The Meaning of Isaiah 63:11 Explained

Isaiah 63:11

KJV: Then he remembered the days of old, Moses, and his people, saying, Where is he that brought them up out of the sea with the shepherd of his flock? where is he that put his holy Spirit within him?

YLT: And He remembereth the days of old, Moses -- his people. Where is He who is bringing them up from the sea, The shepherd of his flock? Where is He who is putting in its midst His Holy Spirit?

Darby: But he remembered the days of old, Moses and his people: Where is he that brought them up out of the sea with the shepherds of his flock? Where is he that put his holy Spirit within him,

ASV: Then he remembered the days of old, Moses and his people,'saying , Where is he that brought them up out of the sea with the shepherds of his flock? where is he that put his holy Spirit in the midst of them?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Then he remembered  the days  of old,  Moses,  [and] his people,  [saying], Where [is] he that brought them up  out of the sea  with the shepherd  of his flock?  where [is] he that put  his holy  Spirit  within  him? 

What does Isaiah 63:11 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Having experienced the chastening of the Lord for some time, the Israelites then reflected on former times when God had fought for His people rather than against them. Watts took the questioner to be the preacher of this section. [1] The Exodus is the occasion in view, and Israel"s shepherds were Moses, Aaron, and Miriam (cf. Psalm 77:21; Micah 6:4). Then God"s Holy Spirit was obviously among His people.

Context Summary

Isaiah 63:10-19 - Salvation Obstructed By Rebellion
The exhortation of the Apostle against grieving the Holy Spirit is based on Isaiah 63:10. See Ephesians 4:30. There is no limit to the gracious work which the Holy Spirit will do in and for us, if only we will take jealous care of our behavior toward Him. Be especially heedful about thy speech! The least uncharitableness hurts Him, as frost the spring-blossoms.
But God never forgets the blessed past and labors to restore it. See what He will do! His power shall work through a human wrist, Isaiah 63:12. Before Him the waters part and leave a path for His chosen. All that would cause us to stumble is taken out of the way and we are led as on a level plain. As cattle descend into the hollows of the hills at noon, to escape the sultry heat, so will God's Spirit cause us to rest. Oh, claim that these promises be realized! He is Father, Redeemer, the Eternal, the Lover of souls! Even when we believe not and have forfeited all claim on Him, He remaineth faithful and cannot deny Himself! [source]

Chapter Summary: Isaiah 63

1  Christ shows who he is
2  What his victory over his enemies
7  And what his mercy toward his church
10  In his just wrath he remembers his free mercy
15  The church, in her prayer
17  And complaint, professes her faith

What do the individual words in Isaiah 63:11 mean?

And he remembered the days of old Moses [and] his people [saying] where [is] He who brought them up out of the sea with the shepherd of His flock where [is] He who put within them - Spirit His Holy
וַיִּזְכֹּ֥ר יְמֵֽי־ עוֹלָ֖ם מֹשֶׁ֣ה עַמּ֑וֹ אַיֵּ֣ה ׀ הַֽמַּעֲלֵ֣ם מִיָּ֗ם אֵ֚ת רֹעֵ֣י ؟ צֹאנ֔וֹ אַיֵּ֛ה הַשָּׂ֥ם בְּקִרְבּ֖וֹ אֶת־ ר֥וּחַ קָדְשֽׁוֹ

וַיִּזְכֹּ֥ר  And  he  remembered 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: זָכַר 
Sense: to remember, recall, call to mind.
יְמֵֽי־  the  days 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: יׄום 
Sense: day, time, year.
עוֹלָ֖ם  of  old 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: עֹולָם  
Sense: long duration, antiquity, futurity, for ever, ever, everlasting, evermore, perpetual, old, ancient, world.
מֹשֶׁ֣ה  Moses 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: מֹשֶׁה  
Sense: the prophet and lawgiver, leader of the exodus.
עַמּ֑וֹ  [and]  his  people 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: עַם 
Sense: nation, people.
אַיֵּ֣ה ׀  [saying]  where  [is] 
Parse: Interrogative
Root: אַיֵּה  
Sense: where?.
הַֽמַּעֲלֵ֣ם  He  who  brought  them  up 
Parse: Article, Verb, Hifil, Participle, masculine singular construct, third person masculine plural
Root: סָלַק 
Sense: to go up, ascend, climb.
מִיָּ֗ם  out  of  the  sea 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, masculine singular
Root: יָם  
Sense: sea.
רֹעֵ֣י  the  shepherd 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural construct
Root: רָעָה 
Sense: to pasture, tend, graze, feed.
؟ צֹאנ֔וֹ  of  His  flock 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: צֹאן  
Sense: small cattle, sheep, sheep and goats, flock, flocks.
אַיֵּ֛ה  where  [is] 
Parse: Interrogative
Root: אַיֵּה  
Sense: where?.
הַשָּׂ֥ם  He  who  put 
Parse: Article, Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: שׂוּמָה 
Sense: to put, place, set, appoint, make.
בְּקִרְבּ֖וֹ  within  them 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: קֶרֶב  
Sense: midst, among, inner part, middle.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
ר֥וּחַ  Spirit 
Parse: Noun, common singular construct
Root: רוּחַ  
Sense: wind, breath, mind, spirit.
קָדְשֽׁוֹ  His  Holy 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: קֹדֶשׁ  
Sense: apartness, holiness, sacredness, separateness.