Isaiah 63:12
who caused his glorious arm to go at the right hand of Moses, who divided the waters before them to make for himself an everlasting name,
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
Isaiah is reminding us that God’s “glorious arm” wasn't just behind Moses, but actively at his right hand, suggesting God’s constant, personal presence and support for His people, even through the monumental act of parting the sea. This wasn't just a spectacle for an “everlasting name,” but a deeply intimate provision of power and protection for those He was leading.
The prophet Isaiah is looking back on God's mighty acts for Israel, specifically recalling the miraculous exodus from Egypt. This remembrance is framed within a prayer of petition, acknowledging past faithfulness while lamenting present hardship. The mention of Moses and the division of the Red Sea is part of this recounting of God's power to save and establish His name for eternity.
When God performed mighty acts, did He act alone, or did He use people? This verse highlights a powerful partnership.
Isaiah 63:12 points to a crucial dynamic in God's work: His mighty power working through human agents. The 'glorious arm' of the Lord is described as going 'at the right hand of Moses.'
A United Front
This imagery doesn't suggest Moses was independent of God. Instead, it shows God's strength empowering and directing Moses. Think of it like a skilled surgeon using a scalpel – the scalpel is the instrument, but the surgeon's expertise and steady hand are what make the action precise and effective. God's 'glorious arm' is the ultimate power, and Moses' right hand is the point of human cooperation.
God Gets the Glory
This partnership ensures that while people are used, the ultimate glory belongs to God. He doesn't need human help, but He chooses to involve us, making His power even more evident through the humble vessels He employs.
Why did God perform such astounding miracles at the Red Sea? It wasn't just for the immediate rescue; it was for His lasting legacy.
The verse clearly states the purpose behind God dividing the waters: 'to make for himself an everlasting name.' This wasn't a spontaneous display of power, but a deliberate act with a profound goal.
Divine Branding
'Everlasting name' refers to God establishing His reputation – His renown, His honor, His unique identity – for all time. In a world filled with competing deities and human rulers, God wanted His people, and indeed the whole world, to know unequivocally who He is: the one true, all-powerful God.
The Power of Testimony
The Exodus event, particularly the parting of the Red Sea, was a public spectacle. It declared God’s sovereignty, His faithfulness to His promises, and His power over the forces of nature and the mightiest empires of the day. This 'name' or reputation was built on a miracle so profound it would echo through generations, ensuring people would remember and honor Him.
Understand the original words
zĕrôaʿ tipʾeret · Hebrew Noun
A metaphorical expression in Scripture denoting God's power, strength, and active intervention in history to accomplish His will and deliver His people. It emphasizes God's sovereign ability to act on behalf of those He redeems.
šēm ʿôlām · Hebrew Noun
Refers to God's reputation and character as revealed through His mighty acts of salvation and judgment. An "everlasting name" implies that God’s deeds are intended to be remembered across all generations as a testament to His faithfulness.
Isaiah's reference to the Exodus highlights God's consistent power and faithfulness, reminding his audience that His mighty acts in the past, like dividing the Red Sea, are the foundation for His enduring glory and the basis for hope in present and future deliverance.
~1446 BC— this verse
Exodus from Egypt
God delivers the Israelites from slavery in Egypt through Moses, parting the Red Sea to allow them to escape the pursuing Egyptian army.
~1446 BC
Destruction of Egyptian Army
The pursuing Egyptian army is drowned when the waters of the Red Sea return to their place, a divine act of judgment and deliverance.
~1446 BC
Song of Moses and Miriam
The Israelites sing a song of praise to God for their miraculous deliverance, celebrating His power and everlasting name.
c. 1000 BC
United Monarchy of Israel
The establishment of the united monarchy under Saul, David, and Solomon marks a period of national strength and divine favor.
This passage directly describes the miraculous parting of the Red Sea by God's power, the same event referenced in Isaiah 63:12, highlighting God's intervention to save His people and display His might.
Joshua 3:14-17This account of crossing the Jordan River mirrors the Red Sea crossing, showing God's consistent power to divide waters for His people's passage and fulfill His promises, reinforcing the theme of God's glorious arm at work.
Psalm 77:13-20The Psalmist recounts God's mighty acts, including leading His people through the sea and the wilderness, much like Isaiah does, emphasizing remembrance of God's power and faithfulness in deliverance.
Isaiah 40:10This verse speaks of God's powerful arm bringing salvation and His great reward, echoing the 'glorious arm' mentioned in Isaiah 63:12 and the theme of God's sovereign power in rescuing His people.
Romans 9:16-18Paul connects God's mercy and hardening to His sovereign will, drawing parallels to God's actions in the Exodus, where His power was displayed to establish His name and show His mercy or hardness, similar to Isaiah's focus on God's everlasting name established through His mighty acts.
barnesIsaiah 63:12: "That led them by the right hand of Moses with his glorious arm, dividing the water before them, to make himself an everlasting name?"
That led them by the right hand of Moses - (See the notes at Isaiah 41:10-13 ; Isaiah 45:1 ). Dividing the water before them - Exodus 14:21. To make himself an everlasting name - He designed to perform a work which, it would be seen, could not be performed by any false god or by any human arm, and to do it in such circumstances, and in such a manne…
gillIsaiah 63:12: "That led them by the right hand of Moses with his glorious arm, dividing the water before them, to make himself an everlasting name?"
That led them by the right hand of Moses with his glorious arm,.... That is, through the Red sea, as the next clause shows: this was done by the right hand of Moses, and the rod in it, to which Kimchi thinks respect is had; who, by divine order, lifted up his rod, and stretched out his hand over the sea, and divided it, and so led the people throug…
Isaiah is reminding us that God’s “glorious arm” wasn't just behind Moses, but actively at his right hand, suggesting God’s constant, personal presence and support for His people, even through the monumental act of parting the sea. This wasn't just a spectacle for an “everlasting name,” but a deeply intimate provision of power and protection for those He was leading.
The prophet Isaiah is looking back on God's mighty acts for Israel, specifically recalling the miraculous exodus from Egypt. This remembrance is framed within a prayer of petition, acknowledging past faithfulness while lamenting present hardship. The mention of Moses and the division of the Red Sea is part of this recounting of God's power to save and establish His name for eternity.
The prophet Isaiah is looking back on God's mighty acts for Israel, specifically recalling the miraculous exodus from Egypt. This remembrance is framed within a prayer of petition, acknowledging past faithfulness while lamenting present hardship. The mention of Moses and the division of the Red Sea is part of this recounting of God's power to save and establish His name for eternity.
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Ask a follow-up
Ask Sola things like:
Live chat about Isaiah 63:12 is available in the Sola app.
c. 740 BC
Prophecies of Isaiah
Isaiah delivers prophecies in Judah, often referencing past acts of God like the Exodus to encourage faith and repentance amidst surrounding empires.
"who caused his glorious arm to go at the right hand of Moses, who divided the waters before them to make for himself an everlasting name," — Isaiah is reminding us that God’s “glorious arm” wasn't just behind Moses, but actively at his right hand, suggesting God’s constant, personal presence and support for His people, even through th…
