The big picture
Isaiah 63 opens in verse 1 with “Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious…”, reaches its middle movement near verse 10 with “But they rebelled, and vexed his holy Spirit: therefore he was turned to be their enemy…”, and closes in verse 19 with “We are thine: thou never barest rule over them; they were not called by thy name.” Repeated or prominent terms include LORD, people, name, fury, garments. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
Isaiah · King James Version · 19Isaiah 63:1-7
1–7: Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this…
Isaiah 63:1–7 opens with “Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his…” and reaches “I will mention the lovingkindnesses of the LORD , and the praises of the LORD , according to all…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Isaiah 63 develops its own movement around LORD, people, name, fury, garments, with particular weight carried by fury, garments, LORD.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 2 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.
“Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the winefat?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.
Isaiah 63:1-7
King James Version1Who 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.
2Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the winefat?
3I 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.
4For the day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come.
5And 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.
6And 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.
7I 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.
Isaiah 63:8-14
8–14: For he said, Surely they are my people, children that will not lie: so…
Isaiah 63:8–14 opens with “For he said, Surely they are my people, children that will not lie: so he was their Saviour.” and reaches “As a beast goeth down into the valley, the Spirit of the LORD caused him to rest: so didst thou…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Isaiah 63 develops its own movement around LORD, people, name, fury, garments, with particular weight carried by people, Spirit, days.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 3 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“For he said, Surely they are my people, children that will not lie: so he was their Saviour.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
“In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he…” The line’s distinctive content terms include afflicted, affliction, angel. Its relationship to verses 8 and 10 shows what work it does in this passage.
Isaiah 63:8-14
King James Version8For he said, Surely they are my people, children that will not lie: so he was their Saviour.
9In 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.
10But they rebelled, and vexed his holy Spirit: therefore he was turned to be their enemy, and he fought against them.
11Then 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?
12That led them by the right hand of Moses with his glorious arm, dividing the water before them, to make himself an everlasting name?
13That led them through the deep, as an horse in the wilderness, that they should not stumble?
14As 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.
Isaiah 63:15-19
15–19: Look down from heaven, and behold from the habitation of thy holiness…
Isaiah 63:15–19 opens with “Look down from heaven, and behold from the habitation of thy holiness and of thy glory: where is…” and reaches “We are thine: thou never barest rule over them; they were not called by thy name.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Isaiah 63 develops its own movement around LORD, people, name, fury, garments, with particular weight carried by father, holiness, LORD.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 2 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“Look down from heaven, and behold from the habitation of thy holiness and of thy glory: where is thy zeal and thy…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.
Isaiah 63:15-19
King James Version15Look 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?
16Doubtless 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.
17O 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.
18The people of thy holiness have possessed it but a little while: our adversaries have trodden down thy sanctuary.
19We are thine: thou never barest rule over them; they were not called by thy name.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Isaiah 63:1 begins with “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…”
Where the chapter turns
Isaiah 63:10 forms a natural hinge: “But they rebelled, and vexed his holy Spirit: therefore he was turned to be their enemy, and he fought against them.”
The final note
Isaiah 63:19 leaves the reader with “We are thine: thou never barest rule over them; they were not called by thy name.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words LORD, people, name, fury, garments, glorious help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
KJV words made clear
- behold
- look, or pay close attention
- unto
- to
- thou
- you
- thy
- your
- hath
- has
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.