This verse proclaims that God’s judgment is real, unstoppable, and enacted by His might alone.
“I have trodden the wine trough alone, And from the peoples there was no man with Me. I also trod them in My anger And trampled them in My wrath; And their lifeblood is sprinkled on My garments, And I stained all My raiment.” (v.3)
Isaiah was a prophet whose ministry ran from around 740 BC to the early 680s BC, primarily in the kingdom of Judah. In this verse, he depicts a vivid image of God (or the Messiah) pressing and trampling in a winepress all by Himself. It is an unusual picture, yet it evokes the idea of the LORD taking righteous action against wrongdoing. The “wine trough” stands for judgment. In ancient times, grapes were crushed underfoot in a vat to extract their juice. Here, the same language describes how God is pouring out His wrath, delivering consequences upon those who have opposed His holiness. The passage points out the LORD’s solitude: “And from the peoples there was no man with Me” (v.3). No army marches beside Him. He needs no assistance in wielding justice. His righteous indignation is unstoppable, just as pressing grapes alone in a wine trough. He is the only one worthy and able to properly judge.
When Isaiah says, “I also trod them in My anger And trampled them in My wrath” (v.3), he alludes to the completeness of God’s just vengeance. The blood that stains His garments—“their lifeblood is sprinkled on My garments, And I stained all My raiment” (v.3)—symbolizes both the reality and totality of this judgment. While many people might imagine that God’s love and protection mean there is never punishment, Scripture repeatedly shows that the LORD will indeed respond to evil. This imagery reappears in the New Testament (Revelation 19:15), suggesting the ultimate fulfillment in Jesus’s role as judge and king over the nations.
The backdrop for this prophecy, seen in preceding verses, mentions places like Edom and Bozrah (Isaiah 63:1), specifying a historical tension between the people of Edom and Israel over centuries. Isaiah’s vision includes a time when God will come to rescue His people and vent righteous anger against their proud enemies. Historically, Edom (descendants of Esau) lay southeast of Judah, often clashing with Israel. Even though Isaiah 63:3 does not state the names of these regions within the verse itself, the passage as a whole highlights the LORD’s future day of vengeance. Ultimately, it is a prophecy that the LORD’s perfect justice will someday come to full expression, which connects to other Old and New Testament pronouncements of His righteous wrath.
He treads this “wine trough,” not out of a malicious spirit, but to bring about justice, putting evil to an end. Through Jesus, the New Testament clarifies the theme and extends it, teaching that those who place their faith in Him are covered by His righteousness and do not need to fear condemnation (Romans 8:1). However, those who refuse God’s grace remain subject to His fair judgment. Both testaments unite in proclaiming that God judges wrongdoing, whether among His own people or all nations. As Isaiah’s prophecy suggests, God ultimately stands alone in power and holiness to do it.
God alone is full of righteous fury that will be unleashed against persistent evil, but He also extends mercy to all who turn to Him. In that sense, Isaiah 63:3 points not only to a sobering truth about divine judgment but also reminds us of the mercy available for anyone who humbly seeks Him.
This verse previews God’s unstoppable might and the unstoppable certainty of His judgment.
Summary: Isaiah 63:3 paints a dramatic picture of the LORD or the Messiah alone crushing the grapes in a winepress, symbolizing a future day of His righteous wrath, emphasizing His solitary role as judge, His unassailable power, and the comprehensive nature of His justice.
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Isaiah 63:3 meaning
“I have trodden the wine trough alone, And from the peoples there was no man with Me. I also trod them in My anger And trampled them in My wrath; And their lifeblood is sprinkled on My garments, And I stained all My raiment.” (v.3)
Isaiah was a prophet whose ministry ran from around 740 BC to the early 680s BC, primarily in the kingdom of Judah. In this verse, he depicts a vivid image of God (or the Messiah) pressing and trampling in a winepress all by Himself. It is an unusual picture, yet it evokes the idea of the LORD taking righteous action against wrongdoing. The “wine trough” stands for judgment. In ancient times, grapes were crushed underfoot in a vat to extract their juice. Here, the same language describes how God is pouring out His wrath, delivering consequences upon those who have opposed His holiness. The passage points out the LORD’s solitude: “And from the peoples there was no man with Me” (v.3). No army marches beside Him. He needs no assistance in wielding justice. His righteous indignation is unstoppable, just as pressing grapes alone in a wine trough. He is the only one worthy and able to properly judge.
When Isaiah says, “I also trod them in My anger And trampled them in My wrath” (v.3), he alludes to the completeness of God’s just vengeance. The blood that stains His garments—“their lifeblood is sprinkled on My garments, And I stained all My raiment” (v.3)—symbolizes both the reality and totality of this judgment. While many people might imagine that God’s love and protection mean there is never punishment, Scripture repeatedly shows that the LORD will indeed respond to evil. This imagery reappears in the New Testament (Revelation 19:15), suggesting the ultimate fulfillment in Jesus’s role as judge and king over the nations.
The backdrop for this prophecy, seen in preceding verses, mentions places like Edom and Bozrah (Isaiah 63:1), specifying a historical tension between the people of Edom and Israel over centuries. Isaiah’s vision includes a time when God will come to rescue His people and vent righteous anger against their proud enemies. Historically, Edom (descendants of Esau) lay southeast of Judah, often clashing with Israel. Even though Isaiah 63:3 does not state the names of these regions within the verse itself, the passage as a whole highlights the LORD’s future day of vengeance. Ultimately, it is a prophecy that the LORD’s perfect justice will someday come to full expression, which connects to other Old and New Testament pronouncements of His righteous wrath.
He treads this “wine trough,” not out of a malicious spirit, but to bring about justice, putting evil to an end. Through Jesus, the New Testament clarifies the theme and extends it, teaching that those who place their faith in Him are covered by His righteousness and do not need to fear condemnation (Romans 8:1). However, those who refuse God’s grace remain subject to His fair judgment. Both testaments unite in proclaiming that God judges wrongdoing, whether among His own people or all nations. As Isaiah’s prophecy suggests, God ultimately stands alone in power and holiness to do it.
God alone is full of righteous fury that will be unleashed against persistent evil, but He also extends mercy to all who turn to Him. In that sense, Isaiah 63:3 points not only to a sobering truth about divine judgment but also reminds us of the mercy available for anyone who humbly seeks Him.
This verse previews God’s unstoppable might and the unstoppable certainty of His judgment.
Summary: Isaiah 63:3 paints a dramatic picture of the LORD or the Messiah alone crushing the grapes in a winepress, symbolizing a future day of His righteous wrath, emphasizing His solitary role as judge, His unassailable power, and the comprehensive nature of His justice.