Isaiah 63:12

That led [them] by the right hand of Moses with his glorious arm, dividing the water before them, to make himself an everlasting name?

That led {H3212} them by the right hand {H3225} of Moses {H4872} with his glorious {H8597} arm {H2220}, dividing {H1234} the water {H4325} before {H6440} them, to make {H6213} himself an everlasting {H5769} name {H8034}?

who caused his glorious arm to go at Moshe's right hand? He divided the water ahead of them, to make himself an eternal name;

who sent His glorious arm to lead them by the right hand of Moses, who divided the waters before them to gain for Himself everlasting renown,

that caused his glorious arm to go at the right hand of Moses? that divided the waters before them, to make himself an everlasting name?

Commentary on Isaiah 63:12 (KJV)

Isaiah 63:12 is a powerful rhetorical question within a prayer of lament, recalling God's mighty acts of deliverance for Israel in the past. It serves as a foundational reminder of divine power and faithfulness, urging God to intervene again in their present distress by remembering His former mercies.

Context

This verse is part of a larger section in Isaiah (chapters 63-64) where the prophet, representing the people of Israel, laments their current state of desolation and exile. They appeal to God, recounting His past glory and the incomparable deeds He performed for their ancestors during the Exodus. The question "That led [them] by the right hand of Moses with his glorious arm, dividing the water before them, to make himself an everlasting name?" specifically harkens back to the most significant event in Israel's formative history: the parting of the Red Sea and the miraculous escape from Egyptian bondage. This historical context underscores God's unwavering commitment to His covenant people.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Power and Deliverance: The verse vividly portrays God's unparalleled strength, demonstrated by "dividing the water" – an impossible feat for any human power. This highlights God's ability to act decisively and miraculously on behalf of His people.
  • God's Chosen Instrument: Moses is mentioned as the human leader, but the emphasis is on God's leading "by the right hand of Moses," signifying that Moses was merely an instrument in God's mighty hand. God's "glorious arm" is the true source of power.
  • God's Everlasting Name: The ultimate purpose of God's miraculous intervention was "to make himself an everlasting name." This refers to God establishing His enduring reputation, character, and renown among all generations and nations. His actions in the Exodus were not just for Israel's benefit, but to glorify Himself eternally.
  • Remembering God's Faithfulness: The prophet's appeal is a call for God to remember His past faithfulness and to act with the same power and love He showed during the Exodus. It's a foundational argument for renewed divine intervention.

Linguistic Insights

  • The phrase "glorious arm" (Hebrew: זְרוֹעַ תִּפְאַרְתּוֹ, *zeroa' tif'arto*) is a powerful anthropomorphism for God's divine strength and majesty. The "arm" is a common biblical metaphor for God's active power and might, often associated with salvation and judgment, as seen in Deuteronomy 4:34. The addition of "glorious" emphasizes its awe-inspiring, divine nature.
  • "Everlasting name" (Hebrew: שֵׁם עוֹלָם, *shem 'olam*) signifies an enduring reputation or renown. God's desire to make His name known forever is a recurring theme in Scripture, emphasizing that His character and power are immutable and eternal, as He stated in Exodus 9:16.

Practical Application

Isaiah 63:12 offers profound encouragement for believers today. Just as God acted with overwhelming power and faithfulness in the past for Israel, He remains the same God. When facing seemingly impossible situations or periods of spiritual dryness, we can look back at God's historical interventions, both in the Bible and in our own lives, to strengthen our faith. This verse reminds us that God's ultimate goal in His actions is not just our deliverance, but the magnification of His "everlasting name." Therefore, our prayers should not only focus on our needs but also on God's glory, trusting that He will act in ways that reveal His mighty power and unwavering love.

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.

  • Exodus 15:16

    Fear and dread shall fall upon them; by the greatness of thine arm they shall be [as] still as a stone; till thy people pass over, O LORD, till the people pass over, which thou hast purchased.

  • Psalms 78:13

    He divided the sea, and caused them to pass through; and he made the waters to stand as an heap.

  • Joshua 3:16

    That the waters which came down from above stood [and] rose up upon an heap very far from the city Adam, that [is] beside Zaretan: and those that came down toward the sea of the plain, [even] the salt sea, failed, [and] were cut off: and the people passed over right against Jericho.

  • Psalms 114:5

    What [ailed] thee, O thou sea, that thou fleddest? thou Jordan, [that] thou wast driven back?

  • Psalms 114:7

    Tremble, thou earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob;

  • Isaiah 55:13

    Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree: and it shall be to the LORD for a name, for an everlasting sign [that] shall not be cut off.

  • Nehemiah 9:11

    And thou didst divide the sea before them, so that they went through the midst of the sea on the dry land; and their persecutors thou threwest into the deeps, as a stone into the mighty waters.

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