IsaiahChapter 4

+ Secondary text Original text ← Previous Next →Contribute

On that day seven women will seize a single man and say, "We will eat our own bread and wear our own clothes—only let us be called by your name. Take away our disgrace."

On that day the Branch of the LORD will be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land will be the pride and splendor of those in Israel who survive.

And everyone who is left in Zion, who remains in Jerusalem, will be called holy—everyone recorded for life in Jerusalem.

When the Lord has washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion and rinsed away the bloodstains from the midst of Jerusalem by a spirit of judgment and a spirit of burning,

Then the LORD will create over all of Mount Zion and over her assemblies a cloud by day and smoke, and the brightness of a flaming fire by night; for over all the glory there will be a canopy.

And there will be a shelter, a shade by day from the heat, a refuge and a hiding place from storm and rain.

Lookup

Summary2

Chapter 4

Main Theme: God’s cleansing and restoration of Zion after judgment.

Content: The chapter opens with an image of seven women seizing one man to bear his name and remove their shame—a sign of great distress. But "on that day" the Branch of the Lord and the fruit of the land will become a source of beauty and honor for those who remain in Israel. Those left in Jerusalem will be called holy. The Lord will cleanse the daughters of Zion by means of the spirit of judgment and the spirit of burning, and He will create a cloud by day and a glowing fire by night over Zion—a shelter and protection against heat and storm.

Key Words/Images:

Branch of the Lord (צֶמַח יְהוָה): A symbol of God’s blessing and restoration for those who remain.
Holy (קָדוֹשׁ): The remnant in Jerusalem will be called holy, set apart for God.
Spirit of judgment and burning (רוּחַ מִשְׁפָּט וּרוּחַ בָּעֵר): God purifies His people through judgment and the burning away of impurity.
Cloud and fire: God’s presence as protector and guide, echoing the wilderness journey.
Shelter/Canopy (סֻכָּה): God’s protection providing shade from heat and shelter from storms.

Historical context

Places

Zion/Jerusalem (צִיּוֹן / יְרוּשָׁלִַם): In this chapter, Zion and Jerusalem appear as the center of future restoration. Verse 5 mentions "every dwelling on the mountain of Zion" and "the meeting places", suggesting both private homes and public gathering spots, possibly including the temple area where the people assembled for festivals.

Key Terms

The Branch of the Lord (צֶמַח יְהוָה): The expression in verse 2 uses the Hebrew word tsemach, meaning "shoot" or "branch". This later becomes a messianic title in prophetic literature (cf. Jer 23:5; Zech 6:12). Here it may refer either to a coming Davidic ruler or more generally to God’s blessing that causes the land to flourish again after judgment.

Disgrace/Shame (חֶרְפָּה): In verse 1, cherpah is used for the social disgrace of being unmarried and childless. In ancient Israel, this was a serious social stigma for women, since identity and economic security were tied to marriage and motherhood. The fact that seven women will share one man illustrates the dramatic population decline following judgment and war.

The Cloud and the Fire (עָנָן / אֵשׁ): Verse 5 clearly alludes to the wilderness journey, where God led Israel with a cloud by day and fire by night (Exod 13:21–22). This Exodus motif signals a new deliverance and divine protection.

Events and Customs

The Number Seven and Marriage Custom: The fact that seven women seize hold of one man (verse 1) is a dramatic reversal of normal practice. Normally, the groom paid the bride price (mohar) and provided his wife with food and clothing (Exod 21:10). Here, the women offer to support themselves—they break all conventions just to bear a man’s name and avoid the shame of childlessness. The number seven symbolizes completeness and underscores total catastrophe.

Purification and Judgment (verse 4): The image of the Lord "washing away filth" (צֹאַת) uses terminology from ritual cleansing. Tso'ah denotes excrement or dirty waste. The "Spirit of judgment" (ruach mishpat) and the "Spirit of burning" (ruach ba'er) combine legal and purifying aspects—judgment that cleanses, not merely punishes.

People

No known people in this chapter.

Key words7

Sion — A name for Jerusalem, often used symbolically for God's people and their spiritual home.
The Lord's day — A term for a time of divine intervention, judgment, and salvation.
Purification — The process of being cleansed from sin and impurity, both spiritually and morally.
Glory — A radiant, shining aura that represents God's presence and majesty.
Protection — God's care and safeguarding of His people in times of trouble.
Righteousness — The principle of acting in accordance with God's will and moral law.
Survivors — Those who remain after a disaster or trial, often referring to the faithful among God's people.