Isaías 63
Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible
Isaías 63:1-6
63:1-6 This is a dialogue or diatribe (question-answer) format between the prophet/Servant and YHWH. Prophet asks the first question, Isa. 63:1 ‒ YHWH is described as coming from Edom in majestic apparel, Isa. 63:1a-d,2 YHWH speaks, Isa. 63:1e speak in righteousness mighty to save Prophet asks a second question, Isa. 63:2 YHWH answers, Isa. 63:3-6 trodden the wine trough alone (i.e. judgment) no one from the peoples with Him (cf. Isa. 63:5; 59:16) 63:1 "Edom" This neighboring nation is often a symbol for all pagan Gentile nations (cf. Isa. 34:5-15) that are judged by YHWH. SPECIAL TOPIC: EDOM AND ISRAEL ▣ "Bozrah" This was a major city in Edom, often its capital. It is mentioned often in the "Woe" oracles of judgment (cf. Isa. 34:6; 63:1; Jer. 49:13,22; Amos 1:12). ▣ NASB, NRSV, NJB, TEV, Peshitta "marching" "tetravelingxt" "pressing forward" REB, JPSOA footnote "striding along" omit In Isa. 51:14 the word (צעה, BDB 858, KB 1040, Qal PARTICIPLE) is understood as "stooping," but here that connotation does not fit. Some suggest an emendation to the root, צעד (BDB 1040, KB 1040), which means "marching" or "striding." The UBS Text Project, p. 157, gives "stooping" a B rating (some doubt), but it does not fit the parallelism. 63:3 "the wine trough" This imagery of judgment (i.e. red apparel) is also found in Lam. 1:15; Joel 3:13; Rev. 14:19,20; 19:15. This is YHWH/Messiah as the Divine Warrior (i.e. Isa. 42:13; 59:17; Exod. 15:3; Josh. 5:11-15; Ps.24:8; Jer. 20:11; Rev. 19:11-15). 63:4 Notice how the day of vengeance (cf. Isa. 34:8; 35:4,8; 61:2) is a necessary precursor to the day (year) of redemption! The Day of the Lord and the day of salvation are two sides of one coming! For the faithful God's coming is a great reunion of fellowship; for those who are unfaithful His coming is the final act of separation and rejection (cf. Matt. 25:31-46; Rev. 20:11-15)! SPECIAL TOPIC: THAT DAY SPECIAL TOPIC: The Day of the Lord (NT) SPECIAL TOPIC: ETERNAL PUNISHMENT ▣ "redemption" This (BDB 145 I) denotes YHWH acting as a Go'el (i.e. Kinsman Redeemer) who paid the price for national Israel/Judah's salvation/deliverance. SPECIAL TOPIC: RANSOM/REDEEM SPECIAL TOPIC: KINSMAN REDEEMER 63:5 "So My own arm brought salvation to Me, And My wrath upheld Me" This is related to lines 1-2. YHWH could depend on no human help in bringing salvation (cf. Isa. 59:16). He and He alone could do it (cf. Ezek. 36:22-36). This text may be the imagery the Apostle John used in Revelation 5, only one is worthy to open the book, only one, the crucified, risen Lamb of God/Messiah/Servant! 63:6 YHWH's judgment is described by the use of three metaphors (i.e. YHWH as the Divine Warrior, cf. Isa. 59:17; see list at v. 3). "trod down" ‒ Qal IMPERFECT, BDB 100, KB 115 (parallel to "tread," used three times in Isa. 63:2-3; note Isa. 51:23) "made them drunk" ‒ Piel IMPERFECT, BDB 1016, KB 1500 (judgment as drunkenness, cf. Isa. 51:22-23; Ps. 75:8; see SPECIAL TOPIC: WINE AND STRONG DRINK) "poured out their life blood on the earth" (lit. "brought down their juice to the earth"; see Isa. 49:26) ‒ Hiphil IMPERFECT, BDB 432, KB 434 (people lying dead on the ground)
Isaías 63:7-14
63:7 "the lovingkindness of the Lord" This is the special covenant NOUN (BDB 338) that denotes YHWH's covenant loyalty. SPECIAL TOPIC: LOVINGKINDNESS (hesed) ▣ "According to all that the Lord has granted us" Notice how the NASB uses this word three times to describe YHWH. the great goodness (BDB 378) His compassion (BDB 933) abundance of His lovingkindness (hesed, BDB 338) 63:8 "they are My people" This is covenant language (cf. Exod. 6:7; Isa. 3:15; 51:4). ▣ "Sons who will not deal falsely" This is the exact opposite of Isa. 1:2-3 (cf. Jer. 3:22). Repentance has occurred! ▣ "So He became their Savior" Notice the contrast between Isa. 63:5 and 8b. Although God's sovereignty is emphasized, still there is a place for Israel's faithfulness (i.e. Romans 9-11)! SPECIAL TOPIC: OUR SAVIOR SPECIAL TOPIC: COVENANT 63:9 NASB, NKJV, NRSV footnote "In all their affliction He was afflicted" NRSV, NJB, TEV "In all their distress. It was no messenger or angel. . ." REB, LXX "in all their troubles, no envoy, no angel. . ." "In all their troubles He was troubled" "In all their troubles he did not afflict them" In English this is a powerful statement of the unity between YHWH and His covenant people (cf. Isa. 57:15), but the MT is difficult to follow. This phrase may relate with the last line of Isa. 63:8. This phrase may relate to the second line of Isa. 63:9. The MT has "not" (לא) but the Masoretic scholars suggest לו, "him" (Qere, JPSOA). The UBS Text Project, p. 158, gives the Qere a "C" rating, as to be original, but it does not make an understandable line of poetry. The NASB marginal note says, "Another reading is, 'He was not an adversary'; while the JPSOA footnote says, 'Ancient versions read, "so He was their Deliverer."'" ▣ "the angel of His presence" This is a direct allusion to Exod. 23:20-23; 33:14,15. It refers to events during the Wilderness Wandering Period. Israel's sin caused YHWH to replace Himself with a personal representative (i.e. the angel of the Lord). YHWH affirmed His personal presence (cf. Deut. 32:9-14). He redeemed them ‒ Qal PERFECT, BDB 145, KB 169 He lifted them ‒ Piel IMPERFECT with waw, BDB 642, KB 694 He carried them ‒ Piel IMPERFECT with waw, BDB 669, KB 724 (cf. Isa. 46:3; Deut. 1:31) Also note the three NT Divine Persons in Isa. 63:9-10. the Father, Isa. 63:9a the pre-incarnate Messiah, Isa. 63:9b the Holy Spirit, Isa. 63:10b SPECIAL TOPIC: THE ANGEL OF THE LORD SPECIAL TOPIC: THE TRINITY 63:10 Notice two VERBS describe Israel's sin and two VERBS describe YHWH's reaction (synonymous parallelism). rebelled ‒ Qal PERFECT, BDB 598, KB 632 grieved His Holy Spirit ‒ Piel PERFECT with waw, BDB 780, KB 864 (cf. Acts 7:51; see SPECIAL TOPIC: THE PERSONHOOD OF THE SPIRIT; for a good article entitled "Who Is the OT Holy Spirit?" see Hard Sayings of the Bible, pp. 273-274, also pp. 306-307) He turned Himself to become their enemy ‒ Niphal PERFECT with waw, BDB 245, KB 253, cf. Lam. 2:4-5 He fought against them ‒ Niphal PERFECT, BDB 535, KB 526 63:11-14 This lists the things that YHWH did for Israel during the Exodus. brought them up out of the sea using Moses (cf. Exodus 14-15; play on Moses' name) put His Holy Spirit in the midst of them (cf. Num. 11:17,25,29; Haggai 2:5; see SPECIAL TOPIC: THE PERSONHOOD OF THE SPIRIT) caused His glorious arm to go at the right hand of Moses (cf. Exod. 6:6; 15:16) divided the waters before them (SPECIAL TOPIC: WATERS) Red Sea ‒ Exodus 14-15 (Isa. 11:15; 51:10; see SPECIAL TOPIC: RED SEA) Jordan River ‒ Joshua 3 led them through the depths (same as #4; see SPECIAL TOPIC: WATERS/SEA) gave them rest (i.e. the Spirit, cf. Josh. 21:44; 23:1; JPSOA footnote suggests an emendation to "guided them," but, the UBS Text Project, p. 160, gives "rest" a "B" rating) shepherded Your people YHWH did all of this for Israel "to make Yourself a glorious name." YHWH wanted to reveal Himself to all humanity through Israel. His acts toward them were for the greater good (i.e. eternal redemptive plan). SPECIAL TOPIC: YHWH'S ETERNAL REDEMPTIVE PLAN
Isaías 63:15-19
63:15 "Look. . .see" These are two IMPERATIVES seeking YHWH's attention. look ‒ Hiphil IMPERATIVE, BDB 613, KB 661, cf. Deut. 26:15 see ‒ Qal IMPERATIVE, BDB 906, KB 1157, cf. Ps. 80:14 ▣ "from heaven" See SPECIAL TOPIC: THE HEAVENS AND THE THIRD HEAVEN ▣ "Your holy and glorious habitation" This is a way of speaking about the temple. For the ancient Israelites, the Ark of the Covenant was a footstool for YHWH, who dwelt in heaven (cf. 1 Chr. 28:2; Ps. 99:5; 132:7; Isa. 66:1; Lam. 2:1; Matt. 5:35; Acts 7:49). A new book by John Walton, The Lost World of Genesis One: An Ancient Cosmology, asserts that Gen. 1:1-2:3 is YHWH organizing and building His temple (i.e. a functioning planet prepared for mankind). SPECIAL TOPIC: THE ARK OF THE COVENANT ▣ "The stirrings of Your heart and Your compassion are restrained toward me" This powerful poetry is personifying Jerusalem pleading for YHWH to again recognize and return to her. where is Your zeal (BDB 888) where are Your mighty deeds (BDB 150) where are the stirrings (lit. "yearnings," BDB 242) of Your heart where is Your compassion (BDB 933) 63:16 "You are our Father" This is the logical conclusion from Israel being called "sons" (i.e. Isa. 1:2). The phrase is repeated in Isa. 64:8. SPECIAL TOPIC: FATHERHOOD OF GOD ▣ ". . .though Abraham does not know us And Israel does not recognize us" The Patriarchs would not know/recognize these Judeans because of the time between their generations the sin of these descendants SPECIAL TOPIC: COVENANT PROMISES TO THE PATRIARCHS ▣ "Redeemer" See note at Isa. 41:14. For the concept of "redeem" see SPECIAL TOPIC: RANSOM/REDEEM. 63:17 The first two lines of this verse show how the concept of the sovereignty of God can be used to diminish personal responsibility (i.e. Adam and Eve in Gen. 3:8-13). You cause us to stray You hardened our hearts SPECIAL TOPIC: ELECTION SPECIAL TOPIC: ELECTION/PREDESTINATION AND THE NEED FOR A THEOLOGICAL BALANCE SPECIAL TOPIC: CALVINISM versus ARMINIANISM (human free will) ▣ "return for the sake of Your servants" This is a Qal IMPERATIVE (BDB 996, KB 1427) used as a prayer. 63:18-19 These verses show how the Judeans perceived themselves. they had the temple for only a short time their enemies had taken control of it they had become like "just another nation" they had become like the nations who were never called by YHWH's name