn like fire; but rather it is for his spiritual coming, to avenge his church and people on antichrist, and the antichristian states. She had seen him, as a triumphant conqueror, stained with the blood of his enemies; and now she prays for the accomplishment of what she had seen in vision and prophecy: that the mountains might flow down at thy presence; kings and princes of the earth, and kingdoms and states governed by them, compared to mountains for their seeming firmness and stability; yet these will melt like wax, and flow like water, tremble and disappear at the presence of the King of kings, when he comes forth in his great wrath against them; as it is explained in the next verse, that the nations may tremble at thy presence; see Rev 16:20. Here ends the sixty third chapter in the Targum.
Open source ↗The similes which follow cannot be attached to this nâzōllū, however we may explain it. Yet Isa 64:1 (2) does not form a new and independent sentence; but we must in thought repeat the word upon which the principal emphasis rests in Isa 63:19 (Isa 64:1). "(Wouldst come down) as fire kindles brushwood, fire causes water to boil; to make known Thy name to Thine adversaries, that the heathen may tremble before Thy face! When Thou doest terrible things which we hoped not for; wouldst come down, (and) mountains shake before Thy countenance!" The older expositors gave themselves a great deal of trouble in the attempt to trace hămâsı̄m to mâsas, to melt. But since Louis de Dieu and Albert Schultens have followed Saadia and Abulwlid in citing the Arabic hms, to crack, to mutter, to mumble, etc., and hšm, to break in pieces, confringere, from which comes hashim, broken, dry wood, it is generally admitted that hămâsim is from hemes (lit. crackling, rattling, Arab. hams), and signifies "dry twigs," arida sarmenta. The second simile might be rendered, "as water bubbles up in the fire;" and in that case mayim would be treated as a feminine (according to the rule in Ges. 146, 3), in support of which Job 14:19 may be adduced as an unquestionable example (although in other cases it is masculine), and אשׁ = בּאשׁ would be used in a local sense, like lehâbhâh, into flames, in Isa 5:24. But it is much more natural to take אשׁ, which is just as often a feminine as מים is a masculine, as the subject of תּבעה, and to give to the verb בּעה, which is originally intransitive, judging from the Arabic bgâ, to swell, the Chald. בּוּע, to spring up (compare אבעבּעות, blisters, pustules), the Syr. בּגא, to bubble up, etc., the transitive meaning to cause to boil or bubble up, rather than…
Open source ↗Here, I. The petition is that God would appear wonderfully for them now, Isa 64:1, Isa 64:2. Their case was represented in the close of the foregoing chapter as very sad and very hard, and in this case it was time to cry, "Help, Lord; O that God would manifest his zeal and his strength!" They had prayed (Isa 63:15) that God would look down from heaven; here they pray that he would come down to deliver them, as he had said, Exo 3:8. 1. They desire that God would in his providence manifest himself both to them and for them. When God works some extraordinary deliverance for his people he is said to shine forth, to show himself strong; so, here, they pray that he would rend the heavens and come down, as when he delivered David he is said to bow the heavens, and come down (Psa 18:9), to display his power, and justice, and goodness, in an extraordinary manner, so that all may take notice of them and acknowledge them. This God's people desire and pray for, that they themselves having the satisfaction of seeing him though his way be in the sea, others may be made to see him when his way is in the clouds. This is applicable to the second coming of Christ, when the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout. Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly. 2. They desire that he would vanquish all opposition and that it might be made to give way before him: That the mountains might flow down at thy presence, that the fire of thy wrath may burn so fiercely against thy enemies as even to dissolve the rockiest mountains and melt them down before it, as metal in the furnace, which is made liquid and cast into what shape the operator pleases; so the melting fire burns, Isa 64:2. Let things be put into a ferment, in order to a glorious revolution in favour of the church: As the fire causes the…
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
לוּא (lûwʼ, H3863) — a conditional particle; if; by implication (interj. as a wish) would that! קָרַע (qâraʻ, H7167) — to rend, literally or figuratively (revile, paint the eyes, as if enlarging them) שָׁמַיִם (shâmayim, H8064) — the sky (as aloft; the dual perhaps alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds… יָרַד (yârad, H3381) — to descend (literally, to go downwards; or conventionally to a lower region, as the… הַר (har, H2022) — a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively) זָלַל (zâlal, H2151) — to shake (as in the wind), i.e. to quake; figuratively, to be loose morally, worthless or… פָּנִים (pânîym, H6440) — the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and…
Open source ↗הָמָס (hâmâç, H2003) — a dry twig or brushwood אֵשׁ (ʼêsh, H784) — fire (literally or figuratively) קָדַח (qâdach, H6919) — to inflame מַיִם (mayim, H4325) — water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen בָּעָה (bâʻâh, H1158) — to gush over, i.e. to swell; (figuratively) to desire earnestly; by implication to ask שֵׁם (shêm, H8034) — an appellation, as amark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority,… יָדַע (yâdaʻ, H3045) — to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses,… צַר (tsar, H6862) — narrow; (as a noun) a tight place (usually figuratively, i.e. trouble); also a pebble ;… גּוֹי (gôwy, H1471) — a foreign nation; hence, a Gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight… רָגַז (râgaz, H7264) — to quiver (with any violent emotion, especially anger or fear) פָּנִים (pânîym, H6440) — the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and…
Open source ↗עָשָׂה (ʻâsâh, H6213) — to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application יָרֵא (yârêʼ, H3372) — to fear; morally, to revere; caus. to frighten קָוָה (qâvâh, H6960) — to bind together (perhaps by twisting), i.e. collect; (figuratively) to expect יָרַד (yârad, H3381) — to descend (literally, to go downwards; or conventionally to a lower region, as the… הַר (har, H2022) — a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively) זָלַל (zâlal, H2151) — to shake (as in the wind), i.e. to quake; figuratively, to be loose morally, worthless or… פָּנִים (pânîym, H6440) — the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and…
Open source ↗עוֹלָם (ʻôwlâm, H5769) — properly, concealed, i.e. the vanishing point; generally, time out of mind (past or… שָׁמַע (shâmaʻ, H8085) — to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively,… אָזַן (ʼâzan, H238) — to broaden out the ear (with the hand), i.e. (by implication) to listen עַיִן (ʻayin, H5869) — an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape) רָאָה (râʼâh, H7200) — to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied,… אֱלֹהִים (ʼĕlôhîym, H430) — gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with… זוּלָה (zûwlâh, H2108) — probably scattering, i.e. removal; used adverbially, except עָשָׂה (ʻâsâh, H6213) — to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application חָכָה (châkâh, H2442) — properly, to adhere to; hence, to await
Open source ↗פָּגַע (pâgaʻ, H6293) — to impinge, by accident or violence, or (figuratively) by importunity שׂוּשׂ (sûws, H7797) — to be bright, i.e. cheerful עָשָׂה (ʻâsâh, H6213) — to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application צֶדֶק (tsedeq, H6664) — the right (natural, moral or legal); also (abstractly) equity or (figuratively) prosperity זָכַר (zâkar, H2142) — properly, to mark (so as to be recognized), i.e. to remember; by implication, to mention;… דֶּרֶךְ (derek, H1870) — a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverb קָצַף (qâtsaph, H7107) — to crack off, i.e. (figuratively) burst out in rage חָטָא (châṭâʼ, H2398) — properly, to miss; hence (figuratively and generally) to sin; by inference, to forfeit,… עוֹלָם (ʻôwlâm, H5769) — properly, concealed, i.e. the vanishing point; generally, time out of mind (past or… יָשַׁע (yâshaʻ, H3467) — properly, to be open, wide or free, i.e. (by implication) to be safe; causatively, to…
Open source ↗טָמֵא (ṭâmêʼ, H2931) — foul in a religious sense צְדָקָה (tsᵉdâqâh, H6666) — rightness (abstractly), subjectively (rectitude), objectively (justice), morally (virtue)… עֵד (ʻêd, H5708) — the menstrual flux (as periodical); by implication (in plural) soiling בֶּגֶד (beged, H899) — a covering, i.e. clothing; also treachery or pillage נָבֵל (nâbêl, H5034) — to wilt; generally, to fall away, fail, faint; figuratively, to be foolish or (morally)… בָּלַל (bâlal, H1101) — to overflow (specifically with oil.); by implication, to mix; to fodder עָלֶה (ʻâleh, H5929) — a leaf (as coming up on a tree); collectively, foliage עָוֺן (ʻâvôn, H5771) — perversity, i.e. (moral) evil רוּחַ (rûwach, H7307) — wind; by resemblance breath, i.e. a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively,… נָשָׂא (nâsâʼ, H5375) — to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relative
Open source ↗קָרָא (qârâʼ, H7121) — to call out to (i.e. properly, address by name, but used in a wide variety of… שֵׁם (shêm, H8034) — an appellation, as amark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority,… עוּר (ʻûwr, H5782) — to wake (literally or figuratively) חָזַק (châzaq, H2388) — to fasten upon; hence, to seize, be strong (figuratively, courageous, causatively… סָתַר (çâthar, H5641) — to hide (by covering), literally or figuratively פָּנִים (pânîym, H6440) — the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and… מוּג (mûwg, H4127) — to melt, i.e. literally (to soften, flow down, disappear), or figuratively (to fear,… יָד (yâd, H3027) — a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.), עָוֺן (ʻâvôn, H5771) — perversity, i.e. (moral) evil
Open source ↗יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God אָב (ʼâb, H1) — father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application חֹמֶר (chômer, H2563) — properly, a bubbling up, i.e. of water, a wave; of earth, mire or clay (cement); also a… יָצַר (yâtsar, H3335) — to mould into a form; especially as apotter; figuratively, to determine (i.e. form a… מַעֲשֶׂה (maʻăseh, H4639) — an action (good or bad); generally, a transaction; abstractly, activity; by implication,… יָד (yâd, H3027) — a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.),
Open source ↗קָצַף (qâtsaph, H7107) — to crack off, i.e. (figuratively) burst out in rage מְאֹד (mᵉʼôd, H3966) — properly, vehemence, i.e. (with or without preposition) vehemently; by implication,… יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God זָכַר (zâkar, H2142) — properly, to mark (so as to be recognized), i.e. to remember; by implication, to mention;… עָוֺן (ʻâvôn, H5771) — perversity, i.e. (moral) evil עַד (ʻad, H5703) — properly, a (peremptory) terminus, i.e. (by implication) duration, in the sense of… נָבַט (nâbaṭ, H5027) — to scan, i.e. look intently at; by implication, to regard with pleasure, favor or care עַם (ʻam, H5971) — a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence…
Open source ↗קֹדֶשׁ (qôdesh, H6944) — a sacred place or thing; rarely abstract, sanctity עִיר (ʻîyr, H5892) — a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere… מִדְבָּר (midbâr, H4057) — a pasture (i.e. open field, whither cattle are driven); by implication, a desert; also… צִיּוֹן (Tsîyôwn, H6726) — Tsijon (as a permanent capital), a mountain of Jerusalem יְרוּשָׁלַ͏ִם (Yᵉrûwshâlaim, H3389) — Jerushalaim or Jerushalem, the capital city of Palestine שְׁמָמָה (shᵉmâmâh, H8077) — devastation; figuratively, astonishment
Open source ↗קֹדֶשׁ (qôdesh, H6944) — a sacred place or thing; rarely abstract, sanctity תִּפְאָרָה (tiphʼârâh, H8597) — ornament (abstractly or concretely, literally or figuratively) בַּיִת (bayith, H1004) — a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.) אָב (ʼâb, H1) — father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application הָלַל (hâlal, H1984) — to be clear (orig. of sound, but usually of color); to shine; hence, to make ashow, to… שְׂרֵפָה (sᵉrêphâh, H8316) — cremation אֵשׁ (ʼêsh, H784) — fire (literally or figuratively) מַחְמָד (machmâd, H4261) — delightful; hence, a delight, i.e. object of affection or desire חׇרְבָּה (chorbâh, H2723) — properly, drought, i.e. (by implication) a desolation
Open source ↗אָפַק (ʼâphaq, H662) — to contain, i.e. (reflex.) abstain יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God חָשָׁה (châshâh, H2814) — to hush or keep quiet עָנָה (ʻânâh, H6031) — to depress literally or figuratively, transitive or intransitive (in various… מְאֹד (mᵉʼôd, H3966) — properly, vehemence, i.e. (with or without preposition) vehemently; by implication,…
Open source ↗Cross-references
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Then I saw a great white throne and the One seated on it. Earth and heaven fled from His presence, and no place was found for them.
As soon as Jesus came up out of the water, He saw the heavens breaking open and the Spirit descending on Him like a dove.
the earth shook and the heavens poured down rain before God, the One on Sinai, before God, the God of Israel.
Look down from heaven and see, from Your holy and glorious habitation. Where are Your zeal and might? Your yearning and compassion for me are restrained.
I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey—the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites.
“Behold, the days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when the plowman will overtake the reaper and the treader of grapes, the sower of seed. The mountains will drip with sweet wine, with which all the hills will flow.
Nations rage, kingdoms crumble; the earth melts when He lifts His voice.
and be prepared by the third day, for on the third day the LORD will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people.
The Lord GOD of Hosts, He who touches the earth and it melts, and all its dwellers mourn— all the land rises like the Nile, then sinks like the river of Egypt—