Doubtless thou art our father, though Abraham be ignorant of us, and Israel acknowledge us not: thou, O LORD, art our father, our redeemer; thy name is from everlasting.
Isaiah 63 is a prayer — a raw, honest lament from people who feel abandoned by God during a dark chapter in Israel's history. In this verse, they make a striking argument: even if Abraham and Jacob (known as Israel), the great founding patriarchs of the Jewish faith and ancestors of all Israelites, somehow failed to recognize or intercede for them, God still does. He is Father regardless. The word "Redeemer" here comes from the Hebrew go'el — a legal term for a close family member who steps in to rescue you from debt or slavery. The people are claiming God as that rescuer, the family member who doesn't walk away even when everyone else has.
Father, when I feel unknown and unclaimed, remind me that your fatherhood doesn't wait for me to feel it. You are my Redeemer from long before I knew I needed rescuing. Anchor me today in who you are, not in how my circumstances feel. Amen.
There's a specific kind of loneliness that comes when the people you counted on to vouch for you go quiet. When the mentor stops returning your messages. When the parent can't offer what you needed. When the community you thought had your back slowly moves on. The people praying this prayer knew that loneliness — they felt unclaimed, orphaned, as if even their greatest ancestors had forgotten them. And yet they don't stop there. They pivot from "no one knows us" to "but you are our Father." Not because everything is suddenly fine. Not because they've worked their way back into good standing. But because God's identity as Father doesn't depend on anyone else recognizing it or vouching for it first. He doesn't need permission to claim you. Even when every human anchor slips, that relationship holds. You don't have to earn your way back in. It was never based on what you deserved in the first place.
In this prayer, the people appeal to God's identity as Father and Redeemer rather than to their own record or righteousness. What does that approach to prayer tell you about how God wants to be approached?
Have you ever felt "unclaimed" — by a family, a community, or even spiritually by God? What was that experience like, and how did you respond to it?
The verse suggests God's fatherhood is more foundational than even the towering figures of Abraham and Jacob. Does that challenge or comfort you — and why?
How does understanding God as a go'el — a family member with a relational obligation to rescue — change the way you think about his love for you personally?
Is there someone in your life who feels unclaimed or unseen right now? What is one specific thing you could do to help them feel like they belong?
Have we not all one father? hath not one God created us? why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother, by profaning the covenant of our fathers?
Malachi 2:10
After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
Matthew 6:9
But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.
Isaiah 64:8
For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.
Ecclesiastes 9:5
Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.
Psalms 103:13
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:6
Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself;
Isaiah 44:24
And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD, Israel is my son, even my firstborn:
Exodus 4:22
For [most certainly] You are our Father, even though Abraham [our ancestor] does not know us And Israel does not acknowledge us. You, O LORD, are [still] our Father, Our Redeemer from everlasting is Your name.
AMP
For you are our Father, though Abraham does not know us, and Israel does not acknowledge us; you, O LORD, are our Father, our Redeemer from of old is your name.
ESV
For You are our Father, though Abraham does not know us And Israel does not recognize us. You, O LORD, are our Father, Our Redeemer from of old is Your name.
NASB
But you are our Father, though Abraham does not know us or Israel acknowledge us; you, O Lord, are our Father, our Redeemer from of old is your name.
NIV
Doubtless You are our Father, Though Abraham was ignorant of us, And Israel does not acknowledge us. You, O LORD, are our Father; Our Redeemer from Everlasting is Your name.
NKJV
Surely you are still our Father! Even if Abraham and Jacob would disown us, LORD, you would still be our Father. You are our Redeemer from ages past.
NLT
You are our Father. Abraham and Israel are long dead. They wouldn't know us from Adam. But you're our living Father, our Redeemer, famous from eternity!
MSG