Isaiah 18:4

4 This is what the LORD says to me: “I will remain quiet and will look on from my dwelling place, like shimmering heat in the sunshine, like a cloud of dew in the heat of harvest.”

Isaiah 18:4 in Other Translations

King James Version (KJV)
4 For so the LORD said unto me, I will take my rest, and I will consider in my dwelling place like a clear heat upon herbs, and like a cloud of dew in the heat of harvest.
English Standard Version (ESV)
4 For thus the LORD said to me: "I will quietly look from my dwelling like clear heat in sunshine, like a cloud of dew in the heat of harvest."
New Living Translation (NLT)
4 For the LORD has told me this: “I will watch quietly from my dwelling place— as quietly as the heat rises on a summer day, or as the morning dew forms during the harvest.”
The Message Bible (MSG)
4 For here's what God told me: "I'm not going to say anything, but simply look on from where I live, Quiet as warmth that comes from the sun, silent as dew during harvest."
American Standard Version (ASV)
4 For thus hath Jehovah said unto me, I will be still, and I will behold in my dwelling-place, like clear heat in sunshine, like a cloud of dew in the heat of harvest.
GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)
4 This is what the LORD says to me: I will keep quiet and watch from my dwelling place. My presence will be like scorching heat in the sunshine, like heavy dew in the heat of the harvest.
Holman Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
4 For, the Lord said to me: I will quietly look out from My place, like shimmering heat in sunshine, like a rain cloud in harvest heat.
New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
4 The LORD says to me, "I will look down from heaven, where I live. I will be as quiet as summer heat in the sunshine. I will be as quiet as a cloud of dew in the heat of harvest."

Isaiah 18:4 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 18:4

For so the Lord said unto me
The prophet Isaiah, both what goes before, and follows after: I will take my rest;
these are not the words of the prophet, as some think, like those of Habakkuk, ( Habakkuk 2:1 ) but of the Lord himself, signifying that he would, as he always did, enjoy himself, amidst all the commotions that were in the world; or that he would take up his rest among his people in Zion, of which he had said, this is my rest for ever, ( Psalms 132:14 ) or rather that he would be still and quiet, and as one asleep and at rest, that took no notice of what was doing, nor interpose between parties preparing for war, and laying schemes for the ruin of each other; not help the one nor hinder the other, but let them go on a while with their designs: and I will consider in my dwelling place:
in heaven, what is to be done; for though the Lord may seem sometimes to take no notice of what is done on earth, yet he sees and knows all things, and considers in his own mind what is fit and proper that he should do, who works all things after the counsel of his own will: or, "I will look upon my dwelling place" F15; Jerusalem, Mount Zion, the temple, the sanctuary, where his Shechinah dwelt; here he promises to look in a way of grace and favour, with delight and pleasure, to comfort and refresh his own people; so the Targum paraphrases this and the preceding clause,

``I will make my people to rest, I will make them to rest, and I will delight in my holy habitation to do them good:''
like a clear heat upon herbs;
or "after rain", as Aben Ezra and Kimchi, see ( 2 Samuel 23:4 ) when then the sun shines forth brightly after a shower of rain, which revives the plants and herbs, and makes them grow: [and] like a cloud of dew in the heat of harvest;
which is very desirable and welcome, which cools the air, refreshes the earth, plumps the corn, and is very grateful to the harvestman; and both metaphors may signify how grateful is the appearance of God to and for his people, his presence with them, the light of his countenance on them, and his protection of them; see ( Isaiah 4:5 Isaiah 4:6 ) and so the Targum,
``blessings and consolations will I bring to them quickly, as heat burning by means of the sun, and as a cloud of dew in the heat of harvest:''
though the whole may be understood in a very different sense, as it is by some, thus; that though the Lord for a while may seem to take no notice of what is doing below, yet he in heaven beholds what is done, and looks in a way of wrath and anger upon his enemies, as the sun looks with its scorching heat upon the herbs, and dries them up; and as a cloud which brings a large dew or rain with it, which is very hurtful in harvest time; and this sense seems most agreeable to the context.
FOOTNOTES:

F15 (wnwkmb hjybaw) "sed intusor in locum meum", Janius & Tremellius.

Isaiah 18:4 In-Context

2 which sends envoys by sea in papyrus boats over the water. Go, swift messengers, to a people tall and smooth-skinned, to a people feared far and wide, an aggressive nation of strange speech, whose land is divided by rivers.
3 All you people of the world, you who live on the earth, when a banner is raised on the mountains, you will see it, and when a trumpet sounds, you will hear it.
4 This is what the LORD says to me: “I will remain quiet and will look on from my dwelling place, like shimmering heat in the sunshine, like a cloud of dew in the heat of harvest.”
5 For, before the harvest, when the blossom is gone and the flower becomes a ripening grape, he will cut off the shoots with pruning knives, and cut down and take away the spreading branches.
6 They will all be left to the mountain birds of prey and to the wild animals; the birds will feed on them all summer, the wild animals all winter.

Cross References 4

  • 1. Isaiah 62:1; Isaiah 64:12
  • 2. Isaiah 26:21; Hosea 5:15; Micah 1:3
  • 3. S Judges 5:31; S Psalms 18:12; Habakkuk 3:4
  • 4. 2 Samuel 1:21; S Psalms 133:3; Isaiah 26:19; Hosea 14:5
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