Isaiah54
New International Version
1“Sing, barren woman, you who never bore a child; burst into song, shout for joy, you who were never in labor; because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband,” says the Lord.
2“Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes.
3For you will spread out to the right and to the left; your descendants will dispossess nations and settle in their desolate cities.
4“Do not be afraid; you will not be put to shame. Do not fear disgrace; you will not be humiliated. You will forget the shame of your youth and remember no more the reproach of your widowhood.
5For your Maker is your husband— the Lord Almighty is his name— the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; he is called the God of all the earth.
6The Lord will call you back as if you were a wife deserted and distressed in spirit— a wife who married young, only to be rejected,” says your God.
7“For a brief moment I abandoned you, but with deep compassion I will bring you back.
8In a surge of anger I hid my face from you for a moment, but with everlasting kindness I will have compassion on you,” says the Lord your Redeemer.
9“To me this is like the days of Noah, when I swore that the waters of Noah would never again cover the earth. So now I have sworn not to be angry with you, never to rebuke you again.
10Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,” says the Lord, who has compassion on you.
11“Afflicted city, lashed by storms and not comforted, I will rebuild you with stones of turquoise, your foundations with lapis lazuli.
12I will make your battlements of rubies, your gates of sparkling jewels, and all your walls of precious stones.
13All your children will be taught by the Lord, and great will be their peace.
14In righteousness you will be established: Tyranny will be far from you; you will have nothing to fear. Terror will be far removed; it will not come near you.
15If anyone does attack you, it will not be my doing; whoever attacks you will surrender to you.
16“See, it is I who created the blacksmith who fans the coals into flame and forges a weapon fit for its work. And it is I who have created the destroyer to wreak havoc;
17no weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and this is their vindication from me,” declares the Lord.
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