Isaiah 64:4 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Isaiah 64:1-5

Here, I. The petition is that God would appear wonderfully for them now, Isa. 63:1, 2. Their case was represented in the close of the foregoing chapter as very sad and very hard, and in this case it was time to cry, ?Help, Lord; O that God would manifest his zeal and his strength!? They had prayed (Isa. 63:15) that God would look down from heaven; here they pray that he would come down to deliver them, as he had said, Exod. 3:8. 1. They desire that God would in his providence manifest himself... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 64:4

For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear ,.... Not only the things unexpected, undesired, and undeserved, had been done for the Lord's people of old; but there were other things, unheard of and unseen, which God, in his secret counsels, had prepared for them; and for which reason his appearance in his providential dispensations was the more to be desired and entreated. The Apostle Paul has cited this passage in 1 Corinthians 2:9 and applied it to... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 64:4

For since the beginning of the world men have not heard "For never have men heard" - St. Paul is generally supposed to have quoted this passage of Isaiah, 1 Corinthians 2:9 ; and Clemens Romanus in his first epistle has made the same quotation, very nearly in the same words with the apostle. But the citation is so very different both from the Hebrew text and the version of the Septuagint, that it seems very difficult, if not impossible, to reconcile them by any literal emendation, without... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 64:1-5

Longing for the appearance of God. "Widely yawns the gulf between Israel and her God. A revelation on the widest possible scale is necessary to smite down unbelief and annihilate opposition; God himself must appear." I. FIGURES OF THE MANIFESTATION OF GOD . The rending of the heavens. For the time of trouble is as the hiding of the face of God behind thick clouds ( Job 22:13 , Job 22:14 ). The word given, rend , is very strong —tear asunder , as garments in grief... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 64:1-5

Hope in God. The fervent language of the text is indicative of an intense spiritual struggle; the heart of the prophet is filled with conflicting hopes and fears. Sensible of great national sins, but mindful of great mercies at the hand of God, he now fears lest Israel has gone beyond redemption, and now prays for Divine rescue and restoration. We have— I. A SENSE OF GOD 'S OVERWHELMING POWER . Israel was brought very low; her land was desolate, her people scattered, her... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 64:1-12

ISRAEL 'S PRAYER CONTINUED AND CONCLUDED . Not content with praying God to look upon them once more with favour ( Isaiah 63:15 ), Israel now asks for a theophany, or manifestation of the Divine Presence, such as they have experienced in the times of old, and such as shall suffice to strike terror into the hearts of their enemies ( Isaiah 64:1-4 ). With profound humility confessing their manifold and grievous iniquities, they beseech God once more, as their Father and Maker,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 64:4

Neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee , what he hath prepared, etc.; rather, as in the margin, neither hath the eye seen a God , beside thee , which worketh for him that waiteth upon him. The only "living God" who really works for his votaries, and does them good service, is Jehovah (comp. Isaiah 41:23 , Isaiah 41:24 ; Isaiah 44:9 , etc.). read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 64:4

Man's ignorance of God's goodness to him. "For from of old men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen a God beside thee, which worketh for him that waiteth for him" (Revised Version). A very old weakness of humanity it is to try and find somebody who may be preferred to God, and this comes out of the fact that God is so very imperfectly known, or else is so very strangely misunderstood. A hint is here given us of the reason why there is so much misunderstanding... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 64:4

For since the beginning of the world - This verse is quoted, though not literally, by the apostle Paul, as illustrating the effects of the gospel in producing happiness and salvation (see the notes at 1 Corinthians 2:9). The meaning here is, that nowhere else among people had there been such blessings imparted, and such happiness enjoyed; or so many proofs of love and protection, as among those who were the people of God, and who feared him.Men have not heard - In no nation in all past time... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Isaiah 64:3-4

Isaiah 64:3-4. When thou didst terrible things This may relate to what he did first in Egypt, and afterward in the wilderness; which we looked not for Such things as we could not have expected; the mountains flowed down See Exodus 19:18; Deuteronomy 32:22; Psalms 18:7, with the notes. But Lowth proposes another interpretation, which he thinks agrees better with what follows, namely, When thou shalt do terrible and unexpected things, when thou shalt come down, (and visibly interpose for... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Isaiah 64:1-5

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 64:4

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 64:4

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 64:1-5

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 64:1-5

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 64:1-12

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 64:4

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 64:4

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 64:4

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Isaiah 64:3-4

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