Isaiah 64:4

Isaiah 64:4 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him.
• New International Version (NIV)Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him.
• English Standard Version (ESV)From of old no one has heard or perceived by the ear, no eye has seen a God besides you, who acts for those who wait for him.
• New King James Version (NKJV)For since the beginning of the world Men have not heard nor perceived by the ear, Nor has the eye seen any God besides You, Who acts for the one who waits for Him.

Context of Isaiah 64:4

2As [sure as] fire kindles the brushwood, as fire causes water to boil— To make Your name known to Your adversaries, That the nations may tremble at Your presence! 3When You did awesome and amazing things which we did not expect, You came down [at Sinai]; the mountains quaked at Your presence. For from days of old no one has heard, nor has ear perceived, Nor has the eye seen a God besides You, Who works and acts in behalf of the one who [gladly] waits for Him. 5You meet him who rejoices in doing that which is morally right, Who remembers You in Your ways. Indeed, You were angry, for we sinned; We have long continued in our sins [prolonging Your anger]. And shall we be saved [under such circumstances]? 6For we all have become like one who is [ceremonially] unclean [like a leper], And all our deeds of righteousness are like filthy rags; We all wither and decay like a leaf, And our wickedness [our sin, our injustice, our wrongdoing], like the wind, takes us away [carrying us far from God’s favor, toward destruction].

Isaiah 64:4 word by word

וּמֵעוֹלָ֥ם לֹא־שָׁמְע֖וּ לֹ֣א הֶאֱזִ֑ינוּ עַ֣יִן לֹֽא־רָאָ֗תָה אֱלֹהִים֙ זוּלָ֣תְךָ֔ יַעֲשֶׂ֖ה לִמְחַכֵּה־לֽוֹ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• For since the beginning of the worldעוֹלָם‛ôlâm ‛ôlâm · forever: enduringH5769
• have not heardשָׁמַעshâma‛ · to hear: hearH8085
• nor perceived by the earאָזַן'âzan · to listenH238
• neither hath the eyeעַ֫יִן‛ayin · eyeH5869
• seenרָאָהrâ'âh · to see: seeH7200
• O Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
• besideזוּלָהzûlâh · exceptionH2108
• he hath preparedעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213
• for him that waitethחָכָהchâkâh · to waitH2442

Cross-references for Isaiah 64:4

• Psalms 31:19How great is Your goodness, Which You have stored up for those who [reverently] fear You, Which You have prepared for those who take refuge in You, Before the sons of man!
• 1 Corinthians 2:9but just as it is written [in Scripture], “Things which the eye has not seen and the ear has not heard, And which have not entered the heart of man, All that God has prepared for those who love Him [who hold Him in affectionate reverence, who obey Him, and who gratefully recognize the benefits that He has bestowed].”
• Ephesians 3:6[it is this:] that the Gentiles are now joint heirs [with the Jews] and members of the same body, and joint partakers [sharing] in the [same divine] promise in Christ Jesus through [their faith in] the good news [of salvation].
• Colossians 1:26that is, the mystery which was hidden [from angels and mankind] for ages and generations, but has now been revealed to His saints (God’s people).
• 1 Timothy 3:16And great, we confess, is the mystery [the hidden truth] of godliness: He (Jesus Christ) who was revealed in human flesh, Was justified and vindicated in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Preached among the nations, Believed on in the world, Taken up in glory.
• 1 John 3:1See what an incredible quality of love the Father has shown to us, that we would [be permitted to] be named and called and counted the children of God! And so we are! For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.
• 1 John 4:10In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation [that is, the atoning sacrifice, and the satisfying offering] for our sins [fulfilling God’s requirement for justice against sin and placating His wrath].
• Revelation 21:1Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away (vanished), and there is no longer any sea.
• Revelation 22:1Then the angel showed me a river of the water of life, clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb (Christ),
• Matthew 25:34“Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father [you favored of God, appointed to eternal salvation], inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
• John 14:3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and I will take you to Myself, so that where I am you may be also.
• Hebrews 11:16But the truth is that they were longing for a better country, that is, a heavenly one. For that reason God is not ashamed [of them or] to be called their God [even to be surnamed their God—the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob]; for He has prepared a city for them.
• Isaiah 25:9It will be said in that day, “Indeed, this is our God for whom we have waited that He would save us. This is the Lord for whom we have waited; Let us shout for joy and rejoice in His salvation.”
• Genesis 49:18I wait for Your salvation, O Lord.
• Psalms 62:1For God alone my soul waits in silence; From Him comes my salvation.
• Psalms 130:5I wait [patiently] for the Lord, my soul [expectantly] waits, And in His word do I hope.

Commentaries on Isaiah 64:4

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4For 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…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4For 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…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-12The prophet’s reflections on the past (Isaiah 63:7–14) inspire him to pray that God would now rescue his people as he has done before.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 44. perceived by the ear--Paul (1Co 2:9) has for this, "nor have entered into the heart of man"; the virtual sense, sanctioned by his inspired authority; men might hear with the outward ear, but they could only by the Spirit "perceive" with the "heart" the spiritual significancy of God's acts, both those in relation to Israel, primarily referred to here, and those relating to the Gospel secondarily, which Paul refers to. O God ... what he…Read the comment

Topics related to Isaiah 64:4

• God Continued...
• Quotations and Allusions
• Righteous
• Waiting

In the dictionaries

• God
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Fade
• Flow
• Rend
• Isaiah
• Prayer
• Servant of Jehovah; Servant of the Lord; Servant of Yahweh

Commentaries on Isaiah 64

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings