Hebrew Text · Translation · Interlinear · Discourse Structure

The Book of Isaiah, Chapter 4ישעיהו 4

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

War-shame, remnant beauty, purifying judgment, and a newly canopied Zion form the brief but crucial resolution that follows the collapse of Isaiah 3. The opening verse still belongs to the world of loss just described: so many men have fallen that seven women seize one man and ask only for his name to remove their reproach, even while promising to bear their own bread and clothing. The social humiliation of Zion has therefore not vanished. But from verse 2 onward the oracle pivots sharply into restoration. In that day the Branch of YHWH and the fruit of the land become beauty, glory, majesty, and splendor for the survivors of Israel. The city's future is no longer described in terms of stripped ornament, but in terms of a holiness and glory that YHWH himself produces for the remnant who remain. That transformation, however, comes only through cleansing. Those left in Zion are called holy because the Lord has washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion and flushed the blood of Jerusalem from her midst by a spirit of judgment and by a spirit of burning. Taken together, the passage does not retreat from judgment after chapter 3; it shows judgment accomplishing purification. The closing image then recasts Zion in new-creation and exodus terms. YHWH will create over every site of Mount Zion and over her assemblies a cloud by day, smoke, and bright flaming fire by night, so that over all the glory there is a canopy. The final booth-image makes Zion a place of shade, refuge, and shelter from heat, storm, and rain. Taken together, the passage binds the reproach left by devastation, the branch-and-fruit promise, remnant holiness, cleansing by fiery judgment, and glory-covering presence into a compact oracle where Zion emerges from humiliation not by denial of sin, but by being washed, purged, and sheltered under YHWH's own renewed dwelling presence.

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. Four compact movements shape the chapter: the social aftermath of judgment (v. 1), the promise of branch-and-remnant beauty (v. 2), the declaration of holy survivors through cleansing judgment (vv. 3-4), and the creation of a glory-canopy over Zion as protective shelter (vv. 5-6). Verse 1 should be translated with full awareness that it still belongs to the fallout of the previous chapter's devastation. The seven women taking hold of one man is not romantic abundance but social shame under conditions of male loss, and the request that his name be called upon them should remain explicit because the issue is reproach and standing, not simple companionship. Verse 2 is one of the chapter's most discussed lines and should be translated with careful simplicity. צמח יהוה is best left visible as 'the Branch of YHWH' rather than prematurely over-paraphrased, because the phrase has both immediate agricultural resonance and a rich later interpretive history. The parallel phrase 'the fruit of the land' should remain alongside it, since the chapter joins divine gift, land-fruitfulness, and remnant glory. Verse 3's wording about those written for life in Jerusalem should also be kept strong. The remnant is not just leftover population; it is a living register marked out for holy survival. Verse 4 is crucial for the theology of the chapter. The Lord's washing away of the filth of the daughters of Zion and rinsing of Jerusalem's blood from her midst should remain bodily and civic at once. The paired expressions 'spirit of judgment' and 'spirit of burning' should not be flattened into generic purification language. The point is that that Zion's holiness comes through a cleansing judgment that is both forensic and fiery. Verses 5-6 then shift into exodus and sanctuary-like imagery. The verbs of creation in verse 5 should remain explicit: YHWH will create over every site of Mount Zion and over her assemblies the cloud, smoke, and flaming brightness. The pattern recalls wilderness guidance and divine dwelling, and the final clause about a canopy over all the glory should preserve that protective nuptial/tabernacle-like image. Verse 6's booth should likewise remain concrete as shade, refuge, and shelter from heat, storm, and rain. Taken together, the passage should therefore be translated as the chapter where the judgment that shamed Zion's social world also purifies her remnant and leads into a renewed glory-presence over the city. Versification follows the MT. **Cruxes.** | Verse | Issue | | --- | --- | | none | none of note |

1

וְהֶחֱזִיקוּ֩ שֶׁ֨בַע נָשִׁ֜ים בְּאִ֣ישׁ אֶחָ֗ד בַּיּ֤וֹם הַהוּא֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר לַחְמֵ֣נוּ נֹאכֵ֔ל וְשִׂמְלָתֵ֖נוּ נִלְבָּ֑שׁ רַ֗ק יִקָּרֵ֤א שִׁמְךָ֙ עָלֵ֔ינוּ אֱסֹ֖ף חֶרְפָּתֵֽנוּ

And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be called by your name, to take away our reproach.

Infinitive construct — purpose, result, or complementwə
wə-chaining from the preceding clause. Infinitive construct — purpose, result, or complement. Lead predicate is 'saying'. Opens the chapter. Speech formula or quoted address.
Word-by-word analysis· 18 words
וְהֶחֱזִיקוּ֩be strongconj וְ + Hiphil q 3cp · חָזַק (H2388)Particle or relational elementחָזַק (H2388) 'be strong'.
שֶׁ֨בַעsevenAdj · שֶׁבַע (H7651)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)שֶׁבַע (H7651) 'seven'.
נָשִׁ֜יםwivesN c · אִשָּׁה (H802)Construct chain (genitival)אִשָּׁה (H802) 'wives'.
בְּאִ֣ישׁagainst the manprep + N com m sg abs · אִישׁ (H376)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)אִישׁ (H376) 'against the man'.
אֶחָ֗דoneAdj · אֶחָד (H259)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)אֶחָד (H259) 'one'.
בַּיּ֤וֹםon the dayprep + art + N com m sg abs · יוֹם (H3117)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)יוֹם (H3117) 'on the day'.
הַהוּא֙thatart + pron 3ms · הִיא (H1931)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)הִיא (H1931) 'that'.
לֵאמֹ֔רsayingprep + Qal inf constr · אָמַר (H559)Infinitive construct→ Infinitive construct: purpose, result, or complementאָמַר (H559) 'saying'.
לַחְמֵ֣נוּour breadN c · לֶחֶם (H3899)Construct chain (genitival)לֶחֶם (H3899) 'our bread'.
נֹאכֵ֔לwe may eatQal impf 1cp · אָכַל (H398)Predicate verb (yiqtol)→ Yiqtol: imperfective or modalאָכַל (H398) 'we may eat'.
וְשִׂמְלָתֵ֖נוּand clothingconj וְ + N com f sg constr + sfx 1cp · שִׂמְלָה (H8071)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)שִׂמְלָה (H8071) 'and clothing'.
נִלְבָּ֑שׁand you shall clotheQal impf 1cp · לָבַשׁ (H3847)Predicate verb (yiqtol)→ Yiqtol: imperfective or modalלָבַשׁ (H3847) 'and you shall clothe'.
רַ֗קonlyparticle · רַק (H7535)Particle or relational elementרַק (H7535) 'only'.
יִקָּרֵ֤אshall be calledN · קָרָא (H7121)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)קָרָא (H7121) 'shall be called'.
שִׁמְךָ֙your nameN c · שֵׁם (H8034)Construct chain (genitival)שֵׁם (H8034) 'your name'.
עָלֵ֔ינוּupon usprep + sfx 1cp · עַל (H5921)Particle or relational elementעַל (H5921) 'upon us'.
אֱסֹ֖ףhas taken awayQal impv 2ms · אָסַף (H622)Predicate verb (imperative)→ Volitional: imperativeאָסַף (H622) 'has taken away'.
חֶרְפָּתֵֽנוּa reproachN c · חֶרְפָּה (H2781)Construct chain (genitival)חֶרְפָּה (H2781) 'a reproach'.
2

בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֗וּא יִֽהְיֶה֙ צֶ֣מַח יְהוָ֔ה לִצְבִ֖י וּלְכָב֑וֹד וּפְרִ֤י הָאָ֨רֶץ֙ לְגָא֣וֹן וּלְתִפְאֶ֔רֶת לִפְלֵיטַ֖ת יִשְׂרָאֵֽל

In that day shall the branch of YHWH be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the earth excellent and comely for them that are escaped of Israel.

Yiqtol — imperfective, modal, or future-orientedasyndeton
Asyndeton: no clause-level wə. Yiqtol — imperfective, modal, or future-oriented. Lead predicate is 'shall be'.
Word-by-word analysis· 13 words
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'.
יִֽהְיֶה֙shall beQal impf 3ms · הָיָה (H1961)Predicate verb (yiqtol)→ Yiqtol: imperfective or modalהָיָה (H1961) 'shall be'.
צֶ֣מַחand the growth ofN c · צֶמַח (H6780)Construct chain (genitival)צֶמַח (H6780) 'and the growth of'.
יְהוָ֔הYHWHN · יְהוָה (H3068)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)יְהוָה (H3068) 'YHWH'.
לִצְבִ֖יand gazelleprep + N com m sg abs · צְבִי (H6643)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)צְבִי (H6643) 'and gazelle'.
וּלְכָב֑וֹדthe glory ofconj וְ + prep + N com c sg abs · כָּבוֹד (H3519)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)כָּבוֹד (H3519) 'the glory of'.
וּפְרִ֤יand the fruit ofconj וְ + N com m sg constr · פְּרִי (H6529)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)פְּרִי (H6529) 'and the fruit of'.
הָאָ֨רֶץ֙the landart + N com c sg abs · אֶרֶץ (H776)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)אֶרֶץ (H776) 'the land'.
לְגָא֣וֹןyour majestyprep + N com m sg abs · גָּאוֹן (H1347)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)גָּאוֹן (H1347) 'your majesty'.
וּלְתִפְאֶ֔רֶתand for beautyconj וְ + prep + N com f sg abs · תִּפְאֶרֶת (H8597)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)תִּפְאֶרֶת (H8597) 'and for beauty'.
לִפְלֵיטַ֖תthe escaped remnantprep + N com f sg constr · פְּלֵיטָה (H6413)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)פְּלֵיטָה (H6413) 'the escaped remnant'.
יִשְׂרָאֵֽלIsraelN · יִשְׂרָאֵל (H3478)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)יִשְׂרָאֵל (H3478) 'Israel'.
3

וְהָיָ֣ה הַנִּשְׁאָ֣ר בְּצִיּ֗וֹן וְהַנּוֹתָר֙ בִּיר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם קָד֖וֹשׁ יֵאָ֣מֶר ל֑וֹ כָּל הַכָּת֥וּב לַחַיִּ֖ים בִּירוּשָׁלִָֽם

And it shall come to pass, left in Zion, and remaineth in Jerusalem, shall be called holy, every one that is written among the living in Jerusalem:

Participle — attendant circumstance or substantival actorwə
wə-chaining from the preceding clause. Participle — attendant circumstance or substantival actor. Lead predicate is 'the remaining'. Speech formula or quoted address.
Word-by-word analysis· 12 words
וְהָיָ֣הand it shall beconj וְ + Qal q 3ms · הָיָה (H1961)Particle or relational elementהָיָה (H1961) 'and it shall be'.
הַנִּשְׁאָ֣רthe remainingart + Niphal ptc ms · שָׁאַר (H7604)Participle→ Participle: attendant circumstance or substantival actorשָׁאַר (H7604) 'the remaining'.
בְּצִיּ֗וֹןZionprep + N proper · צִיּוֹן (H6726)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)צִיּוֹן (H6726) 'Zion'.
וְהַנּוֹתָר֙and what is leftconj וְ + art + Niphal ptc ms · יָתַר (H3498)Participle→ Participle: attendant circumstance or substantival actorיָתַר (H3498) 'and what is left'.
בִּיר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔םin Jerusalemprep + N proper · יְרוּשָׁלִַם (H3389)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)יְרוּשָׁלִַם (H3389) 'in Jerusalem'.
קָד֖וֹשׁholyAdj · קָדוֹשׁ (H6918)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)קָדוֹשׁ (H6918) 'holy'.
יֵאָ֣מֶרhe saysN · אָמַר (H559)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)אָמַר (H559) 'he says'.
ל֑וֹto himprep + sfx 3msParticle or relational elementFunction word: 'to him'.
כָּלallN c · כֹּל (H3605)Construct chain (genitival)כֹּל (H3605) 'all'.
הַכָּת֥וּבthat is writtenart + Qal ptc ms · כָּתַב (H3789)Participle→ Participle: attendant circumstance or substantival actorכָּתַב (H3789) 'that is written'.
לַחַיִּ֖יםaliveprep + art + N com m pl abs · חַי (H2416)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)חַי (H2416) 'alive'.
בִּירוּשָׁלִָֽםin Jerusalemprep + N proper · יְרוּשָׁלִַם (H3389)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)יְרוּשָׁלִַם (H3389) 'in Jerusalem'.
4

אִ֣ם רָחַ֣ץ אֲדֹנָ֗י אֵ֚ת צֹאַ֣ת בְּנוֹת צִיּ֔וֹן וְאֶת דְּמֵ֥י יְרוּשָׁלִַ֖ם יָדִ֣יחַ מִקִּרְבָּ֑הּ בְּר֥וּחַ מִשְׁפָּ֖ט וּבְר֥וּחַ בָּעֵֽר

When YHWH shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and shall have purged the blood of Jerusalem from the midst thereof by the spirit of judgment, and by the spirit of burning.

Qatal — perfective or stative predicationʼim
Conditional ʼim. Qatal — perfective or stative predication. Lead predicate is 'he has bathed'.
Word-by-word analysis· 16 words
אִ֣םifconj וְ · אִם (H518)Particle or relational elementאִם (H518) 'if'.
רָחַ֣ץhe has bathedQal perf 3ms · רָחַץ (H7364)Predicate verb (qatal)→ Perfective: a completed actרָחַץ (H7364) 'he has bathed'.
אֲדֹנָ֗יmy LordN c · אֲדֹנָי (H136)Construct chain (genitival)אֲדֹנָי (H136) 'my Lord'.
אֵ֚ת(obj)obj marker · אֵת (H853)Particle or relational elementאֵת (H853) '(obj)'.
צֹאַ֣תdungN c · צוֹאָה (H6675)Construct chain (genitival)צוֹאָה (H6675) 'dung'.
בְּנוֹתdaughtersN c · בַּת (H1323)Construct chain (genitival)בַּת (H1323) 'daughters'.
צִיּ֔וֹןZionN · צִיּוֹן (H6726)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)צִיּוֹן (H6726) 'Zion'.
וְאֶתand [obj]conj וְ + obj marker · אֵת (H853)Particle or relational elementאֵת (H853) 'and [obj]'.
דְּמֵ֥יblood ofN c · דָּם (H1818)Construct chain (genitival)דָּם (H1818) 'blood of'.
יְרוּשָׁלִַ֖םJerusalemN · יְרוּשָׁלִַם (H3389)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)יְרוּשָׁלִַם (H3389) 'Jerusalem'.
יָדִ֣יחַcast outHiphil impf 3ms · דּוּחַ (H1740)Predicate verb (yiqtol)→ Yiqtol: imperfective or modalדּוּחַ (H1740) 'cast out'.
מִקִּרְבָּ֑הּin your midstprep + N com m sg constr + sfx 3fs · קֶרֶב (H7130)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)קֶרֶב (H7130) 'in your midst'.
בְּר֥וּחַby a wind ofprep + N com c sg constr · רוּחַ (H7307)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)רוּחַ (H7307) 'by a wind of'.
מִשְׁפָּ֖טjudgmentN c · מִשְׁפָּט (H4941)Construct chain (genitival)מִשְׁפָּט (H4941) 'judgment'.
וּבְר֥וּחַand with the blast ofconj וְ + prep + N com c sg constr · רוּחַ (H7307)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)רוּחַ (H7307) 'and with the blast of'.
בָּעֵֽרwas burningPiel inf abs · בָּעַר (H1197)Infinitive absolute→ Infinitive absolute: emphasis or attendant actionבָּעַר (H1197) 'was burning'.
5

וּבָרָ֣א יְהוָ֡ה עַל֩ כָּל מְכ֨וֹן הַר צִיּ֜וֹן וְעַל מִקְרָאֶ֗הָ עָנָ֤ן יוֹמָם֙ וְעָשָׁ֔ן וְנֹ֛גַהּ אֵ֥שׁ לֶהָבָ֖ה לָ֑יְלָה כִּ֥י עַל כָּל כָּב֖וֹד חֻפָּֽה

And YHWH will create upon every dwelling place of mount Zion, and upon her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night: for upon all the glory a defence.

Linked non-verbal clausewə
wə-chaining from the preceding clause. Linked non-verbal clause.
Word-by-word analysis· 21 words
וּבָרָ֣אcreatedconj וְ + Qal q 3ms · בָּרָא (H1254)Particle or relational elementבָּרָא (H1254) 'created'.
יְהוָ֡הYHWHN · יְהוָה (H3068)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)יְהוָה (H3068) 'YHWH'.
עַל֩onprep · עַל (H5921)Particle or relational elementעַל (H5921) 'on'.
כָּלallN c · כֹּל (H3605)Construct chain (genitival)כֹּל (H3605) 'all'.
מְכ֨וֹןthe placeN c · מָכוֹן (H4349)Construct chain (genitival)מָכוֹן (H4349) 'the place'.
הַרMountN c · הַר (H2022)Construct chain (genitival)הַר (H2022) 'Mount'.
צִיּ֜וֹןZionN · צִיּוֹן (H6726)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)צִיּוֹן (H6726) 'Zion'.
וְעַלand onconj וְ + prep · עַל (H5921)Particle or relational elementעַל (H5921) 'and on'.
מִקְרָאֶ֗הָa convocation ofN c · מִקְרָא (H4744)Construct chain (genitival)מִקְרָא (H4744) 'a convocation of'.
עָנָ֤ןcloudN c · עָנָן (H6051)Construct chain (genitival)עָנָן (H6051) 'cloud'.
יוֹמָם֙by dayart · יוֹמָם (H3119)Particle or relational elementיוֹמָם (H3119) 'by day'.
וְעָשָׁ֔ןsmoke ofconj וְ + N com m sg abs · עָשָׁן (H6227)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)עָשָׁן (H6227) 'smoke of'.
וְנֹ֛גַהּfromconj וְ + N com f sg constr · נֹגַהּ (H5051)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)נֹגַהּ (H5051) 'from'.
אֵ֥שׁfireN c · אֵשׁ (H784)Construct chain (genitival)אֵשׁ (H784) 'fire'.
לֶהָבָ֖הa flameN c · לֶהָבָה (H3852)Construct chain (genitival)לֶהָבָה (H3852) 'a flame'.
לָ֑יְלָהby nightN c · לַיְלָה (H3915)Construct chain (genitival)לַיְלָה (H3915) 'by night'.
כִּ֥יforconj וְ · כִּי (H3588)Particle or relational elementכִּי (H3588) 'for'.
עַלonprep · עַל (H5921)Particle or relational elementעַל (H5921) 'on'.
כָּלallN c · כֹּל (H3605)Construct chain (genitival)כֹּל (H3605) 'all'.
כָּב֖וֹדthe glory ofN c · כָּבוֹד (H3519)Construct chain (genitival)כָּבוֹד (H3519) 'the glory of'.
חֻפָּֽהchamberN c · חֻפָּה (H2646)Construct chain (genitival)חֻפָּה (H2646) 'chamber'.
6

וְסֻכָּ֛ה תִּהְיֶ֥ה לְצֵל יוֹמָ֖ם מֵחֹ֑רֶב וּלְמַחְסֶה֙ וּלְמִסְתּ֔וֹר מִזֶּ֖רֶם וּמִמָּטָֽר

And there shall be a tabernacle for a shadow in the daytime from the heat, and for a place of refuge, and for a covert from storm and from rain.

Yiqtol — imperfective, modal, or future-orientedwə
wə-chaining from the preceding clause. Yiqtol — imperfective, modal, or future-oriented. Lead predicate is 'shall be'. Closes the chapter.
Word-by-word analysis· 9 words
וְסֻכָּ֛הin boothsconj וְ + N com f sg abs · סֻכָּה (H5521)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)סֻכָּה (H5521) 'in booths'.
תִּהְיֶ֥הshall beQal impf 3fs · הָיָה (H1961)Predicate verb (yiqtol)→ Yiqtol: imperfective or modalהָיָה (H1961) 'shall be'.
לְצֵלin the shadow ofprep + N com m sg abs · צֵל (H6738)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)צֵל (H6738) 'in the shadow of'.
יוֹמָ֖םby dayart · יוֹמָם (H3119)Particle or relational elementיוֹמָם (H3119) 'by day'.
מֵחֹ֑רֶבthe heatprep + N com m sg abs · חֹרֶב (H2721)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)חֹרֶב (H2721) 'the heat'.
וּלְמַחְסֶה֙andconj וְ + prep + N com m sg abs · מַחֲסֶה (H4268)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)מַחֲסֶה (H4268) 'and'.
וּלְמִסְתּ֔וֹרandconj וְ + prep + N com m sg abs · מִסְתּוֹר (H4563)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)מִסְתּוֹר (H4563) 'and'.
מִזֶּ֖רֶםfromprep + N com m sg abs · זֶרֶם (H2230)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)זֶרֶם (H2230) 'from'.
וּמִמָּטָֽרthe rain ofconj וְ + prep + N com m sg abs · מָטָר (H4306)Nominal (subject, object, or apposition)מָטָר (H4306) 'the rain of'.