54:5

Isaiah 54:6

54:7

¶ For the LORD hath called thee as a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, and a wife of youth, when thou wast refused, saith thy God.

For the LORD {H3068} hath called {H7121} thee as a woman {H802} forsaken {H5800} and grieved {H6087} in spirit {H7307}, and a wife {H802} of youth {H5271}, when thou wast refused {H3988}, saith {H559} thy God {H430}.

For ADONAI has called you back like a wife abandoned and grief-stricken; "A wife married in her youth cannot be rejected," says your God.

For the LORD has called you back, like a wife deserted and wounded in spirit, like the rejected wife of one’s youth,” says your God.

For Jehovah hath called thee as a wife forsaken and grieved in spirit, even a wife of youth, when she is cast off, saith thy God.

Context

Isaiah 54 is a powerful chapter of comfort and restoration, particularly directed towards Jerusalem, personified as a barren and desolate woman. This chapter immediately follows the prophecy of the Suffering Servant in Isaiah 53, whose atoning work paves the way for the nation's renewal. Verse 6 specifically addresses the deep emotional state of Israel after periods of unfaithfulness and exile, portraying God's compassionate understanding of their feelings of abandonment and grief. The imagery sets the stage for the glorious promises of expansion, security, and everlasting covenant love that follow in the chapter.

Key Themes

  • Divine Compassion and Initiative: The verse highlights God's profound empathy, reaching out to those who feel utterly forsaken. It emphasizes that it is the LORD who "hath called thee," signifying His active and loving pursuit of His people, not their own initiative.
  • Restoration from Despair: God acknowledges the deep sorrow and sense of rejection experienced by His people ("grieved in spirit," "when thou wast refused"). This recognition is crucial for the message of hope, as God's call is precisely to lift them out of this despair and restore them.
  • Enduring Covenant Love: The metaphor of a "wife of youth" (Hebrew: eshet ne'urim) underscores the deep, foundational, and long-standing nature of God's relationship with His people. Despite periods of estrangement or perceived abandonment, God views the relationship as one initiated in youth, implying a cherished and enduring bond, much like a husband's steadfast love for his first bride. This reinforces the unbreakable nature of God's covenant.
  • Hope for the Rejected: For those who feel cast off or forgotten, this verse offers immense comfort. It assures that even in the deepest sense of refusal, God's personal affirmation, "saith thy God," remains a constant source of identity and belonging.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "forsaken" is azuvah (עֲזוּבָה), meaning desolate or abandoned, emphasizing the profound sense of isolation. "Grieved in spirit" translates the Hebrew atzuvat ruach (עֲצוּבַת רוּחַ), which conveys deep sorrow, bitterness, or affliction of the soul, indicating emotional anguish. The phrase "wife of youth" (eshet ne'urim - אֵשֶׁת נְעוּרִים) is significant, referring to a bride married in one's youth, implying a foundational, cherished, and long-term relationship. This imagery beautifully portrays God's enduring commitment to Israel, despite their perceived abandonment, as a relationship that began with deep affection and remains steadfast.

Practical Application

Isaiah 54:6 speaks powerfully to individuals and communities today who experience feelings of abandonment, rejection, or deep sorrow. It reminds us that God sees our pain and understands our grief. Even when we feel like a "woman forsaken," God's unchanging love and covenant faithfulness remain. He actively calls us back to Himself, desiring to restore us from despair. This verse encourages us to trust in God's unwavering commitment, knowing that His love is not dependent on our perfection but on His eternal character. It's a profound assurance that nothing can separate us from the love of God when we are in Christ Jesus.

Note: Commentary is generated by a large language model with a directive for Biblical fidelity. While we find the analysis helpful, always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Isaiah 62:4

    Thou shalt no more be termed Forsaken; neither shall thy land any more be termed Desolate: but thou shalt be called Hephzibah, and thy land Beulah: for the LORD delighteth in thee, and thy land shall be married.

  • Ecclesiastes 9:9

    Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of the life of thy vanity, which he hath given thee under the sun, all the days of thy vanity: for that [is] thy portion in [this] life, and in thy labour which thou takest under the sun.

  • Hosea 2:14

    ¶ Therefore, behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfortably unto her.

  • Hosea 2:15

    And I will give her her vineyards from thence, and the valley of Achor for a door of hope: and she shall sing there, as in the days of her youth, and as in the day when she came up out of the land of Egypt.

  • Hosea 2:1

    ¶ Say ye unto your brethren, Ammi; and to your sisters, Ruhamah.

  • Hosea 2:2

    Plead with your mother, plead: for she [is] not my wife, neither [am] I her husband: let her therefore put away her whoredoms out of her sight, and her adulteries from between her breasts;

  • Proverbs 5:18

    Let thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth.

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