Isa 63:1-4 | JFB | STEP | 1. Who —the question of the prophet in prophetic vision. dyed —scarlet with blood ( ). Bozrah —(See on ). travelling —rather, stately; literally, "throwing back the head" [GESENIUS ]. speak in righteousness —answer of Messiah. I, who have in faithfulness given a promise of deliverance, am now about to fulfil it. Rather, speak of righteousness ( ); salvation being meant as the result of His "righteousness" [MAURER ]. save —The same Messiah that destroys the unbeliever saves the believer.

Isaiah 63:1-4

1. Who—the question of the prophet in prophetic vision.

dyed—scarlet with blood (Isa 63:2, 3; Re 19:13).

Bozrah—(See on Isa 34:6).

travelling—rather, stately; literally, "throwing back the head" [GESENIUS].

speak in righteousness—answer of Messiah. I, who have in faithfulness given a promise of deliverance, am now about to fulfil it. Rather, speak of righteousness (Isa 45:19; 46:13); salvation being meant as the result of His "righteousness" [MAURER].

save—The same Messiah that destroys the unbeliever saves the believer.

2. The prophet asks why His garments are "dyed" and "red."

winefat—rather, the "wine-press," wherein the grapes were trodden with the feet; the juice would stain the garment of him who trod them (Re 14:19, 20; 19:15). The image was appropriate, as the country round Bozrah abounded in grapes. This final blow inflicted by Messiah and His armies (Re 19:13-15) shall decide His claim to the kingdoms usurped by Satan, and by the "beast," to whom Satan delegates his power. It will be a day of judgment to the hostile Gentiles, as His first coming was a day of judgment to the unbelieving Jews.

3. Reply of Messiah. For the image, see La 1:15. He "treads the wine-press" here not as a sufferer, but as an inflicter of vengeance.

will tread . . . shall be . . . will stain—rather preterites, "I trod . . . trampled . . . was sprinkled . . . I stained."

blood—literally, "spirited juice" of the grape, pressed out by treading [GESENIUS].

4. is—rather, "was." This assigns the reason why He has thus destroyed the foe (Zep 3:8).

my redeemed—My people to be redeemed.

day . . . year—here, as in Isa 34:8; 61:2, the time of "vengeance" is described as a "day"; that of grace and of "recompense" to the "redeemed," as a "year."