Isaiah 63:1

The Victorious Divine Warrior

63:1 Who is this who comes from Edom, ¹ 

dressed in bright red, coming from Bozrah? ² 

Who ³  is this one wearing royal attire, ⁴ 

who marches confidently ⁵  because of his great strength?

“It is I, the one who announces vindication,

and who is able to deliver!” ⁶ 

Isaiah 64:6

64:6 We are all like one who is unclean,

all our so-called righteous acts are like a menstrual rag in your sight. ⁷ 

We all wither like a leaf;

our sins carry us away like the wind.

[63:1]  ¹ sn Edom is here an archetype for the Lord’s enemies. See 34:5.

[63:1]  ² tn Heb “[in] bright red garments, from Bozrah.”

[63:1]  ³ tn The interrogative particle is understood by ellipsis; note the first line of the verse.

[63:1]  ⁴ tn Heb “honored in his clothing”; KJV, ASV “glorious in his apparel.”

[63:1]  ⁵ tc The Hebrew text has צָעָה (tsa’ah), which means “stoop, bend” (51:14). The translation assumes an emendation to צָעַד (tsa’ad, “march”; see BDB 858 s.v. צָעָה).

[63:1]  ⁶ tn Heb “I, [the one] speaking in vindication [or “righteousness”], great to deliver.”

[64:6]  ⁷ tn Heb “and like a garment of menstruation [are] all our righteous acts”; KJV, NIV “filthy rags”; ASV “a polluted garment.”