Isaiah 51:14
The captive exile hasteneth that he may be loosed, and that he should not die in the pit, nor that his bread should fail.
Original Language Analysis
Cross References
Historical Context
This likely references conditions in Babylonian captivity where some Jews were imprisoned (Jeremiah in cisterns, Daniel's friends in furnaces, Daniel in lion's den). Prison conditions in the ancient world were brutal—Jeremiah 38:6 describes a muddy cistern where the prophet sank. Starvation was common, as prisons didn't provide food (prisoners depended on outside provision).
Cyrus's decree in 538 BCE brought sudden, unexpected liberation after 70 years of exile. The speed of reversal—Babylon falling in one night (Daniel 5)—fulfills the "hastening" promised here. Historically, this pattern repeats: Joseph hastily released from Egyptian prison to become vizier, Peter freed from prison by angelic intervention (Acts 12), Paul and Silas released after Philippian earthquake (Acts 16). God's timing, though sometimes delayed from human perspective, comes swiftly when His purposes require.
Questions for Reflection
- From what captivity has Christ loosed you? How does remembering this deepen gratitude?
- In what areas do you still feel in bondage, needing God's hastening deliverance?
- How has God provided 'bread' (spiritual nourishment) when you feared failing?
Analysis & Commentary
The captive exile hasteneth that he may be loosed, and that he should not die in the pit, nor that his bread should fail. This verse promises swift deliverance for the "captive exile" (tso'eh, צֹעֶה), one bowed down or stooped under bondage. The verb "hasteneth" (mihar, מִהַר) indicates urgency and speed—liberation comes quickly when God's time arrives. The threefold purpose describes deliverance's comprehensive scope: "be loosed" (freed from chains), "not die in the pit" (escape execution/starvation in prison), and bread not fail (provision secured).
The "pit" (shachat, שַׁחַת) can mean dungeon, grave, or place of corruption—a place of hopeless death. The promise addresses both physical survival (literal imprisonment/starvation) and spiritual death (separation from God). The mention of bread connects to daily sustenance, God's covenant provision symbolized in manna (Exodus 16) and anticipated in Christ, the "bread of life" (John 6:35).
From a Reformed perspective, this verse illustrates effectual calling and preservation of saints. Those whom God purposes to deliver will not perish in their bondage. Christ Himself proclaimed, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me...to preach deliverance to the captives...to set at liberty them that are bruised" (Luke 4:18). Believers, though captive to sin before conversion, are loosed by divine power, rescued from death's pit, and sustained by God's provision. The hastening reflects divine urgency in salvation—when God calls, the response comes swiftly and certainly.