John Calvin Commentary Isaiah 63:6

"And I trod down the peoples in mine anger, and made them drunk in my wrath, and I poured out their lifeblood on the earth." — Isaiah 63:6 (ASV)

And I will tread down the peoples. From the preceding statement, he draws the conclusion that God’s wrath is sufficiently powerful to destroy the wicked without calling for the assistance of others; and he does so in order that the Jews may not be deterred from cherishing favorable hopes by the strength that is arrayed against them.

And will make them drunk. The expression, “make drunk,” must be taken here in a different sense from what it formerly had in some passages. We have seen that sometimes we are made drunk when God strikes us with fury or madness (Isaiah 29:9), or with a spirit of giddiness (Isaiah 19:14), or, in a word, gives us up to a reprobate mind. (Romans 1:28). But here it means nothing else than “to fill,” and to strike even to satiety, or, as we commonly say, “to their heart’s content”; a metaphor which the prophets frequently employ.

And will cast down their strength to the earth. That is, though they think that they are invincible, yet I will cast down and destroy them.

The meaning may be thus summed up.

“The Jews, when they are afflicted, must not question their salvation, as if God hated them, and must not be amazed at the chastisements which they endure, as if they happened by chance; for other nations, by whom they are now oppressed, shall be punished, there shall be a turn of events, and those who chant their triumph too soon shall not escape.”

He gives the Edomites as an example, because they were nearer and better known than others, and were also the most injurious.