Isaiah 63:1

¶ 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 is this that cometh {H935} from Edom {H123}, with dyed {H2556} garments {H899} from Bozrah {H1224}? this that is glorious {H1921} in his apparel {H3830}, travelling {H6808} in the greatness {H7230} of his strength {H3581}? I that speak {H1696} in righteousness {H6666}, mighty {H7227} to save {H3467}.

Who is this, coming from Edom, from Botzrah with clothing stained crimson, so magnificently dressed, so stately in his great strength? "It is I, who speak victoriously, I, well able to save."

Who is this coming from Edom, from Bozrah with crimson-stained garments? Who is this robed in splendor, marching in the greatness of His strength? “It is I, proclaiming vindication, mighty to save.”

Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, marching in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save.

Isaiah 63:1 opens a powerful and dramatic prophetic vision, presenting a mysterious, glorious figure returning from battle. The prophet asks, "Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah?" The figure replies, identifying Himself as one who speaks in righteousness and is "mighty to save."

Context

This verse marks the beginning of a new section in Isaiah (chapters 63-66) that shifts focus to God's ultimate intervention in history, encompassing themes of judgment, salvation, and the establishment of a new heaven and new earth. The imagery of Edom and its capital, Bozrah, is significant. Edom, descended from Esau, was a perpetual adversary of Israel, symbolizing nations hostile to God's people. The scene depicts a victorious warrior returning from executing divine vengeance against these enemies, a prelude to the glorious future for the righteous.

Key Themes

  • The Divine Warrior and Judge: The figure's "glorious apparel" and "greatness of his strength" immediately identify Him as a divine, powerful being. His garments are "dyed" (or stained), implying a recent, intense conflict, elaborated in the following verses as being red from blood. This portrays God as an active, formidable warrior who brings justice.
  • Righteous Judgment and Vengeance: The return from Edom signifies the execution of God's righteous judgment against those who oppose Him and His people. It's a reminder that God will ultimately settle accounts with evil.
  • Mighty to Save: Despite the imagery of judgment, the figure's self-identification as "I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save" reveals His core purpose. His judgment is not arbitrary but rooted in righteousness, and His ultimate power is directed towards salvation for those who trust in Him. This aspect provides comfort and assurance amidst the severity of judgment.
  • Messianic Foreshadowing: Many theologians interpret this passage as a powerful messianic prophecy, looking forward to the Lord Jesus Christ's triumphant return. The imagery of the warrior whose garments are stained with the blood of His enemies strongly resonates with descriptions of Christ's second coming, particularly in Revelation 19:13-15, where He is depicted as trampling the winepress of God's wrath.

Linguistic Insights

  • The Hebrew word for "dyed" (חָמוּץ, chamuts) literally means "reddened" or "stained," strongly suggesting blood rather than a mere color. This nuance emphasizes the violent nature of the divine judgment just executed.
  • "Mighty to save" translates the Hebrew phrase רַב לְהוֹשִׁעַ (rav lehoshi'a), which conveys a profound capacity and abundant power to deliver and rescue. It underscores God's immense capability to bring about salvation for His chosen ones.

Practical Application

Isaiah 63:1 offers both comfort and a solemn warning. For believers, it provides assurance that God is not passive in the face of evil and injustice. He is the Lord, strong and mighty in battle, who will ultimately conquer all His enemies and bring about complete salvation for His people. This vision reminds us of God's unwavering commitment to righteousness and His ultimate triumph over all forms of oppression and wickedness.

For those who reject God, it serves as a powerful reminder of His impending judgment. God's patience is immense, but His justice is absolute. The "dyed garments" symbolize the inevitable consequences for those who persist in rebellion against Him. Ultimately, this verse points to the dual nature of God's power: mighty to save His people, and mighty to judge His adversaries.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Revelation 19:13

    And he [was] clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.

  • Isaiah 34:5

    For my sword shall be bathed in heaven: behold, it shall come down upon Idumea, and upon the people of my curse, to judgment.

  • Isaiah 34:6

    The sword of the LORD is filled with blood, it is made fat with fatness, [and] with the blood of lambs and goats, with the fat of the kidneys of rams: for the LORD hath a sacrifice in Bozrah, and a great slaughter in the land of Idumea.

  • Psalms 137:7

    ¶ Remember, O LORD, the children of Edom in the day of Jerusalem; who said, Rase [it], rase [it, even] to the foundation thereof.

  • Isaiah 63:2

    Wherefore [art thou] red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the winefat?

  • Isaiah 63:3

    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.

  • Numbers 23:19

    God [is] not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do [it]? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?

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