Isaiah 64:4-7

This difficult passage contains (1) an appeal to that which distinguishes Jehovah from all other deities: He is the only God who works for them that wait for Him in the way of righteousness; (2) a confession of the people's sinful condition due to the persistency of the divine wrath. A contrast between these thoughts is probably intended; the severity of Jehovah's dealings with Israel seems at variance with His known character. But the text is in some places hopelessly corrupt, and the exact sense is somewhat uncertain.

For since the beginning … heard Lit. "And from of old they have not heard." It is tempting (with Duhm) to take this as a relative clause parallel to and continuing Isaiah 64:3 ("… terrible things which we hoped not for, and which from of old men have not heard"). There is an awkwardness, however, in commencing a new sentence with the next clause, and still greater difficulty in carrying on the sentence of Isaiah 64:3 to the word "seen" (Hitzig). Accepting the traditional division, Isaiah 64:4 will read nearly as in R.V., And from of old men have not heard, have not perceived by the ear, no eye hath seen a God beside Thee, Who worketh for him that waiteth for Him. The rendering of A.V. is partly accommodated to St Paul's language in 1 Corinthians 2:9, where, however, a different text (not the LXX.) seems to be followed. Jerome says that the Apostle's words are found in certain Apocalyptic books, although he will not admit that they are quoted from them.

"Worketh for"="sheweth Himself active on behalf of"; without obj., as Genesis 30:30; Psalms 37:5.