Isaiah / Chapter 54

Isaiah 54

17 verses • Westminster Leningrad Codex 1 tradition available

Translator's Introduction

What This Chapter Is About

Following the Servant's suffering and vindication in chapter 53, this chapter explodes with the results: barren Zion is commanded to sing because her children will outnumber those of the married woman. God reveals Himself as both Zion's Maker and her husband, her Redeemer and the Holy One of Israel. A brief moment of wrath is swallowed by everlasting covenant love. God establishes an unbreakable covenant of peace and promises that no weapon formed against His people shall prosper.

What Makes This Chapter Remarkable

The concentration of divine titles in verse 5 is extraordinary: Maker, husband, the LORD of hosts, the Holy One of Israel, Redeemer, God of the whole earth. The covenant of peace (berit shalom, v.10) is compared to the Noahic covenant. The final verse has become a declaration of faith across traditions.

Translation Friction

The marital imagery of God as husband to Zion raises interpretive questions about how to read the exile. Verses 6-8 navigate this carefully: God admits to a moment of wrath but frames it within overflowing compassion. We have preserved both the tenderness and the tension.

Connections

The barren woman singing (v.1) echoes Sarah, Hannah, and anticipates Galatians 4:27. The covenant of peace (v.10) connects to Ezekiel 34:25 and 37:26. The precious stones of verses 11-12 reappear in Revelation 21:18-21. No weapon formed against you (v.17) has become one of the most widely quoted promises in both Jewish and Christian devotional life. **Tradition comparisons:** The Dead Sea Scrolls (1QIsaiah-a) preserve this chapter with notable variants: Verse 1: the scroll reads 'Sing, O barren one' identically. Verse 7: a minor variant in the time expression. Verse 10: the 'covenant of peace' (berit shelomi) is identical in both texts. Verse 13: 'all your children shall be taught by the LORD' — identical (quoted in John 6:45). Verse 17: a minor.... See the [DSS Isaiah comparison](/dss-isaiah/54).

Isaiah 54:1

רָנִּ֥י עֲקָרָ֖ה לֹ֣א יָלָ֑דָה פִּצְחִ֨י רִנָּ֤ה וְצַהֲלִי֙ לֹא־חָ֔לָה כִּֽי־רַבִּ֧ים בְּנֵֽי־שׁוֹמֵמָ֛ה מִבְּנֵ֥י בְעוּלָ֖ה אָמַ֥ר יְהוָֽה׃

Sing, O barren one, who did not bear! Break forth into singing and cry aloud, you who have not been in labor! For the children of the desolate one will be more than the children of her who is married, says the LORD.

KJV Sing, O barren, thou that didst not bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou that didst not travail with child: for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife, saith the LORD.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. The chapter opens with an imperative to sing. The barren woman (aqarah) is Zion, whose exile was a season of childlessness. The reversal echoes Sarah, Rebekah, Rachel, and Hannah. Paul quotes this verse in Galatians 4:27.

Dead Sea Scrolls (1QIsaᵃ, 125 BCE)minor

"Sing, O barren one"

Identical consonantal text. 'Sing, O barren one, who did not bear; break forth into singing!' — the joyful imperative after the servant's suffering is the same in both traditions (cf. Galatians 4:27).

Isaiah 54:2

הַרְחִ֣יבִי ׀ מְק֣וֹם אָהֳלֵ֗ךְ וִירִיע֧וֹת מִשְׁכְּנוֹתַ֛יִךְ יַטּ֖וּ אַל־תַּחְשֹׂ֑כִי הַאֲרִ֙יכִי֙ מֵֽיתָרַ֔יִךְ וִיתֵדֹתַ֖יִךְ חַזֵּֽקִי׃

Enlarge the place of your tent, and let the curtains of your dwellings be stretched out. Do not hold back; lengthen your cords and strengthen your stakes.

KJV Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations: spare not, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes;

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. The tent imagery recalls Israel's nomadic origins and the tabernacle. Four imperatives (enlarge, stretch, lengthen, strengthen) convey urgent expansion.
Isaiah 54:3

כִּי־יָמִ֥ין וּשְׂמֹ֖אול תִּפְרֹ֑צִי וְזַרְעֵךְ֙ גּוֹיִ֣ם יִירָ֔שׁ וְעָרִ֥ים נְשַׁמּ֖וֹת יוֹשִֽׁיבוּ׃

For you will spread out to the right and to the left, and your offspring will possess the nations and will people the desolate cities.

KJV For thou shalt break forth on the right hand and on the left; and thy seed shall inherit the Gentiles, and make the desolate cities to be inhabited.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. The expansion is in every direction. The verb tirpotsi (spread/break forth) suggests irresistible growth. The inheritance of nations echoes the Abrahamic promise (Genesis 22:17).
Isaiah 54:4

אַל־תִּ֣ירְאִ֔י כִּי־לֹ֖א תֵב֑וֹשִׁי וְאַל־תִּכָּלְמִ֗י כִּ֤י לֹ֣א תַחְפִּ֔ירִי כִּ֣י בֹ֤שֶׁת עֲלוּמַ֙יִךְ֙ תִּשְׁכָּ֔חִי וְחֶרְפַּ֥ת אַלְמְנוּתַ֖יִךְ לֹ֥א תִזְכְּרִי־עֽוֹד׃

Fear not, for you will not be ashamed; be not confounded, for you will not be disgraced. For you will forget the shame of your youth, and the reproach of your widowhood you will remember no more.

KJV Fear not; for thou shalt not be ashamed: neither be thou confounded; for thou shalt not be put to shame: for thou shalt forget the shame of thy youth, and shalt not remember the reproach of thy widowhood any more.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. Four shame-words are negated — Zion's humiliation is comprehensively erased. The shame of your youth may refer to Egypt; the reproach of widowhood to the exile.

Dead Sea Scrolls (1QIsaᵃ, 125 BCE)minor

"shame"

Plene spelling with vav. Same word.

Isaiah 54:5

כִּ֤י בֹעֲלַ֙יִךְ֙ עֹשַׂ֔יִךְ יְהוָ֥ה צְבָא֖וֹת שְׁמ֑וֹ וְגֹֽאֲלֵךְ֙ קְד֣וֹשׁ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אֱלֹהֵ֥י כָל־הָאָ֖רֶץ יִקָּרֵֽא׃

For your Maker is your husband — the LORD of hosts is His name — and your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel; the God of the whole earth He is called.

KJV For thy Maker is thine husband; the LORD of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called.

Notes & Key Terms 2 terms

Key Terms

בֹעֲלַיִךְ bo'alayikh
"your Maker is your husband" — your husband, your lord, your master, your owner

The verb ba'al means both 'to marry' and 'to be lord/master over.' God is simultaneously Israel's creator (osayikh, 'your Maker') and husband (bo'alayikh). The marital metaphor for the God-Israel relationship runs from Hosea through Isaiah to Revelation.

גֹּאֲלֵךְ go'alekh
"your Redeemer" — your redeemer, your kinsman-redeemer

Three titles in one verse: Maker, husband, Redeemer (go'el). The go'el obligation — family duty to rescue what is lost — is combined with the marriage covenant. God claims Zion by every possible bond: creation, marriage, and kinship.

Translator Notes

  1. Six divine titles cascade in rapid succession: Maker, husband, the LORD of hosts, Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel, the God of the whole earth. The combination of ba'al (husband) and go'el (Redeemer) in one verse is remarkable. The plural forms are majestic plurals referring to the one God.

Dead Sea Scrolls (1QIsaᵃ, 125 BCE)minor

"your Maker"

1QIsaiah-a uses the -ki suffix characteristic of Qumran. Same meaning — 'your Maker is your husband.'

Isaiah 54:6

כִּֽי־כְאִשָּׁ֧ה עֲזוּבָ֛ה וַעֲצ֥וּבַת ר֖וּחַ קְרָאָ֣ךְ יְהוָ֑ה וְאֵ֧שֶׁת נְעוּרִ֛ים כִּ֥י תִמָּאֵ֖ס אָמַ֥ר אֱלֹהָֽיִךְ׃

For the LORD has called you like a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, like a wife of youth when she is cast off, says your God.

KJV For the LORD hath called thee as a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, and a wife of youth, when thou wast refused, saith thy God.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. God acknowledges Zion's experience: she felt forsaken and grieved. The phrase wife of youth (eshet ne'urim) implies first love — the relationship is deeply covenantal and intimate.
Isaiah 54:7

בְּרֶ֥גַע קָטֹ֖ן עֲזַבְתִּ֑יךְ וּבְרַחֲמִ֥ים גְּדֹלִ֖ים אֲקַבְּצֵֽךְ׃

For a brief moment I forsook you, but with great compassion I will gather you.

KJV For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. God admits to a real abandonment but qualifies it as rega qaton (a brief/small moment) against the backdrop of eternity. The contrast between brief moment and great compassion (rachamim gedolim) is the emotional center of the chapter.

Dead Sea Scrolls (1QIsaᵃ, 125 BCE)moderate

"for a brief moment"

1QIsaiah-a uses plene spelling of qaton (with vav). 'For a brief moment I forsook you, but with great compassion I will gather you.' The theological tension between divine abandonment and restoration is preserved identically.

Isaiah 54:8

בְּשֶׁ֣צֶף קֶ֗צֶף הִסְתַּ֨רְתִּי פָנַ֥י רֶ֙גַע֙ מִמֵּ֔ךְ וּבְחֶ֥סֶד עוֹלָ֖ם רִחַמְתִּ֑יךְ אָמַ֥ר גֹּאֲלֵ֖ךְ יְהוָֽה׃

In overflowing wrath for a moment I hid my face from you, but with everlasting covenant love I will have compassion on you, says the LORD, your Redeemer.

KJV In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the LORD thy Redeemer.

Notes & Key Terms 1 term

Key Terms

חֶסֶד עוֹלָם chesed olam
"everlasting faithful love" — eternal faithful love, perpetual lovingkindness, covenant loyalty forever

The phrase chesed olam ('everlasting faithful love') combines the covenant loyalty term chesed with olam ('eternity'). God's momentary anger (v. 7-8a) is contrasted with His permanent compassion — the disproportion is deliberate and comforting.

Translator Notes

  1. The proportion is the point: overflowing wrath for a moment versus everlasting covenant love. The title go'alekh (your Redeemer) closes the verse, reminding Zion that the one who hid His face is the same one who redeems her.
Isaiah 54:9

כִּי־מֵ֥י נֹ֙חַ֙ זֹ֣את לִ֔י אֲשֶׁ֣ר נִשְׁבַּ֗עְתִּי מֵעֲבֹ֥ר מֵי־נֹ֛חַ ע֖וֹד עַל־הָאָ֑רֶץ כֵּ֥ן נִשְׁבַּ֛עְתִּי מִקְּצֹ֥ף עָלַ֖יִךְ וּמִגְּעָר־בָּֽךְ׃

This is like the days of Noah to me: as I swore that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth, so I have sworn that I will not be angry with you and will not rebuke you.

KJV For this is as the waters of Noah unto me: for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth; so have I sworn that I would not be wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. God compares His promise to Zion to the Noahic covenant — the most universal and unconditional covenant in Scripture (Genesis 8:21-22; 9:8-17). The comparison elevates this promise to cosmic, irrevocable status.
Isaiah 54:10

כִּ֤י הֶהָרִים֙ יָמ֔וּשׁוּ וְהַגְּבָע֖וֹת תְּמוּטֶ֑ינָה וְחַסְדִּ֞י מֵאִתֵּ֣ךְ לֹֽא־יָמ֗וּשׁ וּבְרִ֤ית שְׁלוֹמִי֙ לֹ֣א תָמ֔וּט אָמַ֥ר מְרַחֲמֵ֖ךְ יְהוָֽה׃

For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my covenant love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed, says the LORD, who has compassion on you.

KJV For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the LORD that hath mercy on thee.

Notes & Key Terms 1 term

Key Terms

בְּרִית שְׁלוֹמִי berit shelomi
"my covenant of peace" — covenant of peace, treaty of well-being, pact of wholeness

The berit shalom ('covenant of peace') promises that God's commitment to Zion is as unshakeable as His commitment to the cosmic order (mountains may depart, hills may shake). The same phrase appears in Numbers 25:12 (Phinehas) and Ezekiel 34:25, 37:26.

Translator Notes

  1. Mountains — the most permanent features of the landscape — may move, but God's chesed and berit shalom are more enduring than geology itself. The title merachamekh uses the womb-related root rechem, connecting divine mercy to maternal love.

Dead Sea Scrolls (1QIsaᵃ, 125 BCE)minor

"my covenant of peace"

Identical reading. 'My covenant of peace shall not be removed' — the everlasting covenant language is the same in both texts. This is one of the great covenant promises of the Hebrew Bible.

Isaiah 54:11

עֲנִיָּ֥ה סֹעֲרָ֖ה לֹ֣א נֻחָ֑מָה הִנֵּ֨ה אָנֹכִ֜י מַרְבִּ֤יץ בַּפּוּךְ֙ אֲבָנַ֔יִךְ וִיסַדְתִּ֖יךְ בַּסַּפִּירִֽים׃

O afflicted one, storm-tossed and not comforted, behold, I will set your stones in antimony and lay your foundations with sapphires.

KJV O thou afflicted, tossed with tempest, and not comforted, behold, I will lay thy stones with fair colours, and lay thy foundations with sapphires.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. God addresses Zion with tender recognition of her suffering before announcing the remedy: a city rebuilt with precious stones. The sapphire foundations suggest a city of heavenly beauty — imagery that reappears in Revelation 21:19.

Dead Sea Scrolls (1QIsaᵃ, 125 BCE)minor

"storm-tossed"

Plene spelling. Same word — 'O afflicted one, storm-tossed.'

Isaiah 54:12

וְשַׂמְתִּ֤י כַּדְכֹד֙ שִׁמְשֹׁתַ֔יִךְ וּשְׁעָרַ֖יִךְ לְאַבְנֵ֣י אֶקְדָּ֑ח וְכָל־גְּבוּלֵ֖ךְ לְאַבְנֵי־חֵֽפֶץ׃

I will make your pinnacles of agate, your gates of carbuncle, and all your walls of precious stones.

KJV And I will make thy windows of agates, and thy gates of carbuncles, and all thy borders of pleasant stones.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. The exact identification of these gems is uncertain, but every surface of the restored city gleams with precious stone. The avnei-chefets (stones of delight) suggest a city that is itself a jewel.
Isaiah 54:13

וְכָל־בָּנַ֖יִךְ לִמּוּדֵ֣י יְהוָ֑ה וְרַ֖ב שְׁל֥וֹם בָּנָֽיִךְ׃

And all your children shall be taught by the LORD, and great shall be the peace of your children.

KJV And all thy children shall be taught of the LORD; and great shall be the peace of thy children.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. Jesus quotes this verse in John 6:45. The wordplay between banayikh (your children) and bonayikh (your builders, cf. 49:17) may be intentional. The shalom of the children is the fruit of the berit shalom in verse 10.

Dead Sea Scrolls (1QIsaᵃ, 125 BCE)minor

"taught by the LORD"

Identical reading. 'All your children shall be taught by the LORD' — quoted by Jesus in John 6:45 ('It is written in the Prophets: They will all be taught by God'). The scroll confirms this reading in the pre-Christian text.

Isaiah 54:14

בִּצְדָקָ֖ה תִּכּוֹנָ֑נִי רַחֲקִ֤י מֵעֹ֙שֶׁק֙ כִּי־לֹ֣א תִירָ֔אִי וּמִמְּחִתָּ֖ה כִּ֥י לֹא־תִקְרַ֥ב אֵלָֽיִךְ׃

In righteousness you shall be established; you shall be far from oppression, for you shall not fear, and from terror, for it shall not come near you.

KJV In righteousness shalt thou be established: thou shalt be far from oppression; for thou shalt not fear: and from terror; for it shall not come near thee.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. The new Zion is founded on righteousness — not military power or political alliance. Fear and terror are banished from the city limits.
Isaiah 54:15

הֵ֣ן גּ֥וֹר יָג֛וּר אֶ֖פֶס מֵאוֹתִ֑י מִי־גָ֥ר אִתָּ֖ךְ עָלַ֥יִךְ יִפּֽוֹל׃

If anyone stirs up strife, it is not from me; whoever stirs up strife with you shall fall because of you.

KJV Behold, they shall surely gather together, but not by me: whosoever shall gather together against thee shall fall for thy sake.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. God distinguishes between His own actions and the hostility of others. Future attacks on Zion will not carry divine authorization. Without God's backing, any aggressor is doomed to fail.
Isaiah 54:16

הֵן֙ אָנֹכִ֣י בָרָ֔אתִי חָרָ֕שׁ נֹפֵ֥חַ בְּאֵשׁ־פֶּחָ֖ם וּמוֹצִ֣יא כְלִ֑י לְמַעֲשֵׂ֔הוּ וְאָנֹכִ֛י בָּרָ֥אתִי מַשְׁחִ֖ית לְחַבֵּֽל׃

Behold, I have created the smith who blows the fire of coals and produces a weapon for its purpose. I have also created the destroyer to ruin.

KJV Behold, I have created the smith that bloweth the coals in the fire, and that bringeth forth an instrument for his work; and I have created the waster to destroy.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. God claims sovereignty even over those who forge weapons and those who wield them. Since I created both the weaponmaker and the destroyer, I control their limits.
Isaiah 54:17

כָּל־כְּלִ֞י יוּצַ֤ר עָלַ֙יִךְ֙ לֹ֣א יִצְלָ֔ח וְכָל־לָשׁ֛וֹן תָּקוּם־אִתָּ֥ךְ לַמִּשְׁפָּ֖ט תַּרְשִׁ֑יעִי זֹ֡את נַחֲלַת֩ עַבְדֵ֨י יְהוָ֧ה וְצִדְקָתָ֛ם מֵאִתִּ֖י נְאֻם־יְהוָֽה׃

No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue that rises against you in judgment you shall refute. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their vindication from me, declares the LORD.

KJV No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.

Notes & Key Terms

Translator Notes

  1. The chapter concludes with one of the most quoted promises in Scripture. Two forms of attack are covered: physical (weapons) and verbal (tongues in judgment). The phrase avdei YHWH (servants of the LORD) shifts from the singular Servant of chapters 49-53 to the plural servants — suggesting that the Servant's mission creates a community who inherit his protection. Their vindication comes from God, not self-achieved.

Dead Sea Scrolls (1QIsaᵃ, 125 BCE)moderate

"against you"

1QIsaiah-a uses the characteristic Qumran -ki suffix for the second-person feminine singular. 'No weapon formed against you shall prosper' — one of the most quoted promises in Isaiah, identical in both traditions.

Chapter 53 Report an error Isaiah index Chapter 55