The Meaning of Isaiah 63:2 Explained

Isaiah 63:2

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

YLT: Wherefore is thy clothing red? And thy garments as treading in a wine fat?'

Darby: Wherefore is redness in thine apparel, And thy garments like him that treadeth in the winevat?

ASV: Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the winevat?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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

What does Isaiah 63:2 Mean?

Verse Meaning

The watchman asked the Warrior why His garments were red, stained red as when one treads grapes in a winepress (cf. Isaiah 5:2).

Context Summary

Isaiah 63:1-9 - The Mighty Savior
For long years there had been virulent hostility between Israel and Edom. It began when Esau and Jacob were lads. It broke out in bitterness when Edom denied Israel the right of passage, Numbers 20:20-21. When Babylon had triumphed over Jerusalem, Edom urged that her walls should be leveled to the ground, Psalms 137:7.
How great the change pictured here! The prophet stands at the division of the two countries, looking south, from the foothills of Judah across the sandy waste. In the distance he beholds the mighty Warrior coming up from Edom, His garments wet, not with His own blood, but with Edom's; henceforth to stand as sentinel between Edom and Israel, so that nevermore need Israel fear invasion.
If Edom stands for sins of passion or for the hatred of unscrupulous foes, see how safe and blessed you are. Jesus, the Mighty to save, stands between you and your besetting sins, between you and your fears, between you and the power of the adversary, Psalms 63:9. "Mention the lovingkindness of the Lord!" [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 63:2 mean?

Why [is] red Your apparel and Your garments like one who treads in the winepress
מַדּ֥וּעַ אָדֹ֖ם לִלְבוּשֶׁ֑ךָ וּבְגָדֶ֖יךָ כְּדֹרֵ֥ךְ ؟ בְּגַֽת

מַדּ֥וּעַ  Why  [is] 
Parse: Interrogative
Root: מַדּוּעַ  
Sense: why?, on what account?, wherefore?.
אָדֹ֖ם  red 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: אָדֹם  
Sense: red, ruddy (of man, horse, heifer, garment, water, lentils).
לִלְבוּשֶׁ֑ךָ  Your  apparel 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: לָבוּשׁ 
Sense: clothing, garment, apparel, raiment.
וּבְגָדֶ֖יךָ  and  Your  garments 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine plural construct, second person masculine singular
Root: בֶּגֶד 
Sense: treachery, deceit.
כְּדֹרֵ֥ךְ  like  one  who  treads 
Parse: Preposition-k, Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: דָּרַךְ  
Sense: to tread, bend, lead, march.
؟ בְּגַֽת  in  the  winepress 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, feminine singular
Root: גַּת  
Sense: winepress, wine vat.

What are the major concepts related to Isaiah 63:2?

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