Isaiah 64:5

"For from of old men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, nor has the eye seen a God besides you, who works for him who waits for him."

Key Reflection

In Isaiah 64:5, the prophet asserts that from ancient times, no one has heard of a God like Yahweh who works for those who wait on Him. This declaration would have resonated deeply with the original audience, emphasizing the unique and exclusive nature of Israel’s covenant relationship with God. The idea of a deity who listens to and responds to the prayers of His people was groundbreaking, as it stood in stark contrast to the polytheistic beliefs common among other ancient Near Eastern cultures.

From the Scholars: Barnes' Notes

Thou meetest him -Perhaps there are few verses in the Bible that have given more perplexity to interpreters than this; and after all that has been done, the general impression seems to be, that it is wholly inexplicable, or without meaning - as it certainly is in our translation. Noyes says of his own translation of the last member of the verse, ‘I am not satisfied with this or any other translation of the line which I have seen.’ Lowth says, ‘I am fully persuaded that these words as they stand at present in the Hebrew text are utterly unintelligible. There is no doubt of the meaning of each word separately, but put together they make no sense at all.

More from Isaiah 64

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