Texts in Conversation
Isaiah 63 and Psalm 33 share imagery rooted in ancient Near Eastern cosmology, where heaven was viewed as a physical realm high above the earth. Both describe God looking down from this elevated dwelling to observe human life.
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Isaiah 63:15
Hebrew Bible
13 who led them through the deep water? Like a horse running through the wilderness they did not stumble. 14 As an animal that goes down into a valley to graze, so the Spirit of the Lord granted them rest. In this way you guided your people, gaining for yourself an honored reputation. 15 Look down from heaven and take notice, from your holy, majestic palace! Where are your zeal and power? Do not hold back your tender compassion! 16 For you are our father, though Abraham does not know us and Israel does not recognize us. You, Lord, are our father; you have been called our Protector from ancient times. 17 Why, Lord, do you make us stray from your ways and make our minds stubborn so that we do not obey you? Return for the sake of your servants, the tribes of your inheritance!
Date: 7th-5th Centuries B.C.E. (based on scholarly estimates)
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Psalm 33:13
Hebrew Bible
11 The Lord’s decisions stand forever; his plans abide throughout the ages. 12 How blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom he has chosen to be his special possession. 13 The Lord watches from heaven; he sees all people. 14 From the place where he lives he looks carefully at all the earth’s inhabitants. 15 He is the one who forms every human heart, and takes note of all their actions.
Date: 6th-3rd Centuries B.C.E. (based on scholarly estimates)
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Notes and References
"... there is evidence for semantic overlap in the category 'seeing with reference to God' similar to that discovered in the examination of other categories above. For example, with the exception of גלה ('galah', discover) all of the roots in question are used in the context of 'God sees a person.' Job 7:19 speaks of God 'gazing' at Job (compare Genesis 4:4; Psalm 39:14). In Hosea 14:9 God 'beholds' Ephraim. In Isaiah 66:2 God will only 'look' upon the person who is 'humble and contrite in spirit.' Psalm 14:2 speaks of Yahweh 'looking down' from heaven upon the sons of men (compare Psalm 53:2). In Psalm 11:14 his eye 'beholds' the sons of men. In Psalm 33:13 Yahweh 'sees' all the sons of men. Here, apart from subtle nuances such as looking down, there seems to be little difference in the function of these verbs, and little if any difference in the meanings intended. In each case God is said to see the individuals involved ..."
Staton, Cecil P.
And Yahweh appeared: A Study of the Motifs of Seeing God and of God's appearing in Old Testament Narratives
(p. 15) University of Oxford, 1988
* The use of references are not endorsements of their contents. Please read the entirety of the provided reference(s) to understand the author's full intentions regarding the use of these texts.
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