Isaiah 64:2
1 If only You would rend the heavens and come down, so that mountains would quake at Your presence,
as fire kindles the brushwood and causes the water to boil, to make Your name known to Your enemies, so that the nations will tremble at Your presence!
3 When You did awesome works that we did not expect, You came down, and the mountains trembled at Your presence.
4 From 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.
This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- as fire kindles the brushwood and causes the water to boil, to make Your name known to Your enemies, so that the nations will tremble at Your presence!
- KJV
- As when the melting fire burneth, the fire causeth the waters to boil, to make thy name known to thine adversaries, that the nations may tremble at thy presence!
- WEB
- as when fire kindles the brushwood, and the fire causes the water to boil. Make your name known to your adversaries, that the nations may tremble at your presence!
- ASV
- as when fire kindleth the brushwood, [and] the fire causeth the waters to boil; to make thy name known to thine adversaries, that the nations may tremble at thy presence!
- DARBY
- as fire kindleth brushwood, as the fire causeth water to boil, to make thy name known to thine adversaries, that the nations might tremble at thy presence!
- BLB
- like the kindling of brushwood [by] the fire—the fire boils the waters—to make known Your name to Your adversaries, [that] before Your face the nations will tremble,
- ÅB
- Gid du ville sønderrive himmelen og fare ned, så fjellene skalv for ditt åsyn, slik som ilden setter kvister i brann og får vannet til å koke - for å kunngjøre ditt navn for dine motstandere, så folkene måtte skjelve for ditt åsyn,
- OTB
- Som ild antenner kvister og får vann til å koke, kom ned for å gjøre ditt navn kjent for dine motstandere, så nasjonene kan skjelve for ditt åsyn!
- B1930
- Gid du vilde sønderrive himmelen og fare ned, så fjellene skalv for ditt åsyn, likesom ilden setter kvister i brand og får vannet til å koke - for å kunngjøre ditt navn for dine motstandere, så folkene måtte skjelve for ditt åsyn,
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Psalms 99:1
The LORD reigns; let the nations tremble! He is enthroned above the cherubim; let the earth quake!
Read in contextJeremiah 33:9
So this city will bring Me renown, joy, praise, and glory before all the nations of the earth, who will hear of all the good I do for it. They will tremble in awe because of all the goodness and prosperity that I will provide for it.
Read in contextIsaiah 37:20
And now, O LORD our God, save us from his hand, so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You alone, O LORD, are God.”
Read in contextJeremiah 5:22
Do you not fear Me?” declares the LORD. “Do you not tremble before Me, the One who set the sand as the boundary for the sea, an enduring barrier it cannot cross? The waves surge, but they cannot prevail. They roar but cannot cross it.
Read in contextDaniel 6:25–27
Then King Darius wrote to the people of every nation and language throughout the land: “May your prosperity abound.
Read in contextEzekiel 38:22–23
I will execute judgment upon him with plague and bloodshed. I will pour out torrents of rain, hailstones, fire, and sulfur on him and on his troops and on the many nations with him.
Read in contextExodus 14:4
And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart so that he will pursue them. But I will gain honor by means of Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD.” So this is what the Israelites did.
Read in contextPsalms 102:15–16
So the nations will fear the name of the LORD, and all the kings of the earth will fear Your glory.
Read in context