Isaiah 54:3

Authorized King James Version

For thou shalt break forth on the right hand and on the left; and thy seed shall inherit the Gentiles, and make the desolate cities to be inhabited.

Word-by-Word Analysis

כִּי

H3588

(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed

יָמִ֥ין

H3225

on the right hand

the right hand or side (leg, eye) of a person or other object (as the stronger and more dexterous); locally, the south

וּשְׂמֹ֖אול

H8040

and on the left

properly, dark (as enveloped), i.e., the north; hence (by orientation), the left hand

תִּפְרֹ֑צִי

H6555

For thou shalt break forth

to break out (in many applications, direct and indirect, literal and figurative)

וְזַרְעֵךְ֙

H2233

and thy seed

seed; figuratively, fruit, plant, sowing-time, posterity

גּוֹיִ֣ם

H1471

the Gentiles

a foreign nation; hence, a gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight of locusts

יִירָ֔שׁ

H3423

shall inherit

to occupy (by driving out previous tenants, and possessing in their place); by implication, to seize, to rob, to inherit; also to expel, to impoverish

וְעָרִ֥ים

H5892

cities

a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post)

נְשַׁמּ֖וֹת

H8074

and make the desolate

to stun (or intransitively, grow numb), i.e., devastate or (figuratively) stupefy (both usually in a passive sense)

#10

יוֹשִֽׁיבוּ׃

H3427

to be inhabited

properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry

Analysis

The salvation theme here intersects with the metanarrative of redemption running from Genesis to Revelation. Biblical theology recognizes this as part of a unified storyline from the promise in Genesis 3:15 to its fulfillment in Christ. The phrase emphasizing divine revelation contributes to our systematic understanding of Christian doctrine and connects to the broader scriptural witness about God's saving work from the Exodus to the cross.

Historical Context

This passage must be understood within the political and social structures of the biblical period. The author writes to address believers seeking to understand God's will and purposes, making the emphasis on salvation particularly relevant. Historical documents from this period show cultural practices and social structures that would have been familiar to the original readers, illuminating the verse's original impact.

Questions for Reflection

How does the salvation theme in this verse connect to the overarching narrative of Scripture, and what does this reveal about God's character and purposes?
How does this passage contribute to our understanding of from physical deliverance in the Old Testament to spiritual redemption in the New, and what implications does this have for Christian discipleship?
In what ways does this verse's emphasis on divine revelation address religious pluralism and questions about the necessity of Christ, and how should the church respond?

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