Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Isaiah 63:4
For the day of vengeance [is] in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come.
4. the day of vengeance ] announced in ch. Isa 61:2.
is in mine heart ] i.e. in my purpose.
the year of my redeemed ] Another rendering, preferred by many authorities, is the year of my redemption: the plural being taken as expressing the abstract idea, in accordance with a common Hebr. usage. The year of redemption is the same as the year of Jehovah’s favour in ch. Isa 61:2; it is the time of Israel’s victory and salvation, a year that has no end.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
For the day of vengeance – (See the notes at Isa 34:8).
And the year of my redeemed is come – The year when my people are to be redeemed. It is a year when their foes are all to be destroyed, and when their entire liberty is to be effected.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Isa 63:4
For the day of vengeance is in Mine heart
The day of vengeance”
The day of vengeance,” announced in Isa 61:2.
Is in Mine heart, i.e in My purpose. (Prof. J. Skinner, D. D.)
The Redeemers vengeance upon the grand enemy of the redeemed
These words are a material repetition of the first promise (Gen 3:15). We have here–
1. The designation of Gods remnant of mankind–sinners. My redeemed. They are Mine by election, Mine by My Fathers donation, Mine by the purchase of My blood, and they are to be Mine by conquest.
2. The deep resentment that the glorious Redeemer has of the quarrel of the redeemed. The day of vengeance is mine heart.
3. The stated time for the deliverance of the redeemed. The day. The year.
4. The Redeemers satisfaction with the view of all this. He speaks of it with a particular air of joy and triumph. (E. Erskine.)
The annals of redeeming love
I. THE GREAT AND GLORIOUS REDEEMER. He is–
1. A chosen Redeemer. Mine elect.
2. A mighty Redeemer. Mighty to save.
3. A Redeemer of great authority. The government shall be upon His shoulder. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom.
4. A wealthy Redeemer.
5. An incomparable Redeemer.
6. A resolute and courageous Redeemer.
II. THE REDEEMED.
III. THE YEAR OF THE REDEEMED. There is–
1. The year of purposed redemption. With respect to this year Christ is called a Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
2. The year of purchased redemption. This year the great God was incarnate; the great Lawgiver voluntarily subjected Himself to His own law; God blessed for ever was made a curse; everlasting righteousness was brought in; God actually laid the foundation of a throne of grace, in justice and judgment, etc.
3. The year of exhibited redemption. The year of a Gospel-dispensation among a people.
4. The year of applied redemption; under which may be comprehended the whole period of time from the souls conversion unto the day of death.
5. The year of consummate redemption. This is a year which never, never ends.
IV. THE YEAR OF THE REDEEMED, THE JOY OF THE REDEEMERS HEART.
V. APPLICATION. (E. Erskine.)
The Redeemers vengeance
I. WHO IS THE GRAND ENEMY THAT THE GLORIOUS REDEEMER HAS IN HIS VIEW? Satan.
II. THE GROUND OF THE QUARREL THAT OUR REDEEMER HATH AGAINST THIS ENEMY. What injury hath Satan done to the redeemed? He hath deceived them; he defaced the image of God; he made them liable to the curse of the law; he made them his own slaves.
III. WHAT VENGEANCE IS IT THAT OUR REDEEMER TAKES UPON THIS ENEMY OF THE REDEEMED? A bruising of his head (Gen 3:15). A judging of the devil (Jon 16:11). A destroying of the devil (Heb 2:14). A spoiling of principalities and powers (Col 2:15). Our glorious Redeemer–
1. Invades Satans usurped kingdom and government, which he had established in this world. Satan is called the god of this world.
2. Out-shoots the devil in his own bow–takes this wise spirit in his own craftiness.
3. Condemns sin, the first-born of the devil.
4. Wrests the keys of death and hell out of the devils hand.
5. Lays a heavy chain upon the roaring enemy.
6. Takes those who were his slaves from under his power, and arms them with His truth, whereby they make war against him, under Christ as their Leader and Commander.
7. Makes a spectacle of him and all his legions (Col 2:15).
8. Makes a road between heaven and earth, by His ascension, through the very territories of the devil, who is called the prince of the power of the air.
9. Will, at the last day, make the poor believer, who was once under his power, and whom he many times harassed with his fiery darts, to judge and condemn him. Know ye not that the saints shall judge angels?
10. Burns his galleries, where he has walked up and down. The earth . . . shall be burned up.
IV. THE STATED TIME OF VENGEANCE, here called a day.
1. There are some seasons of His taking vengeance upon him in his own person.
(1) Upon the back of his first sin, when that proud spirit, swelled with ambition, attempted the throne of heaven, the Son of God, armed with His Fathers power, turned Him and His apostate legions down from heaven to hell (2Pe 2:4).
(2) The day of Christs incarnation.
(3) Of Christs death.
(4) The last judgment.
2. When Christ is avenged upon this enemy in the redeemed.
(1) The day of conversion.
(2) The day of believing.
(3) The renewed actings of faith under strong temptation.
(4) The day of special nearness to God in His ordinances.
(5) When the Redeemer brings multitudes of souls to yield themselves unto His obedience.
(6) When an honourable testimony is given for Christ in a Church against errors and blasphemies that the devil and his emissaries have vented, to the darkening of the Redeemers glory.
(7) The day of death, when the poor believer is guarded to glory through his principality.
V. WHY THIS DAY OF VENGEANCE IS SAID TO BE IN THE REDEEMERS HEART.
1. He had firmly purposed it.
2. The thoughts of it were a delight to Him.
3. He had not forgotten the quarrel he had with Satan and his works.
4. The stated time of final vengeance lay as a secret in His own breast.
V. APPLICATION. (E. Erskine.)
The year of my redeemed is come
The year of redemption
A rendering preferred by many authorities is, the year of My redemption: the plural being taken as expressing the abstract idea, in accordance with a common Hebrew usage. The year of redemption, is the same as the year of Jehovahs favour in Isa 61:2; it is the time of Israels victory and salvation, a year that has no end. (Prof. J. Skinner, D. D.)
The year of the redeemed
I. THE PERIOD FORETOLD. The word year, in such connections as this, is to be interpreted in a general sense as applying to a lengthened period of time. The year of the redeemed may not mean so much the year when Christ died, in order to redeem them, as the period when He should begin to win the victories of His grace among them; the period when He should be lifted up by the preaching of the Gospel, and draw all men unto Him; the period when the sign of the Son of Man, in the preaching of Christ and of Him crucified, should be visible in the ecclesiastical world, represented in the everlasting prophecy as heaven, and when by the preaching of a crucified Saviour, sinners, numerous as on the day of Pentecost and in succeeding times, should be won from darkness to light, and translated from the kingdom of Satan to the kingdom of Gods dear Son.
II. THE CERTAINTY OF ITS ARRIVAL. God has decreed it, and all its glories must be realized. It may be said to be come in the distinct and positive revelations of prophecy. In the prophecies of God, the decrees of God are unfolded. (W. H. Cooper.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
The day of vengeance, designed and purposed by me to take vengeance on the enemies of my church; or particularly the posterity of Esau.
Day and
year is all one, save the latter may have some respect to the length of their captivity.
Is in mine heart; or, was in my heart; a desire of execution, Psa 40:8. I have meditated or studied revenge; being long forborne, hath wrought in me resolutions of revenge; therefore wonder not that I am so bloody: noting the severity of his proceedings against his enemies.
My redeemed: the Jews have this title, because he redeemed them out of Egypt, and would also out of Babylon.
Is come; is at hand: see Psa 102:13; Isa 34:8. The former part of the verse shows that Christ is still about his work, though he defer the execution till the fit time come; he may allude to the year of jubilee.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
4. israther, “was.”This assigns the reason why He has thus destroyed the foe (Zep3:8).
my redeemedMy peopleto be redeemed.
day . . . yearhere, asin Isa 34:8; Isa 61:2,the time of “vengeance” is described as a “day”;that of grace and of “recompense” to the “redeemed,”as a “year.”
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
For the day of vengeance is in my heart,…. Resolved on with him, fixed by him, and which is desirable to him; he has it at heart, and longs as it were till the time is come to avenge the blood of his saints on the Romish antichrist, whom he will destroy with the breath of his mouth, and the brightness of his coming; see 2Th 2:8 and when he shall pour out all his vials on the antichristian states, and revenge the cause and quarrel of his people, Re 16:1:
and the year of my redeemed is come; the time when those who are already redeemed by the blood of Christ, and so are his property, whom he claims as his own, being the purchase of his blood, shall be redeemed again from antichristian bondage and slavery, shall be called and brought out of Babylon; and when those, who have led them captive, shall go into captivity themselves: this will be a jubilee year to the saints; a time of refreshing from the presence of the Lord; when, being rid of all their persecuting enemies, they will enjoy the utmost peace, prosperity, and safety; see Re 13:10.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
4. For the day of vengeance is in my heart. In the former clause of this verse Isaiah intimates that God does not cease to discharge his office, though he does not instantly execute his judgments, but, on the contrary, delays till a seasonable time, which he knows well; and that it does not belong to us to prescribe to him when or how he ought to do this or that, but we ought to bow submissively to his decree, that he may administer all things according to his pleasure. Let us not, therefore, imagine that he is asleep, or that he is idle, when he delays.
And the year of my redeemed is come. In this latter clause he shews that all these things are done for the sake of believers. “Day” and “year” are here used by him in the same sense; but by the word “year” is denoted the long duration of the captivity, that the Jews may not despair or grow faint and weary, if the redemption be long delayed. The Lord therefore punishes and destroys wicked men for the purpose of delivering the godly and of redeeming his Church, for which he has a special regard.
Finally, by the slaughter and destruction of them he opens up a way for his grace. And this tends to our consolation, that whenever we see tokens of God’s wrath toward the wicked, we may know that the fruit of the punishment which they endure will come to us; for in this way it is clearly seen that our groans are heard, and that God, when he wishes to relieve the afflicted, is armed with strength to put to flight all the enemies of his Church. Wherefore, although the cross be heavy to us, yet by hearing patiently let us learn to lift up our minds by hope to that “year” which God hath appointed for executing his vengeance.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(4) The day of vengeance is.Better, in both clauses, was, as pointing to the motive of the action, of which the blood-stained garments were the result.
The year of my redeemed . . .Better, the year of my redemption, scil., the work of redeeming my people.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
Isa 63:4-6. For the day of vengeance, &c. There is nothing requisite to the understanding of this passage but a reference to chap. Isa 59:16-17 where nearly the same words are used to describe the same thing. These verses may be read in the past tense. Some critics think that the phrase, make them drunk, Isa 63:6 might have been rendered, was made drunk with them; that is to say, “I was made drunk with their blood.” This expression is common to the Hebrew writers, but appears with greater elegance and propriety in this place, as those who tread in the wine-press are commonly inebriated by that means. See chap. Isa 24:20. Psa 60:3; Psa 60:12. Vitringa, in his investigation of this prophesy, observes, first, that it is not to be interpreted of the death and passion of our Saviour, but of the deliverance of the church from certain enemies with great slaughter and effusion of their blood; and secondly, that under this figure is described the final and peremptory judgment whereby the Messiah, the deliverer and avenger of his people, will take the most severe vengeance upon the princes and people of idolatrous and apostate Rome. The visions in the Revelation, chap. Isa 14:18 and Isa 19:12 says he, leave here no manner of doubt. Compare Isa 59:15, &c.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Isa 63:4 For the day of vengeance [is] in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come.
Ver. 4. For the day of vengeance is in mine heart. ] Or, Was in mine heart. Hence I made such havoc. Christ is the “Lord God of recompenses,” Jer 51:56 and the “Lord God of revenges”; Psa 94:1 he is “jealous and furious,” Nah 1:2 ; see the note there his feet, wherewith he treadeth down his enemies, are “like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace.” Rev 1:15 Oh, “it is a fearful thing to fall into the punishing hands of this living God.” Heb 10:31
And the year of my redeemed is come.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
day . . . year. Compare Isa 61:2.
the year of My redeemed. Reference to Pentateuch (Deu 32:35). Compare Isa 61:2.
redeemed = redeemed as by a kinsman (Exo 6:6).
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Day of the Lord (Day of Jehovah) Isa 2:10-22; Isa 4:1-6; Isa 11:10-13; Isa 13:9-16; Isa 24:21-23; Isa 26:20; Isa 26:21; Isa 63:1-6; Isa 66:15-24; Rev 19:11-21
Fuente: Scofield Reference Bible Notes
Isa 34:8, Isa 35:4, Isa 61:2, Jer 51:6, Zec 3:8, Luk 21:22, Rev 6:9-17, Rev 11:13, Rev 18:20
Reciprocal: Lev 25:10 – proclaim Psa 72:12 – him Isa 9:7 – The zeal Isa 31:2 – arise Isa 47:3 – I will take Jer 46:10 – the day Jer 50:4 – those Jer 50:15 – for it Jer 50:26 – cast her up Dan 7:22 – judgment Mic 1:3 – and tread Zec 8:2 – I was jealous Luk 4:19 – General Act 2:35 – thy foes 2Th 1:8 – taking Heb 10:30 – Vengeance
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
63:4 For the day of vengeance [is] in my heart, and the {d} year of my redeemed is come.
(d) Showing that when God punishes his enemies, it is for the profit and deliverance of his Church.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
The Warrior continued to explain that this treading judgment was in order that redemption might come. The day of vengeance had arrived, and He had finally punished evildoers (cf. Isa 61:2). His bloody victory was not due to a temper out of control but was part of the plan of God.
"The work of redemption was accomplished in chapter 53, but from Isa 56:1 onwards the people were called to wait for the promised salvation. The ensuing chapters reveal the need to be rescued from a stressful and hostile environment and from the plague of sin and failure (Isa 57:1 ff.; Isa 58:1 to Isa 59:13). Thus, when the Anointed One acts as mighty to save (1) and when the ’day of my redeemed’ has come, the burden of the activity is the exaction of final vengeance on every foe." [Note: Motyer, p. 511.]