Isaiah 63:15
New International Version
Look down from heaven and see, from your lofty throne, holy and glorious. Where are your zeal and your might? Your tenderness and compassion are withheld from us.

New Living Translation
LORD, look down from heaven; look from your holy, glorious home, and see us. Where is the passion and the might you used to show on our behalf? Where are your mercy and compassion now?

English Standard Version
Look down from heaven and see, from your holy and beautiful habitation. Where are your zeal and your might? The stirring of your inner parts and your compassion are held back from me.

Berean Standard Bible
Look down from heaven and see, from Your holy and glorious habitation. Where are Your zeal and might? Your yearning and compassion for me are restrained.

King James Bible
Look 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?

New King James Version
Look down from heaven, And see from Your habitation, holy and glorious. Where are Your zeal and Your strength, The yearning of Your heart and Your mercies toward me? Are they restrained?

New American Standard Bible
Look down from heaven and see from Your holy and glorious lofty habitation; Where are Your zeal and Your mighty deeds? The stirrings of Your heart and Your compassion are restrained toward me.

NASB 1995
Look down from heaven and see from Your holy and glorious habitation; Where are Your zeal and Your mighty deeds? The stirrings of Your heart and Your compassion are restrained toward me.

NASB 1977
Look down from heaven, and see from Thy holy and glorious habitation; Where are Thy zeal and Thy mighty deeds? The stirrings of Thy heart and Thy compassion are restrained toward me.

Legacy Standard Bible
Look down from heaven and see from Your holy and glorious habitation; Where are Your zeal and Your mighty deeds? The tumults within You and Your compassion are restrained toward me.

Amplified Bible
Look down from heaven and see from Your lofty dwelling place, holy and glorious. Where are Your zeal and Your mighty acts [Your miracles which you did for Your people]? The stirring of Your heart and Your compassion are restrained and withheld from me.

Christian Standard Bible
Look down from heaven and see from your lofty home—holy and beautiful. Where is your zeal and your might? Your yearning and your compassion are withheld from me.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Look down from heaven and see from Your lofty home—holy and beautiful. Where is Your zeal and Your might? Your yearning and Your compassion are withheld from me.

American Standard Version
Look down from heaven, and behold from the habitation of thy holiness and of thy glory: where are thy zeal and thy mighty acts? the yearning of thy heart and thy compassions are restrained toward me.

Contemporary English Version
Please, LORD, look down from your holy and glorious home in the heavens and see what's going on. Have you lost interest? Where is your power? Show that you care about us and have mercy!

English Revised Version
Look down from heaven, and behold from the habitation of thy holiness and of thy glory: where is thy zeal and thy mighty acts? the yearning of thy bowels and thy compassions are restrained toward me.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Look down and see from heaven, from your holy and beautiful dwelling. Where is your determination and might? Where is the longing of your heart and your compassion? Don't hold back.

Good News Translation
LORD, look upon us from heaven, where you live in your holiness and glory. Where is your great concern for us? Where is your power? Where are your love and compassion? Do not ignore us.

International Standard Version
Look down from heaven, and see from your holy and glorious dwelling. Where are your zeal and your might? Where are the yearning of your heart and your compassion? They are held back from me.

Majority Standard Bible
Look down from heaven and see, from Your holy and glorious habitation. Where are Your zeal and might? Your yearning and compassion for me are restrained.

NET Bible
Look down from heaven and take notice, from your holy, majestic palace! Where are your zeal and power? Do not hold back your tender compassion!

New Heart English Bible
Look down from heaven, and see from the habitation of your holiness and of your glory: where are your zeal and your mighty acts? the yearning of your heart and your compassion is restrained toward me.

Webster's Bible Translation
Look 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 towards me? are they restrained?

World English Bible
Look down from heaven, and see from the habitation of your holiness and of your glory. Where are your zeal and your mighty acts? The yearning of your heart and your compassion is restrained toward me.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Look attentively from the heavens, "" And see from Your holy and beautiful habitation, "" Where [is] Your zeal and Your might? The multitude of Your bowels and Your mercies—Are they restrained?

Young's Literal Translation
Look attentively from the heavens, And see from Thy holy and beauteous habitation, Where is Thy zeal and Thy might? The multitude of Thy bowels and Thy mercies Towards me have refrained themselves.

Smith's Literal Translation
Look from the heavens, and see from thy holy dwelling and thy glory: where thy zeal and thy strength? the multitude of thy bowels and thy compassions to me restrained themselves.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Look down from heaven, and behold from thy holy habitation and the place of thy glory: where is thy zeal, and thy strength, the multitude of thy bowels, and of thy mercies? they have held back themselves from me.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Gaze down from heaven, and behold from your holy habitation and from your glory. Where is your zeal, and your strength, the fullness of your heart and of your compassion? They have held themselves back from me.

New American Bible
Look down from heaven and regard us from your holy and glorious palace! Where is your zealous care and your might, your surge of pity? Your mercy hold not back!

New Revised Standard Version
Look down from heaven and see, from your holy and glorious habitation. Where are your zeal and your might? The yearning of your heart and your compassion? They are withheld from me.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Look down from heaven and behold from thy holy and glorious habitation. Where is thy zeal and thy strength? Turn thy tender mercies and compassion toward us. Are they restrained?

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Gaze from Heaven and see from your holy and glorious dwelling! Where are your zeal and your heroism, and the return of your tears and of your affection that were returned upon us?
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Look down from heaven, and see, Even from Thy holy and glorious habitation; Where is Thy zeal and Thy mighty acts, The yearning of Thy heart and Thy compassions, Now restrained toward me?

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Turn from heaven, and look from thy holy habitation and from thy glory: where is thy zeal and thy strength? where is the abundance of thy mercy and of thy compassions, that thou hast withholden thyself from us?

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
A Prayer for Mercy
15Look down from heaven and see, from Your holy and glorious habitation. Where are Your zeal and might? Your yearning and compassion for me are restrained. 16Yet You are our Father, though Abraham does not know us and Israel does not acknowledge us. You, O LORD, are our Father; our Redeemer from Everlasting is Your name.…

Cross References
Psalm 80:14-19
Return, O God of Hosts, we pray! Look down from heaven and see! Attend to this vine— / the root Your right hand has planted, the son You have raised up for Yourself. / Your vine has been cut down and burned; they perish at the rebuke of Your countenance. ...

Deuteronomy 26:15
Look down from Your holy habitation, from heaven, and bless Your people Israel and the land You have given us as You swore to our fathers—a land flowing with milk and honey.”

1 Kings 8:30
Hear the plea of Your servant and of Your people Israel when they pray toward this place. May You hear from heaven, Your dwelling place. May You hear and forgive.

Psalm 33:13-14
The LORD looks down from heaven; He sees all the sons of men. / From His dwelling place He gazes on all who inhabit the earth.

Psalm 123:1
A song of ascents. I lift up my eyes to You, the One enthroned in heaven.

Lamentations 3:50
until the LORD looks down from heaven and sees.

2 Chronicles 6:21
Hear the plea of Your servant and of Your people Israel when they pray toward this place. May You hear from heaven, Your dwelling place. May You hear and forgive.

Psalm 102:19-20
For He looked down from the heights of His sanctuary; the LORD gazed out from heaven to earth / to hear a prisoner’s groaning, to release those condemned to death,

Psalm 14:2
The LORD looks down from heaven upon the sons of men to see if any understand, if any seek God.

Psalm 113:5-6
Who is like the LORD our God, the One enthroned on high? / He humbles Himself to behold the heavens and the earth.

Exodus 32:11-12
But Moses sought the favor of the LORD his God, saying, “O LORD, why does Your anger burn against Your people, whom You brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and a mighty hand? / Why should the Egyptians declare, ‘He brought them out with evil intent, to kill them in the mountains and wipe them from the face of the earth’? Turn from Your fierce anger and relent from doing harm to Your people.

Jeremiah 31:20
Is not Ephraim a precious son to Me, a delightful child? Though I often speak against him, I still remember him. Therefore My heart yearns for him; I have great compassion for him,” declares the LORD.

Psalm 89:49
Where, O Lord, is Your loving devotion of old, which You faithfully swore to David?

Psalm 44:23-26
Wake up, O Lord! Why are You sleeping? Arise! Do not reject us forever. / Why do You hide Your face and forget our affliction and oppression? / For our soul has sunk to the dust; our bodies cling to the earth. ...

Psalm 25:6
Remember, O LORD, Your compassion and loving devotion, for they are from age to age.


Treasury of Scripture

Look down from heaven, and behold from the habitation of your holiness and of your glory: where is your zeal and your strength, the sounding of your bowels and of your mercies toward me? are they restrained?

down

Deuteronomy 26:15
Look down from thy holy habitation, from heaven, and bless thy people Israel, and the land which thou hast given us, as thou swarest unto our fathers, a land that floweth with milk and honey.

Psalm 33:14
From the place of his habitation he looketh upon all the inhabitants of the earth.

Psalm 80:14
Return, we beseech thee, O God of hosts: look down from heaven, and behold, and visit this vine;

the habitation

Isaiah 57:15
For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.

Isaiah 66:1
Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest?

1 Kings 8:27
But will God indeed dwell on the earth? behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have builded?

where

Isaiah 51:9,10
Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the LORD; awake, as in the ancient days, in the generations of old. Art thou not it that hath cut Rahab, and wounded the dragon? …

Psalm 89:49
Lord, where are thy former lovingkindnesses, which thou swarest unto David in thy truth?

sounding, or, multitude.

Isaiah 63:9
In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old.

Isaiah 49:15
Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee.

Psalm 25:6
Remember, O LORD, thy tender mercies and thy lovingkindnesses; for they have been ever of old.

are

Psalm 77:7-9
Will the Lord cast off for ever? and will he be favourable no more? …

Jump to Previous
Acts Attentively Beauteous Beautiful Bowels Compassion Compassions Deeds Deep Eyes Feeling Glorious Glory Habitation Heart Heaven Holiness Holy House Lofty Mercies Mighty Moving Power Restrained Sounding Strength Tender Throne Towards Withheld Working Yearning Zeal
Jump to Next
Acts Attentively Beauteous Beautiful Bowels Compassion Compassions Deeds Deep Eyes Feeling Glorious Glory Habitation Heart Heaven Holiness Holy House Lofty Mercies Mighty Moving Power Restrained Sounding Strength Tender Throne Towards Withheld Working Yearning Zeal
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














Look down from heaven
This phrase is a plea for divine attention and intervention. The Hebrew root for "look down" is "שָׁקַף" (shaqaph), which conveys the idea of God bending down to observe His people. This imagery suggests a God who is not distant but is actively involved in the affairs of humanity. The heavens, in biblical context, are often seen as God's dwelling place, a realm of holiness and authority. The plea for God to "look down" implies a desire for His presence and action in the midst of human struggles, reflecting a deep trust in His sovereignty and compassion.

and see from Your holy and glorious habitation
The words "holy and glorious habitation" refer to the divine realm where God resides. "Holy" (קָדוֹשׁ, qadosh) emphasizes God's purity and separateness from sin, while "glorious" (כָּבוֹד, kavod) highlights His majesty and honor. This phrase underscores the transcendence of God, who is exalted above all creation. Yet, the request for God to "see" indicates a belief that He is not only transcendent but also immanent, willing to engage with His creation. The historical context of Isaiah often involved Israel seeking God's intervention during times of distress, and this plea reflects a longing for His redemptive power.

Where are Your zeal and Your might?
"Zeal" (קִנְאָה, qinah) refers to God's passionate commitment to His people and His purposes. It is a fervent, protective love that drives Him to act on behalf of His covenant. "Might" (גְּבוּרָה, geburah) speaks to God's strength and power to accomplish His will. The question "Where are Your zeal and Your might?" is a rhetorical one, expressing a sense of urgency and desperation. It reflects a historical context where the Israelites felt abandoned or in need of God's powerful intervention, reminding them of past deliverances and stirring hope for future acts of salvation.

Your tenderness and compassion are withheld from us
"Tenderness" (רַחֲמִים, rachamim) and "compassion" (נֶחָם, necham) are attributes of God that denote His deep love and mercy. These terms are often used in Scripture to describe God's fatherly care and His willingness to forgive and restore. The feeling that these qualities are "withheld" suggests a period of perceived divine silence or judgment. Historically, this could relate to times when Israel experienced the consequences of their disobedience. Yet, the acknowledgment of these attributes also serves as a reminder of God's character, encouraging repentance and faith in His eventual restoration and mercy.

(15) Look down from heaven . . .--The form of the prayer reminds us of 2Chronicles 6:21. Perhaps there is a latent remonstrance, as though Jehovah, like an Eastern king, had withdrawn to the recesses of His palace, and had ceased to manifest His care and pity for His people, as He had done of old.

The sounding of thy bowels.--See Note on Isaiah 16:11. The words jar upon modern ears, but were to the Hebrew what "the sighs of thy heart" would be to us.

Verses 15-19. - A PRAYER FOR DELIVERANCE FROM SIN AND SUFFERING. From thanksgiving and confession, the people betake themselves to prayer, and beseech God to look down from heaven once more, to have compassion on them, to acknowledge them, and to save them alike from themselves (ver. 17) and from their adversaries (vers. 18, 19). "It is difficult to overrate the spiritual beauty of the prayer contained in this passage. We may admit that the most prominent motive urged by the speaker has a nationalistic air; but behind this, and strengthening it, is a sense of the infiniteness of the Divine mercy, and of the strong vitality of the union between Jehovah and his people" (Cheyne). Verse 15. - Look down from heaven (comp. Deuteronomy 26:15; Psalm 80:14; 2 Kings 8:30). "The Lord's seat" was "in heaven." While the temple lay in ruins, the Jews would naturally address their prayers to God in his heavenly abode. From the habitation of thy holiness. Mr. Cheyne translates, from the height of thy holiness," taking the meaning of the rare word z'bul from the Assyrian. "Height" certainly suits well most of the other places where the word z'bul occurs (1 Kings 8:13; 2 Chronicles 6:2; Psalm 49:14; Habakkuk 3:11). Where is thy zeal? i.e. What has become of it? Has it ceased altogether, or is it only in abeyance for a time? Will not God "stir it up" once more (Isaiah 42:13)? And thy strength; rather, and thy great acts (comp. Psalm 106:2; Psalm 145:4; Psalm 150:2). The sounding of thy bowels; i.e. their thrilling or vibration - an indication of sympathy (see Isaiah 16:11). Jeremiah has a similar expression (Jeremiah 31:20). Are they restrained? rather, they are restrained. They no longer show themselves. There was no room for questioning the fact.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Look down
הַבֵּ֤ט (hab·bêṭ)
Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 5027: To scan, look intently at, to regard

from heaven
מִשָּׁמַ֙יִם֙ (miš·šā·ma·yim)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 8064: Heaven, sky

and see,
וּרְאֵ֔ה (ū·rə·’êh)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 7200: To see

from Your holy
קָדְשְׁךָ֖ (qāḏ·šə·ḵā)
Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 6944: A sacred place, thing, sanctity

and glorious
וְתִפְאַרְתֶּ֑ךָ (wə·ṯip̄·’ar·te·ḵā)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 8597: Beauty, glory

habitation.
מִזְּבֻ֥ל (miz·zə·ḇul)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 2073: Elevation, height, lofty abode

Where
אַיֵּ֤ה (’ay·yêh)
Interrogative
Strong's 346: Where?

are Your zeal
קִנְאָֽתְךָ֙ (qin·’ā·ṯə·ḵā)
Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 7068: Ardor, zeal, jealousy

and might?
וּגְב֣וּרֹתֶ֔ךָ (ū·ḡə·ḇū·rō·ṯe·ḵā)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine plural construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 1369: Force, valor, victory

Your yearning
הֲמ֥וֹן (hă·mō·wn)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1995: A noise, tumult, crowd, disquietude, wealth

and compassion
וְֽרַחֲמֶ֖יךָ (wə·ra·ḥă·me·ḵā)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 7356: Compassion, the womb, a maiden

for me
אֵלַ֥י (’ê·lay)
Preposition | first person common singular
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

are restrained.
הִתְאַפָּֽקוּ׃ (hiṯ·’ap·pā·qū)
Verb - Hitpael - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 662: To contain, abstain


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OT Prophets: Isaiah 63:15 Look down from heaven and see from (Isa Isi Is)
Isaiah 63:14
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