Why then is thy apparel red, and thy garments like theirs that tread in the winepress?
מַדּ֥וּעַ אָדֹ֖ם לִלְבוּשֶׁ֑ךָ וּבְגָדֶ֖יךָ כְּדֹרֵ֥ךְ בְּגַֽת׃
9 Church Fathers comment on this verse · 11 commentaries
The hue was neither that of wine nor blood but rather a blend of both. The depiction of treading the winepress illustrates the ease of the struggle, while the color of the blood indicates that it is indeed blood, not wine. He stood upon the winepress, not lacking fullness within, but overflowing, and was not merely splattered, but completely stained.
They ask once more, “What is the reason that your clothes are stained with wine, as though they have been crushed underfoot like those under a millstone, full of trampling?” (Gen. 49:11) This implies that His garments were marked by blood, appearing as if they had been drenched with red wine.
The depiction of the Savior, Edom, can be interpreted as 'earthly' or 'bloody,' while Vosor is understood as 'flesh' or 'in tribulation.' In succinct terms, the prophet Isaiah reveals the entire mystery of the resurrection, encapsulating both the reality of the flesh and the elevation of glory. The question arises: Who is He who rises from the earth, who ascends from the blood? The garments of Him who, as foretold by Jacob, secured His donkey to the vine and treaded the winepress by Himself (Is 63:3) are stained red with the wine of Vosor, signifying the flesh or the sorrows of the world, for He has triumphed over the world.
However, His garments are not only red but also radiant because He surpasses all men in beauty, and through the glory of His victory, they are transformed into white robes. Thus, the words describing the flesh of Christ are aptly fulfilled: Who is this that comes up from the wilderness, leaning on his beloved? (Song 8:5), as well as what is noted in the same text, My beloved is white and ruddy (Song 5:10).
Why are Your garments crimson, and Your apparel like those who tread in the winepress? In the Septuagint, it asks why Your garments are red, akin to those who have trampled in the winepress, thoroughly crushed. Where it refers to crimson, the Hebrew word used is edom, which signifies blood rather than a geographical location. The angels question further, expressing their understanding that You are the One who speaks truth, and that the salvation of all hinges upon Your decree. They seek to understand why Your robes are stained with the juice of the vine, or why You have splattered blood upon Your seamless tunic, which was woven from above and could not be torn, and which, woven from the virgin womb, possessed a purity unmatched by any earthly whitener.
For to You, it is more suitable to embody goodness than cruelty, and to be more white than stained with blood. In response, the Lord speaks not briefly as before, but with many words, seeking to impart knowledge to those who are uninformed, so they may no longer need to inquire.
The wonder of Christ Even the heavenly beings questioned when Christ triumphed over death. The celestial powers were astonished as they witnessed the blessed body ascending into glory. This is why they inquired, Who is this King of Glory? (Ps 23:8). While some exclaimed, Lift up, O gates, your heads; and be lifted up, ye ancient doors, that the King of Glory may come in! (Ps 23:9), skepticism still lingered. Additionally, the prophet Isaiah presents a testament to the hesitance of the heavenly powers, as they asked, ‘Who is this who comes from Edom, with crimsoned apparel from Bozrah, so splendid in His attire?’ (Is 63:1).
Edom is referred to as the crimson land, and Vosor symbolizes the flesh; they express amazement at the ineffable beauty of the One adorned in earthly and bodily forms, a beauty so profound that it draws all who behold it into love. The blessed David recognized this beauty, as he states, He is more beautiful in beauty than the sons of men (Ps 44:3, LXX). The interpretation of Edom as "bright red" is affirmed by the bride in the Song of Songs, who proclaims, "My brother is bright red and white." This reflects a dual nature: white refers to the unapproachable light of the divine essence, while bright red signifies the human form. This moment serves both to enact justice for their transgressions and to secure freedom for those unjustly held captive. And regarding the hand?
It signifies the power of righteousness, as it has preserved unblemished and sinless the nature He has assumed. Therefore, having experienced this grace and gained deliverance from that harsh captivity, let us offer songs of praise to the One who has granted it. For He, having faced the trial for our benefit, has bestowed upon us the gifts of triumph and peace, which we can enjoy continually through the grace of Him who triumphed; to Him now belongs glory, along with the Father and the Holy Spirit.
The Suffering of Christ and the Eucharist The Holy Spirit reveals in the book of Isaiah the profound suffering of our Lord, as it is written, ‘Why is Your garment red, and Your vesture red, and Your vesture a treading in the grindstone? (Is 63:2). Can mere water redden garments? Or is it the water from the winepress, trampled underfoot, or squeezed by the press? The reference to wine signifies the precious blood of Christ, anticipating what was later unveiled in the Lord’s cup through the prophets. The act of treading and pressing in the winepress illustrates that the wine to be consumed cannot be made except after the grapes have been crushed and pressed. Therefore, we would be unable to partake in the blood of Christ had He not first endured this crushing and pressing, nor could He have offered the cup that He imparted to His followers.
Christ responded, saying, "I have extended my arms throughout the entire day to a people who are rebellious, and to those who oppose them" (Isaiah 65:2).
A symbol of affliction, who is this being adorned in a crimson garment as a mark of disgrace? For the term ‘Vosor’ carries a similar connotation among the Jewish people.
In the reference to the cup while establishing the New Covenant, which is affirmed by His blood, Christ emphasizes the essence of His physical form. Blood cannot pertain to any being unless it is of flesh. If, on the other hand, a non-physical body were presented, it would be clear that blood cannot exist without flesh. Thus, the reality of the body is affirmed through the manifestation of the flesh, and the reality of the flesh is affirmed through the manifestation of the body. To help you understand this ancient metaphor, where blood is mentioned in place of wine, we can look to Isaiah: Who is this coming from Edom, in crimson garments from Bosra, so glorious in His strength? (Isaiah 63:1). Why are your clothes red, like those of one treading the winepress? (Isaiah 63:2).
The prophetic Spirit already envisions the Lord embarking on His suffering, even while in the flesh. The bloody appearance of His body is represented by the scarlet garment, squeezed and pressed under the weight of the suffering akin to that of a winepress, from which the people emerge stained, due to the deep hue of the wine.
The Conqueror who emerged from Edom was seen by the prophetic vision adorned in crimson attire. The prophet inquires of Him: Why are His garments stained in this hue, as though they had been drenched in the juice of ripe grapes pressed underfoot in a familiar winepress?
Passages read together with this verse.
THEOSIS