Isaiah 52:1-12

1 Awake, awake, Zion, clothe yourself with strength! Put on your garments of splendor, Jerusalem, the holy city. The uncircumcised and defiled will not enter you again.
2 Shake off your dust; rise up, sit enthroned, Jerusalem. Free yourself from the chains on your neck, Daughter Zion, now a captive.
3 For this is what the LORD says: “You were sold for nothing, and without money you will be redeemed.”
4 For this is what the Sovereign LORD says: “At first my people went down to Egypt to live; lately, Assyria has oppressed them.
5 “And now what do I have here?” declares the LORD. “For my people have been taken away for nothing, and those who rule them mock,[a] ” declares the LORD. “And all day long my name is constantly blasphemed.
6 Therefore my people will know my name; therefore in that day they will know that it is I who foretold it. Yes, it is I.”
7 How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!”
8 Listen! Your watchmen lift up their voices; together they shout for joy. When the LORD returns to Zion, they will see it with their own eyes.
9 Burst into songs of joy together, you ruins of Jerusalem, for the LORD has comforted his people, he has redeemed Jerusalem.
10 The LORD will lay bare his holy arm in the sight of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth will see the salvation of our God.
11 Depart, depart, go out from there! Touch no unclean thing! Come out from it and be pure, you who carry the articles of the LORD’s house.
12 But you will not leave in haste or go in flight; for the LORD will go before you, the God of Israel will be your rear guard.

Isaiah 52:1-12 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO ISAIAH 52

This chapter is a prophecy of the glorious state of the church in the latter day, typified by the deliverance of the Jews from Babylon. The church, under the names of Zion and Jerusalem, is exhorted to awake and clothe herself with strength, and with beautiful garments, to shake off her dust, and loose her bands, since she should become a pure and separate people, Isa 52:1,2 and whereas the Lord's people had been afflicted formerly by the Egyptians, and more lately by the Assyrians, a free redemption is promised them; and the rather they might expect it, since the Lord was no gainer by their affliction, but a loser in his name and honour, as well as they distressed, Isa 52:3-5. And it is suggested, that the knowledge of the Lord should be spread, the good tidings of peace and salvation be delightfully published, and that the ministers of the Gospel should have clear light, and be harmonious and unanimous in the publishing of it, Isa 52:6-8. Upon which the waste places of Jerusalem are called upon to rejoice, both because of the restoration of the Jews, and the conversion of the Gentiles, Isa 2:9,10. And the people of God are called to go out of Babylon, the manner of their departure is directed, and something said for their encouragement, Isa 52:11,12. And the chapter is concluded with some account of the Messiah, of his humiliation and exaltation, and of his work and office, Isa 52:13-15, and which are enlarged upon in the next chapter, which ought properly to begin with these last verses.

Cross References 45

  • 1. S Isaiah 51:17
  • 2. S 1 Samuel 2:4; S Isaiah 51:9
  • 3. Exodus 28:2,40; Esther 6:8; Psalms 110:3; Isaiah 49:18; Isaiah 61:10; Zechariah 3:4
  • 4. S Nehemiah 11:1; S Isaiah 1:26; Matthew 4:5; S Revelation 21:2
  • 5. S Genesis 34:14
  • 6. S Isaiah 35:8
  • 7. Joel 3:17; Nahum 1:15; Zechariah 9:8; Revelation 21:27
  • 8. S Isaiah 29:4
  • 9. Isaiah 60:1
  • 10. S Psalms 81:6; S Isaiah 10:27
  • 11. Psalms 9:14
  • 12. S Psalms 44:12
  • 13. Isaiah 45:13
  • 14. S Isaiah 1:27; 1 Peter 1:18
  • 15. S Genesis 46:6
  • 16. Isaiah 10:24
  • 17. S Isaiah 37:23; Ezekiel 36:20; Romans 2:24*
  • 18. S Isaiah 49:23
  • 19. S Exodus 6:3
  • 20. S Isaiah 10:20
  • 21. S Isaiah 41:26
  • 22. S Isaiah 42:11
  • 23. S 2 Samuel 18:26; S Isaiah 40:9; Romans 10:15*
  • 24. Nahum 1:15; Luke 2:14; Ephesians 6:15
  • 25. S 1 Chronicles 16:31; S Psalms 97:1; 1 Corinthians 15:24-25; Psalms 93:1
  • 26. S 1 Samuel 14:16; Isaiah 56:10; Isaiah 62:6; Jeremiah 6:17; Jeremiah 31:6; Ezekiel 3:17; Ezekiel 33:7
  • 27. Isaiah 40:9
  • 28. S Isaiah 12:6
  • 29. S Numbers 10:36
  • 30. Isaiah 59:20; Zechariah 8:3
  • 31. S Psalms 98:4; S Isaiah 35:2
  • 32. S Psalms 74:3; S Isaiah 51:3
  • 33. S Isaiah 40:1; Luke 2:25
  • 34. S Ezra 9:9; S Isaiah 48:20
  • 35. S 2 Chronicles 32:8; S Psalms 44:3; S Isaiah 30:30
  • 36. Isaiah 66:18
  • 37. S Joshua 4:24; S Isaiah 11:9
  • 38. S Psalms 67:2; Psalms 98:2-3; Luke 2:30; Luke 3:6
  • 39. S Isaiah 48:20
  • 40. S Isaiah 1:16; 2 Corinthians 6:17*
  • 41. S Numbers 8:6; 2 Timothy 2:19
  • 42. S 2 Chronicles 36:10
  • 43. S Exodus 12:11
  • 44. Micah 2:13; John 10:4
  • 45. S Exodus 14:19

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Dead Sea Scrolls and Vulgate; Masoretic Text "wail"
Scripture quoted by permission.  Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®.  NIV®.  Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica.  All rights reserved worldwide.