Isaiah 64:1
Oh that thou wouldest rend the heavens, that thou wouldest come down, that the mountains might flow down at thy presence,
Original Language Analysis
לוּא
Oh
H3863
לוּא
Oh
Strong's:
H3863
Word #:
1 of 7
a conditional particle; if; by implication (interj. as a wish) would that!
קָרַ֤עְתָּ
that thou wouldest rend
H7167
קָרַ֤עְתָּ
that thou wouldest rend
Strong's:
H7167
Word #:
2 of 7
to rend, literally or figuratively (revile, paint the eyes, as if enlarging them)
שָׁמַ֙יִם֙
the heavens
H8064
שָׁמַ֙יִם֙
the heavens
Strong's:
H8064
Word #:
3 of 7
the sky (as aloft; the dual perhaps alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds move, as well as to the higher ether where the celestial bodies r
יָרַ֔דְתָּ
that thou wouldest come down
H3381
יָרַ֔דְתָּ
that thou wouldest come down
Strong's:
H3381
Word #:
4 of 7
to descend (literally, to go downwards; or conventionally to a lower region, as the shore, a boundary, the enemy, etc.; or figuratively, to fall); cau
מִפָּנֶ֖יךָ
at thy presence
H6440
מִפָּנֶ֖יךָ
at thy presence
Strong's:
H6440
Word #:
5 of 7
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi
Cross References
Mark 1:10And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him:Revelation 20:11And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.Psalms 68:8The earth shook, the heavens also dropped at the presence of God: even Sinai itself was moved at the presence of God, the God of Israel.Isaiah 63:15Look down from heaven, and behold from the habitation of thy holiness and of thy glory: where is thy zeal and thy strength, the sounding of thy bowels and of thy mercies toward me? are they restrained?Exodus 3:8And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites.Amos 9:13Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him that soweth seed; and the mountains shall drop sweet wine, and all the hills shall melt.Psalms 46:6The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted.Exodus 19:11And be ready against the third day: for the third day the LORD will come down in the sight of all the people upon mount Sinai.
Historical Context
This prayer for divine intervention echoes Israel's Sinai experience and anticipates the incarnation when God did 'come down.' It expresses the longing of every generation for fresh divine action.
Questions for Reflection
- What would it look like for God to 'rend the heavens' in your situation?
- How has God already answered this prayer in Christ's coming?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
'Oh that thou wouldest rend the heavens, that thou wouldest come down, that the mountains might flow down at thy presence.' This passionate prayer continues from chapter 63. The Hebrew 'qara' (rend/tear) expresses violent breaking through. 'Come down' (yarad) requests theophany - divine appearance. Mountains flowing recalls Sinai's trembling (Exodus 19:18).