Isaiah 4:1

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

¶ 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.

Complete Jewish Bible:

On that day, seven women will grab hold of one man and say, "We will supply our own food and wear our own clothes. Just let us bear your name; take away our disgrace."

Berean Standard Bible:

In that day seven women will take hold of one man and say, “We will eat our own bread and provide our own clothes. Just let us be called by your name. Take away our disgrace!”

American Standard Version:

And seven women shall take hold of one man in that day, saying, We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be called by thy name; take thou away our reproach.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And in that day{H3117} seven{H7651} women{H802} shall take hold{H2388} of one{H259} man{H376}, saying{H559}, We will eat{H398} our own bread{H3899}, and wear{H3847} our own apparel{H8071}: only let us be called{H7121} by thy name{H8034}, to take away{H622} our reproach{H2781}.

Cross-References (KJV):

Genesis 30:23

  • And she conceived, and bare a son; and said, God hath taken away my reproach:

Isaiah 2:17

  • And the loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men shall be made low: and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day.

Isaiah 13:12

  • I will make a man more precious than fine gold; even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir.

Luke 21:22

  • For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.

Luke 1:25

  • Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on [me], to take away my reproach among men.

2 Thessalonians 3:12

  • Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.

1 Samuel 1:6

  • And her adversary also provoked her sore, for to make her fret, because the LORD had shut up her womb.

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Commentary for Isaiah 4:1

Isaiah 4:1 is a verse set within the broader context of the prophetic book of Isaiah, which addresses the future hope and restoration of Judah amidst judgment and exile. This particular verse paints a stark picture of societal imbalance resulting from divine judgment, likely due to the people's unfaithfulness to God. The historical context suggests a time of war or calamity where many men have been killed, leading to a disproportionate number of women to men.

The verse speaks of a scenario where seven women, presumably of marriageable age, approach a single man with an unusual proposal. They offer to provide for their own material needs—food and clothing—which were traditionally the responsibility of a husband in that patriarchal society. Their primary motivation, as expressed in the text, is to remove the social stigma of being unmarried and childless ("our reproach"). In the ancient Near Eastern culture, a woman's social status and security were closely tied to her role within a family, and being without a husband or children brought significant social disadvantages and disgrace.

The themes present in this verse include the consequences of sin and disobedience, social upheaval, and the desperation that arises from a loss of traditional social structures. It also touches on the themes of redemption and hope, as the women's request to be "called by [the man's] name" implies a longing for identity, protection, and legitimacy within a community of faith. This verse reflects the broader biblical motif of God's people experiencing hardship due to their unfaithfulness but also seeking to reconnect with God and His covenant promises, even in dire circumstances.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

  1. Strong's Number: H3117
    There are 1931 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: יוֹם
    Transliteration: yôwm
    Pronunciation: yome
    Description: from an unused root meaning to be hot; a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverb); age, [phrase] always, [phrase] chronicals, continually(-ance), daily, ((birth-), each, to) day, (now a, two) days (agone), [phrase] elder, [idiom] end, [phrase] evening, [phrase] (for) ever(-lasting, -more), [idiom] full, life, as (so) long as (... live), (even) now, [phrase] old, [phrase] outlived, [phrase] perpetually, presently, [phrase] remaineth, [idiom] required, season, [idiom] since, space, then, (process of) time, [phrase] as at other times, [phrase] in trouble, weather, (as) when, (a, the, within a) while (that), [idiom] whole ([phrase] age), (full) year(-ly), [phrase] younger.
  2. Strong's Number: H7651
    There are 345 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: שֶׁבַע
    Transliteration: shebaʻ
    Pronunciation: sheh'-bah
    Description: or (masculine) (שִׁבְעָה); from שָׁבַע; a primitive cardinal number; seven (as the sacred full one); also (adverbially) seven times; by implication, a week; by extension, an indefinite number; ([phrase] by) seven(-fold),-s, (-teen, -teenth), -th, times). Compare שִׁבְעָנָה.
  3. Strong's Number: H802
    There are 729 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: אִשָּׁה
    Transliteration: ʼishshâh
    Pronunciation: ish-shaw'
    Description: feminine of אִישׁ or אֱנוֹשׁ; irregular plural, נָשִׁים;(used in the same wide sense as אֱנוֹשׁ); a woman; (adulter) ess, each, every, female, [idiom] many, [phrase] none, one, [phrase] together, wife, woman. Often unexpressed in English.
  4. Strong's Number: H2388
    There are 266 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: חָזַק
    Transliteration: châzaq
    Pronunciation: khaw-zak'
    Description: a primitive root; to fasten upon; hence, to seize, be strong (figuratively, courageous, causatively strengthen, cure, help, repair, fortify), obstinate; to bind, restrain, conquer; aid, amend, [idiom] calker, catch, cleave, confirm, be constant, constrain, continue, be of good (take) courage(-ous, -ly), encourage (self), be established, fasten, force, fortify, make hard, harden, help, (lay) hold (fast), lean, maintain, play the man, mend, become (wax) mighty, prevail, be recovered, repair, retain, seize, be (wax) sore, strengthen (self), be stout, be (make, shew, wax) strong(-er), be sure, take (hold), be urgent, behave self valiantly, withstand.
  5. Strong's Number: H259
    There are 801 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: אֶחָד
    Transliteration: ʼechâd
    Pronunciation: ekh-awd'
    Description: a numeral from אָחַד; properly, united, i.e. one; or (as an ordinal) first; a, alike, alone, altogether, and, any(-thing), apiece, a certain, (dai-) ly, each (one), [phrase] eleven, every, few, first, [phrase] highway, a man, once, one, only, other, some, together,
  6. Strong's Number: H376
    There are 1507 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: אִישׁ
    Transliteration: ʼîysh
    Pronunciation: eesh
    Description: contracted for אֱנוֹשׁ (or perhaps rather from an unused root meaning to be extant); a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation); also, another, any (man), a certain, [phrase] champion, consent, each, every (one), fellow, (foot-, husband-) man, (good-, great, mighty) man, he, high (degree), him (that is), husband, man(-kind), [phrase] none, one, people, person, [phrase] steward, what (man) soever, whoso(-ever), worthy. Compare אִשָּׁה.
  7. Strong's Number: H559
    There are 4434 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: אָמַר
    Transliteration: ʼâmar
    Pronunciation: aw-mar'
    Description: a primitive root; to say (used with great latitude); answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [idiom] plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), [idiom] still, [idiom] suppose, talk, tell, term, [idiom] that is, [idiom] think, use (speech), utter, [idiom] verily, [idiom] yet.
  8. Strong's Number: H398
    There are 825 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: אָכַל
    Transliteration: ʼâkal
    Pronunciation: aw-kal'
    Description: a primitive root; to eat (literally or figuratively); [idiom] at all, burn up, consume, devour(-er, up), dine, eat(-er, up), feed (with), food, [idiom] freely, [idiom] in...wise(-deed, plenty), (lay) meat, [idiom] quite.
  9. Strong's Number: H3899
    There are 277 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: לֶחֶם
    Transliteration: lechem
    Pronunciation: lekh'-em
    Description: from לָחַם; See also בֵּית לְעַפְרָה; food (for man or beast), especially bread, or grain (for making it); (shew-) bread, [idiom] eat, food, fruit, loaf, meat, victuals.
  10. Strong's Number: H3847
    There are 103 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: לָבַשׁ
    Transliteration: lâbash
    Pronunciation: law-bash'
    Description: or לָבֵשׁ; a primitive root; properly, wrap around, i.e. (by implication) to put on agarment or clothe (oneself, or another), literally or figuratively; (in) apparel, arm, array (self), clothe (self), come upon, put (on, upon), wear.
  11. Strong's Number: H8071
    There are 28 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: שִׂמְלָה
    Transliteration: simlâh
    Pronunciation: sim-law'
    Description: perhaps by permutation for the feminine of סֶמֶל (through the idea of a cover assuming the shape of the object beneath); a dress, especially a mantle; apparel, cloth(-es, -ing), garment, raiment. Compare שַׂלְמָה.
  12. Strong's Number: H7121
    There are 689 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: קָרָא
    Transliteration: qârâʼ
    Pronunciation: kaw-raw'
    Description: a primitive root (rather identical with קָרָא through the idea of accosting a person met); to call out to (i.e. properly, address by name, but used in a wide variety of applications); bewray (self), that are bidden, call (for, forth, self, upon), cry (unto), (be) famous, guest, invite, mention, (give) name, preach, (make) proclaim(-ation), pronounce, publish, read, renowned, say.
  13. Strong's Number: H8034
    There are 771 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: שֵׁם
    Transliteration: shêm
    Pronunciation: shame
    Description: a primitive word (perhaps rather from through the idea of definite and conspicuous position; compare שָׁמַיִם); an appellation, as amark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority, character; [phrase] base, (in-) fame(-ous), named(-d), renown, report.
  14. Strong's Number: H622
    There are 281 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: אָסַף
    Transliteration: ʼâçaph
    Pronunciation: aw-saf'
    Description: a primitive root; to gather for any purpose; hence, to receive, take away, i.e. remove (destroy, leave behind, put up, restore, etc.); assemble, bring, consume, destroy, felch, gather (in, together, up again), [idiom] generally, get (him), lose, put all together, receive, recover (another from leprosy), (be) rereward, [idiom] surely, take (away, into, up), [idiom] utterly, withdraw.
  15. Strong's Number: H2781
    There are 72 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: חֶרְפָּה
    Transliteration: cherpâh
    Pronunciation: kher-paw'
    Description: from חָרַף; contumely, disgrace, the pudenda; rebuke, reproach(-fully), shame.