The Meaning of Isaiah 63:8 Explained

Isaiah 63:8

KJV: For he said, Surely they are my people, children that will not lie: so he was their Saviour.

YLT: And He saith, Only My people they are, Sons -- they lie not, and He is to them for a saviour.

Darby: And he said, They are indeed my people, children that will not lie; and he became their Saviour.

ASV: For he said, Surely, they are my people, children that will not deal falsely: so he was their Saviour.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

For he said,  Surely they [are] my people,  children  [that] will not lie:  so he was their Saviour. 

What does Isaiah 63:8 Mean?

Verse Meaning

God had elected Israel as His son. This was not due to anything in Israel but totally due to God"s loving selection of Abraham and his descendants for special blessing (cf. 1 Corinthians 15:9-10). God had a right to expect that the nation, so chosen, would respond with loyalty and integrity toward Him. This mutual commitment would have resulted in God delivering His people whenever they needed salvation. Note that the result would not be God insulating the Israelites from difficulties but delivering them from them.

Context Summary

Isaiah 63:1-9 - The Mighty Savior
For long years there had been virulent hostility between Israel and Edom. It began when Esau and Jacob were lads. It broke out in bitterness when Edom denied Israel the right of passage, Numbers 20:20-21. When Babylon had triumphed over Jerusalem, Edom urged that her walls should be leveled to the ground, Psalms 137:7.
How great the change pictured here! The prophet stands at the division of the two countries, looking south, from the foothills of Judah across the sandy waste. In the distance he beholds the mighty Warrior coming up from Edom, His garments wet, not with His own blood, but with Edom's; henceforth to stand as sentinel between Edom and Israel, so that nevermore need Israel fear invasion.
If Edom stands for sins of passion or for the hatred of unscrupulous foes, see how safe and blessed you are. Jesus, the Mighty to save, stands between you and your besetting sins, between you and your fears, between you and the power of the adversary, Psalms 63:9. "Mention the lovingkindness of the Lord!" [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 63:8 mean?

For He said surely My people they [are] Children not [who] will lie so He became their Savior
וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ אַךְ־ עַמִּ֣י הֵ֔מָּה בָּנִ֖ים לֹ֣א יְשַׁקֵּ֑רוּ וַיְהִ֥י לָהֶ֖ם לְמוֹשִֽׁיעַ

וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙  For  He  said 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
אַךְ־  surely 
Parse: Adverb
Root: אַךְ  
Sense: indeed, surely (emphatic).
עַמִּ֣י  My  people 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: עַם 
Sense: nation, people.
הֵ֔מָּה  they  [are] 
Parse: Pronoun, third person masculine plural
Root: הֵם 
Sense: they, these, the same, who.
בָּנִ֖ים  Children 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
יְשַׁקֵּ֑רוּ  [who]  will  lie 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: שָׁקַר  
Sense: to do or deal falsely, be false, trick, cheat.
וַיְהִ֥י  so  He  became 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
לְמוֹשִֽׁיעַ  Savior 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Hifil, Participle, masculine singular
Root: יָשַׁע 
Sense: to save, be saved, be delivered.