Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Isaiah 63:5
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.
5. Comp. ch. Isa 59:16. The verse explains why it is that Jehovah treads the winepress “ alone ” ( Isa 63:3). The expectation that some human helper would appear on the side of Jehovah is more remarkable here than in ch. Isa 59:16, where the judgement was on Israel itself, and the complaint might be that even within the chosen nation no champion of righteousness could be found. The idea that such a champion might have been found amongst heathen nations is of course much less easily explained; unless, with Duhm, we suppose that the prophet is sadly contrasting his own age with the more hopeful time of the Second Isaiah, when the faith of Israel was directed to Cyrus as the agent of Jehovah’s purposes on earth.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
And I looked and there was none to help – The same sentiment is expressed in Isa 59:16 (see the note at that verse).
None to uphold – None to sustain or assist. The design is to express the fact that he was entirely alone in this work: that none were disposed or able to assist him. Though this has no direct reference to the plan of salvation, or to the work of the Messiah as a Redeemer, yet it is true of him also that in that work he stood alone. No one did aid him or could aid him; but alone he bore the burden of the worlds atonement.
My fury, it upheld me – My determined purpose to inflict punishment on my foes sustained me. There is a reference doubtless to the fact that courage nerves the arm and sustains a man in deadly conflict; that a purpose to take vengeance, or to inflict deserved punishment, animates one to make efforts which he could not otherwise perform. In Isa 59:16, the sentiment is, his righteousness sustained him; here it is that his fury did it. There the purpose was to bring salvation; here it was to destroy his foes.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Isa 63:5
And I looked, and there was none to help
Mans extremity the Divine opportunity
The doctrine of the text is, that salvation, of every kind and every degree, is from the Lord.
I. THIS POINTS OUT TO US THAT ALL MEN ARE IN A MISERABLE CONDITION. Why should man need salvation? He is lost.
II. THE TEXT IMPLIES THE INTERPOSITION OF GOD. The Speaker is the great Messiah, and He speaks in righteousness. There are difficulties in the way of a sinners recovery which none can remove but God. The righteousness by faith is accompanied by the power of God, and this alone can save the soul.
1. This shows Gods knowledge of the dreadful condition of the sinner. He lays help on One mighty to save.
2. It bespeaks His forbearance (Rom 3:25-26).
3. It implies the impossibility of mans being saved but by a Divine arm; and the all-sufficiency of God to save sinners, however deeply sunk in sin, misery, and guilt.
4. Here is the language of,, triumph, as though God delighted in this work of saving sinners: Mine own arm, etc. He had a sufficiency of wisdom to devise the plan; a fulness of merit to justify, of the Spirit to sanctify, of mercy to pity, and of grace that should abound, in the sinners pardon, and in the purity and peace of his conscience.
III. THE ADVANTAGES OF THIS SALVATION.
1. The full character of God is displayed. Here I see God to be just and wise in pardoning the sin He punishes, and showing His abhor fence of the sin He forgives.
2. Salvation is secured to every believer.
3. This secures all the glory to God.
4. It is the most encouraging that could have been devised.
5. It binds the strongest obligation on us. If saved without any power or merit of my own, what shall I render for such a salvation to such a sinner (J. Cooke.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 5. And my fury – “And mine indignation”] For vachamathi, nineteen MSS. (three ancient) of Kennicott’s, nine of De Rossi’s, and one of mine, and four editions, have vetsidkathi, and my righteousness; from Isa 59:16, which I suppose the transcriber retained in his memory. It is true that the Versions are in favour of the common reading; but that noticed above seems to stand on good authority, and is a reading both pleasing and impressive. Opposite, in the margin, my MS. has the common reading by a later hand.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
There was none to help; not that he needed it, for help implies a defect of power, or wisdom, or wealth, or opportunity, &c.; but to see what men would do, in regard his people needed it; therefore the standing or not standing by his people is the same thing with standing or not standing by him, Jdg 5:23; Mat 25:35,40,42,45.
None to uphold; a metaphor taken from a staff, that is a help to one that leans on it.
My fury, or zeal, viz. against the adversaries of the church. Gods arm notes his strength and power, and his zeal sets this power on work, Isa 9:7; but See Poole “Isa 59:16“, See Poole “Isa 59:17“.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
5. The same words as in Isa59:16, except that there it is His “righteousness,”here it is His “fury,” which is said to have upheldHim.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And I looked, and there was none to help,…. As, in the first redemption and salvation by Christ here on earth, there were none among the angels, nor any of the sons of men, to help him and assist him therein, none but Jehovah the Father; so, in this latter salvation, the church and people of God will be reduced to such a low, helpless, and forlorn condition, that there will be none to lend an assisting hand; their deliverance will appear most manifestly to be the sole work of almighty power:
and I wondered that there was none to uphold; not the Saviour and Redeemer, he needed none; but his people under their sufferings, trials, and exercises, and his sinking, dying, cause and interest: this is spoken after the manner of men, and to make the salvation appear the more remarkable, distinguishing, and great, and solely his own work; for otherwise expectation and disappointment, consternation and amazement, as the word r signifies, cannot be properly ascribed to this great Redeemer:
therefore mine own arm brought salvation unto me; to himself, his mystical self, his church and people, and for his own glory; a salvation which his own omnipotent arm could only effect;
[See comments on Isa 59:16],
and my fury it upheld me; his zeal for his church and people, and his indignation against their enemies, excited his almighty power on their behalf, and carried him through the work of their deliverance and salvation he engaged in; see Isa 9:7.
r “et obstupui, Musculus; stupefactus sum”, Vatablus; “et obstupesceban”, Cocceius; “stupebam”, Vitringa.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
5. I looked, and there was none to help. Although the Jews were destitute of all assistance, and no one aided them by word or deed, yet he shews that the arm of the Lord is alone sufficient to punish enemies, and to set his people at liberty. He shews, therefore, that from God alone they ought to expect salvation, that they may not gaze around in every direction, but may have their eyes wholly fixed on God, who has no need of the assistance of others.
And I wondered. He represents God as amazed that there is none to stretch out a hand to him, when he wishes to execute his judgments, that he may impress more deeply on the minds of believers this doctrine, that God has no need of human aid, and that he is sufficient of himself for procuring salvation to his people. By this circumstance he magnifies still more the assistance which he had determined to render to his people, partly to correct their distrust, and partly to exhort them to gratitude in future; for God assumes a different character, when he says that he stood like one astonished; because this stupidity belonged literally to the Jews, who scarcely believed what could not be done by the power of men. With every assistance, therefore, he contrasts his own arm, with the invincible power of which he says that he will be satisfied, both that he may be seen to be their Savior, and that he may scatter and lay low all the wicked.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(5) I looked . . .As in Isa. 1:2, the absolute isolation of the avenger and redeemer is emphasised again and again. Nothing but his own indomitable and righteous zeal against evil had sustained him.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
5, 6. I looked there was none to help These opening words do but repeat Isa 59:16, with one change only, that of the person, which, in the latter is Jehovah, while in the former it is Messiah, or the Lord’s Anointed the Servant of Jehovah.
I wondered Amid rank rebellion there ought, in the nature of things, to be some exceptions; some might, perchance, have conscience enough left to have taken sides with him. But not even one appeared.
Therefore mine own arm brought salvation Namely, to his sorely oppressed spiritual Israel. Opposers shall not escape. Hostile nations and individual souls alike shall drink the cup of retribution to the dregs. Full justice shall be done to his righteous cause. It shall be shown that no incorrigible foe can stand. Thus ends this obscure and dramatic scene, in which some moderns see little or nothing of Christ, as Calvin, Grotius, Alexander, Barnes, and others; while earlier commentators, and not a few modern, see much of him, displaying the righteousness of his cause, and the peril of opposition to it.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Isa 63:5 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.
Ver. 5. And I looked, and there was none to help. ] See on Isa 59:16 .
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Mine own arm. Compare Isa 59:16.
salvation = victory.
fury = indignation. Some codices, with four early printed editions, read “righteousness”. Compare Isa 59:18.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
looked: Isa 63:3, Isa 41:28, Isa 50:2, Isa 59:16, Joh 16:32
mine own: Isa 40:10, Isa 51:9, Isa 52:10, Psa 44:3, Psa 98:1, Hos 1:7, 1Co 1:24, Heb 2:14, Heb 2:15
my fury: Isa 59:16-18
Reciprocal: 2Sa 23:9 – the men Psa 12:1 – godly Psa 69:20 – I looked Psa 72:12 – him Psa 94:16 – rise up Psa 107:12 – and there Isa 31:2 – arise Eze 22:30 – I sought
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Isa 63:5-6. I looked, and there was none to help Things were come to that extremity, that there was no appearance of succour by any human means. Those who, by their office and character, ought to have stood up in defence of oppressed truth and righteousness, even they, contrary to what might have been justly expected, betrayed so good a cause, or had not the courage to defend it. So that it was time for God to interpose, and to appear in defence of his own honour and people. Therefore my own arm, &c. See note on Isa 59:16. And my fury, it upheld me Or, my zeal rather, namely, against the adversaries of my church, and for the deliverance of my people: I was resolved to vindicate my own honour, and my concern for my people made me go through with the undertaking in spite of all opposition. Thus God says, Zec 8:2, I was jealous for Zion with great fury. Gods arm signifies his strength and power, and his zeal sets his power on work. And I will tread down The LXX. render it, , I have trodden down the people in mine anger. So also the vulgar Latin, which translation agrees better with the context where Christ is described as having his garments already stained with the blood of his enemies. And made them drunk in my fury Gods judgments are often represented by a cup of intoxicating liquor, because they astonish men, and bereave them of their usual discretion. See the note on Isa 51:17.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
63:5 And I looked, and [there was] none to help; and I wondered that [there was] none to uphold: therefore my own {e} arm brought salvation to me; and my fury, it upheld me.
(e) God shows that he has no need of man’s help for the deliverance of his, and though men refuse to do their duty through negligence and ingratitude, yet he himself will deliver his Church, and punish the enemies, Isa 59:16 .
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
The Warrior found no one to help Him execute His task, so He did it all by Himself. His own arm accomplished the salvation that resulted from His executing wrath against His enemies (cf. Isa 59:16).
"Verse 5 reminds us of Revelation 5 and the search for someone to open the Book of Destiny, with its revelation of the ultimate judgments. This in fact testifies to the universality of sin." [Note: Grogan, p. 339.]