The Divine Warrior from Edom
Isaiah 63
A figure comes from Edom in garments stained red like one who has trodden a winepress alone, declaring that the day of vengeance and redemption has come because no one else stood to help. The chapter turns to a prayer recalling the Lord's mercies toward Israel of old, especially the days of Moses and the exodus through the sea, and pleads with God as Father to return to his people.
About these editions
The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.
Thomson 1808Septuagint
Brenton 1851Septuagint
Greek · BrentonSeptuagint
KJV 1769Masoretic
JPS 1917Masoretic
1
ThomsonWHO is this who is coming from Edom? What redness of mantles from Bosor! He so magnificent in apparel? He marcheth with majesty! I proclaim righteousness and the judgment of salvation.
BrentonWho is this that is come from Edom, with red garments from Bosor? thus fair in his apparel, with mighty strength? I speak of righteousness and saving judgment.
GreekΤίς οὗτος ὁ παραγνόμενος ἐξ Ἐδὼμ, ἐρύθημα ἱματίων ἐκ Βοσόρ; οὕτως ὡραῖος ἐν στολῇ, βίᾳ μετὰ ἰσχύος; ἐγὼ διαλέγομαι δικαιοσύνην καὶ κρίσιν σωτηρίου.
KJVWho 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.
JPS’Who is this that cometh from Edom, with crimsoned garments from Bozrah? This that is glorious in his apparel, stately in the greatness of his strength?’— ’I that speak in victory, mighty to save.’—
2
ThomsonWhy are thy garments red, and thy clothing, as from a trodden wine-vat?
BrentonWherefore are thy garments red, and thy raiment as if fresh from a trodden wine-press?
GreekΔιατί σου ἐρυθρὰ τὰ ἱμάτια, καὶ τὰ ἐνδύματά σου ὡς ἀπὸ πατητοῦ ληνοῦ;
KJVWherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the winefat?
JPS’Wherefore is Thine apparel red, and Thy garments like his that treadeth in the winevat?’—
3
ThomsonI am full of a country trodden down; and of the nations there is not a man with Me. I have trodden them down in My wrath, and crumbled them like dust and shed their blood on the earth.
BrentonI am full of trodden grape, and of the nations there is not a man with me; and I trampled them in my fury, and dashed them to pieces as earth, and brought down their blood to the earth.
GreekΠλήρης καταπεπατημένης, καὶ τῶν ἐθνῶν οὐκ ἔστιν ἀνὴρ μετʼ ἐμοῦ, καὶ κατεπάτησα αὐτοὺς ἐν θυμῷ μου, καὶ κατέθλασα αὐτοὺς ὡς γῆν, καὶ κατήγαγον τὸ αἷμα αὐτῶν εἰς γῆν.
KJV—
JPS’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 fury; and their lifeblood is dashed against My garments, and I have stained all My raiment.
4
ThomsonFor the day of retribution came upon them and the year of redemption is at hand.
BrentonFor the day of recompence has come upon them, and the year of redemption is at hand.
GreekἩμέρα γὰρ ἀνταποδόσεως ἐπῆλθεν αὐτοῖς, καὶ ἐνιαυτὸς λυτρώσεως πάρεστι.
KJVFor the day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come.
JPSFor the day of vengeance that was in My heart, and My year of redemption are come.
5
ThomsonWhen I looked and there was no helper and observed that none upheld; then Mine own arm delivered them. Mine indignation indeed was roused,
BrentonAnd I looked, and there was no helper; and I observed, and none upheld: therefore my arm delivered them, and mine anger drew nigh.
GreekΚαὶ ἐπέβλεψα, καὶ οὐκ ἦν βοηθός· καὶ προσενόησα, καὶ οὐθεὶς ἀντελαμβάνετο· καὶ ἐῤῥύσατο αὐτοὺς ὁ βραχίων μου, καὶ ὁ θυμός μου ἐπέστη.
KJVAnd 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.
JPSAnd I looked, and there was none to help, and I beheld in astonishment, and there was none to uphold; therefore Mine own arm brought salvation unto Me, And My fury, it upheld Me.
6
Thomsonand I trampled them down in Mine anger and shed their blood on the earth.
BrentonAnd I trampled them in mine anger, and brought down their blood to the earth.
GreekΚαὶ κατεπάτησα αὐτοὺς τῇ ὀργῇ μου, καὶ κατήγαγον τὸ αἷμα αὐτῶν εἰς γῆν.
KJVAnd I will tread down the people in mine anger, and make them drunk in my fury, and I will bring down their strength to the earth.
JPSAnd I trod down the peoples in Mine anger, and made them drunk with My fury, and I poured out their lifeblood on the earth.’
7
ThomsonI recollected the lovingkindness of the Lord—the mercies of the Lord in all those things which He retributeth for us. The Lord is a good judge to the house of Israel. He dealeth with us according to His tender mercy and according to the abundance of His saving goodness,
BrentonI remembered the mercy of the Lord, the praises of the Lord in all things wherein he recompenses us. The Lord is a good judge to the house of Israel; he deals with us according to his mercy, and according to the abundance of his righteousness.
GreekΤὸν ἔλεον Κυρίου ἐμνήσθην, τὰς ἀρετὰς Κυρίου ἐν πᾶσιν οἷς ἡμῖν ἀνταποδίδωσι· Κύριος κριτὴν ἀγαθὸς τῷ οἴκῳ Ἰσραὴλ, ἐπάγει ἡμῖν κατὰ τὸ ἔλεος αὐτοῦ, καὶ κατὰ τὸ πλῆθος τῆς δικαιοσύνης αὐτοῦ.
KJVI will mention the lovingkindnesses of the LORD, and the praises of the LORD, according to all that the LORD hath bestowed on us, and the great goodness toward the house of Israel, which he hath bestowed on them according to his mercies, and according to the multitude of his lovingkindnesses.
JPSI will make mention of the mercies of the LORD, and the praises of the LORD, according to all that the LORD hath bestowed on us; and the great goodness toward the house of Israel, which He hath bestowed on them according to His compassions, and according to the multitude of His mercies.
8
Thomsonand said, Is not this My people? Children should not rebel. And He became their Saviour from all their distress.
BrentonAnd he said, Is it not my people? the children surely will not be rebellious: and he became to them deliverance
GreekΚαὶ εἶπεν, οὐχ ὁ λαός μου; τέκνα οὐ μὴ ἀθετήσωσι· καὶ ἐγένετο αὐτοῖς εἰς σωτηρίαν
KJVFor he said, Surely they are my people, children that will not lie: so he was their Saviour.
JPSFor He said: ‘Surely, they are My people, children that will not deal falsely’; so He was their Saviour.
9
ThomsonIt was not an ambassador nor a messenger; but He Himself saved them. Through His love and His indulgence to them, He Himself redeemed them and took them up, and exalted them all the days of old.
Brentonout of all their affliction: not an ambassador, nor a messenger, but himself saved them, because he loved them and spared them: he himself redeemed them, and took them up, and lifted them up all the days of old.
Greekἐκ πάσης θλίψεως αὐτῶν· οὐ πρέσβυς, οὐδὲ ἄγγελος, ἀλλʼ αὐτὸς ἔσωσεν αὐτοὺς, διὰ τὸ ἀγαπᾷν αὐτοὺς καὶ φείδεσθαι αὐτῶν· αὐτὸς ἐλυτρώσατο αὐτοὺς, καὶ ἀνέλαβεν αὐτοὺς, καὶ ὕψωσεν αὐτοὺς πάσας τὰς ἡμέρας τοῦ αἰῶνος·
KJVIn 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.
JPSIn 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 bore them, and carried them all the days of old. .
10
ThomsonBut they rebelled and provoked His holy spirit; so He became their enemy. He fought against them;
BrentonBut they disobeyed, and provoked his Holy Spirit: so he turned to be an enemy, he himself contended against them.
GreekΑὐτοὶ δὲ ἠπείθησαν, καὶ παρώξυναν τὸ πνεῦμα τὸ ἅγιον αὐτοῦ· καὶ ἐστράφη αὐτοῖς εἰς ἔχθραν, αὐτὸς ἐπολέμησεν αὐτούς.
KJVBut they rebelled, and vexed his holy Spirit: therefore he was turned to be their enemy, and he fought against them.
JPSBut they rebelled, and grieved His holy spirit; therefore He was turned to be their enemy, Himself fought against them.
11
Thomson—
BrentonThen he remembered the ancient days, saying, Where is he that brought up from the sea the shepherd of the sheep? where is he that put his Holy Spirit in them?
GreekΚαὶ ἐμνήσθη ἡμερῶν αἰωνίων· ποῦ ὁ ἀναβιβάσας ἐκ τῆς θαλάσσης τὸν ποιμένα τῶν προβάτων; ποῦ ἐστιν ὁ θεὶς ἐν αὐτοῖς τὸ πνεῦμα τὸ ἅγιον;
KJVThen he remembered the days of old, Moses, and his people, saying, Where is he that brought them up out of the sea with the shepherd of his flock? where is he that put his holy Spirit within him?
JPSThen His people remembered the days of old, the days of Moses: ‘Where is He that brought them up out of the sea With the shepherds of His flock? Where is He that put His holy spirit In the midst of them?
12
Thomsonthough He remembered the days of old. O! where is He who caused the shepherd of His flock to come up out of the sea? Where is He, who put His Holy Spirit in them? That glorious arm of His which led Moses by the right hand? He forced back the water from before Him, to make Himself an everlasting name.
Brentonwho led Moses with his right hand, the arm of his glory? he forced the water to separate from before him, to make himself an everlasting name.
Greekὁ ἀγαγὼν τῇ δεξιᾷ Μωσῆν, ὁ βραχίων τῆς δόξης αὐτοῦ; κατίσχυσεν ὕδωρ ἀπὸ προσώπου αὐτοῦ, ποιῆσαι ἑαυτῷ ὄνομα αἰώνιον.
KJVThat led them by the right hand of Moses with his glorious arm, dividing the water before them, to make himself an everlasting name?
JPSThat caused His glorious arm to go at the right hand of Moses? That divided the water before them, To make Himself an everlasting name?
13
ThomsonHe led them through the deep, like a horse through a desert; and they were not fatigued:
BrentonHe led them through the deep, as a horse through the wilderness, and they fainted not,
GreekἬγαγεν αὐτοὺς διʼ ἀβύσσου, ὡς ἵππον διʼ ἐρήμου, καὶ οὐκ ἐκοπίασαν,
KJVThat led them through the deep, as an horse in the wilderness, that they should not stumble?
JPSThat led them through the deep, as a horse in the wilderness, without stumbling?
14
Thomsonand like cattle through a plain. A spirit from the Lord descended and conducted them. Thus Thou didst lead this people of Thine, to make Thyself a glorious name.
Brentonand as cattle through a plain: the Spirit came down from the Lord, and guided them: thus thou leddest thy people, to make thyself a glorious name.
Greekκαὶ ὡς κτήνη διὰ πεδίου· κατέβη πνεῦμα παρὰ Κυρίου, καὶ ὡδήγησεν αὐτούς· οὕτως ἤγαγες τὸν λαόν σου ποιῆσαι σεαυτῷ ὄνομα δόξης.
KJVAs a beast goeth down into the valley, the Spirit of the LORD caused him to rest: so didst thou lead thy people, to make thyself a glorious name.
JPSAs the cattle that go down into the valley, the spirit of the LORD caused them to rest; So didst Thou lead Thy people, To make Thyself a glorious name.’
15
ThomsonReturn from heaven and take a view from the house of Thy sanctuary and Thy glory. Where is Thy zeal and Thy majesty? Where the abundance of Thy loving kindness and tender affections, that Thou hast withdrawn thyself from us?
BrentonTurn from heaven, and look from thy holy habitation and from thy glory: where is thy zeal and thy strength? where is the abundance of thy mercy and of thy compassions, that thou hast withholden thyself from us?
GreekἘπίστρεψον ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ, καὶ ἴδε ἐκ τοῦ οἴκου τοῦ ἁγίου σου, καὶ δόξης σου· ποῦ ἐστιν ὁ ζῆλός σου καὶ ἡ ἰσχύς σου; ποῦ ἐστι τὸ πλῆθος τοῦ ἐλέους σου, καὶ οἰκτιρμῶν σου, ὅτι ἀνέσχου ἡμῶν;
KJVLook down from heaven, and behold from the habitation of thy holiness and of thy glory: where is thy zeal and thy strength, the sounding of thy bowels and of thy mercies toward me? are they restrained?
JPSLook down from heaven, and see, even from Thy holy and glorious habitation; Where is Thy zeal and Thy mighty acts, The yearning of Thy heart and Thy compassions, Now restrained toward me?
16
ThomsonFor Thou art our Father. Because Abraham knoweth us not, and Israel hath not acknowledged us; do thou, O Lord, our Father, do thou deliver us. From the beginning Thy name is upon us;
BrentonFor thou art our Father; for though Abraham knew us not, and Israel did not acknowledge us, yet do thou, O Lord, our Father, deliver us: thy name has been upon us from the beginning.
GreekΣὺ γὰρ εἶ πατὴρ ἡμῶν, ὅτι Ἁβραὰμ οὐκ ἔγνω ἡμᾶς, καὶ Ἰσραὴλ οὐκ ἐπέγνω ἡμᾶς, ἀλλὰ σὺ Κύριε πατὴρ ἡμῶν ῥῦσαι ἡμᾶς, ἀπʼ ἀρχῆς τὸ ὄνομά σου ἐφʼ ἡμᾶς ἐστι.
KJVDoubtless thou art our father, though Abraham be ignorant of us, and Israel acknowledge us not: thou, O LORD, art our father, our redeemer; thy name is from everlasting.
JPSFor Thou art our Father; for Abraham knoweth us not, and Israel doth not acknowledge us; Thou, O LORD, art our Father, Our Redeemer from everlasting is Thy name.
17
Thomsonwhy, O Lord, hast Thou suffered us to wander from Thy way, and our hearts to be hardened so as not to fear Thee? Return for the sake of Thy servants—for the sake of the tribes of Thy heritage,
BrentonWhy hast thou caused us to err, O Lord, from thy way? and hast hardened our hearts, that we should not fear thee? Return for thy servants' sake, for the sake of the tribes of thine inheritance,
GreekΤί ἐπλάνησας ἡμᾶς, Κύριε, ἀπὸ τῆς ὁδοῦ σου; ἐσκλήρυνας τὰς καρδίας ἡμῶν, τοῦ μὴ φοβεῖσθαί σε; ἐπίστρεψον διὰ τοὺς δούλους σου, διὰ τὰς φυλὰς τῆς κληρονομίας σου,
KJVO LORD, why hast thou made us to err from thy ways, and hardened our heart from thy fear? Return for thy servants’ sake, the tribes of thine inheritance.
JPSO LORD, why dost Thou make us to err from Thy ways, And hardenest our heart from Thy fear? Return for Thy servants’sake, The tribes of Thine inheritance.
18
Thomsonthat we may inherit a little of Thy holy mountain.
Brentonthat we may inherit a small part of thy holy mountain.
Greekἵνα μικρὸν κληρονομήσωμεν τοῦ ὄρους τοῦ ἁγίου σου.
KJV—
JPS—
19
ThomsonWe are become as at the beginning, when Thou didst rule over us, and when we were not called by Thy name.
BrentonWe are become as at the beginning, when thou didst not rule over us, and thy name was not called upon us. If thou wouldest open the heaven, trembling will take hold upon the mountains from thee, and they shall melt,
GreekἘγενόμεθα ὡς τὸ ἀπʼ ἀρχῆς ὅτε οὐκ ἦρξας ἡμῶν, οὐδὲ ἐκλήθη τὸ ὄνομά σου ἐφʼ ἡμᾶς. Ἐὰν ἀνοίξῃς τὸν οὐρανὸν, τρόμος λήψεται ἀπὸ σοῦ ὄρη, καὶ τακήσονται,
KJVWe are thine: thou never barest rule over them; they were not called by thy name.
JPSWe are become as they over whom Thou never borest rule, As they that were not called by Thy name. Oh, that Thou wouldest rend the heavens, that Thou wouldest come down, That the mountains might quake at Thy presence,