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.
• 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.
• New Living Translation (NLT)For since the world began, no ear has heard and no eye has seen a God like you, who works for those who wait for him!

Context of Isaiah 64:4

2As when fire sets twigs ablaze and causes water to boil, come down to make your name known to your enemies and cause the nations to quake before you! 3For when you did awesome things that we did not expect, you came down, and the mountains trembled before you. 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. 5You come to the help of those who gladly do right, who remember your ways. But when we continued to sin against them, you were angry. How then can we be saved? 6All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.

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 abundant are the good things that you have stored up for those who fear you, that you bestow in the sight of all, on those who take refuge in you.
• 1 Corinthians 2:9However, as it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived”— the things God has prepared for those who love him—
• Ephesians 3:6This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.
• Colossians 1:26the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord’s people.
• 1 Timothy 3:16Beyond all question, the mystery from which true godliness springs is great: He appeared in the flesh, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory.
• 1 John 3:1See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.
• 1 John 4:10This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.
• Revelation 21:1Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea.
• Revelation 22:1Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb
• Matthew 25:34“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.
• John 14:3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.
• Hebrews 11:16Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.
• Isaiah 25:9In that day they will say, “Surely this is our God; we trusted in him, and he saved us. This is the Lord, we trusted in him; let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation.”
• Genesis 49:18“I look for your deliverance, Lord.
• Psalms 62:1Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him.
• Psalms 130:5I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my 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