Isaiah 63 · a question people ask
Who is "the angel of his presence" (63:9)?
The chapter doesn't say. It says only, "the angel of his presence saved them" (63:9), and the WEB has the angel of his presence in this verse only. The chapter is remembering the Exodus (63:11-13), and Exodus has both words. The LORD says, "Behold, I send an angel before you, to keep you by the way" (Exodus 23:20), and "My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest" (Exodus 33:14). In Hebrew presence in Exodus 33:14 and in 63:9 is the same word, panim, and rest in Exodus 33:14 is nuach, the verb of "the LORD’s Spirit caused them to rest" (63:14). Isaiah 63 names Moses (63:11, 63:12) but doesn't name Exodus or say who the angel is, and these notes identify him with no one.
The verses
“In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them. In his love and in his pity he redeemed them. He bore them, and carried them all the days of old.”
“Then he remembered the days of old, Moses and his people, saying, “Where is he who brought them up out of the sea with the shepherds of his flock? Where is he who put his Holy Spirit among them?” Who caused his glorious arm to be at Moses’ right hand? Who divided the waters before them, to make himself an everlasting name? Who led them through the depths, like a horse in the wilderness, so that they didn’t stumble? As the livestock that go down into the valley, the LORD’s Spirit caused them to rest. So you led your people to make yourself a glorious name.”
““Behold, I send an angel before you, to keep you by the way, and to bring you into the place which I have prepared.”
“He said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.””