Isaiah 52:1-6

The Lord’s Coming Salvation

1 ¹Awake, awake, put on your strength, O Zion; ²put on your beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, ³the holy city; ⁴for there shall no more come into you the uncircumcised and the unclean.

2 ⁵Shake yourself from the dust and arise; be seated, O Jerusalem; ⁶loose the bonds from your neck, O captive daughter of Zion.

3 For thus says the Lord: ⁷“You were sold for nothing, and ⁸you shall be redeemed without money. ”

4 For thus says the Lord God: ⁹“My people went down at the first into Egypt to sojourn there, and the Assyrian oppressed them for nothing. ^[a]

5 Now therefore what have I here, ” declares the Lord, “seeing that my people are taken away for nothing? Their rulers wail, ” declares the Lord, “and ¹⁰continually all the day my name is despised.

6 Therefore my people shall know my name. ¹¹Therefore in that day they shall know that it is I who speak; here I am. ”

Isaiah 52:1-6 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

• 1. 52:1 ch. 51:17
• 2. 52:1 [Ex. 28:2, 40]; See Zech. 3:1-4
• 3. 52:1 ch. 48:2; Neh. 11:1
• 4. 52:1 ch. 60:21; Joel 3:17; [ch. 35:8; Rev. 21:27]
• 5. 52:2 [ch. 51:23]
• 6. 52:2 ch. 51:14
• 7. 52:3 ch. 45:13; 50:1
• 8. 52:3 [1 Pet. 1:18]
• 9. 52:4 Gen. 46:6
• 10. 52:5 Cited Rom. 2:24; [Ezek. 36:20, 23]
• 11. 52:6 [ch. 49:26]

Footnotes

• [a] 52:4 Or 'the Assyrian has oppressed them of late'