Isaiah 64:3
 Isaiah 64:3 
New International Version (©2011)
For when you did awesome things that we did not expect, you came down, and the mountains trembled before you.

New Living Translation (©2007)
When you came down long ago, you did awesome deeds beyond our highest expectations. And oh, how the mountains quaked!

English Standard Version (©2001)
When you did awesome things that we did not look for, you came down, the mountains quaked at your presence.

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
When You did awesome things which we did not expect, You came down, the mountains quaked at Your presence.

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
When thou didst terrible things which we looked not for, thou camest down, the mountains flowed down at thy presence.

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
When You did awesome works that we did not expect, You came down, and the mountains quaked at Your presence.

International Standard Version (©2012)
When you did awesome deeds that we expected, you came down, and the mountains shuddered before you.

NET Bible (©2006)
When you performed awesome deeds that took us by surprise, you came down, and the mountains trembled before you.

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
When you did awe-inspiring things that we didn't expect, you came down and the mountains quaked in your presence.

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
When you did terrible things which we looked not for, you came down, the mountains flowed down at your presence.

American King James Version
When you did terrible things which we looked not for, you came down, the mountains flowed down at your presence.

American Standard Version
When thou didst terrible things which we looked not for, thou camest down, the mountains quaked at thy presence.

Douay-Rheims Bible
When thou shalt do wonderful things, we shall not bear them: thou didst come down, and at thy presence the mountains melted away.

Darby Bible Translation
When thou didst terrible things which we looked not for, thou camest down, and the mountains flowed down at thy presence.

English Revised Version
When thou didst terrible things which we looked not for, thou camest down, the mountains flowed down at thy presence.

Webster's Bible Translation
When thou didst terrible things which we looked not for, thou camest down, the mountains flowed down at thy presence.

World English Bible
When you did awesome things which we didn't look for, you came down, the mountains quaked at your presence.

Young's Literal Translation
In Thy doing fearful things -- we expect not, Thou didst come down, From Thy presence did mountains flow.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

64:1-5 They desire that God would manifest himself to them and for them, so that all may see it. This is applicable to the second coming of Christ, when the Lord himself shall descend from heaven. They plead what God had used to do, and had declared his gracious purpose to do, for his people. They need not fear being disappointed of it, for it is sure; or disappointed in it, for it is sufficient. The happiness of his people is bound up in what God has designed for them, and is preparing for them, and preparing them for; what he has done or will do. Can we believe this, and then think any thing too great to expect from his truth, power, and love? It is spiritual and cannot be comprehended by human understanding. It is ever ready. See what communion there is between a gracious God and a gracious soul. We must make conscience of doing our duty in every thing the Lord our God requires. Thou meetest him; this speaks his freeness and forwardness in doing them good. Though God has been angry with us for our sins, and justly, yet his anger has soon ended; but in his favour is life, which goes on and continues, and on that we depend for our salvation.


Pulpit Commentary

Verse 3 - When thou didst terrible things (comp. Deuteronomy 10:21; 2 Samuel 7:23; Psalm 49:4; Psalm 106:22). The phrase, as Mr. Cheyne remarks, is a "standing" one for the wonders of the Exodus. Which we looked not for; i.e. which transcended our utmost expectations. Thou earnest down (see Exodus 19:11, 20).


Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

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 Exodus 19:18,

the mountains flowed down at thy presence; not Sinai only, but others also; Kimchi says Seir and Paran; Judges 5:4.


Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

3. When—Supply from Isa 64:2, "As when."

terrible things—(Ps 65:5).

we looked not for—far exceeding the expectation of any of our nation; unparalleled before (Ex 34:10; Ps 68:8).

camest down—on Mount Sinai.

mountains flowed—Repeated from Isa 64:1; they pray God to do the very same things for Israel now as in former ages. Gesenius, instead of "flowed" here, and "flow" in Isa 64:1, translates from a different Hebrew root, "quake … quaked"; but "fire" melts and causes to flow, rather than to quake (Isa 64:2).


Isaiah 64:3 Parallel Commentaries

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Prayer for Illustration of God's Power
1Oh that you would rend the heavens, that you would come down, that the mountains might flow down at your presence, 2As when the melting fire burns, the fire causes the waters to boil, to make your name known to your adversaries, that the nations may tremble at your presence! 3When you did terrible things which we looked not for, you came down, the mountains flowed down at your presence.

Psalm 65:5 You answer us with awesome and righteous deeds, God our Savior, the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas,
Psalm 66:3 Say to God, "How awesome are your deeds! So great is your power that your enemies cringe before you.
Psalm 66:5 Come and see what God has done, his awesome deeds for mankind!
Psalm 106:22 miracles in the land of Ham and awesome deeds by the Red Sea.
Isaiah 5:25 Therefore the LORD's anger burns against his people; his hand is raised and he strikes them down. The mountains shake, and the dead bodies are like refuse in the streets. Yet for all this, his anger is not turned away, his hand is still upraised.