Isaiah 4

King James Version

Full text for Isaiah Chapter 4

1¶ 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.

2¶ 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.

3And 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:

4When 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.

5And 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.

6And 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.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Isaiah 4 opens with a stark image of societal desolation, where seven women desperately seek one man to remove their reproach. This dire situation contrasts with a future promise of restoration and holiness. In that day, the "Branch of the LORD" will be glorious, and a purified remnant of Israel will be called holy. God will provide a visible divine presence and protection over Zion, shielding it from heat and storm.

Medium Summary

The chapter begins with a vivid depiction of societal collapse, where seven women desperately seek one man, offering to provide for themselves if only he will grant them his name to remove their social stigma. This scene sets the stage for a prophetic vision of future hope and restoration. It foretells a time when "the branch of the LORD" will emerge as beautiful and glorious, bringing forth excellent fruit for the survivors of Israel. Those who remain in Zion and Jerusalem, having been purified by the spirit of judgment and burning, will be deemed holy and inscribed among the living. The Lord will then establish a constant divine presence over Mount Zion, manifesting as a cloud and smoke by day and a flaming fire by night. This presence will serve as both a defense and a tabernacle for protection from the elements, ensuring the security of His people.

Long Summary

Isaiah chapter 4 commences with a striking prophecy illustrating a period of severe judgment and scarcity. It describes seven women vying for a single man, offering to sustain themselves if he will merely bestow his name upon them, thereby alleviating their societal reproach. This opening verse underscores a profound demographic and social imbalance resulting from divine judgment. Following this grim outlook, the prophecy shifts to a future of restoration and glory. It declares that in that future day, "the branch of the LORD" will be beautiful and glorious, and the produce of the earth will be excellent and comely for those who have survived the tribulations in Israel. Furthermore, those who are left in Zion and remain in Jerusalem will be designated as holy, specifically those whose names are recorded among the living in the city. This purification will occur when the Lord, through "the spirit of judgment, and by the spirit of burning," cleanses the moral defilement and bloodshed from the daughters of Zion and Jerusalem. Subsequent to this cleansing, the Lord will manifest His presence and protection over every dwelling place on Mount Zion and its assemblies. This divine presence will be visible as a cloud and smoke by day, and as the shining of a flaming fire by night, signifying that all the glory of Zion will be under divine defense. Finally, this divine manifestation will also serve as a protective tabernacle, offering shade from the daytime heat and acting as a refuge and covert from the severity of storms and rain, ensuring the security and comfort of the purified remnant.

Core Concepts

  • Reproach of WomenThe dire social condition where women, due to war or judgment, outnumber men significantly and seek to marry to remove the stigma of being unmarried and childless.
  • The Branch of the LORDA prophetic term referring to a future glorious and excellent figure, often interpreted as the Messiah or a righteous remnant, who will bring forth fruit for the survivors of Israel.
  • The Holy RemnantThose who survive the period of judgment in Zion and Jerusalem, whose names are written among the living, and who are declared holy by God after purification.
  • Purification by JudgmentThe process by which God cleanses Jerusalem and its inhabitants from their moral filth and bloodshed through a "spirit of judgment" and a "spirit of burning."
  • Divine Protection and PresenceGod's visible manifestation over Mount Zion as a cloud and smoke by day and a flaming fire by night, providing defense, shade from heat, and refuge from storms, reminiscent of the wilderness tabernacle.
  • Glory and DefenceThe idea that God's presence not only beautifies Zion but also serves as an impenetrable defense for all its glory, ensuring the safety and security of the redeemed.