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

2Be like the fire that kindles brushwood and makes water boil. Come down to make your name known to your enemies. The nations will tremble in your presence. 3When you did awe-inspiring things that we didn’t expect, you came down and the mountains quaked in your presence. No one has ever heard, no one has paid attention, and no one has seen any god except you. You help those who wait for you. 5You greeted the one who gladly does right and remembers your ways. You showed your anger, because we’ve sinned. We’ve continued to sin for a long time. Can we still be saved? 6We’ve all become unclean, and all our righteous acts are like permanently stained rags. All of us shrivel like leaves, and our sins carry us away like the wind.

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 31:19Your kindness is so great! You reserve it for those who fear you. Adam’s descendants watch as you show it to those who take refuge in you.
• 1 Corinthians 2:9But as Scripture says: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined the things that God has prepared for those who love him.”
• Ephesians 3:6This mystery is the Good News that people who are not Jewish have the same inheritance as Jewish people do. They belong to the same body and share the same promise that God made in Christ Jesus.
• Colossians 1:26In the past God hid this mystery, but now he has revealed it to his people.
• 1 Timothy 3:16The mystery that gives us our reverence for God is acknowledged to be great: He appeared in his human nature, was approved by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was announced throughout the nations, was believed in the world, and was taken to heaven in glory.
• 1 John 3:1Consider this: The Father has given us his love. He loves us so much that we are actually called God’s dear children. And that’s what we are. For this reason the world doesn’t recognize us, and it didn’t recognize him either.
• 1 John 4:10This is love: not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the payment for our sins.
• Revelation 21:1I saw a new heaven and a new earth, because the first heaven and earth had disappeared, and the sea was gone.
• Revelation 22:1The angel showed me a river filled with the water of life, as clear as crystal. It was flowing from the throne of God and the lamb.
• Matthew 25:34“Then the king will say to those on his right, ‘Come, my Father has blessed you! Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world.
• John 14:3If I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again. Then I will bring you into my presence so that you will be where I am.
• Hebrews 11:16Instead, these men were longing for a better country—a heavenly country. That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God. He has prepared a city for them.
• Isaiah 25:9On that day ⌞his people⌟ will say, “This is our God; we have waited for him, and now he will save us. This is the Lord; we have waited for him. Let us rejoice and be glad because he will save us.”
• Genesis 49:18“I wait with hope for you to rescue me, O Lord.
• Psalms 62:1My soul waits calmly for God alone. My salvation comes from him.
• Psalms 130:5I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and with hope I wait for his word.

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