But they rebelled and grieved His Holy Spirit.This phrase highlights the Israelites' disobedience and resistance to God's guidance. The rebellion refers to their repeated turning away from God's commandments, as seen throughout their history, particularly during the wilderness wanderings (
Numbers 14:11). Grieving the Holy Spirit indicates a deep sorrow caused by their actions, suggesting a personal relationship between God and His people. This concept is echoed in
Ephesians 4:30, where believers are warned not to grieve the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit's presence in the Old Testament is seen as guiding and empowering, as in the anointing of leaders like Moses and David. The rebellion can be understood in the context of Israel's covenant relationship with God, where obedience was expected in return for His blessings and protection.
So He turned and became their enemy,
This phrase reflects the consequences of Israel's rebellion. God's turning against His people is a theme found in the covenant curses ofDeuteronomy 28, where disobedience leads to divine judgment. The idea of God becoming an enemy is a reversal of His role as protector and provider. Historically, this manifested in events like the Babylonian exile, where God allowed foreign nations to conquer Israel as a form of discipline. This turning is not arbitrary but a response to persistent sin, emphasizing God's justice and holiness. It serves as a warning that God's patience has limits and that persistent rebellion leads to severe consequences.
and He Himself fought against them.
This phrase underscores the active role God takes in disciplining His people. The imagery of God fighting against Israel is reminiscent of the divine warrior motif, where God is depicted as a mighty warrior defending His people or, in this case, executing judgment. Instances of God fighting against Israel can be seen in the defeat at Ai (Joshua 7) and the fall of Jerusalem (2 Kings 25). This action is not out of malice but a corrective measure intended to bring Israel back to repentance. It also foreshadows the ultimate judgment and redemption through Jesus Christ, who, as the divine warrior, conquers sin and death, offering reconciliation to those who turn back to God.
Persons / Places / Events
1.
The IsraelitesThe chosen people of God who often rebelled against Him, leading to consequences.
2.
The Holy SpiritThe Spirit of God, who is grieved by rebellion and disobedience.
3.
GodThe sovereign Lord who responds to the rebellion of His people by becoming their adversary.
4.
IsaiahThe prophet who conveyed God's message to the Israelites, warning them of the consequences of their actions.
5.
The WildernessA symbolic place of testing and rebellion for the Israelites, often referenced in their history.
Teaching Points
The Seriousness of RebellionRebellion against God is not a trivial matter. It grieves the Holy Spirit and can lead to God opposing us.
The Role of the Holy SpiritThe Holy Spirit is sensitive to our actions and attitudes. We must strive to live in a way that honors Him.
Consequences of DisobedienceJust as God became an enemy to the Israelites due to their rebellion, persistent disobedience can lead to severe consequences in our lives.
The Importance of RepentanceWhen we recognize our rebellion, we must turn back to God in repentance to restore our relationship with Him.
Learning from HistoryThe history of the Israelites serves as a warning for us today. We must learn from their mistakes and seek to live faithfully.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1.What is the meaning of Isaiah 63:10?
2.How can we avoid grieving the Holy Spirit as in Isaiah 63:10?
3.What actions might lead to becoming God's enemy, as seen in Isaiah 63:10?
4.How does Ephesians 4:30 relate to Isaiah 63:10 regarding the Holy Spirit?
5.In what ways can we ensure our actions align with God's will daily?
6.How can repentance restore our relationship with God when we grieve Him?
7.Why did the Israelites rebel against God in Isaiah 63:10?
8.How does Isaiah 63:10 reflect God's response to disobedience?
9.What does "grieved His Holy Spirit" mean in Isaiah 63:10?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Isaiah 63?
11.What does grieving the Holy Spirit mean?
12.Is the Holy Spirit considered a person?
13.What does grieving the Holy Spirit mean?
14.What is the Bible's teaching on the Trinity?What Does Isaiah 63:10 Mean
But they rebelledIsaiah is remembering how the LORD had carried, rescued, and shepherded Israel (Isaiah 63:7-9), yet the people “rebelled.” Rebellion is willful defiance, not mere misunderstanding. Think ofNumbers 14, where Israel refused to enter the land, or1 Samuel 8:7-9, where they demanded a king. The pattern is consistent: God grants grace, the nation pushes back.Psalm 78:17 says, “They continued to sin against Him, rebelling in the desert against the Most High.” Rebellion breaks fellowship and sets the stage for discipline.
and grieved His Holy SpiritThe Holy Spirit is not an impersonal force; He can be “grieved.”Ephesians 4:30 echoes Isaiah: “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God.” Grief implies deep relational hurt. When Israel chased idols (Judges 2:11-15) or trusted alliances instead of the LORD (Isaiah 30:1-2), God’s Spirit was pained. The verse shows the Spirit’s active presence in the Old Testament, guiding and protecting the nation (Nehemiah 9:20). Their sin saddened the very One who sought their good.
So He turnedGod’s turning is a deliberate response, never arbitrary. When Solomon turned from the LORD, “the LORD raised up adversaries against Solomon” (1 Kings 11:9-14). Isaiah’s phrase signals a pivot from protection to opposition. It reminds us ofRomans 11:22: “Consider the kindness and severity of God.” The same God who saves is the One who disciplines; both actions flow from His holiness.
and became their enemyA sober reality: persistent covenant violation makes God act as an enemy.Lamentations 2:4 pictures this vividly—“His right hand was against them like an adversary.” Yet even this is a covenant act, aiming to restore.Leviticus 26:17 warned, “I will set My face against you.” God’s enmity is judicial, not spiteful; it exposes sin so repentance can follow (Isaiah 1:24-27).
and He Himself fought against themThe warrior imagery flips. The LORD who fought Pharaoh (Exodus 14:13-14) now battles His own people. InIsaiah 10:5-6, Assyria is the rod of His anger; inHabakkuk 1:5-11, Babylon serves the same purpose.Deuteronomy 32:30 highlights how defeat comes when “their Rock has sold them.” God personally supervises the discipline, ensuring it is measured and redemptive (Hebrews 12:6-11).
summaryIsaiah 63:10 compresses Israel’s tragic cycle: grace, rebellion, grief, divine turning, and corrective warfare. The verse warns that God takes covenant loyalty seriously; persistent sin grieves His Spirit and invites His active opposition. Yet even His enmity is fatherly discipline aimed at restoration. The passage calls us to heed the Spirit, cherish obedience, and avoid the heartbreak of grieving the One who longs to bless.
(10)
Vexed his holy Spirit . . .--Literally,
his Spirit of holiness.So St. Paul speaks of Christians as "grieving the Holy Spirit." Here, and in
Psalm 51:11, as in the "Angel of the Presence," we may note a foreshadowing of the truth of the trinal personality of the unity of the Godhead, which was afterwards to be revealed. That which "vexed" the Holy Spirit was, in the nature of the case, the unholiness of the people, and this involved a change in the manifestation of the Divine Love, which was now compelled to show itself as wrath.
Verse 10. -
But they rebelled. The rebellions of Israel against God commenced in the wilderness. They rebelled at Sinai, when they set up the golden calf; at Meribah (
Numbers 20:24); at Shittim, when they consorted with the daughters of Moab (
Numbers 25:6). Under the Judges, their conduct was one long rebellion (
Judges 2:11;
Judges 3:7, 12;
Judges 4:1;
Judges 6:1;
Judges 8:33;
Judges 10:6;
Judges 13:1). They rebelled in Samuel's time by asking for a king (
1 Samuel 8:5, 19, 20). The ten tribes rebelled under Jeroboam, and set up the idolatry of the calves at Dan and Bethel. Worse idolatries followed, and in two centuries and a half had reached such a height, that God was provoked to "remove Israel out of his sight" (
2 Kings 17:23). Judah remained, but "rebelled" under Manasseh, Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin, and Zedekiah, "transgressing very much after all the abominations of the heathen, and polluting the very house of the Lord at Jerusalem" (
2 Chronicles 36:14). These rebellions against God
vexed his Holy Spirit - "provoked him," "grieved him," "moved the Holy One in Israel" (
Psalm 78:40, 41;
Psalm 106:43).
Therefore he was turned to be their enemy (comp.
Jeremiah 30:14;
Lamentations 2:4, 5). Judah had "filled up the measure of her iniquities," had gone on "until there was no remedy" (
2 Chronicles 36:16). God's indignation was therefore poured out upon her without let or stint. "He cut oft' in his fierce anger all the horn of Israel: he drew back his right hand from before the enemy; he burned against Jacob like a flaming fire, which devoureth round about. He bent his
bow like an enemy; he stood with his right hand
as an adversary, and slew all that were pleasant in the tabernacle of the daughter of Zion; he poured out his fury like fire. The Lord was as an enemy" (
Lamentations 2:3-5). He fought against them; rather,
he himself fought against them. God himself, though they were "his people," yet fought against them and for the Chaldeans in that final struggle. He "gave the city into the hand of the King of Babylon" (
Jeremiah 34:2).
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew
But theyוְהֵ֛מָּה(wə·hêm·māh)Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - third person masculine plural
Strong's 1992:Theyrebelledמָר֥וּ(mā·rū)Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 4784:To be contentious or rebelliousand grievedוְעִצְּב֖וּ(wə·‘iṣ·ṣə·ḇū)Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 6087:To carve, fabricate, fashion, to worry, pain, angerHis Holyקָדְשׁ֑וֹ(qā·ḏə·šōw)Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 6944:A sacred place, thing, sanctitySpirit.ר֣וּחַ(rū·aḥ)Noun - common singular construct
Strong's 7307:Wind, breath, exhalation, life, anger, unsubstantiality, a region of the sky, spiritSo He turnedוַיֵּהָפֵ֥ךְ(way·yê·hā·p̄êḵ)Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 2015:To turn about, over, to change, overturn, return, pervert[and became]לָהֶ֛ם(lā·hem)Preposition | third person masculine plural
Strong's Hebrewtheir enemyלְאוֹיֵ֖ב(lə·’ō·w·yêḇ)Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 341:Hating, an adversary[and] He Himselfה֥וּא(hū)Pronoun - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1931:He, self, the same, this, that, as, arefoughtנִלְחַם־(nil·ḥam-)Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3898:To feed on, to consume, to battleagainst them.בָּֽם׃(bām)Preposition | third person masculine plural
Strong's Hebrew
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OT Prophets: Isaiah 63:10 But they rebelled and grieved his holy (Isa Isi Is) 
