Isaiah 63:16

A Prayer for Mercy · Isaiah 63:15–19
Read Isaiah 63

Translations

Modern
Yet You are our Father, though Abraham does not know us and Israel does not acknowledge us. You, O LORD, are our Father; our Redeemer from Everlasting is Your name.
Traditional
Doubtless thou art our father, though Abraham be ignorant of us, and Israel acknowledge us not: thou, O Lord, art our father, our redeemer; thy name is from everlasting.
Literal
For You are our Father, though Abraham does not know us and Israel does not acknowledge us, You, O YHWH, are our Father, Our Redeemer from Everlasting is Your name.
Latin
Tu enim pater noster: et Abraham nescivit nos, et Israël ignoravit nos: tu, Domine, pater noster, redemptor noster, a sæculo nomen tuum.

Original

Hebrew
English
Yet You are our Father, though Abraham does not know us and Israel does not acknowledge us. You, O LORD, are our Father; our Redeemer from Everlasting is Your name.

Notes

our Father: God is described as a Father to his people. His care and faithfulness to his children are stronger and more secure than their family or national ancestry.

Their true identity does not depend only on being descendants of Abraham. It depends on belonging to God as his children (see Isaiah 9:6; 64:8; Deuteronomy 32:6; Psalm 68:5; Malachi 2:10; Matthew 6:9–15; Romans 8:15–17).

The 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.

Theme notes and profiles

Isaiah God’s Servant Salvation in Isaiah

Events

Parallels

Jeremiah 14:19–22

People

Abraham: Patriarch, chosen by God to father His people Israel: Patriarch, son of Isaac, father of twelve tribes

Glossary

God, Names of Isaiah, Book of New Creation, New Creature New Jerusalem

Topics

Adoption is to be Pleaded in Prayer Adoption: Spiritual Afflictions and Adversities: Prayer In Faith: Exemplified God: Eternity of God: Fatherhood of God: Saviour Privileges of Saints: Having God for Their: Father