The Meaning of Isaiah 63:12 Explained

Isaiah 63:12

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

YLT: Leading by the right hand of Moses, the arm of His glory, Cleaving waters from before them, To make to Himself a name age-during.

Darby: his glorious arm leading them by the right hand of Moses, dividing the waters before them, to make himself an everlasting name,

ASV: that caused his glorious arm to go at the right hand of Moses? that divided the waters before them, to make himself an everlasting name?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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

What does Isaiah 63:12 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Then God had manifested His power through Moses, His right-hand-man in the Exodus. The Lord had divided the waters of the Red Sea and had divided the waters of the Jordan River. He had thereby earned an everlasting reputation among His people and even among the nations.

Context Summary

Isaiah 63:10-19 - Salvation Obstructed By Rebellion
The exhortation of the Apostle against grieving the Holy Spirit is based on Isaiah 63:10. See Ephesians 4:30. There is no limit to the gracious work which the Holy Spirit will do in and for us, if only we will take jealous care of our behavior toward Him. Be especially heedful about thy speech! The least uncharitableness hurts Him, as frost the spring-blossoms.
But God never forgets the blessed past and labors to restore it. See what He will do! His power shall work through a human wrist, Isaiah 63:12. Before Him the waters part and leave a path for His chosen. All that would cause us to stumble is taken out of the way and we are led as on a level plain. As cattle descend into the hollows of the hills at noon, to escape the sultry heat, so will God's Spirit cause us to rest. Oh, claim that these promises be realized! He is Father, Redeemer, the Eternal, the Lover of souls! Even when we believe not and have forfeited all claim on Him, He remaineth faithful and cannot deny Himself! [source]

Chapter Summary: Isaiah 63

1  Christ shows who he is
2  What his victory over his enemies
7  And what his mercy toward his church
10  In his just wrath he remembers his free mercy
15  The church, in her prayer
17  And complaint, professes her faith

What do the individual words in Isaiah 63:12 mean?

Who led [them] by the right hand of Moses with arm His glorious Dividing the water before them to make for Himself name an everlasting
מוֹלִיךְ֙ לִימִ֣ין מֹשֶׁ֔ה זְר֖וֹעַ תִּפְאַרְתּ֑וֹ בּ֤וֹקֵֽעַ מַ֙יִם֙ מִפְּנֵיהֶ֔ם לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת ל֖וֹ שֵׁ֥ם ؟ עוֹלָֽם

מוֹלִיךְ֙  Who  led  [them] 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Participle, masculine singular
Root: הָלַךְ  
Sense: to go, walk, come.
לִימִ֣ין  by  the  right  hand 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: יָמִין  
Sense: right, right hand, right side.
מֹשֶׁ֔ה  of  Moses 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: מֹשֶׁה  
Sense: the prophet and lawgiver, leader of the exodus.
זְר֖וֹעַ  with  arm 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: זְרֹועַ  
Sense: arm, forearm, shoulder, strength.
תִּפְאַרְתּ֑וֹ  His  glorious 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: תִּפְאֶרֶת  
Sense: beauty, splendour, glory.
בּ֤וֹקֵֽעַ  Dividing 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: בָּקַע  
Sense: to split, cleave, break open, divide, break through, rip up, break up, tear.
מַ֙יִם֙  the  water 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: מַיִם  
Sense: water, waters.
מִפְּנֵיהֶ֔ם  before  them 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine plural
Root: לִפְנֵי 
Sense: face.
לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת  to  make 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.
ל֖וֹ  for  Himself 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular
שֵׁ֥ם  name 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: שֵׁם  
Sense: name.
؟ עוֹלָֽם  an  everlasting 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: עֹולָם  
Sense: long duration, antiquity, futurity, for ever, ever, everlasting, evermore, perpetual, old, ancient, world.