Isaiah 63:7 Meaning: Why Remembrance Comes Before Restoration
I will tell of the loving kindnesses of Yahweh and the praises of Yahweh, according to all that Yahweh has given to us, and the great goodness toward the house of Israel, which he has given to them according to his mercies, and according to the multitude of his loving kindnesses.
I will mention the lovingkindnesses of the Lord, and the praises of the Lord, according to all that the Lord hath bestowed on us, and the great goodness toward the house of Israel, which he hath bestowed on them according to his mercies, and according to the multitude of his lovingkindnesses.
I will make mention of the lovingkindnesses of Jehovah, and the praises of Jehovah, according to all that Jehovah hath bestowed on us, and the great goodness toward the house of Israel, which he hath bestowed on them according to his mercies, and according to the multitude of his lovingkindnesses.
The kind acts of Jehovah I make mention of, The praises of Jehovah, According to all that Jehovah hath done for us, And the abundance of the goodness to the house of Israel, That He hath done for them, According to His mercies, And according to the abundance of His kind acts.
I will record the loving-kindnesses of Jehovah, the praises of Jehovah, according to all that Jehovah hath bestowed upon us, and the great goodness toward the house of Israel which he hath bestowed upon them according to his mercies, and according to the multitude of his loving-kindnesses.
Meaning in one sentence
Learn the meaning of Isaiah 63:7 and how recounting God's lovingkindnesses becomes the foundation for honest prayer and hope in exile.
Context
Isaiah 63 opens with a vision of judgment. The Lord comes from Edom, stained with the blood of His enemies. Then the tone shifts. Beginning at verse 7, the prophet leads the people in a prayer that runs through the end of chapter 64. They are in a time of great trouble, likely the Babylonian exile. Their city lies ruined, their temple destroyed, and they feel cut off from God.
But they do not start with their complaints. They start by remembering. This verse is the doorway into their prayer: a deliberate decision to call to mind God's faithful love before they speak a single word about their own pain. The whole prayer depends on this act of remembrance.
Key Words
The Hebrew behind this verse is rich. The opening verb, אַזְכִּיר (azkir), comes from the word for remembering. But it does not mean simply recalling something privately. It means to cause something to be remembered, to speak it aloud, to put it on record. The prophet makes a conscious choice: "I will make sure these things are not forgotten."
The word for "lovingkindnesses" is חַסְדֵי (chasdei), the plural of chesed, that rich Hebrew word for loyal, covenant love. This is God's faithful love that holds nothing back. The plural suggests that each act of kindness is part of a larger story of faithfulness.
And then there is טוּב (tuv), "goodness", the concrete good things God gives, not just an abstract blessing. The people are remembering specific gifts: deliverance from Egypt, guidance through the wilderness, the land of promise. This is not general thanks. It is naming what God has actually done.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians across traditions have read this verse as the proper beginning of any prayer of lament. Some commentators see the prophet himself speaking on behalf of the people (Gill, Keil and Delitzsch), while others hear the voice of the exiled community directly (Barnes, Cambridge Bible). But there is broad agreement that the repetition is intentional, language strains to capture the full extent of God's goodness. The Geneva Bible notes simply: "I will remember the mercies of the Lord." The Wesleyan tradition points out that the prayer begins with mentioning kindnesses before confessing sins. This pattern of thanksgiving before petition is a common thread across Christian teaching.
A common misunderstanding
A common misunderstanding is to read this verse as a separate, cheerful interlude, unrelated to the judgment that came before it. In fact, the prophet places this act of remembering directly after a scene of divine wrath. The connection is vital: even when God seems distant or angry, His people can still call to mind His past faithfulness. The verse does not pretend the suffering does not exist. It acknowledges the pain by framing it within the larger story of God's covenant love.
Living This Out
This week, try something simple. Before you ask God for anything, take a moment to say aloud one specific way He has been good to you. It might be something small: a meal, a safe drive, a friend's kind word. Or it might be a past deliverance that still carries you. The prophet's practice was to remember first. That act shapes everything that follows. When you name God's kindness out loud, you remind yourself that He is still the same God who has always been faithful.
Main takeaway: Before we pour out our grief to God, we can start by recounting His faithful love that has never let us go.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
God has been very kind to us. We can say thank you for all the good things He has done. That makes our hearts ready to talk to Him.
For ages 9, 12
When you pray today, try starting by remembering some of the good things God has done for you. Maybe something from today, or from a long time ago. The people in this verse started their prayer by listing God's kindnesses, even though they were in a hard place. That helped them trust God with their problems.
Questions People Ask
What does 'lovingkindnesses' mean in Isaiah 63:7?
The Hebrew word is 'chesed', which means loyal, covenant love. It is God's steadfast, faithful love that He promises to His people. Here it is plural, emphasizing the many acts of love God has shown. The word is richer than just kindness; it is love that keeps its promises.
Why does the verse repeat words like 'lovingkindnesses' and 'praises'?
The repetition shows that the people are straining to express the full extent of God's goodness. No single word is enough. Each repetition adds weight and emphasis, as if the speakers are trying to encompass all that God has done. The commentators note that the plurals and repetitions reveal that language itself is inadequate for God's goodness.
How does this verse relate to the suffering described in Isaiah 63:1-6?
The earlier verses describe God's judgment on the nations, a scene of wrath. Then this verse begins a prayer where the people remember God's mercy. The connection shows that even after judgment, God's covenant love remains. The people do not ignore the suffering; they place it in the context of God's larger faithfulness.
Is this verse spoken by the prophet or by the people?
Commentators differ on this. Some, like Gill, believe the prophet is speaking on behalf of the congregation. Others, like Barnes, think the people themselves are speaking. But all agree that it is the voice of the faithful community beginning a prayer of confession by first remembering God's goodness.
For pastors & researchers
Hebrew interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study