Isaiah 4 - ESV - Bible Reading / Study Notes

Isaiah 4

4:1 And seven women shall take hold of one man in that day, saying, “We will eat our own bread and wear our own clothes, only let us be called by your name; take away our reproach.”

The Branch of the Lord Glorified

2 In that day the branch of the LORD shall be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land shall be the pride and honor of the survivors of Israel. 3 And he who is left in Zion and remains in Jerusalem will be called holy, everyone who has been recorded for life in Jerusalem, 4 when the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion and cleansed the bloodstains of Jerusalem from its midst by a spirit of judgment and by a spirit of burning.¹ 5 Then the LORD will create over the whole site of Mount Zion and over her assemblies a cloud by day, and smoke and the shining of a flaming fire by night; for over all the glory there will be a canopy. 6 There will be a booth for shade by day from the heat, and for a refuge and a shelter from the storm and rain.

Footnotes

[1] 4:4 Or purging

Commentary

v1: Belonging with chapter 3; the women desperate for even one man to take away their reproach. They are prepared to be in a polygamous relationship, rather than remain single and ashamed.

v2-6: A pointer to the restoration of Israel, centred on Mount Zion.

v2: The Branch of the Lord; Jesus Christ, unique, the only Branch. There will be the remnant in Israel, for many were already judged.

Isaiah uses the phrase "that day" to indicate the day of restoration of the people. The current rejection will be ended, as the glorious promises of God are fulfilled.

v3: Those remaining will be holy, set apart for God.

v4: The purging of the women of Zion and the people of Jerusalem, see 1.25, as a prelude to their restoration. God will use judgment and fire to purge His people.

v5: Cloud of smoke and fire (Ex 40.38) for guidance and for glory; this is a mark of the people set apart for God.

v6: The tabernacle, see 25.4; 32.2; the Lord our refuge. This is Jesus Christ, the man our refuge, God who became man.