Isaiah 52

King James Version

Full text for Isaiah Chapter 52

1¶ Awake, awake; put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city: for henceforth there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean.

2Shake thyself from the dust; arise, [and] sit down, O Jerusalem: loose thyself from the bands of thy neck, O captive daughter of Zion.

3For thus saith the LORD, Ye have sold yourselves for nought; and ye shall be redeemed without money.

4For thus saith the Lord GOD, My people went down aforetime into Egypt to sojourn there; and the Assyrian oppressed them without cause.

5Now therefore, what have I here, saith the LORD, that my people is taken away for nought? they that rule over them make them to howl, saith the LORD; and my name continually every day [is] blasphemed.

6Therefore my people shall know my name: therefore [they shall know] in that day that I [am] he that doth speak: behold, [it is] I.

7¶ How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!

8Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice; with the voice together shall they sing: for they shall see eye to eye, when the LORD shall bring again Zion.

9Break forth into joy, sing together, ye waste places of Jerusalem: for the LORD hath comforted his people, he hath redeemed Jerusalem.

10The LORD hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.

11Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch no unclean [thing]; go ye out of the midst of her; be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the LORD.

12For ye shall not go out with haste, nor go by flight: for the LORD will go before you; and the God of Israel [will be] your rereward.

13¶ Behold, my servant shall deal prudently, he shall be exalted and extolled, and be very high.

14As many were astonied at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men:

15So shall he sprinkle many nations; the kings shall shut their mouths at him: for [that] which had not been told them shall they see; and [that] which they had not heard shall they consider.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Isaiah 52 begins with a divine call for Jerusalem to awaken, adorn herself, and be freed from captivity, as the Lord promises redemption without cost and protection from the unclean. It then celebrates the arrival of messengers proclaiming peace, salvation, and God's reign, with the Lord revealing His holy arm to all nations. The chapter concludes by introducing the Lord's suffering servant, whose marred appearance will precede his exaltation and the astonishment of kings, who will witness a profound, previously untold truth.

Medium Summary

The prophet Isaiah opens chapter 52 with a stirring call for Zion and Jerusalem to awaken, don strength and beautiful garments, and shake off the dust of captivity, for the uncircumcised and unclean will no longer enter. The Lord declares that His people, sold for nothing, will be redeemed freely, recalling their past oppressions in Egypt and by Assyria, and lamenting that His name is continually blasphemed. He promises that His people will know His name and His word. The chapter then shifts to a joyful proclamation, describing the beauty of those who bring good tidings of peace, salvation, and God's reign, with watchmen and waste places singing in unison as the Lord redeems Jerusalem and reveals His holy arm to all the earth. A command is given for the people to depart from their captivity, being clean and not in haste, for the Lord will lead and protect them. Finally, the passage introduces the Lord's servant, who, despite a visage marred beyond human recognition, will be exalted and sprinkle many nations, causing kings to marvel at what they had neither seen nor heard before.

Long Summary

Isaiah 52 commences with an urgent divine summons for Zion and Jerusalem to rouse themselves from their state of dormancy and captivity. They are commanded to put on their strength and beautiful garments, signifying restoration and holiness, for the uncircumcised and unclean will no longer defile the holy city. The Lord instructs His "captive daughter of Zion" to shake off the dust and loose herself from the bonds of her neck, indicating liberation. God then asserts His sovereign right to redeem His people, stating that they were "sold... for nought" and "shall be redeemed without money," contrasting their past oppressions in Egypt and by Assyria. He expresses His displeasure that His people are taken away for nothing and that His name is continually blasphemed, promising that they will come to know Him as the speaker of these words. A pivotal shift occurs with the joyous announcement of good tidings. The prophet extols the beauty of the feet of those who bring messages of peace, salvation, and the reign of God to Zion. The watchmen of Jerusalem are depicted lifting their voices in song, seeing "eye to eye" as the Lord restores Zion. The waste places of Jerusalem are called to break forth into joy and sing, for the Lord has comforted and redeemed His people, making bare His holy arm in the sight of all nations, so that "all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God." Following this, a divine injunction is given for the people to depart from their place of captivity, emphasizing purity and separation from anything unclean, particularly for those who bear the vessels of the Lord. This departure will not be in haste or flight, for the Lord Himself will go before them and serve as their rear guard, ensuring their safety. The chapter culminates with a profound introduction to "my servant," who will act prudently and be greatly exalted. This servant's appearance is described as "marred more than any man," a source of astonishment. Yet, this same servant will "sprinkle many nations," and kings will be silenced in his presence, witnessing and considering truths previously untold and unheard, hinting at a universal impact stemming from his suffering.

Core Concepts

  • Zion's Restoration and HolinessJerusalem is called to "awake, awake; put on thy strength" and "beautiful garments," signifying a spiritual and physical restoration where "no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean," establishing its renewed sanctity.
  • Redemption without MoneyThe Lord declares that His people, though "sold... for nought" into captivity, will be "redeemed without money," emphasizing God's gratuitous and sovereign act of liberation.
  • God's Holy Name and ReputationThe Lord laments that His name is "continually every day... blasphemed" due to His people's captivity, indicating His concern for His honor among nations and His promise that they will know His name.
  • Proclamation of Good TidingsThe chapter celebrates the messengers who bring "good tidings of peace," "salvation," and the declaration that "Thy God reigneth," highlighting the joy and hope associated with these divine announcements.
  • Divine Protection and GuidanceAs the people are commanded to depart from captivity, the Lord promises to go "before you" and be "your rereward," assuring them of His complete protection and guidance during their exodus.
  • The Suffering ServantA central figure is introduced, "my servant," whose "visage was so marred more than any man," yet who will be "exalted and extolled," and "sprinkle many nations," foreshadowing a redemptive figure whose suffering leads to universal impact.
  • Universal SalvationThe Lord's act of redemption is not confined to Israel, as He makes "bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations," ensuring that "all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God," indicating a global scope for His saving power.