God's Fatherly Regard for His People
F. Delitzsch, D. D. Isaiah 63:16 Doubtless you are our father, though Abraham be ignorant of us, and Israel acknowledge us not: you, O LORD, are our father… "For Thou art our Father; for Abraham is ignorant of us, and Israel knows us not. Thou, Jehovah, art our Father; from of old our Redeemer is Thy name." Jehovah is Israel's Father (Isaiah 64:7), i.e. begetter (Deuteronomy 32:6); His creative power and loving, merciful purpose called it into existence. The second "for" justifies this confession, that Jehovah is Israel's Father, and that it can therefore look for fatherly care and help from Him alone; even the dearest and most honourable men, the nation's progenitors, cannot help it. Abraham and Jacob — Israel — have been taken away from this world, and are unable of themselves to intervene in the history of their people. (F. Delitzsch, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: 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. WEB: For you are our Father, though Abraham doesn't know us, and Israel does not acknowledge us: you, Yahweh, are our Father; our Redeemer from everlasting is your name.