Isaiah 63:2 kjv
Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the winefat?
Isaiah 63:2 nkjv
Why is Your apparel red, And Your garments like one who treads in the winepress?
Isaiah 63:2 niv
Why are your garments red, like those of one treading the winepress?
Isaiah 63:2 esv
Why is your apparel red, and your garments like his who treads in the winepress?
Isaiah 63:2 nlt
Why are your clothes so red,
as if you have been treading out grapes?
Isaiah 63 2 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isa 63:1 | Who is this that comes from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah...? | Introduces the warrior figure from Edom |
| Isa 63:3 | "I have trodden the winepress alone, and from the peoples no one was with me..." | Lord confirms His solitary judgment |
| Rev 14:19-20 | ...the great winepress of the wrath of God...and blood came out... | Directly links winepress to God's final wrath |
| Rev 19:13 | He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which He is called is The Word of God. | Identifies Christ with blood-stained garments |
| Rev 19:15 | ...from His mouth comes a sharp sword, with which to strike down the nations, and He will rule them... He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. | Christ as the divine warrior executing judgment |
| Joel 3:13 | Put in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe. Go in, tread, for the winepress is full... | Prophetic call to judgment |
| Lam 1:15 | The Lord has trodden down as in a winepress all my mighty men in my midst... | Imagery of judgment and defeat |
| Isa 34:5-6 | For My sword has drunk its fill in the heavens... behold, it descends for judgment upon Edom... | God's judgment specifically on Edom |
| Jer 49:7, 10 | Concerning Edom... I have made Esau bare; I have uncovered his secret places... | Judgment pronounced on Edom/Esau |
| Obad 1:1-21 | The vision of Obadiah. Thus says the Lord GOD concerning Edom... | Prophecy primarily focused on Edom's destruction |
| Deut 32:41-43 | If I whet My glittering sword and My hand takes hold on judgment... | God's vengeance against enemies |
| Ps 7:11 | God is a righteous judge, and a God who feels indignation every day. | God's righteous wrath and judgment |
| Ps 21:8-12 | Your hand will find out all your enemies... make them as a fiery oven... | Divine judgment upon adversaries |
| Ps 110:5-6 | The Lord is at Your right hand; He will shatter kings in the day of His wrath. He will execute judgment among the nations... | Messiah's kingship and judgment |
| Zeph 1:14-18 | The great day of the LORD is near... a day of wrath... | The 'Day of the Lord' as a time of judgment |
| Mal 4:1 | For behold, the day is coming, burning like a furnace; all the arrogant and evildoers will be stubble... | Ultimate destruction of the wicked |
| 2 Thes 1:7-9 | ...when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance... | Christ's second coming with judgment |
| Heb 10:26-27, 30 | ...a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries... For we know Him who said, "Vengeance is Mine; I will repay," says the Lord. | God's just vengeance |
| Nah 1:2 | The LORD is a jealous and avenging God; the LORD is avenging and wrathful... | Emphasizes God's avenging nature |
| Gen 49:11 | He washes his garments in wine, and his vesture in the blood of grapes. | Prophetic, symbolic link between wine and garments |
| Isa 59:16-17 | He saw that there was no man... So His own arm brought Him salvation; and His righteousness upheld Him. He put on righteousness as a breastplate... | God's solitary intervention and warrior attire |
Isaiah 63 verses
Isaiah 63 2 Meaning
This verse opens a dramatic dialogue, posing a direct question to a figure arriving from Edom with blood-stained garments. It enquires about the source of the vivid red on His attire. The "apparel red" and "garments like his who treads in the winepress" visually depict a warrior covered in the blood of battle, specifically associating it with the powerful imagery of crushing grapes in a winepress. It signifies a profound act of divine judgment and victorious retribution, where the Lord alone has executed His fierce wrath against His enemies.
Isaiah 63 2 Context
Isaiah 63 begins with a dramatic vision following promises of future restoration and salvation for Israel. The prophet sees a solitary, majestic warrior, journeying from Edom (representing all hostile nations). The question "Who is this?" is immediately followed by a description of His distinctive, blood-stained garments. This vivid imagery is a prophetic vision of the Lord acting as a divine warrior, taking vengeance on His adversaries on behalf of His people. Historically, Edom was a long-standing enemy of Israel, a descendant of Esau, symbolizing defiance against God and His people. The "day of vengeance" is juxtaposed with the "year of My redeemed," showing God's dual purpose: judgment for the wicked and salvation for the righteous.
Isaiah 63 2 Word analysis
- Why: An interrogative particle (מַדּוּעַ, maddûaʿ) that functions as a rhetorical question, immediately drawing the reader into the scene and prompting inquiry into the meaning of the striking visual. It signifies wonder and seeks a reason for the unprecedented appearance.
- is your apparel: (לְבוּשׁ, levûsh) refers to one's clothing or vestment. Here, "your" addresses the solitary figure. The garment is central to the mystery and the ensuing explanation. Its nature is symbolic of the figure's actions.
- red: (אָדֹם, ʾāḏōm) a potent color in ancient contexts, often associated with blood, warfare, judgment, or fertility. In this context, it unequivocally points to the shedding of blood and the execution of wrath. It suggests not the Lord's own blood shed, but the blood of His adversaries.
- and your garments: (בְּגָדִים, bᵉgāḏîm) a plural noun for clothes or attire, used in parallel with "apparel" for emphasis and poetic variation. Reinforces the focus on the figure's outer appearance, which is visually shocking.
- like his who treads in the winepress?:
- treads: (דָּרַךְ, dārak) a verb meaning to tread, to walk, to step, often used literally for pressing grapes or metaphorically for a path of judgment or conquest.
- winepress: (יֶקֶב, yeqeḇ) a facility, often a trough or pit, where grapes were crushed underfoot to extract their juice.
- This phrase forms a powerful simile. The act of "treading the winepress" was a common agricultural task, involving significant effort and resulting in juice splattering onto the clothes. Here, it is explicitly transformed into a metaphor for divine wrath and the violent destruction of enemies, whose "blood" splatters the divine warrior's clothing, rather than grape juice. It is an image of thorough and complete judgment.
Isaiah 63 2 Bonus section
The dialogue in Isaiah 63:1-6 underscores a key theological point: God often acts without human assistance when executing His profound judgments or delivering His ultimate salvation. The "Why" of verse 2 implies a visible, undeniable result of an unseen, powerful divine act. This particular image served as a crucial source for understanding the nature of Messianic judgment in Jewish thought and was extensively drawn upon by early Christian interpreters to depict the second coming of Christ. The reference to Edom specifically broadens to encompass all opposition to God's reign, serving as a symbolic enemy representing all that stands against His righteous will and people.
Isaiah 63 2 Commentary
Isaiah 63:2 presents a compelling and somewhat jarring image of the Lord returning from battle. The vivid crimson of His garments is not from wine, but from the blood of His vanquished enemies. This imagery sets the stage for God's ultimate justice, portraying Him not merely as a king, but as a divine warrior whose righteous anger manifests in decisive action against all that opposes Him and His people. He acts alone, showcasing His unchallenged sovereignty and power in bringing about both judgment and eventual redemption. This visual metaphor directly foreshadows New Testament portrayals of Christ in Revelation, signifying His ultimate triumph over all evil and His final, undeniable victory at His return.