When you did awesome things that we did not look for, you came down, the mountains quaked at your presence.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The prophet emphasizes that God's past "terrible things" – the awe-inspiring acts of deliverance like the Exodus – were "things we did not look for." This isn't just about surprise; it highlights how God's mighty interventions far surpassed human expectation, revealing His power and glory in ways no one could have predicted.
When you did awesome things that we did not look for, you came down, the mountains quaked at your presence.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The prophet Isaiah is praying for God to intervene dramatically, just as He did in the past. He recalls God's powerful descent on Mount Sinai, which caused the very mountains to tremble and flow. This intense imagery highlights the overwhelming might God displayed during the Exodus, acts of salvation and judgment that were far beyond human expectation and set the stage for the incredible future deliverance the prophet is crying out for.
Ever felt like life threw you a curveball, but it ended up being a good thing? This verse speaks to those moments when God steps in with power we never saw coming.
The prophet Isaiah is looking back at God's past actions, specifically the Exodus from Egypt. These weren't just any miracles; they were 'terrible things'—meaning awe-inspiring and powerfully dreadful to Israel's enemies. The people didn't expect them; they were beyond their wildest hopes.
Beyond Expectation
Think about it: God didn't just part the Red Sea; He unleashed plagues on Egypt, brought fire and thunder from Sinai, and guided a nation through the wilderness. These were signs of divine power that shattered human expectations. God’s interventions often go beyond our limited foresight, revealing a depth of power and purpose we couldn't have planned.
What happens when the Almighty God shows up? It’s not just people who notice—the very earth responds in a dramatic way.
The imagery of 'the mountains quaked at your presence' isn't just poetic flair; it's a powerful depiction of God's overwhelming majesty. When God descended on Mount Sinai, the mountain physically trembled and smoked. This wasn't a gentle nudge; it was a full-scale, earth-shattering demonstration of His glory and power.
Divine Majesty Manifested
This response from the natural world underscores the sheer scale of God's presence. It’s a reminder that His power is so immense it affects the fundamental structures of creation. Even the unmoving mountains are moved when God is near. This should inspire awe and reverence in us, recognizing who we are dealing with.
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Understand the original words
nora'ot · Hebrew Adjective
Used to describe God’s acts, it refers to events that produce a sense of reverent fear, astonishment, or overwhelming respect due to their manifestation of divine power.
This verse recalls the awe-inspiring, terrifying power God displayed at Mount Sinai, a monumental event far beyond human expectation. The prophet uses this memory to plead for God to intervene again, just as powerfully, in the face of national disaster and exile.
c. 1446 BC
Exodus from Egypt
God dramatically delivered the Israelites from slavery in Egypt through a series of powerful plagues and a miraculous parting of the Red Sea.
c. 1446 BC— this verse
Theophany at Mount Sinai
God descended upon Mount Sinai in fire, smoke, and thunder, causing the mountain to quake and fill the Israelites with awe and fear as He gave them the Law.
c. 1446-1406 BC
Wilderness Wanderings
Following the Exodus, God led the Israelites through the Sinai wilderness for 40 years, continuing to display His power and presence through signs and wonders.
c. 586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem
The Babylonian Empire conquered Jerusalem, destroyed the Temple, and exiled many of the Judean people, marking a devastating national catastrophe.
This passage describes God's powerful descent upon Mount Sinai, a prime example of the 'awesome things' and the mountains quaking that Isaiah is referencing.
Psalm 106:22This verse explicitly calls to mind God's 'terrible things' done in Egypt and at the Red Sea, connecting directly to Isaiah's reflection on God's past, unexpected acts of power.
Judges 5:4-5The song of Deborah vividly portrays God's dramatic appearance, with the earth shaking and mountains trembling, mirroring the awe-inspiring presence described in Isaiah.
Nehemiah 9:17This passage recounts Israel's history, including God's mighty acts and His presence on Mount Sinai, echoing the historical memory Isaiah is invoking.
Matthew 27:51The tearing of the temple veil and earthquakes at Jesus' death represent a new, profound 'coming down' of God's power, fulfilling the awe-inspiring acts of the past in an even greater way.
barnesIsaiah 64:3: "When thou didst terrible things which we looked not for, thou camest down, the mountains flowed down at thy presence."
When thou didst terrible things - In delivering the people from Egypt, and in conducting them to the promised land. Which we looked not for - Which we had never before witnessed, and which we had no right to expect. Thou camest down - As on Mount Sinai. The mountains flowed down - (See the notes above). The reference is to the manifestations of smoke and fire when…
gillIsaiah 64:3: "When thou didst terrible things which we looked not for, thou camest down, the mountains flowed down at thy presence."
When thou didst terrible things, which we looked not for, thou camest down,.... Referring to the wonderful things God did in Egypt, at the Red sea, and in the wilderness, and particularly at Mount Sinai, things that were unexpected, and not looked for; then the Lord came down, and made visible displays of his power and presence, especially on Mount Sinai; see Exod…
The prophet emphasizes that God's past "terrible things" – the awe-inspiring acts of deliverance like the Exodus – were "things we did not look for." This isn't just about surprise; it highlights how God's mighty interventions far surpassed human expectation, revealing His power and glory in ways no one could have predicted.
The prophet Isaiah is praying for God to intervene dramatically, just as He did in the past. He recalls God's powerful descent on Mount Sinai, which caused the very mountains to tremble and flow. This intense imagery highlights the overwhelming might God displayed during the Exodus, acts of salvation and judgment that were far beyond human expectation and set the stage for the incredible future deliverance the prophet is crying out for.
The prophet Isaiah is praying for God to intervene dramatically, just as He did in the past. He recalls God's powerful descent on Mount Sinai, which caused the very mountains to tremble and flow. This intense imagery highlights the overwhelming might God displayed during the Exodus, acts of salvation and judgment that were far beyond human expectation and set the stage for the incredible future deliverance the prophet is crying out for.
"When you did awesome things that we did not look for, you came down, the mountains quaked at your presence." — The prophet emphasizes that God's past "terrible things" – the awe-inspiring acts of deliverance like the Exodus – were "things we did not look for." This isn't just about surprise; it highlights how…
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Last reviewed October 2026