Isaiah 63:1–6
"Who is this that cometh from Edom?": the warrior in the winepress and Revelation 19
"Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah?… Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the winefat? I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me." God returns from Edom like a vintager, stained with the juice of the nations he has trampled. The Great Isaiah Scroll reads "of my people" and lacks the most violent line of v. 3. Revelation 19:13–15 borrows the image for a rider "clothed with a vesture dipped in blood" who "treadeth the winepress," and makes changes of its own.
Manuscript variant: witnesses differ in wording
The family tree
Each row is a language or text tradition. Witnesses in the same row may share ancestry, revise one another, or have an uncertain relationship; the line under each box says which. A solid arrow appears only where direct copying or a documented revised edition is established. Order by date never implies copying. Scroll sideways on a phone.
✓ contains it · ✕ does not · ❝ quotes part of it · ⓘ reports on manuscripts · ▢ pages lost · – no copy survives
- Same line, through lost copies
- Translation
- Uncertain connection
- The oracle as first spoken or written8th–6th century BC (by section; debated)
- Great Isaiah Scroll (1QIsa-a), Qumran Cave 1c. 125 BC (palaeography; reported)Descends, through lost copies, from The oracle as first spoken or written
- 1QIsa-b (1Q8), Qumran Cave 11st century BC – 1st century AD (reported)Descends, through lost copies, from The oracle as first spoken or written
- Masoretic Text (Leningrad Codex)AD 1008Descends, through lost copies, from The oracle as first spoken or written
- Revelation 19:13–15 (Greek New Testament; library: Statistical Restoration text)1st century AD; edition 2010sUncertain relationship to the verse (which wording it followed is the question)
- Revelation 14:20 (Greek New Testament; library: Statistical Restoration text)1st century AD; edition 2010sUncertain relationship to the verse (which wording it followed is the question)
Every witness, in order
8th–6th century BC (by section; debated)
The oracle as first spoken or written
No original survives. The oldest copies of Isaiah are the Qumran scrolls: the Great Isaiah Scroll (1QIsa-a, about 125 BC, nearly complete), 1QIsa-b (1Q8) and some twenty other fragmentary manuscripts.
c. 125 BC (palaeography; reported)
Great Isaiah Scroll (1QIsa-a), Qumran Cave 1
How the site knows this: Described from a published transcription of the manuscript. Described in the site's own words from Martin Abegg's transcription (ETCBC/CACCHT Dead Sea Scrolls dataset v2.0.5); the transcription itself is not reproduced. Photographs and DJD XXXII not yet checked.
The winepress I trod alone, and of my people no one was with me; and all my clothing I stained (v. 3, shorter text)
Hebrew numbering: Isaiah 63:1–6. In v. 2 the last word, damaged, is read as beged ("garment") where the Masoretic Text has gat ("winepress"). In v. 3 "and of my people (ammi) no one was with me" where the Masoretic Text has "of the peoples (ammim)"; and the scroll lacks "I trod them in my anger and trampled them in my wrath; their juice spattered on my garments," reading straight on to "and all my clothing I have stained." In v. 5 "no one to uphold" with a different verb of the same meaning (tomekh). Otherwise the differences are of spelling (fuller use of vowel letters) and small grammatical forms.
1st century BC – 1st century AD (reported)
1QIsa-b (1Q8), Qumran Cave 1
How the site knows this: Described from a published transcription of the manuscript. Described in the site's own words from Martin Abegg's transcription (ETCBC/CACCHT Dead Sea Scrolls dataset v2.0.5); the transcription itself is not reproduced. Photographs and DJD XXXII not yet checked.
Hebrew numbering: Isaiah 63:1–6. Contains v. 3 in full, as the Masoretic Text, with "the peoples" and "winepress" (v. 2). In v. 5 "there was no man" where the Masoretic Text has "no one to help."
1st century AD; edition 2010s
Revelation 19:13–15 (Greek New Testament; library: Statistical Restoration text)
How the site knows this: Read in the site's library text: the Greek New Testament editions in the library (Textus Receptus, Byzantine Textform, Statistical Restoration).
καὶ περιβεβλημένος ἱμάτιον βεβαμμένον αἵματι, καὶ κέκληται τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ, ὁ Λόγος τοῦ ˚Θεοῦ. Καὶ τὰ στρατεύματα ἐν τῷ οὐρανῷ ἠκολούθει αὐτῷ ἐφʼ ἵπποις λευκοῖς, ἐνδεδυμένοι βύσσινον λευκὸν καθαρόν. Καὶ ἐκ τοῦ στόματος αὐτοῦ ἐκπορεύεται ῥομφαία ὀξεῖα, ἵνα ἐν αὐτῇ πατάξῃ τὰ ἔθνη, “καὶ αὐτὸς ποιμανεῖ αὐτοὺς ἐν ῥάβδῳ σιδηρᾷ”· καὶ αὐτὸς πατεῖ τὴν ληνὸν τοῦ οἴνου τοῦ θυμοῦ τῆς ὀργῆς τοῦ ˚Θεοῦ τοῦ Παντοκράτορος.
and he is clothed with a garment dipped in blood, and his name is called the Word of God… and he treads the winepress of the wine of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty
Revelation's rider on the white horse. Allusion, not a quotation. KJV: "And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God."
1st century AD; edition 2010s
Revelation 14:20 (Greek New Testament; library: Statistical Restoration text)
How the site knows this: Read in the site's library text: the Greek New Testament editions in the library (Textus Receptus, Byzantine Textform, Statistical Restoration).
Καὶ ἐπατήθη ἡ ληνὸς ἔξωθεν τῆς πόλεως, καὶ ἐξῆλθεν αἷμα ἐκ τῆς ληνοῦ, ἄχρι τῶν χαλινῶν τῶν ἵππων ἀπὸ σταδίων χιλίων ἑξακοσίων.
And the winepress was trodden outside the city, and blood came out of the winepress up to the horses' bridles, for sixteen hundred stadia
Revelation's harvest vision (14:17–20). Allusion, not a quotation. KJV: "And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs."
Jerome c. AD 400, from Hebrew; edition 1592
Latin Vulgate (Clementine)
How the site knows this: Read in the site's library text: Clementine Vulgate (1592 edition).
Quis est iste, qui venit de Edom, tinctis vestibus de Bosra? iste formosus in stola sua, gradiens in multitudine fortitudinis suæ? Ego qui loquor justitiam, et propugnator sum ad salvandum. Quare ergo rubrum est indumentum tuum, et vestimenta tua sicut calcantium in torculari? Torcular calcavi solus, et de gentibus non est vir mecum; calcavi eos in furore meo, et conculcavi eos in ira mea: et aspersus est sanguis eorum super vestimenta mea, et omnia indumenta mea inquinavi. Dies enim ultionis in corde meo; annus redemptionis meæ venit. Circumspexi, et non erat auxiliator; quæsivi, et non fuit qui adjuvaret: et salvavit mihi brachium meum, et indignatio mea ipsa auxiliata est mihi. Et conculcavi populos in furore meo, et inebriavi eos in indignatione mea, et detraxi in terram virtutem eorum.
Latin numbering: Isaiah 63:1–6. Jerome translated Isaiah from Hebrew (c. AD 400).
AD 1008
Masoretic Text (Leningrad Codex)
How the site knows this: Read in the site's library text: Westminster Leningrad Codex, a digital transcription of the Leningrad Codex.
מִי־זֶ֣ה ׀ בָּ֣א מֵאֱד֗וֹם חֲמ֤וּץ בְּגָדִים֙ מִבָּצְרָ֔ה זֶ֚ה הָד֣וּר בִּלְבוּשׁ֔וֹ צֹעֶ֖ה בְּרֹ֣ב כֹּח֑וֹ אֲנִ֛י מְדַבֵּ֥ר בִּצְדָקָ֖ה רַ֥ב לְהוֹשִֽׁיעַ׃ מַדּ֥וּעַ אָדֹ֖ם לִלְבוּשֶׁ֑ךָ וּבְגָדֶ֖יךָ כְּדֹרֵ֥ךְ בְּגַֽת׃ פּוּרָ֣ה ׀ דָּרַ֣כְתִּי לְבַדִּ֗י וּמֵֽעַמִּים֙ אֵֽין־אִ֣ישׁ אִתִּ֔י וְאֶדְרְכֵ֣ם בְּאַפִּ֔י וְאֶרְמְסֵ֖ם בַּחֲמָתִ֑י וְיֵ֤ז נִצְחָם֙ עַל־בְּגָדַ֔י וְכָל־מַלְבּוּשַׁ֖י אֶגְאָֽלְתִּי׃ כִּ֛י י֥וֹם נָקָ֖ם בְּלִבִּ֑י וּשְׁנַ֥ת גְּאוּלַ֖י בָּֽאָה׃ וְאַבִּיט֙ וְאֵ֣ין עֹזֵ֔ר וְאֶשְׁתּוֹמֵ֖ם וְאֵ֣ין סוֹמֵ֑ךְ וַתּ֤וֹשַֽׁע לִי֙ זְרֹעִ֔י וַחֲמָתִ֖י הִ֥יא סְמָכָֽתְנִי׃ וְאָב֤וּס עַמִּים֙ בְּאַפִּ֔י וַאֲשַׁכְּרֵ֖ם בַּחֲמָתִ֑י וְאוֹרִ֥יד לָאָ֖רֶץ נִצְחָֽם׃
The winepress I trod alone, and from the peoples no one was with me; I trod them in my anger and trampled them in my wrath; their juice spattered on my garments, and I stained all my clothing (v. 3)
Hebrew numbering: Isaiah 63:1–6.
1611
King James Bible
How the site knows this: Read in the site's library text: King James Version (1769 text).
Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save. Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the winefat? I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment. For the day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come. And I looked, and there was none to help; and I wondered that there was none to uphold: therefore mine own arm brought salvation unto me; and my fury, it upheld me. And I will tread down the people in mine anger, and make them drunk in my fury, and I will bring down their strength to the earth.
Greek translation c. 2nd century BC; French 1872
Greek Isaiah (library: Giguet's French)
How the site knows this: Known here only through a translation.
Quel est Celui qui vient d’Édom, avec un manteau rouge; qui vient de Bosra, si beau dans sa robe, Pourquoi tes vêtements sont-ils rouges, comme s’ils sortaient du pressoir? Je suis plein de la grappe foulée, et nul homme des nations n’est venu avec moi; je les ai foulés dans ma colère, je les ai broyés comme de la poudre, et j’ai fait couler leur sang sur la terre. Car voici le jour de ma vengeance pour eux, et voici l’année de la Rédemption. J’ai promené mes regards, et nul n’est venu me secourir; j’ai cherché, et je n’ai trouvé nul secours. Et mon bras les à délivrés, et ma colère est survenue. Je les ai foulés dans ma fureur, et j’ai fait couler leur sang à terre.
Greek (digital file) numbering: Isaiah 63:1–6. Giguet's 1872 French of a printed Greek text (D check only); a C check needs Ziegler's Göttingen Isaiah or Rahlfs–Hanhart. The library's Greek is shorter in vv. 1–2 and differs in v. 3 ("I am full of the trodden grape").
What changed, and why
Classification: several variants in 1QIsa-a ("my people"; a shorter v. 3; 1QIsa-b has the full text); wordplay in the Hebrew (Edom/adom "red"; Bozrah/batsir "vintage"); later reuse in Revelation 14 and 19 with real differences.
Revelation is not the same scene: Isaiah's warrior is the LORD, alone, after the battle; Revelation's rider is named "the Word of God," is followed by armies, and his robe is bloody before the battle. Some manuscripts of Revelation 19:13 read "sprinkled" instead of "dipped," a variant that may come from Isaiah 63:3 (reported).
Ancient Christian readers applied the passage to Christ's passion ("I have trodden the winepress alone"), which produced the medieval image of Christ in the winepress. The Battle Hymn of the Republic (1861) draws on 63:3 with Revelation 14:19–20.
What the evidence shows
- 1QIsa-a lacks part of 63:3. Described from a transcription; 1QIsa-b has the full text.
- 1QIsa-a reads "of my people" in 63:3. Described from a transcription.
- Revelation 19:13–15 alludes to Isaiah 63:1–3.
- Isaiah 63 and Revelation 19 describe the same event. Different scenes, figures and timing; Revelation reinterprets the image.
Sources
Related lessons
- Isaiah 63: Who Is This That Cometh from Edom? →"Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah?… I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save. Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel?… I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger… and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments… For the day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come"; no one helped, so his own arm saved and his fury upheld him; he trampled peoples and made them drunk (63:1–6). Then a different voice: "I will mention the lovingkindnesses of the LORD"; God chose Israel and "in all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them"; they rebelled and grieved his holy Spirit; then they remembered Moses, the shepherd who led them through the sea (vv. 7–14). "Look down from heaven… Doubtless thou art our father, though Abraham be ignorant of us"; "why hast thou made us to err from thy ways?"; the adversaries have trodden down the sanctuary; "we are thine: thou never barest rule over them" (vv. 15–19).