Isaiah54
American Standard Version · Public Domain
1Sing, O barren, thou that didst not bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou that didst not travail with child: for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife, saith Jehovah.
2Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thy habitations; spare not: lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes.
3For thou shalt spread abroad on the right hand and on the left; and thy seed shall possess the nations, and make the desolate cities to be inhabited.
4Fear not; for thou shalt not be ashamed: neither be thou confounded; for thou shalt not be put to shame: for thou shalt forget the shame of thy youth; and the reproach of thy widowhood shalt thou remember no more.
5For thy Maker is thy husband; Jehovah of hosts is his name: and the Holy One of Israel is thy Redeemer; the God of the whole earth shall he be called.
6For Jehovah hath called thee as a wife forsaken and grieved in spirit, even a wife of youth, when she is cast off, saith thy God.
7For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee.
8In overflowing wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting lovingkindness will I have mercy on thee, saith Jehovah thy Redeemer.
9For this is as the waters of Noah unto me; for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah shall no more go over the earth, so have I sworn that I will not be wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee.
10For the mountains may depart, and the hills be removed; but my lovingkindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall my covenant of peace be removed, saith Jehovah that hath mercy on thee.
11O thou afflicted, tossed with tempest, and not comforted, behold, I will set thy stones in fair colors, and lay thy foundations with sapphires.
12And I will make thy pinnacles of rubies, and thy gates of carbuncles, and all thy border of precious stones.
13And all thy children shall be taught of Jehovah; and great shall be the peace of thy children.
14In righteousness shalt thou be established: thou shalt be far from oppression, for thou shalt not fear; and from terror, for it shall not come near thee.
15Behold, they may gather together, but not by me: whosoever shall gather together against thee shall fall because of thee.
16Behold, I have created the smith that bloweth the fire of coals, and bringeth forth a weapon for his work; and I have created the waster to destroy.
17No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of Jehovah, and their righteousness which is of me, saith Jehovah.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Isaiah 54.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The increase of the church by the conversion of the Jews and Gentiles. (1-5). Its certain deliverance. (6-10). Its triumphant state is described. (11-17).
vv1-5
Observe the low state of religion in the world, for a long time before Christianity was brought in. But by preaching the gospel, multitudes were converted from idols to the living God. This is matter of great rejoicing to the church. The bounds of the church were extended. Though its state on earth is but mean and movable, like a tent or tabernacle, it is sometimes a growing state, and must be enlarged as the family increases. But the more numerous the church grows, the more she must fortify herself against errors and corruptions. Thy Maker is thy Husband. Christ is the Holy One of Israel, the Mediator of the covenant made with the Old Testament church. Long he had been called the God of Israel; but now he shall be called the God of the whole earth. And he will cleanse from sin, and cause every true believer to rejoice in this sacred union. We never can enough admire this mercy, or duly value this privilege.
vv6-10
As God is slow to anger, so he is swift to show mercy. And how sweet the returns of mercy would be, when God should come and comfort them! He will have mercy on them. God's gathering his people takes rise from his mercy, not any merit of theirs; and it is with great mercies, with everlasting kindness. The wrath is little, the mercies great; the wrath for a moment, the kindness everlasting. We are neither to despond under afflictions, nor to despair of relief. Mountains have been shaken and removed, but the promises of God never were broken by any event. Mountains and hills also signify great men. Creature-confidences shall fail; but when our friends fail us, our God does not. All this is alike applicable to the church at large, and to each believer. God will rebuke and correct his people for sins; but he will not cast them off. Let this encourage us to give the more diligence to make our calling and election sure.
vv11-17
Let the people of God, when afflicted and tossed, think they hear God speaking comfortably to them by these words, taking notice of their griefs and fears. The church is all glorious when full of the knowledge of God; for none teaches like him. It is a promise of the teaching and gifts of the Holy Spirit. All that are taught of God are taught to love one another. This seems to relate especially to the glorious times to succeed the tribulations of the church. Holiness, more than any thing, is the beauty of the church. God promises protection. There shall be no fears within; there shall be no fightings without. Military men value themselves on their splendid titles, but God calls them, "Wasters made to destroy," for they make wasting and destruction their business. He created them, therefore he will serve his own designs by them. The day is coming when God will reckon with wicked men for their hard speeches, Jude 1:15. Security and final victory are the heritage of each faithful servant of the Lord. The righteousness by which they are justified, and the grace by which they are sanctified, are the gift of God, and the effect of his special love. Let us beseech him to sanctify our souls, and to employ us in his service.
Key Words
רָנַן: properly, to creak (or emit a stridulous sound), i.e. to shout (usually for joy)
עָקָר: sterile (as if extirpated in the generative organs)
לֹא: not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
יָלַד: to bear young; causatively, to beget; medically, to act as midwife; specifically, to show lineage
פָּצַח: to break out (in joyful sound)
רִנָּה: properly, a creaking (or shrill sound), i.e. shout (of joy or grief)
צָהַל: to gleam, i.e. (figuratively) be cheerful; by transference to sound clear (of various animal or human expressions)
חוּל: properly, to twist or whirl (in a circular or spiral manner), i.e. (specifically) to dance, to writhe in pain (especially of parturition) or fear; figuratively, to wait, to pervert
כִּי: (by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
בֵּן: a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.)
Cross References
Isaiah 54Paul explicitly quotes this verse to contrast the New Covenant Church with the Old Covenant legal dispensation.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
God's sworn promise that the floodwaters of Noah would never again destroy the earth.
Supported by JFB, John Calvin
Jesus directly cites 'they shall be all taught of God' to refer to spiritual illumination.
Supported by John Calvin, Matthew Poole
Hannah's song celebrates the barren bringing forth seven, mirroring Israel's spiritual expansion.
Supported by Matthew Poole
God promises to betroth His people to Himself forever in lovingkindness, mercy, and righteousness.
Supported by JFB
The city foundations laid with sapphires and precious stones are fulfilled in the New Jerusalem.
Supported by JFB, Matthew Henry
The Church compared to a tabernacle whose cords and stakes will not be broken.
Supported by JFB
Jehovah declares He is married to His backsliding, yet recalled, people.
Supported by JFB
Contrast between God's anger for a moment and His life-giving favor.
Supported by JFB
David's final words celebrate an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things and sure.
Supported by JFB
God's covenant with Israel in her youth, establishing a marriage relationship.
Supported by JFB
Paul balances momentary light affliction with an eternal, far more exceeding weight of glory.
Supported by JFB
Underlines the immutability of God's covenant: the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.
Supported by JFB
The Lord makes all things for His own purposes, including the waster to destroy.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Desolate land becomes too narrow for the inhabitants due to rapid, supernatural increase.
Supported by JFB
The temporary hiding of God's face from the house of Jacob.
Supported by JFB