Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations: spare not, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes;
Enlarge {H7337} the place {H4725} of thy tent {H168}, and let them stretch forth {H5186} the curtains {H3407} of thine habitations {H4908}: spare {H2820} not, lengthen {H748} thy cords {H4340}, and strengthen {H2388} thy stakes {H3489};
Enlarge the space for your tent, extend the curtains of your dwelling; do not hold back, lengthen your cords, make your tent pegs firm.
“Enlarge the site of your tent, stretch out the curtains of your dwellings, do not hold back. Lengthen your ropes and drive your stakes in deep.
Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thy habitations; spare not: lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes.
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Isaiah 33:20
Look upon Zion, the city of our solemnities: thine eyes shall see Jerusalem a quiet habitation, a tabernacle [that] shall not be taken down; not one of the stakes thereof shall ever be removed, neither shall any of the cords thereof be broken. -
Jeremiah 10:20
My tabernacle is spoiled, and all my cords are broken: my children are gone forth of me, and they [are] not: [there is] none to stretch forth my tent any more, and to set up my curtains. -
Exodus 39:40
The hangings of the court, his pillars, and his sockets, and the hanging for the court gate, his cords, and his pins, and all the vessels of the service of the tabernacle, for the tent of the congregation, -
Isaiah 49:19
For thy waste and thy desolate places, and the land of thy destruction, shall even now be too narrow by reason of the inhabitants, and they that swallowed thee up shall be far away. -
Isaiah 49:20
The children which thou shalt have, after thou hast lost the other, shall say again in thine ears, The place [is] too strait for me: give place to me that I may dwell. -
Exodus 35:18
The pins of the tabernacle, and the pins of the court, and their cords,
Isaiah 54:2 is a powerful prophetic command and promise from God to His people, encouraging them to prepare for an unprecedented season of growth and blessing. It uses vivid imagery of a tent dweller preparing for a significant expansion.
Context
Isaiah chapter 54 is a glorious song of joy and comfort addressed to Jerusalem, or Zion, portrayed as a barren woman who will miraculously bear many children. This chapter immediately follows the profound prophecy of the Suffering Servant in Isaiah 53, which speaks of Christ's atoning work. After a period of desolation and exile, God assures His people of restoration, expansion, and a renewed covenant of peace. The command to "enlarge the place of thy tent" is a direct instruction to act in faith, anticipating the fulfillment of God's promise of multiplication and prosperity, which is introduced in Isaiah 54:1.
Key Themes
Linguistic Insights
The imagery in this verse is drawn from nomadic life, common in ancient Israel. A "tent" (Hebrew: 'ohel) was a portable dwelling, often made of curtains stretched over poles and secured by cords and stakes. The act of enlarging a tent involved:
Practical Application
For believers today, Isaiah 54:2 is a profound encouragement and a call to action. It can be applied in several ways: