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.
Who . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis. The prophet's question. App-6 .
This: i.e. Messiah in the execution of His vengeance in judgment.
Edom = red. Compare Isaiah 34:5 .
Bozrah = vintage. Compare Isaiah 34:5 .
traveling = bending forward, as in marching.
strength . . . mighty = strength (for endurance). Hebrew. koah. Not referring to His death, which was in weakness.
2.
Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the winefat?
red = ' adom . Hence "Edom" (Isaiah 63:1 ).
winefat = winepress. Hebrew. gath. Not yekeb, a wine-vat.
3.
I 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.
winepress = trough. Hebrew. purah.
the people = peoples.
none = not a man. Hebrew. 'ish . App-14 .
blood. Literally grape-juice, put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Subject), for life-blood. All this is in judgment, not redemption. Compare Revelation 14:20 ; Revelation 19:11-21 .
shall be sprinkled = will spurt.
4.
For the day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come.
day . . . year. Compare Isaiah 61:2 .
the year of My redeemed. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 32:35 ). Compare Isaiah 61:2 .
redeemed = redeemed as by a kinsman (Exodus 6:6 ).
5.
And 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.
Mine own arm. Compare Isaiah 59:16 .
salvation = victory.
fury = indignation. Some codices, with four early printed editions, read "righteousness". Compare Isaiah 59:18 .
6.
And 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.
make them drunk in. Some codices, with one early printed edition, and Aramaean, read "brake them in pieces with".
strength = life-blood, as in Isaiah 63:3 .
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.
the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .
house of Israel. See note on Isaiah 5:7 .
8.
For he said, Surely they are my people, children that will not lie: so he was their Saviour.
children = sons.
lie = deal falsely.
9.
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; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old.
In all their affliction He was afflicted. Hebrew text reads, "In all their adversity [He was] no adversary". But some codices, with two early printed editions, read as text of Authorized Version.
the Angel of His presence. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 14:19 ; Exodus 23:20 , Exodus 23:21 ; Exodus 33:14 ). App-92 .
redeemed them. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 15:13 ). App-92 .
bare them. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 19:4 .Deuteronomy 1:31 ; Deuteronomy 32:18 ). Compare Isaiah 46:3 , Isaiah 46:4 .Acts 13:18 . App-92 .
10.
But they rebelled, and vexed his holy Spirit: therefore he was turned to be their enemy, and he fought against them.
But they rebelled. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 15:24 .Numbers 14:11 , Numbers 14:34 ). App-92 .
holy. See note on Exodus 3:6 .
Spirit. Hebrew. ruach. App-9 .
and He fought = and He Himself fought. Some codices, with three early printed editions, read this "and" in the text.
11.
Then 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?
shepherd. Many codices, with five early printed editions (one Rabbinic, 1517), and Vulgate, read "shepherds". Referring either to Moses, Aaron, and Joshua; or, the plural of Majesty, referring to Jehovah their Shepherd. Some codices, with four early printed editions, read "shepherd" (singular)
put His holy Spirit, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Numbers 11:17 ). Compare Exodus 14:31 ; Exodus 32:11 , Exodus 32:12 .Numbers 14:13 , Numbers 14:14 . App-92 .
12.
That led them by the right hand of Moses with his glorious arm, dividing the water before them, to make himself an everlasting name?
arm. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 15:16 ). App-92 .
dividing the water. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 14:21 , the same word).
everlasting name. See note on Isaiah 44:7 .
13.
That led them through the deep, as an horse in the wilderness, that they should not stumble?
14.
As 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.
As a beast goeth down = as the cattle go down. Referring to the settlement of Israel in Canaan.
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?
habitation . . . Thy, &c. See note on "courts" (Isaiah 62:9 ).
strength = mighty deeds.
sounding = yearning. Figure of speech Anthropopatheia. App-6 .
16.
Doubtless 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.
Thou art our Father. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 32:6 ).
Father. A rare word in this connection. Compare Isaiah 64:8 .
Redeemer. See note on Isaiah 60:16 .
17.
O 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.
made us = suffered us.
hardened = let us harden.
Return. Reference to Pentateuch (Numbers 10:36 ). App-92 .
18.
The people of thy holiness have possessed it but a little while: our adversaries have trodden down thy sanctuary.
The People of Thy holiness = Thy holy People. Figure of speech Enallage . See note on Exodus 3:5 . Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 7:6 ; Deuteronomy 26:19 ).
19.
We are thine: thou never barest rule over them; they were not called by thy name.
We are [Thine]. There is no word for "Thine" in Hebrew text. The Hebrew accent (disjunctive) leaves a solemn hiatus between the two clauses; as though, what Israel had become could not be expressed by words: "We are come to this Thou never barest rule over them"; implying an Ellipsis , to be supplied thus: "We are become [as they]".
they were not called by Thy name = Thy name was not called upon them.