And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be called by thy name, to take away our reproach.
In that day shall the branch of the Lord be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and comely for them that are escaped of Israel.
And it shall come to pass, that he that is left in Zion, and he that remaineth in Jerusalem, shall be called holy, even every one that is written among the living in Jerusalem:
When the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and shall have purged the blood of Jerusalem from the midst thereof by the spirit of judgment, and by the spirit of burning.
And the Lord will create upon every dwelling place of mount Zion, and upon her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night: for upon all the glory shall be a defence.
And there shall be a tabernacle for a shadow in the daytime from the heat, and for a place of refuge, and for a covert from storm and from rain.
Isaiah 4, though brief, stands as a beacon of hope amidst the prophecies of judgment in the preceding chapters. It offers a glimpse into a future of cleansing, restoration, and God's protective presence over His people. Understanding Isaiah 4 requires acknowledging its connection to both the preceding chapter and the broader themes of Isaiah.
Desperate Times and Humble Requests (Isaiah 4:1)
Isaiah 4:1 directly follows the grim depiction of judgment upon the women of Jerusalem in Isaiah 3:16-26. These women, once adorned with finery and symbols of wealth, face a drastic reversal of fortune. The prophecy speaks of a time of such devastation, particularly a severe loss of men in battle, that women would be driven to desperate measures.
In that day seven women will take hold of one man and say, “We will eat our own food and provide our own clothes; only let us be called by your name. Take away our disgrace!” (Isaiah 4:1)
This verse illustrates the utter desperation of the women of Judah. In that culture, a woman's security and status were tied to her husband and family. With so many men killed or exiled, the surviving women are willing to forgo the customary provisions and support from a husband, simply desiring the social acceptance and identity that marriage would provide. Their plea, "Take away our disgrace!" underscores the profound shame and vulnerability they face as widows in a society where male lineage and protection were paramount. This verse highlights the devastating consequences of sin and rebellion, leading to social upheaval and individual hardship.
The Branch of the Lord: Hope for the Future (Isaiah 4:2-6)
Verses 2-6 shift dramatically in tone, offering a vision of future glory and restoration. This section echoes the earlier prophecy in Isaiah 2:1-5, where Isaiah foresees a time when the Lord's mountain will be exalted and all nations will stream to it.
In that day the branch of the LORD will be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land will be the pride and glory of the survivors of Israel. (Isaiah 4:2)
The "branch of the LORD" is a significant Messianic reference, often understood as pointing to Jesus Christ, the righteous descendant of David (see Isaiah 11:1). He is the source of beauty, glory, and fruitfulness. The "fruit of the land" further emphasizes the abundance and blessing that will characterize this future era. This isn't merely a return to the physical land; it's a restoration of God's favor and a flourishing of His people.
This promise is specifically for "the survivors of Israel," those who remain after the judgment and have been refined through suffering. They are the remnant, the faithful few who will inherit the blessings of God's restored kingdom.
Whoever is left in Zion, whoever remains in Jerusalem, will be called holy, everyone who has been recorded for life in Jerusalem. (Isaiah 4:3)
This verse speaks of a spiritual transformation. Those who survive will be "called holy," indicating a new status and relationship with God. Their names will be "recorded for life," signifying eternal security and belonging in God's kingdom.
Cleansing and Protection (Isaiah 4:4-6)
The purification process is further described in verse 4:
The Lord will wash away the filth of the women of Zion; he will cleanse the bloodstains from Jerusalem by a spirit of judgment and a spirit of fire. (Isaiah 4:4)
This cleansing is not merely external; it's a deep, internal purification accomplished by "a spirit of judgment and a spirit of fire." This may allude to the refining work of the Holy Spirit, who convicts of sin and empowers believers to live righteously. Some scholars see this as a reference to the judgment poured out on the Messiah on the cross for the sins of the world.
Finally, Isaiah concludes with a beautiful image of God's protective presence:
Then the LORD will create over all of Mount Zion and over those who assemble there a cloud of smoke by day and a glow of flaming fire by night; over everything the glory will be a canopy. It will be a shelter and shade from the heat of the day, and a refuge and hiding place from the storm and rain. (Isaiah 4:5-6)
This imagery evokes the pillar of cloud and fire that guided the Israelites through the wilderness during the Exodus, demonstrating God's constant presence and protection. This canopy of glory will provide shelter, shade, and refuge from all harm. Just as God's glory was visible to Israel during the exodus, so the visible glory of God will be seen over Mount Zion.
Significance and Application
Isaiah 4 offers a powerful message of hope and restoration. Even in the face of judgment and devastation, God promises to cleanse, protect, and restore His people. The "branch of the LORD," Jesus Christ, is the key to this transformation.
For believers today, Isaiah 4 reminds us that:
- God's judgment is always tempered with mercy. Even when we face the consequences of our sin, God offers a path to repentance and restoration.
- True holiness is a gift from God. It is not something we can achieve on our own, but something He works in us through His Spirit.
- God's presence is our ultimate protection. He is our shelter in the storm, our shade from the heat, and our refuge in times of trouble.
Isaiah 4 calls us to look beyond the present difficulties and fix our eyes on the future glory that awaits those who trust in the Lord. It is a reminder that even in the darkest of times, hope remains.
And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be called by thy name, to take away our reproach.
In that day shall the branch of the Lord be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and comely for them that are escaped of Israel.
And it shall come to pass, that he that is left in Zion, and he that remaineth in Jerusalem, shall be called holy, even every one that is written among the living in Jerusalem:
When the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and shall have purged the blood of Jerusalem from the midst thereof by the spirit of judgment, and by the spirit of burning.
And the Lord will create upon every dwelling place of mount Zion, and upon her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night: for upon all the glory shall be a defence.
And there shall be a tabernacle for a shadow in the daytime from the heat, and for a place of refuge, and for a covert from storm and from rain.
Isaiah 4, though brief, stands as a beacon of hope amidst the prophecies of judgment in the preceding chapters. It offers a glimpse into a future of cleansing, restoration, and God's protective presence over His people. Understanding Isaiah 4 requires acknowledging its connection to both the preceding chapter and the broader themes of Isaiah.
Desperate Times and Humble Requests (Isaiah 4:1)
Isaiah 4:1 directly follows the grim depiction of judgment upon the women of Jerusalem in Isaiah 3:16-26. These women, once adorned with finery and symbols of wealth, face a drastic reversal of fortune. The prophecy speaks of a time of such devastation, particularly a severe loss of men in battle, that women would be driven to desperate measures.
In that day seven women will take hold of one man and say, “We will eat our own food and provide our own clothes; only let us be called by your name. Take away our disgrace!” (Isaiah 4:1)
This verse illustrates the utter desperation of the women of Judah. In that culture, a woman's security and status were tied to her husband and family. With so many men killed or exiled, the surviving women are willing to forgo the customary provisions and support from a husband, simply desiring the social acceptance and identity that marriage would provide. Their plea, "Take away our disgrace!" underscores the profound shame and vulnerability they face as widows in a society where male lineage and protection were paramount. This verse highlights the devastating consequences of sin and rebellion, leading to social upheaval and individual hardship.
The Branch of the Lord: Hope for the Future (Isaiah 4:2-6)
Verses 2-6 shift dramatically in tone, offering a vision of future glory and restoration. This section echoes the earlier prophecy in Isaiah 2:1-5, where Isaiah foresees a time when the Lord's mountain will be exalted and all nations will stream to it.
In that day the branch of the LORD will be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land will be the pride and glory of the survivors of Israel. (Isaiah 4:2)
The "branch of the LORD" is a significant Messianic reference, often understood as pointing to Jesus Christ, the righteous descendant of David (see Isaiah 11:1). He is the source of beauty, glory, and fruitfulness. The "fruit of the land" further emphasizes the abundance and blessing that will characterize this future era. This isn't merely a return to the physical land; it's a restoration of God's favor and a flourishing of His people.
This promise is specifically for "the survivors of Israel," those who remain after the judgment and have been refined through suffering. They are the remnant, the faithful few who will inherit the blessings of God's restored kingdom.
Whoever is left in Zion, whoever remains in Jerusalem, will be called holy, everyone who has been recorded for life in Jerusalem. (Isaiah 4:3)
This verse speaks of a spiritual transformation. Those who survive will be "called holy," indicating a new status and relationship with God. Their names will be "recorded for life," signifying eternal security and belonging in God's kingdom.
Cleansing and Protection (Isaiah 4:4-6)
The purification process is further described in verse 4:
The Lord will wash away the filth of the women of Zion; he will cleanse the bloodstains from Jerusalem by a spirit of judgment and a spirit of fire. (Isaiah 4:4)
This cleansing is not merely external; it's a deep, internal purification accomplished by "a spirit of judgment and a spirit of fire." This may allude to the refining work of the Holy Spirit, who convicts of sin and empowers believers to live righteously. Some scholars see this as a reference to the judgment poured out on the Messiah on the cross for the sins of the world.
Finally, Isaiah concludes with a beautiful image of God's protective presence:
Then the LORD will create over all of Mount Zion and over those who assemble there a cloud of smoke by day and a glow of flaming fire by night; over everything the glory will be a canopy. It will be a shelter and shade from the heat of the day, and a refuge and hiding place from the storm and rain. (Isaiah 4:5-6)
This imagery evokes the pillar of cloud and fire that guided the Israelites through the wilderness during the Exodus, demonstrating God's constant presence and protection. This canopy of glory will provide shelter, shade, and refuge from all harm. Just as God's glory was visible to Israel during the exodus, so the visible glory of God will be seen over Mount Zion.
Significance and Application
Isaiah 4 offers a powerful message of hope and restoration. Even in the face of judgment and devastation, God promises to cleanse, protect, and restore His people. The "branch of the LORD," Jesus Christ, is the key to this transformation.
For believers today, Isaiah 4 reminds us that:
- God's judgment is always tempered with mercy. Even when we face the consequences of our sin, God offers a path to repentance and restoration.
- True holiness is a gift from God. It is not something we can achieve on our own, but something He works in us through His Spirit.
- God's presence is our ultimate protection. He is our shelter in the storm, our shade from the heat, and our refuge in times of trouble.
Isaiah 4 calls us to look beyond the present difficulties and fix our eyes on the future glory that awaits those who trust in the Lord. It is a reminder that even in the darkest of times, hope remains.