Christian Standard Bible
Isaiah 64:1
1If only you would tear the heavens open and come down, so that mountains would quake at your presence —
Isaiah 64:1 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Oh that thou wouldest rend the heavens, that thou wouldest come down, that the mountains might flow down at thy presence,
- New International Version (NIV)Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains would tremble before you!
- English Standard Version (ESV)Oh that you would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains might quake at your presence—
- New King James Version (NKJV)Oh, that You would rend the heavens! That You would come down! That the mountains might shake at Your presence—
Context of Isaiah 64:1
If only you would tear the heavens open and come down, so that mountains would quake at your presence — 2just as fire kindles brushwood, and fire boils water — to make your name known to your enemies, so that nations would tremble at your presence! 3When you did awesome works that we did not expect, you came down, and the mountains quaked at your presence.
Read all of Isaiah 64Isaiah 64:1 word by word
לוּא־קָרַ֤עְתָּ שָׁמַ֙יִם֙ יָרַ֔דְתָּ מִפָּנֶ֖יךָ הָרִ֥ים נָזֹֽלּוּ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Ohלוּlû' lû' lû · ifH3863
- that thou wouldest rendקָרַעqâra‛ · to tearH7167
- the heavensשָׁמַיִםshâmayim shâmeh · heavenH8064
- that thou wouldest come downיָרַדyârad · to go downH3381
- that the mountainsהַרhar · mountain: mountH2022
- might flow downזָלַלzâlal · to shakeH2151
- at thy presenceפָּנֶהpânîym · face: beforeH6440
Cross-references for Isaiah 64:1
- Psalms 18:7Then the earth shook and quaked; the foundations of the mountains trembled; they shook because he burned with anger.
- Psalms 144:5Lord, part your heavens and come down. Touch the mountains, and they will smoke.
- Mark 1:10As soon as he came up out of the water, he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove.
- Isaiah 63:15Look down from heaven and see from your lofty home — holy and beautiful. Where is your zeal and your might? Your yearning and your compassion are withheld from me.
- Exodus 3:8and I have come down to rescue them from the power of the Egyptians and to bring them from that land to a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey — the territory of the Canaanites, Hethites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites.
- Exodus 19:11and be prepared by the third day, for on the third day the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people.
- Micah 1:3Look, the Lord is leaving his place and coming down to trample the heights of the earth.
- Habakkuk 3:1A prayer of the prophet Habakkuk. According to Shigionoth.
- Judges 5:4Lord, when you came from Seir, when you marched from the fields of Edom, the earth trembled, the skies poured rain, and the clouds poured water.
- Psalms 46:6Nations rage, kingdoms topple; the earth melts when he lifts his voice.
- Psalms 68:8the earth trembled and the skies poured rain before God, the God of Sinai, before God, the God of Israel.
- Psalms 114:4The mountains skipped like rams, the hills, like lambs.
- Amos 9:5The Lord, the God of Armies — he touches the earth; it melts, and all who dwell in it mourn; all of it rises like the Nile and subsides like the Nile of Egypt.
- Nahum 1:5The mountains quake before him, and the hills melt; the earth trembles at his presence — the world and all who live in it.
- 2 Peter 3:10But the day of the Lord will come like a thief; on that day the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, the elements will burn and be dissolved, and the earth and the works on it will be disclosed.
- Revelation 20:11Then I saw a great white throne and one seated on it. Earth and heaven fled from his presence, and no place was found for them.
Commentaries on Isaiah 64:1
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1O that thou wouldest rend the heavens - This seems to allude to the wonderful manifestation of God upon Mount Sinai.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1Oh that thou wouldest rend the heavens - That is, in view of the considerations urged in the previous chapter. In view of the fact that the temple is burned up Isaiah 64:11; that the city is desolate; that the land lies waste, and that thine own people are carried captive to a distant land. The phrase rend the heavens,‘ implies a sudden and sublime descent of Yahweh to execute vengeance on his foes, as if his heart was full of vengeance, and the firmament…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1The church prays that God's power may be manifested. (Is. 64:1-5) A confession of sin, and afflictions bewailed. (Is. 64:6-12) Verses 1-5 They desire that God would manifest himself to them and for them, so that all may see it. This is applicable to the second coming of Christ, when the Lord himself shall descend from heaven. They plead what God had used to do, and had declared his gracious purpose to do, for his people. They need not fear being…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. 1-121. rend ... heavens--bursting forth to execute vengeance, suddenly descending on Thy people's foe (Psa 18:9; 144:5; Ha 3:5, 6). flow down--(Jud 5:5; Mi 1:4).Read the comment
Topics related to Isaiah 64:1
In the dictionaries
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
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