New English Translation
Isaiah 64:4
4Since ancient times no one has heard or perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who intervenes for those who wait for him.
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
2(64:1) As when fire ignites dry wood, or fire makes water boil, let your adversaries know who you are, and may the nations shake at your presence! 3When you performed awesome deeds that took us by surprise, you came down, and the mountains trembled before you. Since ancient times no one has heard or perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who intervenes for those who wait for him. 5You assist those who delight in doing what is right, who observe your commandments. Look, you were angry because we violated them continually. How then can we be saved? 6We are all like one who is unclean, all our so-called righteous acts are like a menstrual rag in your sight. We all wither like a leaf; our sins carry us away like the wind.
Read all of Isaiah 64Isaiah 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 favor, which you store up for your loyal followers! In plain sight of everyone you bestow it on those who take shelter in you.
- 1 Corinthians 2:9But just as it is written, “Things that no eye has seen, or ear heard, or mind imagined, are the things God has prepared for those who love him.”
- Ephesians 3:6namely, that through the gospel the Gentiles are fellow heirs, fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus.
- Colossians 1:26that is, the mystery that has been kept hidden from ages and generations, but has now been revealed to his saints.
- 1 Timothy 3:16And we all agree, our religion contains amazing revelation: He was revealed in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among Gentiles, believed on in the world, taken up in glory.
- 1 John 3:1(See what sort of love the Father has given to us: that we should be called God’s children – and indeed 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 have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins.
- Revelation 21:1Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and earth had ceased to exist, and the sea existed no more.
- Revelation 22:1Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life – water as clear as crystal – pouring out from the throne of God and of the Lamb,
- Matthew 25:34Then the king will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
- John 14:3And if I go and make ready a place for you, I will come again and take you to be with me, so that where I am you may be too.
- Hebrews 11:16But as it is, they aspire to a better land, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.
- Isaiah 25:9At that time they will say, “Look, here is our God! We waited for him and he delivered us. Here is the Lord! We waited for him. Let’s rejoice and celebrate his deliverance!”
- Genesis 49:18I wait for your deliverance, O Lord.
- Psalms 62:1For God alone I patiently wait; he is the one who delivers me.
- Psalms 130:5I rely on the Lord, I rely on him with my whole being; I wait for his assuring 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
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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