Hebrew Text · Translation · Interlinear · Discourse Structure

The Book of Isaiah, Chapter 12ישעיהו 12

Each verse opens with the running Hebrew, an English translation, and a discourse note (its connective, relation, and role in the argument). Below follows the word-by-word breakdown in six tiers: gloss, case/state or parsing, syntax, semantic force, and a lexical note.

Case Nominative Genitive Dative Accusative Vocative Verb (no case) Indeclinable

Discourse notes head each verse: relation · connective · clause-flow. Indentation marks prominence — flush-left = main line of argument; indented = supporting / subordinate material.

Theme

A brief but densely theological hymn gathers thanksgiving, wrath turned away, confidence without fear, joy at the springs of salvation, and public proclamation into a liturgical celebration of divine deliverance. The movement is striking: prophetic promise is now taught to Zion and the redeemed community as song. It begins with a personal confession addressed directly to YHWH. Divine anger had once been real, but it has turned away, and comfort now stands where wrath once stood. That sequence matters because the chapter does not erase judgment; it praises YHWH precisely as the one whose just anger has been transformed into consoling mercy. From there the song settles into confidence. God is named as salvation itself, so trust replaces fear, and the old exodus language of strength, song, and deliverance is taken up again in praise. The hymn then turns that assurance into a communal image: water is drawn with joy from the springs of salvation. It is not merely that salvation exists as a doctrine; it is received as life-giving abundance for a restored people. The second half moves outward from reception to proclamation. Thanksgiving, invocation of the divine name, publication of YHWH's deeds among the peoples, and celebration of his exalted name all become the proper overflow of experienced deliverance. Zion is not restored into silence. It is restored into witness. The final summons therefore calls daughter Zion to cry aloud and rejoice because the Holy One of Israel is great in her midst. It closes the chapter by locating salvation not only in acts done for the people but in the holy divine presence dwelling among them. Taken together, the hymn serves as a liturgical coda to the promise-complex of the surrounding chapters: anger turned away, trust without fear, joy at the saving spring, public proclamation to the nations, and Zion's glad recognition that the Holy One of Israel is present in the center of his redeemed people.

Translation & textual notes

The Hebrew base text here follows the Masoretic Text in the Leningrad tradition as represented by the Westminster Leningrad Codex / MorphHB diplomatic stream imported from OSHB; distinctively copyrighted apparatus from BHS or BHQ is not reproduced. It is a short hymn that answers the salvation vision of Isaiah 11 with thanksgiving, confidence, and public praise. Four linked movements shape it: the confession that divine anger has turned away into comfort (v. 1), the declaration of fearless trust in God as salvation (vv. 2-3), the call to publish YHWH's deeds among the peoples (vv. 4-5), and Zion's final cry of joy because the Holy One of Israel is in her midst (v. 6). Verse 1 should preserve the tension and resolution of the opening confession. The singer thanks YHWH not because wrath never existed, but because anger was real and has now turned away. The last verb should retain the personal force of comfort rather than flattening it into a generic restoration formula. Verse 2 deliberately echoes exodus praise language and should be translated with that resonance audible. God is not merely the giver of salvation but is named as salvation itself, so trust and the absence of fear arise from his identity. The phrase with Yah, YHWH, and the line about strength and song should remain full and weighty rather than overly paraphrased. Verse 3 gives the chapter's central image and should stay concrete: water is drawn with joy from the springs or wells of salvation. The point is not abstraction but abundant, accessible life received from YHWH's saving work. Verses 4-5 shift from personal and communal reception to proclamation, so the sequence of imperatives should be preserved carefully: give thanks, call on his name, make known his deeds among the peoples, remind or proclaim that his name is exalted, and sing praise because he has done majestically. In verse 5 the imported OSHB stream preserves both a ketiv and qere form around מודעת; the running line here follows the readable form in the sense 'let this be made known,' while the note of textual variation belongs to the Masoretic tradition rather than to a distinct critical apparatus reproduced on the page. Verse 6 should retain both imperative force and Zion address. Daughter Zion is summoned to cry aloud and sing for joy because the Holy One of Israel is great in her midst. The closing line should therefore land on divine presence as the climax of the whole hymn: salvation, proclamation, and joy all culminate in the reality that Israel's Holy One dwells among his people. Taken together, the chapter should be translated as a compact liturgy of wrath turned to comfort, fearless trust, joyful drawing from salvation's spring, missionary praise among the nations, and Zion's glad recognition of the Holy One in her midst. Versification follows the MT. **Cruxes.** | Verse | Issue | | --- | --- | | none | none of note |

1

וְאָֽמַרְתָּ֙ בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֔וּא אוֹדְךָ֣ יְהוָ֔ה כִּ֥י אָנַ֖פְתָּ בִּ֑י יָשֹׁ֥ב אַפְּךָ֖ וּֽתְנַחֲמֵֽנִי

And in that day you shall say, O YHWH, I will praise you: though you wast angry with me, your anger is turned away, and you comfortedst me.

Yiqtol — imperfective, modal, or future-orientedwə
wə-chaining from the preceding clause. Yiqtol — imperfective, modal, or future-oriented. Lead predicate is 'I will praise'. Opens the chapter.
Word-by-word analysis· 11 words
וְאָֽמַרְתָּ֙and you shall sayconj וְ + Qal q 2ms · אָמַר (H559)Particle or relational elementאָמַר (H559) 'and you shall say'.
בַּיּ֣וֹםon the dayprep + art + N com m sg abs · יוֹם (H3117)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)יוֹם (H3117) 'on the day'.
הַה֔וּאthatart + pron 3ms · הִיא (H1931)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)הִיא (H1931) 'that'.
אוֹדְךָ֣I will praiseHiphil impf 1cs + sfx 2ms · יָדָה (H3034)Predicate verb (yiqtol)→ Yiqtol: imperfective or modalיָדָה (H3034) 'I will praise'.
יְהוָ֔הYHWHN · יְהוָה (H3068)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)יְהוָה (H3068) 'YHWH'.
כִּ֥יforconj וְ · כִּי (H3588)Particle or relational elementכִּי (H3588) 'for'.
אָנַ֖פְתָּand was angryQal perf 2ms · אָנַף (H599)Predicate verb (qatal)→ Perfective: a completed actאָנַף (H599) 'and was angry'.
בִּ֑יagainst meprep + sfx 1csParticle or relational elementFunction word: 'against me'.
יָשֹׁ֥בand they returnedQal impf 3ms · שׁוּב (H7725)Predicate verb (yiqtol)→ Yiqtol: imperfective or modalשׁוּב (H7725) 'and they returned'.
אַפְּךָ֖your angerN c · אַף (H639)Construct chain (genitival)אַף (H639) 'your anger'.
וּֽתְנַחֲמֵֽנִיand was comfortedconj וְ + Piel impf 2ms + sfx 1cs · נָחַם (H5162)Predicate verb (yiqtol)→ Yiqtol: imperfective or modalנָחַם (H5162) 'and was comforted'.
2

הִנֵּ֨ה אֵ֧ל יְשׁוּעָתִ֛י אֶבְטַ֖ח וְלֹ֣א אֶפְחָ֑ד כִּֽי עָזִּ֤י וְזִמְרָת֙ יָ֣הּ יְהוָ֔ה וַֽיְהִי לִ֖י לִֽישׁוּעָֽה

Behold, God my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for YHWH JEHOVAH my strength and song; he also is become my salvation.

Yiqtol — imperfective, modal, or future-orientedhinneh
Presentative hinneh, putting a new scene or surprise on stage. Yiqtol — imperfective, modal, or future-oriented. Lead predicate is 'trusting'.
Word-by-word analysis· 14 words
הִנֵּ֨הbeholdadv. · הִנֵּה (H2009)Particle or relational elementהִנֵּה (H2009) 'behold'.
אֵ֧לGodN c · אֵל (H410)Construct chain (genitival)אֵל (H410) 'God'.
יְשׁוּעָתִ֛יhis salvationN c · יְשׁוּעָה (H3444)Construct chain (genitival)יְשׁוּעָה (H3444) 'his salvation'.
אֶבְטַ֖חtrustingQal impf 1cs · בָּטַח (H982)Predicate verb (yiqtol)→ Yiqtol: imperfective or modalבָּטַח (H982) 'trusting'.
וְלֹ֣אand notconj וְ + neg. · לֹא (H3808)Particle or relational elementלֹא (H3808) 'and not'.
אֶפְחָ֑דand you will dreadQal impf 1cs · פָּחַד (H6342)Predicate verb (yiqtol)→ Yiqtol: imperfective or modalפָּחַד (H6342) 'and you will dread'.
כִּֽיforconj וְ · כִּי (H3588)Particle or relational elementכִּי (H3588) 'for'.
עָזִּ֤יmy strengthN c · עֹז (H5797)Construct chain (genitival)עֹז (H5797) 'my strength'.
וְזִמְרָת֙and song ofconj וְ + N com f sg abs · זִמְרָה (H2176)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)זִמְרָה (H2176) 'and song of'.
יָ֣הּYahN · יָהּ (H3050)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)יָהּ (H3050) 'Yah'.
יְהוָ֔הYHWHN · יְהוָה (H3068)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)יְהוָה (H3068) 'YHWH'.
וַֽיְהִיand it happenedconj וְ + Qal wayyiqtol 3ms · הָיָה (H1961)Predicate verb (wayyiqtol of narrative sequence)→ Wayyiqtol: foregrounded narrative advanceהָיָה (H1961) 'and it happened'.
לִ֖יto meprep + sfx 1csParticle or relational elementFunction word: 'to me'.
לִֽישׁוּעָֽהfor salvationprep + N com f sg abs · יְשׁוּעָה (H3444)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)יְשׁוּעָה (H3444) 'for salvation'.
3

וּשְׁאַבְתֶּם מַ֖יִם בְּשָׂשׂ֑וֹן מִמַּעַיְנֵ֖י הַיְשׁוּעָֽה

Therefore with joy shall you draw water out of the wells of salvation.

Linked non-verbal clausewə
wə-chaining from the preceding clause. Linked non-verbal clause.
Word-by-word analysis· 5 words
וּשְׁאַבְתֶּםand drawers ofconj וְ + Qal q 2mp · שָׁאַב (H7579)Particle or relational elementשָׁאַב (H7579) 'and drawers of'.
מַ֖יִםwaterN c · מַיִם (H4325)Construct chain (genitival)מַיִם (H4325) 'water'.
בְּשָׂשׂ֑וֹןinprep + N com m sg abs · שָׂשׂוֹן (H8342)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)שָׂשׂוֹן (H8342) 'in'.
מִמַּעַיְנֵ֖יthe spring ofprep + N com m pl constr · מַעְיָן (H4599)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)מַעְיָן (H4599) 'the spring of'.
הַיְשׁוּעָֽהhis salvationart + N com f sg abs · יְשׁוּעָה (H3444)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)יְשׁוּעָה (H3444) 'his salvation'.
4

וַאֲמַרְתֶּ֞ם בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֗וּא הוֹד֤וּ לַֽיהוָה֙ קִרְא֣וּ בִשְׁמ֔וֹ הוֹדִ֥יעוּ בָֽעַמִּ֖ים עֲלִֽילֹתָ֑יו הַזְכִּ֕ירוּ כִּ֥י נִשְׂגָּ֖ב שְׁמֽוֹ

And in that day shall you say, Praise YHWH, call upon his name, declare his doings among the people, make mention that his name is exalted.

Imperative — volitional addresswə
wə-chaining from the preceding clause. Imperative — volitional address. Lead predicate is 'I will praise'. Speech formula or quoted address.
Word-by-word analysis· 14 words
וַאֲמַרְתֶּ֞םand you shall sayconj וְ + Qal q 2mp · אָמַר (H559)Particle or relational elementאָמַר (H559) 'and you shall say'.
בַּיּ֣וֹםon the dayprep + art + N com m sg abs · יוֹם (H3117)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)יוֹם (H3117) 'on the day'.
הַה֗וּאthatart + pron 3ms · הִיא (H1931)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)הִיא (H1931) 'that'.
הוֹד֤וּI will praiseHiphil impv 2mp · יָדָה (H3034)Predicate verb (imperative)→ Volitional: imperativeיָדָה (H3034) 'I will praise'.
לַֽיהוָה֙to YHWHprep + N proper · יְהוָה (H3068)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)יְהוָה (H3068) 'to YHWH'.
קִרְא֣וּand he calledQal impv 2mp · קָרָא (H7121)Predicate verb (imperative)→ Volitional: imperativeקָרָא (H7121) 'and he called'.
בִשְׁמ֔וֹin his nameprep + N com m sg constr + sfx 3ms · שֵׁם (H8034)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)שֵׁם (H8034) 'in his name'.
הוֹדִ֥יעוּI knowHiphil impv 2mp · יָדַע (H3045)Predicate verb (imperative)→ Volitional: imperativeיָדַע (H3045) 'I know'.
בָֽעַמִּ֖יםamong the peoplesprep + art + N com m pl abs · עַם (H5971)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)עַם (H5971) 'among the peoples'.
עֲלִֽילֹתָ֑יוoccasions/pretexts ofN c · עֲלִילָה (H5949)Construct chain (genitival)עֲלִילָה (H5949) 'occasions/pretexts of'.
הַזְכִּ֕ירוּand you shall rememberHiphil impv 2mp · זָכַר (H2142)Predicate verb (imperative)→ Volitional: imperativeזָכַר (H2142) 'and you shall remember'.
כִּ֥יforconj וְ · כִּי (H3588)Particle or relational elementכִּי (H3588) 'for'.
נִשְׂגָּ֖בwas too highN · שָׂגַב (H7682)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)שָׂגַב (H7682) 'was too high'.
שְׁמֽוֹhis nameN c · שֵׁם (H8034)Construct chain (genitival)שֵׁם (H8034) 'his name'.
5

זַמְּר֣וּ יְהוָ֔ה כִּ֥י גֵא֖וּת עָשָׂ֑ה מידעת מוּדַ֥עַת זֹ֖את בְּכָל הָאָֽרֶץ

Sing to YHWH; for he has done excellent things: this known in all the earth.

Imperative — volitional addressasyndeton
Asyndeton: no clause-level wə. Imperative — volitional address. Lead predicate is 'I will make music'.
Word-by-word analysis· 10 words
זַמְּר֣וּI will make musicPiel impv 2mp · זָמַר (H2167)Predicate verb (imperative)→ Volitional: imperativeזָמַר (H2167) 'I will make music'.
יְהוָ֔הYHWHN · יְהוָה (H3068)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)יְהוָה (H3068) 'YHWH'.
כִּ֥יforconj וְ · כִּי (H3588)Particle or relational elementכִּי (H3588) 'for'.
גֵא֖וּתexcellent thingsN c · גֵּאוּת (H1348)Construct chain (genitival)גֵּאוּת (H1348) 'excellent things'.
עָשָׂ֑הhe didQal perf 3ms · עָשָׂה (H6213)Predicate verb (qatal)→ Perfective: a completed actעָשָׂה (H6213) 'he did'.
מידעתI knowPual ptc fs · יָדַע (H3045)Participle→ Participle: attendant circumstance or substantival actorיָדַע (H3045) 'I know'.
מוּדַ֥עַתI knowHophal ptc fs · יָדַע (H3045)Participle→ Participle: attendant circumstance or substantival actorיָדַע (H3045) 'I know'.
זֹ֖אתthisdem. pron xfs · זֹאת (H2063)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)זֹאת (H2063) 'this'.
בְּכָלin allprep + N com m sg constr · כֹּל (H3605)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)כֹּל (H3605) 'in all'.
הָאָֽרֶץthe landart + N com c sg abs · אֶרֶץ (H776)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)אֶרֶץ (H776) 'the land'.
6

צַהֲלִ֥י וָרֹ֖נִּי יוֹשֶׁ֣בֶת צִיּ֑וֹן כִּֽי גָד֥וֹל בְּקִרְבֵּ֖ךְ קְד֥וֹשׁ יִשְׂרָאֵֽל

Cry out and shout, you inhabitant of Zion: for great the Holy One of Israel in the midst of you.

Imperative — volitional addressasyndeton
Asyndeton: no clause-level wə. Imperative — volitional address. Lead predicate is 'bellow'. Closes the chapter.
Word-by-word analysis· 9 words
צַהֲלִ֥יbellowQal impv 2fs · צָהַל (H6670)Predicate verb (imperative)→ Volitional: imperativeצָהַל (H6670) 'bellow'.
וָרֹ֖נִּיshout for joyconj וְ + Qal impv 2fs · רָנַן (H7442)Predicate verb (imperative)→ Volitional: imperativeרָנַן (H7442) 'shout for joy'.
יוֹשֶׁ֣בֶתwas dwellingQal ptc fs · יָשַׁב (H3427)Participle→ Participle: attendant circumstance or substantival actorיָשַׁב (H3427) 'was dwelling'.
צִיּ֑וֹןZionN · צִיּוֹן (H6726)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)צִיּוֹן (H6726) 'Zion'.
כִּֽיforconj וְ · כִּי (H3588)Particle or relational elementכִּי (H3588) 'for'.
גָד֥וֹלgreatAdj · גָּדוֹל (H1419)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)גָּדוֹל (H1419) 'great'.
בְּקִרְבֵּ֖ךְin your midstprep + N com m sg constr + sfx 2fs · קֶרֶב (H7130)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)קֶרֶב (H7130) 'in your midst'.
קְד֥וֹשׁholyAdj · קָדוֹשׁ (H6918)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)קָדוֹשׁ (H6918) 'holy'.
יִשְׂרָאֵֽלIsraelN · יִשְׂרָאֵל (H3478)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)יִשְׂרָאֵל (H3478) 'Israel'.