Isaiah 63:3

KJV

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.

KJV (with Strong's)

I have trodden {H1869} the winepress {H6333} alone; and of the people {H5971} there was none {H376} with me: for I will tread {H1869} them in mine anger {H639}, and trample {H7429} them in my fury {H2534}; and their blood {H5332} shall be sprinkled {H5137} upon my garments {H899}, and I will stain {H1351} all my raiment {H4403}.

Complete Jewish Bible

"I have trodden the winepress alone; from the peoples, not one was with me. So I trod them in my anger, trampled them in my fury; so their lifeblood spurted out on my clothing, and I have stained all my garments;

Berean Standard Bible

“I have trodden the winepress alone, and no one from the nations was with Me. I trampled them in My anger and trod them down in My fury; their blood spattered My garments, and all My clothes were stained.

American Standard Version

I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the peoples there was no man with me: yea, I trod them in mine anger, and trampled them in my wrath; and their lifeblood is sprinkled upon my garments, and I have stained all my raiment.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Isaiah 63:3 presents a powerful and fearsome depiction of divine judgment, where a solitary, majestic figure, identified as God Himself, describes His decisive and unassisted act of treading the winepress of wrath. The vivid imagery of blood staining His garments underscores the completeness and intensity of this righteous retribution against His adversaries, emphasizing His absolute sovereignty and the certainty of His justice.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Isaiah 63:3 is embedded within a dramatic prophetic vision (Isaiah 63:1-6) that opens with a dialogue between a questioning observer and a majestic figure returning from Edom, whose garments are stained crimson. The preceding verses (Isaiah 63:1-2) establish the identity of this figure as one who "speaks in righteousness, mighty to save," yet whose apparel is red as if from treading a winepress. This immediate context sets the scene for the figure's explanation in verse 3, clarifying the source and nature of the bloodstains – not from grapes, but from the judgment of nations. The passage then continues to elaborate on the "day of vengeance" and God's unwavering commitment to His people, culminating in a prayer for divine intervention.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The imagery of the winepress was deeply familiar in ancient Israel, a common agricultural practice involving the treading of grapes to extract juice. This familiar image is powerfully repurposed here to symbolize the crushing of enemies underfoot, a common metaphor for conquest and judgment in the ancient Near East. Edom, specifically mentioned in [Isaiah 63:1](/isaiah/63-1 "Isaiah 63:1 - The Divine Warrior from Edom"), was a historical adversary of Israel, often representing all hostile nations. The historical backdrop for Isaiah 63 is complex, spanning the exilic and post-exilic periods, addressing themes of God's faithfulness to His covenant people amidst their suffering and His ultimate triumph over their oppressors. The prophecy offers assurance of divine intervention and justice in a world often marked by injustice and oppression.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in Isaiah. It vividly portrays **Divine Judgment and Vengeance**, a recurring motif throughout the book, particularly against nations that oppose God's purposes, as seen in passages like [Isaiah 34](/isaiah/34 "Isaiah 34 - God's Judgment Against the Nations"). The emphasis on the figure acting "alone" highlights God's **Sovereignty and Self-Sufficiency**, demonstrating that His power requires no human assistance to execute His will. Furthermore, the passage reinforces the theme of **God's Righteousness and Justice**, assuring His people that He will ultimately address injustice and bring about retribution for their suffering, echoing the promise of a "day of vengeance of our God" in [Isaiah 61:2](/isaiah/61-2 "Isaiah 61:2 - The Year of the Lord's Favor and the Day of Vengeance"). The graphic imagery also underscores the **Seriousness of Rebellion against God**, depicting the profound consequences of defying the Almighty.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Winepress (Hebrew, _pûwrâh'_):** From H6333, meaning a wine-press (as crushing the grapes). In this context, the winepress is a potent symbol of divine judgment, where the "grapes" are God's enemies, and their "juice" is their blood, crushed under His righteous wrath. This transforms a common agricultural tool into an instrument of cosmic justice, signifying the complete and overwhelming defeat of His adversaries.
* **Alone (Hebrew, _ʼîysh'_):** From H376, meaning "a man as an individual" or "none." The use of this word here emphasizes the singular, unparalleled nature of God's action. He is utterly self-sufficient in executing judgment, requiring no assistance or alliance, underscoring His absolute sovereignty and unique power. This highlights the unparalleled might of the divine warrior.
* **Stain (Hebrew, _gâʼal'_):** From H1351, meaning to soil, desecrate, defile, pollute, stain. This word, typically associated with defilement or impurity, is paradoxically used here to describe the divine warrior's garments stained with the blood of His enemies. It signifies the thoroughness of the judgment, where the very essence of the vanquished (their blood) adheres to the victor, marking the completion of His righteous task and the decisive nature of His triumph.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people [there was] none with me:"** This opening clause immediately establishes the solitary and sovereign nature of the divine warrior's action. The imagery of treading the winepress, typically a communal activity, is inverted to emphasize God's absolute self-sufficiency in executing judgment. No human or angelic assistance was needed or present, highlighting His unique power and authority to bring about His purposes without reliance on any other entity.
* **"for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury;"** This explanatory clause clarifies the "who" and "how" of the winepress imagery. The "them" refers to God's adversaries, and the treading is an act of divine wrath and fury. The repetition of "tread" (H1869, _dârak_) and the addition of "trample" (H7429, _râmaç_) intensifies the action, conveying a forceful, decisive, and overwhelming judgment. The terms "anger" (H639, _ʼaph_) and "fury" (H2534, _chêmâh_) underscore the righteous indignation that fuels this divine retribution against those who oppose His will.
* **"and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment."** This final clause provides the graphic consequence of the treading and trampling. The "blood" (H5332, _Nêtsach_, juice of the grape, here blood) of the vanquished is not merely spilled but "sprinkled" (H5137, _nâzâh_) and "stains" (H1351, _gâʼal_) the divine warrior's clothing. This vivid imagery signifies the completeness and irreversible nature of the judgment, where the victor is visibly marked by the intensity of the battle and the thoroughness of the destruction of His enemies. It is a sign of triumph and accomplished vengeance, leaving no doubt about the finality of His righteous act.

#### Literary Devices
Isaiah 63:3 is rich in **Imagery**, particularly the extended metaphor of the **winepress of wrath**. This familiar agricultural tool is transformed into a powerful symbol of divine judgment, where the grapes are God's enemies and the juice is their blood, conveying the crushing and complete destruction of those who oppose Him. The passage also employs **Personification**, as God Himself is depicted as the solitary warrior, actively treading and trampling. **Hyperbole** is present in the vivid description of blood staining all His garments, emphasizing the immense scale and thoroughness of the judgment. The **Repetition** of verbs like "tread" and the pairing of "anger" and "fury" serve to intensify the message of decisive and overwhelming divine action, leaving no ambiguity about the severity of the impending judgment.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Isaiah 63:3 profoundly articulates God's unwavering commitment to justice and His ultimate triumph over evil. It reveals a God who is not passive in the face of injustice but actively intervenes to defend His people and uphold His righteousness. This passage underscores the terrifying reality of divine wrath for those who persist in rebellion, while simultaneously offering immense comfort and assurance to believers that their God is mighty to save and will ultimately vindicate them. The image of the solitary warrior highlights God's self-sufficiency and supreme authority in executing His purposes, reminding humanity that His power is absolute and His judgments are final, serving as a solemn warning to the unrepentant and a steadfast promise to the faithful.

* [Psalm 7:11](/psalm/7-11 "Psalm 7:11 - God is a righteous judge")
* [Revelation 14:19-20](/revelation/14-19-20 "Revelation 14:19-20 - The great winepress of God's wrath")
* [Nahum 1:2-3](/nahum/1-2-3 "Nahum 1:2-3 - God is jealous and avenging")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
While the imagery of Isaiah 63:3 is undeniably stark and formidable, its message carries profound implications for contemporary believers. It serves as a powerful reminder of God's absolute holiness and His unyielding opposition to sin and injustice. For those who feel overwhelmed by the prevalence of evil in the world, this passage offers a deep wellspring of hope, assuring them that God sees every wrong and will, in His perfect timing, execute righteous judgment. It calls us to a sober reflection on the gravity of rebellion against such a holy God, prompting repentance and a humble submission to His will. Furthermore, it inspires confidence in God's ultimate victory, knowing that the same mighty warrior who judges His enemies is also the one who delivers His people. This passage should cultivate both a healthy fear of God's justice and an unwavering trust in His redemptive power, motivating us to live in alignment with His righteous character.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the imagery of God treading the winepress alone challenge or affirm your understanding of His sovereignty and power?**
* **In what ways does this passage offer comfort or conviction to you personally, knowing God's commitment to justice?**
* **How should the certainty of God's righteous judgment shape our prayers and our pursuit of justice in the world today?**

### FAQ
**Is the "winepress" in Isaiah 63:3 literal?**

Answer: No, the "winepress" in Isaiah 63:3 is a powerful **metaphor** for divine judgment. While a literal winepress is used to crush grapes, here it symbolizes the crushing and destruction of God's enemies. This imagery is common in prophetic literature to depict the intensity and thoroughness of God's wrath, where the "juice" extracted is the blood of those being judged. It is not about a physical winepress but about the **act of judgment** itself, as seen in other prophetic uses of this imagery like [Joel 3:13](/joel/3-13 "Joel 3:13 - The winepress is full of their wickedness").

**Who is the "I" speaking in Isaiah 63:3?**

Answer: The "I" in Isaiah 63:3 is God Himself. The preceding verses (Isaiah 63:1-2) introduce a majestic, crimson-stained figure returning from Edom. The dialogue clarifies that this figure is one who "speaks in righteousness, mighty to save." The subsequent explanation in verse 3, where this figure describes His solitary act of treading the winepress of wrath, confirms His divine identity. This is God acting decisively and alone to execute His righteous judgment and bring about the salvation of His people, a theme consistent with God's character throughout the book of [Isaiah](/isaiah/1 "The Book of Isaiah").

**Does this passage contradict God's love and mercy?**

Answer: This passage does not contradict God's love and mercy; rather, it presents another facet of His multifaceted character: His **righteous justice and holiness**. God's love and mercy are primarily directed towards His covenant people and those who repent and turn to Him. However, His holiness demands that sin and rebellion be addressed. The wrath depicted here is not capricious but a righteous response to persistent evil and oppression. It is precisely because God is loving and just that He cannot tolerate unrighteousness indefinitely. This balance is often seen in Scripture, where God's compassion is extended to the repentant, while His judgment falls upon the unrepentant, as described in passages like [Romans 1:18](/romans/1-18 "Romans 1:18 - God's wrath against unrighteousness") and [Romans 2:5-6](/romans/2-5-6 "Romans 2:5-6 - God's righteous judgment").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Isaiah 63:3, with its vivid imagery of a solitary divine warrior treading the winepress of wrath, finds its ultimate and profound fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. While the immediate context speaks of God's judgment upon His enemies, the New Testament reveals Christ as the one through whom all judgment is executed, as stated in [John 5:22](/john/5-22 "John 5:22 - The Father has committed all judgment to the Son"). The imagery of the winepress of God's wrath is explicitly applied to Christ in [Revelation 19:15](/revelation/19-15 "Revelation 19:15 - Christ treading the winepress of God's wrath"), where He is depicted as the triumphant warrior, His robe dipped in blood, treading the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. This demonstrates that the solitary, mighty figure of Isaiah is none other than the Messiah, who not only delivers His people but also justly judges His adversaries. Furthermore, Christ's own suffering on the cross, where He bore the full wrath of God against sin, can be seen as a unique treading of the winepress *for* humanity, allowing those who believe in Him to escape the judgment described here. He is both the one who endures wrath for His people and the one who will, in the end, execute it upon all unrighteousness, fulfilling the prophetic vision of a God who is both Savior and Judge, as promised in [Isaiah 45:21](/isaiah/45-21 "Isaiah 45:21 - A just God and a Savior").

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Revelation 19:13

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

Revelation 19:15

And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.

Revelation 14:19

And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast [it] into the great winepress of the wrath of God.

Revelation 14:20

And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand [and] six hundred furlongs.

Malachi 4:3

And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do [this], saith the LORD of hosts.

Micah 7:10

Then [she that is] mine enemy shall see [it], and shame shall cover her which said unto me, Where is the LORD thy God? mine eyes shall behold her: now shall she be trodden down as the mire of the streets.

Lamentations 1:15

The Lord hath trodden under foot all my mighty [men] in the midst of me: he hath called an assembly against me to crush my young men: the Lord hath trodden the virgin, the daughter of Judah, [as] in a winepress.