Isaiah chapter 4
The branch in Jerusalem.
THE BRANCH IN JERUSALEM
VERSE 1. Seven women shall take hold of one man in that day, saying, “We will eat our own bread, and wear our own clothing. Just let us be called by your name. Take away our reproach.”
Seven women shall take hold of one man. Many single men have hoped this phrase would come true for them!
VERSE 2. In that day, the LORD’s branch will be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land will be the beauty and glory of the survivors of Israel.
the LORD’s branch. This means either:
- The Messiah
- The faithful remnant
fruit of the land. The Bible describes a uniquely faithful group of believers called “the remnant.” Are they Jewish or Christians? Now or in the future? Who are they really? Read more »
VERSE 3. It will happen that he who is left in Zion and he who remains in Jerusalem shall be called holy, even everyone who is written among the living in Jerusalem,
shall be called holy. This is more than simply a label, or what theologians call a “forensic designation.” Rather, it means a real change in character.
VERSE 4. when the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and shall have purged the blood of Jerusalem from within it, by the spirit of justice and by the spirit of burning.
the filth of the daughters. The author associates evil with females.
This might reflect a cultural misogyny of those days. Or it might reflect a misogyny on the part of the author.
the spirit of burning. How will the LORD cleanse Jerusalem? In part, with a blast of searing judgment.
VERSE 5. The LORD will create over the whole habitation of Mount Zion and over her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night, for over all the glory will be a canopy.
MSG translation. Then God will bring back the ancient pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night and mark Mount Zion and everyone in it with his glorious presence, his immense, protective presence.
God will bring back. The ancient pillar of fire and cloud is coming back!
ancient pillar of cloud by day. It was a smoking cloud. It went from the ground to the sky.
pillar of fire by night. It was a light of flaming fire, spanning from the ground all the way to the sky.
his immense, protective presence. The glory of God is our shelter and protection.
VERSE 6. There will be a pavilion for a shade in the daytime from the heat, and for a refuge and for a shelter from storm and from rain.
NAB translation. For over all, his glory will be shelter and protection: shade from the parching heat of day, refuge and cover from storm and rain.
his glory. This probably refers to the pillar of fire and cloud in the previous verse. But it might also be a prophecy about Jesus Christ.
shelter and protection. The glory of God protects us and shelters us. God’s glory is how this comes about.
ISAIAH
CHAPTERS: 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66
RESOURCES: Summary, Outline, Memorize, True Fasting
Unless otherwise noted, all Bible quotations on this page are from the World English Bible and the World Messianic Edition. These translations have no copyright restrictions. They are in the Public Domain.