Who is the figure coming from Edom with red garments?

The figure coming from Edom with red garments is the Lord speaking as a mighty savior and judge. He answers the question himself, saying, “I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save.” His clothes are red like someone who has been treading grapes in a winepress. This shows that he has just carried out judgment against enemies who hated and harmed his people. He comes from Edom and Bozrah, which picture long–standing enemies, to show that God will not leave evil unpunished and that he himself fights for his people.

What does “I have trodden the winepress alone” mean?

“I have trodden the winepress alone” is a picture of the Lord carrying out judgment by himself. Just as someone crushes grapes in a winepress until juice splashes on their clothes, God says he has crushed his enemies and their blood has stained his garments. He adds that there was no one to help, so his own arm brought salvation. This shows that judgment on evil and rescue for his people are his work alone, and no human power can share or replace what he does.

What are the ‘day of vengeance’ and the ‘year of my redeemed’?

The “day of vengeance” is the time when God repays those who have opposed him and hurt his people. It shows that his anger against evil is real and that he will act in justice. The “year of my redeemed” is the time when he brings release and help to those he has claimed as his own. These two belong together: when God brings down proud enemies, he is also lifting up and freeing his people. Judgment and salvation meet in his plan and in his timing.

How can God’s fierce anger and tender mercy both be in this passage?

This passage holds two strong truths together. At the start, God speaks of anger, treading enemies like grapes, and staining his clothes with their blood. Later, the prophet recalls how God shared his people’s troubles, saved them, and carried them in love and pity. Then the people cry to him as Father and Redeemer. Both parts are true: God is not soft toward stubborn evil, yet he is deeply kind to those who belong to him. His justice and his covenant love are both real.

Why does it say the people ‘vexed his holy Spirit’?

To say the people “vexed his holy Spirit” means they grieved and offended God by their rebellion. God had been close to them, sharing their affliction, sending the angel of his presence, and putting his Spirit among them. Instead of walking faithfully, they turned away. As a result, he was turned to be their enemy and fought against them. This shows that sin is not just breaking rules, but hurting the heart of the God who has loved, carried, and guided his people.

Why does the passage remember Moses and the exodus?

In their trouble, the people look back to the days of Moses and the exodus. They ask, “Where is he that brought them up out of the sea… that led them through the deep?” They remember how God put his Spirit in Moses, led them safely like a horse in the wilderness, divided the waters, and gave them rest. By recalling these past acts, they stir up faith and hope. They are asking God to act now as he did then, to again make his name known by saving his people.

What does this teach about God as Father and Redeemer?

The people say, “You are our Father… our Redeemer; your name is from everlasting.” Even if Abraham and Israel would not recognize them because of their sin, they trust that God will. Calling him Father shows closeness, care, and a family bond. Calling him Redeemer shows that he pays the price to free his people and takes their cause as his own. This teaches that God’s care for his people rests on who he is and on his promise, not on their strength or worth.

Why do the people say God made them err and hardened their heart?

When they pray, the people say, “Why have you made us to err from your ways, and hardened our heart from your fear?” They are not blaming God in a cold way, but confessing that because of their sin he has withdrawn his guiding Spirit and left them to the hardness they chose. In that sense, their wandering and hardness are part of his just judgment. Their words are a cry for mercy: that God would return, soften their hearts again, and bring them back to a right fear of him.

How does this passage help someone pray today?

This passage shows a pattern for prayer. The prophet first remembers God’s past kindness, how he carried his people, shared their affliction, and saved them. Then he honestly faces their sin and the hard results: they rebelled, grieved his Spirit, and enemies have trampled his sanctuary. Finally, he cries out, “Look down from heaven,” and calls God Father and Redeemer. We can pray in the same way: remember what God has done, confess where we have strayed, and ask him to return and lead us again.

What does this reveal about God’s character toward his people?

Here we see that God is both mighty and near. He comes in strength to judge enemies, yet in all his people’s affliction he is afflicted. He sends the angel of his presence, puts his Spirit among them, and carries them like a shepherd. When they rebel, he does not pretend nothing happened, but may become like an enemy to wake them up. Still, his people know they can call him Father and Redeemer. His justice is real, and his patient love, rooted in his own name, does not fail.

Isa.63.1

Isaiah 63:1

KJV GOD

Who 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.

God’s Vengeance on the Nations

1 Who 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.

2 Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the winefat?

3 I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment.

4 For the day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come.

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.

6 And 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.

God’s Mercies Recalled

7 ¶ I 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.

8 For he said, Surely they are my people, children that will not lie: so he was their Saviour.

9 In 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.

10 ¶ But they rebelled, and vexed his holy Spirit: therefore he was turned to be their enemy, and he fought against them.

11 Then 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?

12 That led them by the right hand of Moses with his glorious arm, dividing the water before them, to make himself an everlasting name?

13 That led them through the deep, as an horse in the wilderness, that they should not stumble?

14 As 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.

A Prayer for Mercy

15 ¶ Look 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?

16 Doubtless 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.

17 ¶ O 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.

18 The people of thy holiness have possessed it but a little while: our adversaries have trodden down thy sanctuary.

19 We are thine: thou never barest rule over them; they were not called by thy name.

Cross References

No cross references available for this verse.