Isaiah 54:11

KJV

¶ O thou afflicted, tossed with tempest, [and] not comforted, behold, I will lay thy stones with fair colours, and lay thy foundations with sapphires.

KJV (with Strong's)

O thou afflicted {H6041}, tossed with tempest {H5590}, and not comforted {H5162}, behold, I will lay {H7257} thy stones {H68} with fair colours {H6320}, and lay thy foundations {H3245} with sapphires {H5601}.

Complete Jewish Bible

"Storm-ravaged [city], unconsoled, I will set your stones in the finest way, lay your foundations with sapphires,

Berean Standard Bible

“O afflicted city, lashed by storms, without solace, surely I will set your stones in antimony and lay your foundations with sapphires.

American Standard Version

O thou afflicted, tossed with tempest, and not comforted, behold, I will set thy stones in fair colors, and lay thy foundations with sapphires.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Isaiah 54:11 delivers a powerful divine address of comfort and promise to Zion, personified as a deeply afflicted and storm-tossed woman, left desolate and uncomforted. In stark contrast to her current state of distress, God declares His unwavering intention to magnificently restore and rebuild her, laying her foundations with precious sapphires and adorning her stones with brilliant, fair colors, signifying a future of unparalleled beauty, security, and divine glory. This verse stands as a testament to God's steadfast love and commitment to His covenant people, transforming their despair into a vision of glorious restoration.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Isaiah 54 stands as a magnificent song of comfort and hope, immediately following the profound prophecy of the Suffering Servant in [Isaiah 53](/isaiah/53 "Isaiah 53 - The Suffering Servant"). While [Isaiah 53](/isaiah/53 "Isaiah 53 - The Suffering Servant") details the atoning work that makes reconciliation possible, [Isaiah 54](/isaiah/54 "Isaiah 54 - The Barren Made Fruitful") then proclaims the glorious consequences of that work for God's people, specifically Zion (Jerusalem). The chapter opens by calling the "barren one" to rejoice, promising her a multitude of children, signifying a vast increase and restoration of Israel. This verse, [Isaiah 54:11](/isaiah/54-11 "Isaiah 54:11 - God's Promise of Restoration"), directly addresses the city's previous desolation, assuring her that her period of affliction is ending and a new, divinely built era of splendor is beginning. It functions as a bridge, connecting the past suffering with the future glory, setting the stage for the everlasting covenant promises in [Isaiah 55](/isaiah/55 "Isaiah 55 - An Invitation to the Covenant").
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The prophet Isaiah speaks to a nation that has experienced immense suffering, particularly looking forward to and beyond the Babylonian exile (586 BCE). Jerusalem had been sacked, its temple destroyed, and its people deported, leaving the city in ruins. The imagery of being "tossed with tempest, and not comforted" vividly captures the profound sense of abandonment, political turmoil, and spiritual despair that characterized this period. The people felt like a ship battered by a storm, adrift and without hope, their city a desolate ruin. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, a city's walls and foundations were symbols of its strength, security, and identity. The promise to rebuild with precious stones like "sapphires" and "fair colours" would have resonated deeply, signifying not just a physical reconstruction but a divine re-establishment of their national and spiritual identity, far surpassing any previous glory. This was a promise of God's direct intervention to reverse their fortunes and restore their honor.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within Isaiah and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it highlights **Divine Compassion and Comfort**, demonstrating God's intimate awareness of His people's pain and His immediate response of intervention and solace. The direct address, "O thou afflicted," underscores His personal concern for their suffering. Secondly, it emphasizes **Glorious Restoration**, portraying a future for Jerusalem that transcends mere rebuilding. The imagery of precious stones signifies a transformation from desolation to divine beauty and splendor, a theme echoed in the vision of the [New Jerusalem in Revelation 21](/revelation/21 "Revelation 21 - The New Jerusalem"). Thirdly, the use of "sapphires" for foundations speaks to **Unshakable Foundations and Security**, assuring permanence and stability against future adversities, reflecting God's own enduring faithfulness, as seen in passages like [Psalm 62:6](/psalms/62-6 "Psalm 62:6 - God as Our Rock and Salvation"). Finally, the verse underscores **God's Unconditional Promise and Covenant Faithfulness**. Despite Israel's past failings and unfaithfulness, God's commitment to restore them is rooted in His unchanging character and His covenant love, not in their merit, a truth central to the covenant theology found throughout the prophetic books, such as [Jeremiah 31:3](/jeremiah/31-3 "Jeremiah 31:3 - God's Everlasting Love").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Afflicted (Hebrew, _ʻânîy'_):** This term (H6041) describes a state of being depressed, whether in mind or circumstances. It denotes humility, lowliness, neediness, and poverty, often resulting from oppression or suffering. In this context, it perfectly encapsulates Zion's state of utter distress and vulnerability, having endured hardship and feeling utterly broken.
* **Tossed with tempest (Hebrew, _çâʻar'_):** The root (H5590) means to rush upon, to toss, or to be tempestuous. It vividly portrays a violent, chaotic experience, like a ship being violently battered by a storm or a person caught in a whirlwind. This imagery powerfully conveys the overwhelming and uncontrolled nature of the suffering and turmoil Zion has endured, leaving her unstable and disoriented.
* **Foundations (Hebrew, _yâçad'_):** This word (H3245) comes from a primitive root meaning to set or to found, often intensively. It refers to establishing, laying a foundation, or ordaining something with permanence and certainty. In the context of rebuilding Jerusalem, it signifies God's direct and deliberate act of establishing the city's future security and stability on an unshakeable, divine basis.
* **Sapphires (Hebrew, _çappîyr'_):** Derived from a word meaning to scratch, this gem (H5601) is likely the sapphire, known for its deep blue color, beauty, and exceptional hardness. Its use for foundations emphasizes the preciousness, durability, and divine origin of the promised restoration. It speaks of something exceedingly valuable and enduring, far beyond ordinary building materials.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"O thou afflicted, tossed with tempest, and not comforted":** This opening address directly confronts Zion's (Jerusalem's) dire state. "Afflicted" highlights her deep suffering and humiliation. "Tossed with tempest" paints a vivid picture of her instability and the violent, overwhelming trials she has endured, like a ship relentlessly battered by a storm. The phrase "and not comforted" emphasizes her profound sense of abandonment and despair, feeling utterly alone in her distress.
* **"behold, I will lay thy stones with fair colours":** The interjection "behold" signals a dramatic shift from lament to divine promise. God declares His active intervention. "Lay thy stones with fair colours" (or antimony/kohl) refers to adorning the building materials with brilliant, dazzling hues, transforming the desolate ruins into something vibrantly beautiful and precious, far beyond mere cosmetic enhancement. It signifies a complete aesthetic and spiritual renewal.
* **"and lay thy foundations with sapphires":** This clause further elaborates on the magnificent restoration. Instead of ordinary stone, God Himself will lay the city's foundations with "sapphires," a highly valuable and durable gem. This symbolizes the unparalleled strength, permanence, and divine preciousness of the new Jerusalem. It assures an unshakeable stability, divinely established, that will withstand any future adversity.

#### Literary Devices
Isaiah 54:11 employs several powerful literary devices to convey its message of hope and restoration. **Personification** is central, as Zion (Jerusalem) is addressed as a suffering woman ("O thou afflicted, tossed with tempest, and not comforted"). This allows the audience to empathize with the city's plight and appreciate the intimacy of God's compassionate response. The phrase "tossed with tempest" is a potent **Metaphor**, comparing Zion's tumultuous experiences and instability to a ship violently battered by a storm, vividly illustrating her state of chaos and despair. Furthermore, the imagery of "fair colours" and "sapphires" serves as rich **Symbolism**. "Fair colours" (or stibium/kohl) symbolize dazzling beauty, preciousness, and divine adornment, transforming the drabness of desolation into vibrant glory. "Sapphires" symbolize ultimate value, permanence, and divine strength, indicating that the new foundations will be divinely established and eternally secure, representing the unshakeable nature of God's promises and the future city.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Isaiah 54:11 is a profound declaration of God's redemptive power and unwavering faithfulness, echoing themes of new creation and eschatological hope found throughout scripture. It reveals a God who does not abandon His people in their lowest moments but actively intervenes to transform their suffering into unparalleled glory. This promise of a divinely rebuilt city, adorned with precious stones, foreshadows the ultimate dwelling place of God with humanity, where all tears are wiped away and sorrow is no more. It speaks to God's commitment to bring about a perfect, secure, and beautiful future for His redeemed, built on His own eternal character and covenant.

* [Revelation 21:19-20](/revelation/21-19 "Revelation 21:19-20 - Foundations of the New Jerusalem")
* [Exodus 24:10](/exodus/24-10 "Exodus 24:10 - God's Throne on Sapphire")
* [Psalm 87:1-3](/psalms/87-1 "Psalm 87:1-3 - God's Love for Zion")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Isaiah 54:11 offers immense spiritual nourishment for believers navigating seasons of affliction and despair. When life's storms leave us feeling "tossed with tempest, and not comforted," this verse assures us that God sees our pain, acknowledges our brokenness, and is intimately involved in our restoration. It challenges us to trust in His sovereign power to transform our desolation into divine beauty, reminding us that our foundations, when laid by Him, are unshakable. This promise extends beyond personal comfort to the broader hope for the Church and the world, encouraging us to look forward to the ultimate new creation where God's glory will fully manifest, and all suffering will cease. It calls us to live with an eschatological hope, knowing that even in the midst of present trials, our future is secured by the precious, unshakeable promises of God.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of your life do you feel "afflicted, tossed with tempest, and not comforted"?**
* **How does the imagery of God laying your foundations with sapphires and stones with fair colours speak to your current struggles or hopes?**
* **What practical steps can you take to lean into God's promise of restoration when you feel desolate or abandoned?**
* **How does this verse deepen your understanding of God's character and His faithfulness to His people?**

### FAQ
**What is the significance of "fair colours" and "sapphires" in this verse?**

Answer: The "fair colours" (Hebrew: *pûḵ*) refer to antimony or kohl, traditionally used for eye-paint, but here it signifies dazzling, brilliant hues. It symbolizes the exquisite, vibrant beauty and preciousness with which God will adorn the rebuilt Jerusalem, transforming its desolation into splendor. "Sapphires" (Hebrew: *çappîyr*) are highly valuable, durable, and beautiful gems. Their use for the city's "foundations" emphasizes the unparalleled strength, permanence, and divine preciousness of God's work. It signifies that the new Jerusalem will be built on an unshakeable, divinely established basis, ensuring its eternal security and glory. This imagery elevates the restoration from a mere physical rebuilding to a magnificent, divinely orchestrated transformation.

**How does this prophecy relate to the historical return from Babylonian exile?**

Answer: While Isaiah 54 certainly offered immediate hope and comfort to the exiles returning from Babylon, encouraging them to rebuild Jerusalem, the language and imagery of [Isaiah 54:11](/isaiah/54-11 "Isaiah 54:11 - God's Promise of Restoration") transcend a purely historical fulfillment. The magnificent scale of the promised restoration—foundations of sapphires and stones of fair colours—suggests a glory far beyond what was achieved in the post-exilic period. Therefore, scholars often interpret this prophecy as having a multi-layered fulfillment: a partial, initial fulfillment in the return from exile, but ultimately pointing towards a greater, eschatological fulfillment in the New Covenant and the eternal New Jerusalem, where God's glory is fully manifested and His people dwell in perfect security and beauty.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Isaiah 54:11, with its promise of divine comfort and glorious restoration, finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in Jesus Christ and the New Covenant community, the Church. The "afflicted, tossed with tempest, and not comforted" state of Zion directly prefigures humanity's spiritual desolation and alienation from God due to sin, a condition from which we cannot comfort ourselves. It is through the atoning work of the [Suffering Servant, Jesus Christ](/isaiah/53-5 "Isaiah 53:5 - The Suffering Servant's Atonement"), that true comfort and reconciliation are made possible. He is the one who took our affliction upon Himself, enduring the tempest of God's wrath, so that we might be brought into a new, everlasting covenant of peace. The promise of God laying "thy stones with fair colours, and lay thy foundations with sapphires" is realized in the spiritual rebuilding of God's people. Believers, as "living stones," are being built into a [spiritual house](/1_peter/2-5 "1 Peter 2:5 - Living Stones in a Spiritual House") with Christ as the chief cornerstone, a [foundation of eternal security](/1_corinthians/3-11 "1 Corinthians 3:11 - Christ as the Only Foundation"). The Church, the bride of Christ, is being prepared and adorned by God Himself, reflecting the beauty and glory of her Groom, ultimately culminating in the vision of the [New Jerusalem](/revelation/21-2 "Revelation 21:2 - The New Jerusalem Descending"), where God dwells with His people, and all sorrow and suffering are eternally replaced by His magnificent presence and unshakeable peace.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

1 Peter 2:4

¶ To whom coming, [as unto] a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, [and] precious,

1 Peter 2:6

Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.

Jeremiah 30:17

For I will restore health unto thee, and I will heal thee of thy wounds, saith the LORD; because they called thee an Outcast, [saying], This [is] Zion, whom no man seeketh after.

1 Chronicles 29:2

Now I have prepared with all my might for the house of my God the gold for [things to be made] of gold, and the silver for [things] of silver, and the brass for [things] of brass, the iron for [things] of iron, and wood for [things] of wood; onyx stones, and [stones] to be set, glistering stones, and of divers colours, and all manner of precious stones, and marble stones in abundance.

Acts 14:22

Confirming the souls of the disciples, [and] exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

Revelation 21:18

And the building of the wall of it was [of] jasper: and the city [was] pure gold, like unto clear glass.

Revelation 21:21

And the twelve gates [were] twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city [was] pure gold, as it were transparent glass.