Isaiah 63:16

63:16 For you are our father,

though Abraham does not know us

and Israel does not recognize us.

You, Lord, are our father;

you have been called our protector from ancient times. ¹ 

Exodus 4:22

4:22 You must say ²  to Pharaoh, ‘Thus says ³  the Lord, “Israel is my son, my firstborn, ⁴ 

Deuteronomy 32:6

32:6 Is this how you repay ⁵  the Lord,

you foolish, unwise people?

Is he not your father, your creator?

He has made you and established you.

Galatians 3:26

3:26 For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God through faith. ⁶ 

Galatians 3:29

3:29 And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, ⁷  heirs according to the promise.

[63:16]  ¹ tn Heb “our protector [or “redeemer”] from antiquity [is] your name.”

[4:22]  ² tn The sequence of the instruction from God uses the perfect tense with vav (ו), following the preceding imperfects.

[4:22]  ³ tn The instantaneous use of the perfect tense fits well with the prophetic announcement of what Yahweh said or says. It shows that the words given to the prophet are still binding.

[4:22]  ⁴ sn The metaphor uses the word “son” in its connotation of a political dependent, as it was used in ancient documents to describe what was intended to be a loyal relationship with well-known privileges and responsibilities, like that between a good father and son. The word can mean a literal son, a descendant, a chosen king (and so, the Messiah), a disciple (in Proverbs), and here, a nation subject to God. If the people of Israel were God’s “son,” then they should serve him and not Pharaoh. Malachi reminds people that the Law said “a son honors his father,” and so God asked, “If I am a father, where is my honor?” (Mal 1:6).

[32:6]  ⁵ tn Or “treat” (TEV).

[3:26]  ⁶ tn Or “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.”

[3:29]  ⁷ tn Grk “seed.” See the note on the first occurrence of the word “descendant” in 3:16.