Isaiah 63:5

Isa 63:5 And 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.

Ver. 5. And I looked, and there was none to help.] See on Isa 59:16.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Isa_63:5

And I looked, and there was none to help

Mans extremity the Divine opportunity

The doctrine of the text is, that salvation, of every kind and every degree, is from the Lord.

I. THIS POINTS OUT TO US THAT ALL MEN ARE IN A MISERABLE CONDITION. Why should man need salvation? He is lost.

II. THE TEXT IMPLIES THE INTERPOSITION OF GOD. The Speaker is the great Messiah, and He speaks in righteousness. There are difficulties in the way of a sinners recovery which none can remove but God. The righteousness by faith is accompanied by the power of God, and this alone can save the soul.

1. This shows Gods knowledge of the dreadful condition of the sinner. He lays help on One mighty to save.

2. It bespeaks His forbearance (Rom_3:25-26).

3. It implies the impossibility of mans being saved but by a Divine arm; and the all-sufficiency of God to save sinners, however deeply sunk in sin, misery, and guilt.

4. Here is the language of,, triumph, as though God delighted in this work of saving sinners: Mine own arm, etc. He had a sufficiency of wisdom to devise the plan; a fulness of merit to justify, of the Spirit to sanctify, of mercy to pity, and of grace that should abound, in the sinners pardon, and in the purity and peace of his conscience.

III. THE ADVANTAGES OF THIS SALVATION.

1. The full character of God is displayed. Here I see God to be just and wise in pardoning the sin He punishes, and showing His abhor fence of the sin He forgives.

2. Salvation is secured to every believer.

3. This secures all the glory to God.

4. It is the most encouraging that could have been devised.

5. It binds the strongest obligation on us. If saved without any power or merit of my own, what shall I render for such a salvation to such a sinner (J. Cooke.)

The Biblical Illustrator, edited by Joseph S. Exell (c. 1880s–1900s) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Isa 63:5-6. I looked, and there was none to help — “Things were come to that extremity, that there was no appearance of succour by any human means. Those who, by their office and character, ought to have stood up in defence of oppressed truth and righteousness, even they, contrary to what might have been justly expected, betrayed so good a cause, or had not the courage to defend it. So that it was time for God to interpose, and to appear in defence of his own honour and people.” Therefore my own arm, &c. — See note on Isa 59:16. And my fury, it upheld me — Or, my zeal rather, namely, against the adversaries of my church, and for the deliverance of my people: I was resolved to vindicate my own honour, and my concern for my people made me go through with the undertaking in spite of all opposition. Thus God says, Zec 8:2, I was jealous for Zion with great fury. God’s arm signifies his strength and power, and his zeal sets his power on work. And I will tread down — The LXX. render it, κατεπατησα, I have trodden down the people in mine anger. So also the vulgar Latin, which translation agrees better with the context where Christ is described as having his garments already stained with the blood of his enemies. And made them drunk in my fury — “God’s judgments are often represented by a cup of intoxicating liquor, because they astonish men, and bereave them of their usual discretion.” See the note on Isa 51:17.

Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

God showeth that he hath no need of man’s help for the deliverance of his, and though men refuse to do their duty through negligence and ingratitude, yet he himself will deliver his Church, and punish the enemies, read Isa. 59:16.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain. Text via Bolls.life.

The same words as in Isa 59:16, except that there it is His "righteousness," here it is His "fury," which is said to have upheld Him.

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Verse 5. And my fury - "And mine indignation"] For וחמתי vachamathi, nineteen MSS. (three ancient) of Kennicott's, nine of De Rossi's, and one of mine, and four editions, have וצדקתי vetsidkathi, and my righteousness; from Isa 59:16, which I suppose the transcriber retained in his memory. It is true that the Versions are in favour of the common reading; but that noticed above seems to stand on good authority, and is a reading both pleasing and impressive. Opposite, in the margin, my MS. has the common reading by a later hand.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

(5) I looked . . .—As in Isa_1:2, the absolute isolation of the avenger and redeemer is emphasised again and again. Nothing but his own indomitable and righteous zeal against evil had sustained him.

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

5. Comp. ch. Isa_59:16. The verse explains why it is that Jehovah treads the winepress “alone” (Isa_63:3). The expectation that some human helper would appear on the side of Jehovah is more remarkable here than in ch. Isa_59:16, where the judgement was on Israel itself, and the complaint might be that even within the chosen nation no champion of righteousness could be found. The idea that such a champion might have been found amongst heathen nations is of course much less easily explained; unless, with Duhm, we suppose that the prophet is sadly contrasting his own age with the more hopeful time of the Second Isaiah, when the faith of Israel was directed to Cyrus as the agent of Jehovah’s purposes on earth.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

And I looked, and there was none to help,.... As, in the first redemption and salvation by Christ here on earth, there were none among the angels, nor any of the sons of men, to help him and assist him therein, none but Jehovah the Father; so, in this latter salvation, the church and people of God will be reduced to such a low, helpless, and forlorn condition, that there will be none to lend an assisting hand; their deliverance will appear most manifestly to be the sole work of almighty power:

and I wondered that there was none to uphold; not the Saviour and Redeemer, he needed none; but his people under their sufferings, trials, and exercises, and his sinking, dying, cause and interest: this is spoken after the manner of men, and to make the salvation appear the more remarkable, distinguishing, and great, and solely his own work; for otherwise expectation and disappointment, consternation and amazement, as the word (r) signifies, cannot be properly ascribed to this great Redeemer:

therefore mine own arm brought salvation unto me; to himself, his mystical self, his church and people, and for his own glory; a salvation which his own omnipotent arm could only effect; See Gill on Isa 59:16,

and my fury it upheld me; his zeal for his church and people, and his indignation against their enemies, excited his almighty power on their behalf, and carried him through the work of their deliverance and salvation he engaged in; see Isa 9:7.

(r) "et obstupui, Musculus; stupefactus sum", Vatablus; "et obstupesceban", Cocceius; "stupebam", Vitringa.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

And I looked and there was none to help - The same sentiment is expressed in Isa 59:16 (see the note at that verse).

None to uphold - None to sustain or assist. The design is to express the fact that he was entirely alone in this work: that none were disposed or able to assist him. Though this has no direct reference to the plan of salvation, or to the work of the Messiah as a Redeemer, yet it is true of him also that in that work he stood alone. No one did aid him or could aid him; but alone he ‘bore the burden of the world’s atonement.’

My fury, it upheld me - My determined purpose to inflict punishment on my foes sustained me. There is a reference doubtless to the fact that courage nerves the arm and sustains a man in deadly conflict; that a purpose to take vengeance, or to inflict deserved punishment, animates one to make efforts which he could not otherwise perform. In Isa 59:16, the sentiment is, ‘his righteousness sustained him;’ here it is that his fury did it. There the purpose was to bring salvation; here it was to destroy his foes.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

Me. I depended on the goodness of my cause, and on God’s aid, chap. lix. 15. (Calmet)

George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).

There was none to help; not that he needed it, for help implies a defect of power, or wisdom, or wealth, or opportunity, &c.; but to see what men would do, in regard his people needed it; therefore the standing or not standing by his people is the same thing with standing or not standing by him, Jdg 5:23; Mat 25:35,40,42,45.

None to uphold; a metaphor taken from a staff, that is a help to one that leans on it.

My fury, or zeal, viz. against the adversaries of the church. God’s arm notes his strength and power, and his zeal sets this power on work, Isa 9:7; but See Poole "Isa 59:16", See Poole "Isa 59:17".

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

5, 6. I looked… there was none to help — These opening words do but repeat Isa_59:16, with one change only, that of the person, which, in the latter is Jehovah, while in the former it is Messiah, or the Lord’s Anointed — the Servant of Jehovah.

I wondered — Amid rank rebellion there ought, in the nature of things, to be some exceptions; some might, perchance, have conscience enough left to have taken sides with him. But not even one appeared.

Therefore mine own arm brought salvation — Namely, to his sorely oppressed spiritual Israel. Opposers shall not escape. Hostile nations and individual souls alike shall drink the cup of retribution to the dregs. Full justice shall be done to his righteous cause. It shall be shown that no incorrigible foe can stand. Thus ends this obscure and dramatic scene, in which some moderns see little or nothing of Christ, as Calvin, Grotius, Alexander, Barnes, and others; while earlier commentators, and not a few modern, see much of him, displaying the righteousness of his cause, and the peril of opposition to it.

Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

And I looked, and there was none to help. (comp. Isa_5:2, "He looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes:" also Isa_41:28, "I beheld, and there was no man By an anthropomorphism God is represented as looking for and expecting what might reasonably have been expected, and even as surprised when he does not find it. (comp. Isa_59:16) Out of all the many nations it was reasonable to suppose that some would have chosen the better part and have been on the Lord"s side. But the fact was otherwise (comp. ver. 3). Mine own arm brought salvation unto me; or, mine own arm helped me. (Isa_59:16) Nothing more is needed. If God arises, his enemies at once are scattered". (Psa_68:1) "His own right hand, and his holy arm, get him the victory". (Psa_98:1)

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

None to help - Not that he needed it, but to see what men would do, in regard his people needed it; therefore the standing, or not standing by his people, is the same thing with standing, or not standing by him. Uphold - A metaphor, taken from a staff, that is an help to one that leans on it.

John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.

“And I look, and there is none helping; and I stand aghast, and there is none sustaining; and my own arm saves for me, and my fury it sustains me.” These expressions have already been explained in Isa 59:16. Fury here takes the place of righteousness not as a synonym but as an equivalent. God’s wrath is but the executioner and agent of His justice. Upon either He might therefore be described as exclusively relying. The present form is used in the translation, on account of the uncertainty in which the use of the tenses is involved, and which may arise in part from an intentional confusion of the past and future in the mind of one who had begun a great work, and was yet to finish it.

Joseph Addison Alexander, The Prophecies of Isaiah (1846–1847; New York: Scribner, 1870–1878) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

General Information:

Yahweh continues speaking.

but my own arm

Here "arm" represents power. (See: Metonymy)

made them drunk in my wrath

This means Yahweh made them stunned and senseless by his full wrath and punishment. (See: Metaphor)

I poured out their blood

Here "blood" represents the life of Yahweh's enemies that was gushing out so they would die. (See: Metaphor)

translationWords

wrath

blood

unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.

And I looked, and there was no one helping Israel.

and I was astounded An expression of keeping silent, and I have already explained it above (57:16): “And He was astounded for there was no intercessor.”

and My fury that supported Me My fury that I have against the heathens (the nations [mss. and K’li Paz]), for I was a little wrath with My people, and they helped to harm them. That strengthened My hand and aroused My heart to mete recompense upon them although Israel is not fit and worthy of redemption.

Rashi on the Tanakh — English translations: “The Judaica Press complete Tanach with Rashi, translated by A. J. Rosenberg” (CC BY 4.0); “Pentateuch with Rashi's commentary by M. Rosenbaum and A.M. Silbermann, 1929-1934” (public domain); “The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J” (CC BY 4.0); and “The Book of Joshua, Metsudah Publications, 1997” (CC BY 4.0). Text via Sefaria.

And I looked, etc. This is a figurative expression; for in fact God does not need that.

ואשתומם And I wondered. Compare my explanation of וישתומם (59:16)

Ibn Ezra on the Tanakh — English translations: “Sefaria Community Translation” (CC0 1.0 (public-domain dedication)); “Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009” (CC BY 4.0); and “Commentary of Ibn Ezra on Isaiah - trans. by M. Friedlander, 1873” (public domain). Text via Sefaria.