Isaiah Chapter 14 · Verse 3
And it shall come to pass in the day that the LORD shall give thee rest from thy sorrow, and from thy fear, and from the hard bondage wherein thou wast made to serve,
Original Language Analysis
וְהָיָ֗ה
H1961
וְהָיָ֗ה
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
1 of 13
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
בְּי֨וֹם
And it shall come to pass in the day
H3117
בְּי֨וֹם
And it shall come to pass in the day
Strong's:
H3117
Word #:
2 of 13
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso
הָנִ֤יחַ
shall give thee rest
H5117
הָנִ֤יחַ
shall give thee rest
Strong's:
H5117
Word #:
3 of 13
to rest, i.e., settle down; used in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, intransitive, transitive and causative (to dwell, stay, l
יְהוָה֙
that the LORD
H3068
יְהוָה֙
that the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
4 of 13
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
וּמִֽרָגְזֶ֑ךָ
and from thy fear
H7267
וּמִֽרָגְזֶ֑ךָ
and from thy fear
Strong's:
H7267
Word #:
7 of 13
commotion, restlessness (of a horse), crash (of thunder), disquiet, anger
וּמִן
H4480
וּמִן
Strong's:
H4480
Word #:
8 of 13
properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses
אֲשֶׁ֥ר
H834
אֲשֶׁ֥ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
11 of 13
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
Cross References
Jeremiah 30:10Therefore fear thou not, O my servant Jacob, saith the LORD; neither be dismayed, O Israel: for, lo, I will save thee from afar, and thy seed from the land of their captivity; and Jacob shall return, and shall be in rest, and be quiet, and none shall make him afraid.Isaiah 32:18And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places;Zechariah 8:8And I will bring them, and they shall dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God, in truth and in righteousness.
Historical Context
Isaiah prophesies Israel's Babylonian exile and return before it happens. The exile came in 586 BC; the return under Cyrus's decree in 538 BC. Seventy years of captivity in Babylon were indeed marked by sorrow, fear, and bondage. Yet the return from exile was only partial restoration—many didn't return, the temple was smaller, no Davidic king ruled. Full rest awaited the Messiah. For Christians, this points to Christ's work freeing us from sin's bondage, fear's tyranny, and sorrow's grip. Ultimate rest comes in the new heavens and earth.
Questions for Reflection
- In what ways does Christ provide rest from sorrow, fear, and bondage for believers today?
- How do historical deliverances (like return from exile) point forward to ultimate deliverance in Christ?
Analysis & Commentary
This verse transitions from Babylon's judgment (chapter 13) to Israel's restoration. 'The LORD shall give thee rest from thy sorrow, and from thy fear, and from the hard bondage wherein thou wast made to serve'—a three-fold deliverance: from sorrow (emotional anguish), fear (terror of oppression), and hard bondage (literal slavery). This echoes Exodus language, positioning Babylonian exile and return as a new exodus. God doesn't just judge the oppressor; He restores the oppressed. The rest promised is comprehensive: emotional, psychological, and physical freedom. This finds ultimate fulfillment in Christ, who gives rest to the weary and heavy laden (Matthew 11:28).