Isaiah 63:9

KJV

In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old.

KJV (with Strong's)

In all their affliction {H6869} he was afflicted {H6862}, and the angel {H4397} of his presence {H6440} saved {H3467} them: in his love {H160} and in his pity {H2551} he redeemed {H1350} them; and he bare {H5190} them, and carried {H5375} them all the days {H3117} of old {H5769}.

Complete Jewish Bible

In all their troubles he was troubled; then the Angel of His Presence saved them; in his love and pity he redeemed them. He had lifted them up and carried them throughout the days of old.

Berean Standard Bible

In all their distress, He too was afflicted, and the Angel of His Presence saved them. In His love and compassion He redeemed them; He lifted them up and carried them all the days of old.

American Standard Version

In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Isaiah 63:9 profoundly reveals the compassionate and active nature of God, portraying His intimate solidarity with His people, Israel, during their suffering. It highlights His direct intervention through the "angel of his presence," motivated by His enduring love and pity, to save and redeem them. The verse culminates in a powerful image of God's sustained, parental care, carrying His people throughout their long history, underscoring His unwavering faithfulness and personal involvement in their journey.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Isaiah 63:9 is situated within the latter portion of the book of Isaiah (chapters 56-66), often referred to as "Third Isaiah." This section addresses the post-exilic community, a people who have returned from Babylon but face ongoing challenges, disillusionment, and a longing for God's full restoration. Chapters 63-64 specifically contain a lament, a communal prayer expressing distress, recounting God's past mighty acts of deliverance, and pleading for renewed divine intervention. The verse serves as a powerful reminder of God's historical faithfulness and empathy, setting the stage for the community's desperate plea for Him to act again as He did "in the days of old," a theme echoed in the subsequent prayer for God to "rend the heavens" and come down ([Isaiah 64:1](/isaiah/64-1 "Isaiah 64:1 - A Prayer for God's Intervention")).
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The historical backdrop is the period following the Babylonian exile, when the Jewish people had returned to Judah but found Jerusalem in ruins and their national identity fragile. They yearned for the glorious past, particularly the Exodus and wilderness wanderings, when God's presence was undeniably manifest among them. The imagery of God "carrying" them directly evokes the wilderness journey, a time when Israel was dependent on divine provision and protection. Culturally, the concept of a "presence" (Hebrew: *panim*, literally "face") of a deity or king implied direct, personal involvement and authority, not merely a distant observation. The "angel of his presence" would have been understood as a highly significant, direct manifestation of God's own being and power, akin to the pillar of cloud and fire that guided Israel through the wilderness, as described in [Exodus 13:21](/exodus/13-21 "Exodus 13:21 - God Guides Israel by Cloud and Fire").
* **Key Themes:** This verse encapsulates several profound themes central to Isaiah and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it emphasizes **Divine Empathy and Solidarity**, revealing a God who does not remain aloof from human suffering but intimately shares in it, experiencing the affliction of His people as His own. Secondly, the mention of "the angel of his presence" highlights **God's Active and Personal Intervention**, indicating that salvation and deliverance are not delegated to a mere messenger but come directly from God's unique manifestation and authority. Thirdly, the verse underscores that God's actions are rooted in His **Unwavering Love and Pity**, portraying His redemption as flowing from His inherent character of boundless compassion rather than obligation. Finally, the imagery of God "bearing" and "carrying" them throughout "the days of old" speaks to **God's Sustained and Faithful Care** across generations, portraying Him as a tender, protective parent who consistently provides for and guides His people, much like a father carries his son, as seen in [Deuteronomy 1:31](/deuteronomy/1-31 "Deuteronomy 1:31 - God Carried Israel Like a Father").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **redeemed (Hebrew, _gâʼal'_):** This primitive root signifies "to redeem according to the Oriental law of kinship." It describes the action of the "next of kin" (goel) who has the right and responsibility to buy back a relative's property, marry his widow, or avenge his blood. In this context, God acts as Israel's kinsman-redeemer, stepping in to deliver them from bondage and distress, fulfilling His covenant obligations out of love and pity.
* **love (Hebrew, _ʼahăbâh'_):** This feminine noun denotes affection, specifically love. Here, it describes the profound, deep-seated emotional bond and benevolent disposition of God towards His people. It is the fundamental motivation for His redemptive acts, indicating that His saving work is not a detached duty but flows from His very heart.
* **angel (Hebrew, _mălʼâk'_):** This term refers to a "messenger" or "deputy," but specifically, when referring to God, it denotes an "angel." In the phrase "angel of his presence," it signifies a unique, authoritative divine manifestation, one who embodies God's direct and immediate presence, rather than merely conveying a message from a distant God. This figure is often understood as a pre-incarnate appearance of Christ or a unique divine agent.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"In all their affliction he was afflicted":** This clause reveals God's profound empathy. The Hebrew word for "affliction" (*tsârâh*) denotes tightness, distress, or trouble, while "he was afflicted" (*tsar*) conveys being narrowed or distressed. This is not merely sympathy, but a deep, personal identification with the suffering of His people. God does not just observe their pain; He experiences it with them, indicating an intimate, participatory relationship.
* **"and the angel of his presence saved them":** This phrase points to the direct and powerful intervention of God. The "angel of his presence" (*mal'akh panaw*) is a unique divine manifestation, embodying God's own face or direct presence. This figure is God Himself in a special, active manifestation, who delivers His people from their distress and brings salvation.
* **"in his love and in his pity he redeemed them":** This clause highlights the divine motivation for God's saving acts. His actions are not arbitrary or obligatory, but spring from His inherent character of boundless "love" (*ʼahăbâh*) and profound "pity" (*chemlâh*), which is commiseration or mercy. As their kinsman-redeemer (*gâʼal*), He acts out of a deep, personal affection to buy them back from bondage and restore them.
* **"and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old.":** This final clause uses powerful imagery to depict God's continuous, tender, and sustained care for His people throughout their history, particularly referencing the Exodus and wilderness journey. The verbs "bare" (*nâṭal*, to lift or impose) and "carried" (*nâsâʼ*, to lift, bear, or sustain) evoke the image of a parent tenderly carrying a child. "All the days of old" (*yôwm ʻôwlâm*) emphasizes the eternal, perpetual nature of this divine care, extending from ancient times into the present and future.

#### Literary Devices
Isaiah 63:9 employs several potent literary devices to convey its message. **Anthropomorphism** is prominent, attributing human emotions and actions to God, such as being "afflicted," "bearing," and "carrying." This device makes God's character more relatable and emphasizes His deep personal involvement with humanity. The phrase "angel of his presence" is a form of **Theophany** or **Divine Manifestation**, suggesting a unique, direct appearance of God Himself, rather than merely a created angel. The repeated imagery of God "bearing" and "carrying" functions as **Metaphor** and **Symbolism**, portraying God as a tender, protective parent or shepherd who sustains and guides His vulnerable people through their journey. This imagery also creates a powerful **Parallelism** with historical accounts of the Exodus and wilderness wanderings, reinforcing God's consistent faithfulness.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Isaiah 63:9 stands as a profound testament to God's covenant faithfulness and His immanent presence with His people. It reveals a God who is not distant or uncaring, but one who intimately identifies with human suffering, experiencing the pain of His beloved. This divine empathy is the wellspring of His redemptive acts, demonstrating that salvation is always an outflow of His inherent love and pity. The "angel of his presence" points to the unique way God reveals and acts in history, often through a divine agent who embodies His very being and authority, ensuring that His saving power is direct and personal. This verse affirms God's unwavering commitment to His people, a commitment that spans generations and endures through every trial, reminding us that His past faithfulness is a guarantee of His future care.

* [Deuteronomy 32:11](/deuteronomy/32-11 "Deuteronomy 32:11 - God's Care Like an Eagle"): "As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings."
* [Psalm 103:13](/psalms/103-13 "Psalm 103:13-14 - God's Pity Like a Father"): "Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him. For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust."
* [Hebrews 4:15](/hebrews/4-15 "Hebrews 4:15 - Jesus, Our Sympathetic High Priest"): "For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin."

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Isaiah 63:9 offers immense comfort and assurance for believers navigating the complexities and afflictions of life. It challenges the notion of a distant, impassive deity, revealing instead a God who is deeply and personally invested in our struggles. When we face pain, sorrow, or distress, this verse reminds us that God is not merely observing our suffering from afar; He is "afflicted" with us, sharing in our experience. This divine empathy transforms our understanding of suffering, imbuing it with the profound truth that we are never alone. Just as He bore and carried Israel through their wilderness, He promises to sustain and guide us through our own trials, motivated by His unchanging love and boundless pity. This truth invites us to bring our deepest hurts and anxieties before Him, trusting that He understands, cares, and will faithfully redeem and carry us through "all the days" of our lives.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the concept of God being "afflicted" with His people challenge or deepen your understanding of His nature?**
* **In what specific ways have you experienced God "bearing" or "carrying" you through difficult seasons of your life?**
* **How does knowing that God's actions are rooted in His "love and pity" impact your trust in Him during times of distress?**
* **What does the "angel of his presence" teach us about the intimacy and directness of God's intervention in our lives?**

### FAQ
**Who is "the angel of his presence" mentioned in this verse?**

Answer: "The angel of his presence" (Hebrew: *mal'akh panaw*) is a significant and often debated figure. It literally means "the messenger of His face" or "the messenger of His presence." This is not understood as a created angel in the ordinary sense, but rather a unique divine manifestation, one who embodies God's direct presence and authority. In the Old Testament, this figure is often associated with the pre-incarnate Christ or a special theophany (appearance of God), acting as the direct agent of God's salvation. This interpretation is supported by the fact that the "angel" here is credited with saving, redeeming, bearing, and carrying God's people, actions typically attributed to God Himself. It signifies God's personal and immediate involvement in the deliverance of His people, as seen in the pillar of cloud and fire that led Israel in the wilderness, which was a manifestation of God's presence ([Exodus 33:14](/exodus/33-14 "Exodus 33:14 - God's Presence Goes With Moses")).

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Isaiah 63:9 finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The Old Testament's declaration that God was "afflicted" in all their affliction reaches its zenith in the incarnation, where God Himself, in Christ, fully entered into human suffering. Jesus, as [Immanuel, "God with us"](/matthew/1-23 "Matthew 1:23 - Immanuel, God With Us"), did not merely sympathize with humanity's pain but profoundly identified with it, taking on flesh and experiencing the full spectrum of human brokenness, temptation, and sorrow ([Hebrews 2:14-18](/hebrews/2-14 "Hebrews 2:14-18 - Jesus Shares Our Humanity")). He became the ultimate "angel of His presence," the very embodiment of God's face and being, through whom God's love and pity were perfectly demonstrated. His redemptive work on the cross, where He bore the sins and sorrows of humanity, is the supreme act of God's love and pity, redeeming us from the ultimate affliction of sin and death ([1 Peter 2:24](/1_peter/2-24 "1 Peter 2:24 - Christ Bore Our Sins")). Just as God bore and carried Israel through the wilderness, Christ, through His life, death, and resurrection, bears the burdens of His people, carrying them through every trial and sustaining them "all the days" until His glorious return, a testament to His enduring faithfulness and the depth of His sacrificial love ([Philippians 2:5-8](/philippians/2-5 "Philippians 2:5-8 - Christ's Humility and Obedience")).

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

Exodus 33:14

And he said, My presence shall go [with thee], and I will give thee rest.

Exodus 23:20

¶ Behold, I send an Angel before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared.

Exodus 23:21

Beware of him, and obey his voice, provoke him not; for he will not pardon your transgressions: for my name [is] in him.

Malachi 3:1

¶ Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.

Deuteronomy 7:7

The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye [were] the fewest of all people:

Deuteronomy 7:8

But because the LORD loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the LORD brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.

Exodus 19:4

Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and [how] I bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto myself.