Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 63:19
19. thine . . . never—rather, "We are Thine from of old; Thou barest not rule over them" [BARNES]. LOWTH translates, "We for long have been as those over whom Thou hast not ruled, who are not called by Thy name"; "for long" thus stands in contrast to "but a little while" ( :-). But the analogy of :- makes it likely that the first clause in this verse refers to the Jews, and the second to their foes, as English Version and BARNES translate it. The Jews' foes are aliens who have unjustly... read more
Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Isaiah 63:18-19
Isaiah 63:18-19. The people of thy holiness— Or, Thy holy people have possessed [the land] but for a little time, &c. Isaiah 63:19. We have been as they over whom thou never bearest rule, and upon whom thy name was not called. There is no doubt but that the calamity of the external state of the Jewish people is here described. If we compare this description with the repetition of the same calamity, Isa 63:10-11 of the next chapter, we can have no doubt that these words pertain to the state... read more