Isaiah 54
A plain-spoken deep dive on the whole chapter. Read the chapter →
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
Sing, O barren, thou that didst not bear "Shout for joy, O thou barren, that didst not bear" - The Church of God under the Old Testament, confined within the narrow bounds of the Jewish nation, and still more so in respect of the very small number of true believers, and which sometimes seemed to be deserted of God her husband, is the barren woman, that did not bear, and was desolate. She is exhorted to rejoice, and to express her joy in the strongest manner, on the reconciliation of her husband, (see Isa 54:6), and on the accession of the Gentiles to her family. The converted Gentiles are all along considered by the prophet as a new accession of adopted children, admitted into the original Church of God, and united with it. See Isa 49:20, Isa 49:21.
Open source ↗THE FRUIT OF MESSIAH'S SUFFERINGS, AND OF ISRAEL'S FINAL PENITENCE AT HER PAST UNBELIEF (Isa 53:6): HER JOYFUL RESTORATION AND ENLARGEMENT BY JEHOVAH, WHOSE WRATH WAS MOMENTARY, BUT HIS KINDNESS EVERLASTING. (Isa. 54:1-17) Sing--for joy (Zep 3:14). barren--the Jewish Church once forsaken by God, and therefore during that time destitute of spiritual children (Isa 54:6). didst not bear--during the Babylonian exile primarily. Secondarily, and chiefly, during Israel's present dispersion. the children--the Gentiles adopted by special grace into the original Church (Isa 54:3; Isa 49:20-21). than . . . married wife--than were her spiritual children, when Israel was still a married wife (under the law, before the Babylonian exile), before God put her away [MAURER]. So Paul contrasts the universal Church of the New Testament with the Church of the Old Testament legal dispensation, quoting this very passage (Gal 4:27). But the full accomplishment of it is yet future.
Open source ↗Sing, O barren, thou that didst not bear,.... The Targum interprets this of Jerusalem, paraphrasing the words thus, "sing praise, O Jerusalem, which was as a barren woman that bears not;'' and so the apostle applies the words of the text to the Jerusalem above, the mother of us all, the then present Gospel church, Gal 4:26, which, at the first setting of it up, in the times of Christ, during his life and at the time of his death, and before the day of Pentecost, was like a barren woman; the number of converts were very small; few believed the report of the Gospel, professed Christ, and submitted to his ordinances; the names of the disciples were but a hundred and twenty. Though some understand this of the Jewish church, under the Old Testament dispensation, whose members were not many, and whose proselytes from the Gentiles were but few; and others of the Gentile world, before the coming of Christ, and the preaching of the Gospel in it; but the former sense is to be preferred, having the suffrage of the apostle: break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou that didst not travail with child; among whom there were few instances of conversion, scarce any begotten and born again of incorruptible seed by the word of God, and no signs thereof; but now it being otherwise, and multitudes being converted both in Judea and in the Gentile world, the church and its members are called upon to express their joy aloud in songs of praise, setting forth the glory of efficacious grace, in the regeneration of men; for as this is matter of joy to the angels of heaven, so to the saints on earth: for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife, saith the Lord; more souls were born again, and added to the church after the death of Christ, when she was in a des…
Open source ↗After the "Servant of God" has expiated the sin of His people by the sacrifice of Himself, and Israel has acknowledged its fault in connection with the rejected One, and entered into the possession and enjoyment of the salvation procured by Him, the glory of the church, which has thus become a partaker of salvation through repentance and faith, is quite ready to burst forth. Hence the prophet can now exclaim, Isa 54:1 : "Exult, O barren one, thou that didst not bear; break forth into exulting, and cry aloud, thou that didst not travail with child: for there are more children of the solitary one than children of the married wife, saith Jehovah." The words are addressed to Jerusalem, which was a counterpart of Sarah in her barrenness at first, and her fruitfulness afterwards (Isa 41:1-3). She is not תלד לא עקרה (Job 24:21), but ילדה לא עקרה (Jdg 13:2); not indeed that she had never had any children, but during her captivity and exile she had been robbed of her children, and as a holy city had given birth to no more (Isa 49:21). She was shōmēmâh, rendered solitary (Sa2 13:20; the allusion is to her depopulation as a city), whereas formerly she was בּעוּלה, i.e., enjoyed the fellowship of Jehovah her husband (ba‛al). But this condition would not last (for Jehovah had not given her a divorce): she was therefore to exult and shout, since the number of children which she would now have, as one desolate and solitary, would be greater than the number of those which she had as a married wife.
Open source ↗If we apply this to the state of the Jews after their return out of captivity, it is a prophecy of the increase of their nation after they were settled in their own land. Jerusalem had been in the condition of a wife written childless, or a desolate solitary widow; but now it is promised that the city should be replenished and the country peopled again, that not only the ruins of Jerusalem should be repaired, but the suburbs of it extended on all sides and a great many buildings erected upon new foundations, - that those estates which had for many years been wrongfully held by the Babylonian Gentiles should now return to the right owners. God will again be a husband to them, and the reproach of their captivity, and the small number to which they were then reduced, shall be forgotten. And it is to be observed that, by virtue of the ancient promise made to Abraham of the increase of his seed, when they were restored to God's favour they multiplied greatly. Those that first came out of Babylon were but 42,000 (Ezr 2:64), about a fifteenth part of their number when they came out of Egypt; many came dropping to them afterwards, but we may suppose that to be the greatest number that ever came in a body; and yet above 500 years after, a little before their destruction by the Romans, a calculation was made by the number of the paschal lambs, and the lowest computation by that rule (allowing only ten to a lamb, whereas they might be twenty) made the nation to be nearly three millions. Josephus says, seven and twenty hundred thousand and odd, Jewish War 6.425. But we must apply it to the church of God in general; I mean the kingdom of God among men, God's city in the world, the children of God incorporated. Now observe, I. The low and languishing state of religion in the world fo…
Open source ↗54:1–55:13 This is an invitation to participate in the restoration to God’s favor made possible through the ministry of the promised servant. 54:1-17 Salvation flows from the vindication of the suffering servant. The promises mentioned here go beyond the return from Babylonian exile and apply to the coming of Jesus Christ, the extension of the kingdom to the church, the benefits of the second coming of Jesus Christ as the bridegroom of the church, and the new Jerusalem. 54:1-3 The prophet encourages Jerusalem, likened to a barren woman, to rejoice because its fate was rapidly changing. She would have so many children that she would outgrow her home (see Gal 4:27). 54:1 In the ancient world, a woman who had never given birth after being married for a time would be ashamed. Isaiah compares Jerusalem to a barren woman who rejoices at the long-awaited blessing of children (see Gal 4:27).
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
רָנַן (rânan, H7442) — properly, to creak (or emit a stridulous sound), i.e. to shout (usually for joy) עָקָר (ʻâqâr, H6135) — sterile (as if extirpated in the generative organs) יָלַד (yâlad, H3205) — to bear young; causatively, to beget; medically, to act as midwife; specifically, to show… פָּצַח (pâtsach, H6476) — to break out (in joyful sound) רִנָּה (rinnâh, H7440) — properly, a creaking (or shrill sound), i.e. shout (of joy or grief) צָהַל (tsâhal, H6670) — to gleam, i.e. (figuratively) be cheerful; by transference to sound clear (of various… חוּל (chûwl, H2342) — properly, to twist or whirl (in a circular or spiral manner), i.e. (specifically) to… רַב (rab, H7227) — abundant (in quantity, size, age, number, rank, quality) בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… שָׁמֵם (shâmêm, H8074) — to stun (or intransitively, grow numb), i.e. devastate or (figuratively) stupefy (both… בָּעַל (bâʻal, H1166) — to be master; hence, to marry אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God
Open source ↗רָחַב (râchab, H7337) — to broaden (intransitive or transitive, literal or figurative) מָקוֹם (mâqôwm, H4725) — properly, a standing, i.e. a spot; but used widely of a locality (general or specific);… אֹהֶל (ʼôhel, H168) — a tent (as clearly conspicuous from a distance) נָטָה (nâṭâh, H5186) — to stretch or spread out; by implication, to bend away (including moral deflection); used… יְרִיעָה (yᵉrîyʻâh, H3407) — a hanging (as tremulous) מִשְׁכָּן (mishkân, H4908) — a residence (including a shepherd's hut, the lair of animals, figuratively, the grave;… חָשַׂךְ (châsak, H2820) — to restrain or (reflex.) refrain; by implication, to refuse, spare, preserve; to observe אָרַךְ (ʼârak, H748) — to be (causative, make) long (literally or figuratively) מֵיתָר (mêythâr, H4340) — a cord (of a tent); or the string (of a bow) חָזַק (châzaq, H2388) — to fasten upon; hence, to seize, be strong (figuratively, courageous, causatively… יָתֵד (yâthêd, H3489) — a peg
Open source ↗פָּרַץ (pârats, H6555) — to break out (in many applications, direct and indirect, literal and figurative) יָמִין (yâmîyn, H3225) — the right hand or side (leg, eye) of a person or other object (as the stronger and more… שְׂמֹאול (sᵉmôʼwl, H8040) — properly, dark (as enveloped), i.e. the north; hence (by orientation), the left hand זֶרַע (zeraʻ, H2233) — seed; figuratively, fruit, plant, sowing-time, posterity יָרַשׁ (yârash, H3423) — to occupy (by driving out previous tenants, and possessing in their place); by… גּוֹי (gôwy, H1471) — a foreign nation; hence, a Gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight… שָׁמֵם (shâmêm, H8074) — to stun (or intransitively, grow numb), i.e. devastate or (figuratively) stupefy (both… עִיר (ʻîyr, H5892) — a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere… יָשַׁב (yâshab, H3427) — properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to…
Open source ↗יָרֵא (yârêʼ, H3372) — to fear; morally, to revere; caus. to frighten בּוּשׁ (bûwsh, H954) — properly, to pale, i.e. by implication to be ashamed; also (by implication) to be… כָּלַם (kâlam, H3637) — properly, to wound; but only figuratively, to taunt or insult חָפֵר (châphêr, H2659) — to blush; figuratively, to be ashamed, disappointed; causatively, to shame, reproach שָׁכַח (shâkach, H7911) — to mislay, i.e. to be oblivious of, from want of memory or attention בֹּשֶׁת (bôsheth, H1322) — shame (the feeling and the condition, as well as its cause); by implication… עָלוּם (ʻâlûwm, H5934) — (only in plural as abstract) adolescence; figuratively, vigor זָכַר (zâkar, H2142) — properly, to mark (so as to be recognized), i.e. to remember; by implication, to mention;… חֶרְפָּה (cherpâh, H2781) — contumely, disgrace, the pudenda אַלְמָנוּת (ʼalmânûwth, H491) — concrete, a widow; abstract, widowhood
Open source ↗עָשָׂה (ʻâsâh, H6213) — to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application בָּעַל (bâʻal, H1166) — to be master; hence, to marry יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God צָבָא (tsâbâʼ, H6635) — a mass of persons (or figuratively, things), especially reg. organized forwar (an army);… שֵׁם (shêm, H8034) — an appellation, as amark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority,… גָּאַל (gâʼal, H1350) — to be the next of kin (and as such to buy back a relative's property, marry his widow,… קָדוֹשׁ (qâdôwsh, H6918) — sacred (ceremonially or morally); (as noun) God (by eminence), an angel, a saint, a… יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisrâʼêl, H3478) — Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity אֱלֹהִים (ʼĕlôhîym, H430) — gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with… אֶרֶץ (ʼerets, H776) — the earth (at large, or partitively a land) קָרָא (qârâʼ, H7121) — to call out to (i.e. properly, address by name, but used in a wide variety of…
Open source ↗יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God קָרָא (qârâʼ, H7121) — to call out to (i.e. properly, address by name, but used in a wide variety of… אִשָּׁה (ʼishshâh, H802) — a woman עָזַב (ʻâzab, H5800) — to loosen, i.e. relinquish, permit, etc. עָצַב (ʻâtsab, H6087) — properly, to carve, i.e. fabricate or fashion; hence (in a bad sense) to worry, pain or… רוּחַ (rûwach, H7307) — wind; by resemblance breath, i.e. a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively,… נָעוּר (nâʻûwr, H5271) — (only in plural collectively or emphatic form) youth, the state (juvenility) or the… מָאַס (mâʼaç, H3988) — to spurn; also (intransitively) to disappear אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) אֱלֹהִים (ʼĕlôhîym, H430) — gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with…
Open source ↗קָטָן (qâṭân, H6996) — abbreviated, i.e. diminutive, literally (in quantity, size or number) or figuratively (in… רֶגַע (regaʻ, H7281) — a wink (of the eyes), i.e. a very short space of time עָזַב (ʻâzab, H5800) — to loosen, i.e. relinquish, permit, etc. גָּדוֹל (gâdôwl, H1419) — great (in any sense); hence, older; also insolent רַחַם (racham, H7356) — compassion (in the plural); by extension, the womb (as cherishing the fetus); by… קָבַץ (qâbats, H6908) — to grasp, i.e. collect
Open source ↗שֶׁצֶף (shetseph, H8241) — an outburst (of anger) קֶצֶף (qetseph, H7110) — a splinter (as chipped off); figuratively, rage or strife סָתַר (çâthar, H5641) — to hide (by covering), literally or figuratively פָּנִים (pânîym, H6440) — the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and… רֶגַע (regaʻ, H7281) — a wink (of the eyes), i.e. a very short space of time עוֹלָם (ʻôwlâm, H5769) — properly, concealed, i.e. the vanishing point; generally, time out of mind (past or… חֵסֵד (chêçêd, H2617) — kindness; by implication (towards God) piety; rarely (by opposition) reproof, or… רָחַם (râcham, H7355) — to fondle; by implication, to love, especially to compassionate אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God גָּאַל (gâʼal, H1350) — to be the next of kin (and as such to buy back a relative's property, marry his widow,…
Open source ↗מַיִם (mayim, H4325) — water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen נֹחַ (Nôach, H5146) — Noach, the patriarch of the flood שָׁבַע (shâbaʻ, H7650) — to seven oneself, i.e. swear (as if by repeating a declaration seven times) עָבַר (ʻâbar, H5674) — to cross over; used very widely of any transition (literal or figurative; transitive,… אֶרֶץ (ʼerets, H776) — the earth (at large, or partitively a land) קָצַף (qâtsaph, H7107) — to crack off, i.e. (figuratively) burst out in rage גָּעַר (gâʻar, H1605) — to chide
Open source ↗הַר (har, H2022) — a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively) מוּשׁ (mûwsh, H4185) — to withdraw (both literally and figuratively, whether intransitive or transitive) גִּבְעָה (gibʻâh, H1389) — a hillock מוֹט (môwṭ, H4131) — to waver; by implication, to slip, shake, fall חֵסֵד (chêçêd, H2617) — kindness; by implication (towards God) piety; rarely (by opposition) reproof, or… בְּרִית (bᵉrîyth, H1285) — a compact (because made by passing between pieces of flesh) שָׁלוֹם (shâlôwm, H7965) — safe, i.e. (figuratively) well, happy, friendly; also (abstractly) welfare, i.e. health,… אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God רָחַם (râcham, H7355) — to fondle; by implication, to love, especially to compassionate
Open source ↗עָנִי (ʻânîy, H6041) — depressed, in mind or circumstances סָעַר (çâʻar, H5590) — to rush upon; by implication, to toss (transitive or intransitive, literal or figurative) נָחַם (nâcham, H5162) — properly, to sigh, i.e. breathe strongly; by implication, to be sorry, i.e. (in a… רָבַץ (râbats, H7257) — to crouch (on all four legs folded, like a recumbent animal); be implication, to recline,… אֶבֶן (ʼeben, H68) — a stone פּוּךְ (pûwk, H6320) — dye (specifically, stibium for the eyes) יָסַד (yâçad, H3245) — to set (literally or figuratively); intensively, to found; reflexively, to sit down… סַפִּיר (çappîyr, H5601) — a gem (perhaps used for scratching other substances), probably the sapphire
Open source ↗שׂוּם (sûwm, H7760) — to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and… שֶׁמֶשׁ (shemesh, H8121) — the sun; by implication, the east; figuratively, a ray, i.e. (architectural) a notched… כַּדְכֹּד (kadkôd, H3539) — a sparkling gem, probably the ruby שַׁעַר (shaʻar, H8179) — an opening, i.e. door or gate אֶבֶן (ʼeben, H68) — a stone אֶקְדָּח (ʼeqdâch, H688) — burning, i.e. a carbuncle or other fiery gem גְּבוּל (gᵉbûwl, H1366) — properly, a cord (as twisted), i.e. (by implication) a boundary; by extension the… חֵפֶץ (chêphets, H2656) — pleasure; hence (abstractly) desire; concretely, a valuable thing; hence (by extension) a…
Open source ↗בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… לִמּוּד (limmûwd, H3928) — instructed יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God רַב (rab, H7227) — abundant (in quantity, size, age, number, rank, quality) שָׁלוֹם (shâlôwm, H7965) — safe, i.e. (figuratively) well, happy, friendly; also (abstractly) welfare, i.e. health,…
Open source ↗צְדָקָה (tsᵉdâqâh, H6666) — rightness (abstractly), subjectively (rectitude), objectively (justice), morally (virtue)… כּוּן (kûwn, H3559) — properly, to be erect (i.e. stand perpendicular); hence (causatively) to set up, in a… רָחַק (râchaq, H7368) — to widen (in any direction), i.e. (intransitively) recede or (transitively) remove… עֹשֶׁק (ʻôsheq, H6233) — injury, fraud, (subjectively) distress, (concretely) unjust gain יָרֵא (yârêʼ, H3372) — to fear; morally, to revere; caus. to frighten מְחִתָּה (mᵉchittâh, H4288) — properly, a dissolution; concretely, a ruin, or (abstractly) consternation קָרַב (qârab, H7126) — to approach (causatively, bring near) for whatever purpose
Open source ↗Cross-references
Other passages the community most often connects to this one. Tap to read.
For it is written: “Rejoice, O barren woman, who bears no children; break forth and cry aloud, you who have never travailed; because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband.”
No longer will you be called Forsaken, nor your land named Desolate; but you will be called Hephzibah, and your land Beulah; for the LORD will take delight in you, and your land will be His bride.
The well-fed hire themselves out for food, but the starving hunger no more. The barren woman gives birth to seven, but she who has many sons pines away.
He settles the barren woman in her home as a joyful mother to her children. Hallelujah!
Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion!Shout in triumph, O Daughter of Jerusalem!See, your King comes to you,righteous and victorious,humble and riding on a donkey,on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
Shout for joy, O heavens; rejoice, O earth; break forth in song, O mountains! For the LORD has comforted His people, and He will have compassion on His afflicted ones.
Sing for joy, O Daughter of Zion; shout aloud, O Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, O Daughter of Jerusalem!
Yet the children of your bereavement will say in your hearing, ‘This place is too small for us; make room for us to live here.’
Sing for joy, O heavens, for the LORD has done this; shout aloud, O depths of the earth. Break forth in song, O mountains, you forests and all your trees. For the LORD has redeemed Jacob, and revealed His glory in Israel.
We have a little sister, and her breasts are not yet grown. What shall we do for our sister on the day she is spoken for?