God exercises both judgment and redemption to uphold righteousness.
“Why is Your apparel red, And Your garments like the one who treads in the wine press?” (v.2)
This question is part of a vision where Isaiah (active as a prophet around 740-680 BC) sees a majestic figure returning from the region of Edom, symbolically stained red. Edom was located southeast of Judah, in an area that encompasses parts of modern southwestern Jordan. Though Edom is not named in verse two, it is introduced immediately before this verse in the same prophetic scene (Isaiah 63:1), indicating the broader setting of God’s comprehensive judgment and salvation as He traverses the nations. This rhetorical question captures the prophet’s astonishment at the vivid imagery of the figure’s red-stained clothes, hinting at divine action that is both judicial and redemptive.
The verse’s metaphor of treading in the wine press conveys someone crushing grapes, with the juice splattering onto the garments. In the prophetic context, this image indicates the LORD’s execution of judgment upon evil. The reddened apparel implies that those who oppose God’s righteous rule will face His justice, a concept echoed elsewhere in Scripture. In Revelation 19:13, Jesus is described as wearing a robe dipped in blood during His return in victory, linking Isaiah’s symbolism of stained clothing to the New Testament portrayal of Christ as the just and conquering King.
Isaiah 63:2 also highlights the sober reality that God’s deliverance of His people can involve discipline on those who choose to remain hostile toward Him. The treading of grapes makes clear that no evil will escape the Creator’s oversight. Yet this image also underlines hope for the faithful, as God’s plan ultimately culminates in redemption for those who trust in Him. By painting the visual of red-stained garments, Isaiah presents the gravity and holiness of divine judgment while assuring believers that God’s justice is perfect and unassailable.
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Isaiah 63:2 meaning
“Why is Your apparel red, And Your garments like the one who treads in the wine press?” (v.2)
This question is part of a vision where Isaiah (active as a prophet around 740-680 BC) sees a majestic figure returning from the region of Edom, symbolically stained red. Edom was located southeast of Judah, in an area that encompasses parts of modern southwestern Jordan. Though Edom is not named in verse two, it is introduced immediately before this verse in the same prophetic scene (Isaiah 63:1), indicating the broader setting of God’s comprehensive judgment and salvation as He traverses the nations. This rhetorical question captures the prophet’s astonishment at the vivid imagery of the figure’s red-stained clothes, hinting at divine action that is both judicial and redemptive.
The verse’s metaphor of treading in the wine press conveys someone crushing grapes, with the juice splattering onto the garments. In the prophetic context, this image indicates the LORD’s execution of judgment upon evil. The reddened apparel implies that those who oppose God’s righteous rule will face His justice, a concept echoed elsewhere in Scripture. In Revelation 19:13, Jesus is described as wearing a robe dipped in blood during His return in victory, linking Isaiah’s symbolism of stained clothing to the New Testament portrayal of Christ as the just and conquering King.
Isaiah 63:2 also highlights the sober reality that God’s deliverance of His people can involve discipline on those who choose to remain hostile toward Him. The treading of grapes makes clear that no evil will escape the Creator’s oversight. Yet this image also underlines hope for the faithful, as God’s plan ultimately culminates in redemption for those who trust in Him. By painting the visual of red-stained garments, Isaiah presents the gravity and holiness of divine judgment while assuring believers that God’s justice is perfect and unassailable.