Isaiah 54:1-9

1 Thou barren, that childest not, praise; thou that childest not, sing praising, and make joy; for why many sons be of the forsaken, more than of her that had [the] husband, saith the Lord. (Thou barren woman, who never gave birth, praise ye; thou who never gave birth, sing praises, and make joy; for many sons and daughters be of the deserted woman, more than of her who had the husband, saith the Lord.)

2 Alarge thou the place of thy tent, and stretch forth the skins of thy tabernacles; spare thou not, make long thy ropes, and make firm thy nails. (Enlarge thou the place of thy tent, and stretch forth the curtains of thy tent; do not spare thou, make thy ropes long, and make thy nails firm.)

3 For thou shalt pierce to the right side and to the left side; and thy seed shall inherit heathen men, and shall dwell in forsaken cities. (For thou shalt break forth to the right and to the left; and thy children shall inherit the heathen, and shall live in abandoned cities.)

4 Do not thou dread, for thou shalt not be shamed, neither thou shalt be ashamed. For it shall not shame thee; for thou shalt forget the shame of thy youth, and thou shalt no more think on the shame of thy widowhood. (Do not thou fear, for thou shalt not be shamed, nor shalt thou be ashamed. For it shall not shame thee; for thou shalt forget the shame of thy youth, and thou shalt think no more about the shame of thy widowhood.)

5 For he that made thee, shall be lord of thee; the Lord of hosts is his name; and thine again-buyer, the Holy of Israel, shall be called God of all earth. (For he who made thee, shall be thy lord, or thy husband; the Lord of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel, shall be called the God of all the earth.)

6 For the Lord hath called thee as a woman forsaken and mourning in spirit, and (as) a wife, that is cast away from youth. Thy Lord God said, (For the Lord hath called thee like a deserted woman, mourning in spirit, and like a young wife who is cast away. The Lord thy God said,)

7 At a point in (a) little time, I forsook thee, and I shall gather thee together in great merciful doings. (At a point for a short time, I left thee; but now, with great merciful doings, I shall gather thee back.)

8 In a moment of indignation I hid my face a little from thee, and in mercy everlasting I had mercy on thee, said thine again-buyer, the Lord. (In a moment of anger I hid my face from thee, for a short time; but now, with everlasting mercy, I shall have mercy on thee, saith the Lord thy Redeemer.)

9 As in the days of Noe, this thing is to me, to whom I swore, that I should no more bring waters of the great flood on the earth; so I swore, that I shall be no more wroth to thee, and that I blame not thee. (This is to me, like in the days of Noah, to whom I swore, that never again would I bring the waters of a great flood upon the earth; so now I swear to thee, that never again shall I be angry with thee, and never again shall I rebuke thee.)

Isaiah 54:1-9 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO ISAIAH 54

As the former chapter is a prophecy of the humiliation and exaltation of Christ, of his sufferings and death, and the glory that should follow; this is a prophecy of that part of his glory which relates to the flourishing estate of his church, as the fruit of his death, and explains and enlarges upon the promise of his having a numerous seed. The prophecy reaches from the death and resurrection of Christ to his second coming; and describes the state of the church during that time, which had been like a barren woman, but now fruitful, which was matter of joy; and would increase, and have yet a more numerous issue, through the conversion and accession of the Gentiles; and therefore is bid not to fear, since she should not bear the shame and reproach of widowhood, Isa 54:1-4, the reason confirming which is, because Christ was her husband, who was her Maker and Redeemer, the God of Israel, and of the whole earth, Isa 54:5, and though she might for some time be under some dark providences, and seem to be forsaken of God, and lie under his displeasure; yet she is assured of the love of God towards her, that it is constant and perpetual; which is illustrated by the oath and covenant of God with Noah, and by its being more immovable than mountains and hills, Isa 54:6-10, and though she would sometimes be in a very afflicted and uncomfortable condition, yet should be raised again to a state of great honour and splendour, of spiritual knowledge, peace, and safety, Isa 54:11-14 and that all her enemies, that gathered together against her, should perish, and all their attempts be unsuccessful, since the Lord was on her side, and would defend her cause, and protect her, Isa 54:15-17.