Isaiah 54:4
Fear not; for thou shalt not be ashamed: neither be thou confounded; for thou shalt not be put to shame: for thou shalt forget the shame of thy youth, and shalt not remember the reproach of thy widowhood any more.
Original Language Analysis
אַל
H408
אַל
Strong's:
H408
Word #:
1 of 19
not (the qualified negation, used as a deprecative); once (job 24:25) as a noun, nothing
תִּֽירְאִי֙
Fear
H3372
תִּֽירְאִי֙
Fear
Strong's:
H3372
Word #:
2 of 19
to fear; morally to revere; causatively to frighten
כִּי
H3588
כִּי
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
3 of 19
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
לֹ֣א
H3808
לֹ֣א
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
4 of 19
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
תֵב֔וֹשִׁי
not for thou shalt not be ashamed
H954
תֵב֔וֹשִׁי
not for thou shalt not be ashamed
Strong's:
H954
Word #:
5 of 19
properly, to pale, i.e., by implication to be ashamed; also (by implication) to be disappointed or delayed
וְאַל
H408
וְאַל
Strong's:
H408
Word #:
6 of 19
not (the qualified negation, used as a deprecative); once (job 24:25) as a noun, nothing
תִּכָּלְמִ֖י
neither be thou confounded
H3637
תִּכָּלְמִ֖י
neither be thou confounded
Strong's:
H3637
Word #:
7 of 19
properly, to wound; but only figuratively, to taunt or insult
כִּ֣י
H3588
כִּ֣י
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
8 of 19
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
לֹ֣א
H3808
לֹ֣א
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
9 of 19
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
תַחְפִּ֑ירִי
for thou shalt not be put to shame
H2659
תַחְפִּ֑ירִי
for thou shalt not be put to shame
Strong's:
H2659
Word #:
10 of 19
to blush; figuratively, to be ashamed, disappointed; causatively, to shame, reproach
כִּ֣י
H3588
כִּ֣י
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
11 of 19
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
בֹ֤שֶׁת
the shame
H1322
בֹ֤שֶׁת
the shame
Strong's:
H1322
Word #:
12 of 19
shame (the feeling and the condition, as well as its cause); by implication (specifically) an idol
עֲלוּמַ֙יִךְ֙
of thy youth
H5934
עֲלוּמַ֙יִךְ֙
of thy youth
Strong's:
H5934
Word #:
13 of 19
(only in plural as abstract) adolescence; figuratively, vigor
תִּשְׁכָּ֔חִי
for thou shalt forget
H7911
תִּשְׁכָּ֔חִי
for thou shalt forget
Strong's:
H7911
Word #:
14 of 19
to mislay, i.e., to be oblivious of, from want of memory or attention
אַלְמְנוּתַ֖יִךְ
of thy widowhood
H491
אַלְמְנוּתַ֖יִךְ
of thy widowhood
Strong's:
H491
Word #:
16 of 19
concrete, a widow; abstract, widowhood
לֹ֥א
H3808
לֹ֥א
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
17 of 19
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
Cross References
Isaiah 41:10Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.Jeremiah 31:19Surely after that I was turned, I repented; and after that I was instructed, I smote upon my thigh: I was ashamed, yea, even confounded, because I did bear the reproach of my youth.1 Peter 2:6Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.Isaiah 61:7For your shame ye shall have double; and for confusion they shall rejoice in their portion: therefore in their land they shall possess the double: everlasting joy shall be unto them.Isaiah 51:7Hearken unto me, ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law; fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their revilings.Isaiah 41:14Fear not, thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel; I will help thee, saith the LORD, and thy redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.Ezekiel 16:43Because thou hast not remembered the days of thy youth, but hast fretted me in all these things; behold, therefore I also will recompense thy way upon thine head, saith the Lord GOD: and thou shalt not commit this lewdness above all thine abominations.Ezekiel 16:22And in all thine abominations and thy whoredoms thou hast not remembered the days of thy youth, when thou wast naked and bare, and wast polluted in thy blood.
Historical Context
The shame of youth and widowhood encompasses Israel's entire history of suffering. Egypt's slavery involved forced labor and infanticide (Exodus 1). Wilderness wanderings included repeated rebellions and God's judgment. Exile made Israel appear abandoned—a widow without protector or provider. Neighboring nations mocked: "Where is your God?" (Psalm 42:3).
The post-exilic return began reversing these shames, but complete fulfillment awaits messianic restoration. For the church, conversion marks transition from shame (Romans 6:21—"what fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed?") to honor (1 Peter 2:9—"a chosen generation, a royal priesthood"). The final reversal comes when Christ returns and believers are presented "faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy" (Jude 24).
Questions for Reflection
- What past shames does God promise you can forget in light of His redemptive work?
- How does 'fear not, you will not be ashamed' affect your boldness in Christian witness?
- What reproaches from your spiritual 'youth' still haunt you, needing God's promise of forgetfulness?
Analysis & Commentary
Fear not; for thou shalt not be ashamed: neither be thou confounded; for thou shalt not be put to shame: yea, thou shalt forget the shame of thy youth, and shalt not remember the reproach of thy widowhood any more. The opening "Fear not" (al tir'i, אַל־תִּֽירְאִי) is God's frequent reassurance to His people facing overwhelming circumstances. The double promise—"not be ashamed" and "not be put to shame"—uses synonymous parallelism (tevoshi, תֵבֹשִׁי and tikkalmi, תִכָּלְמִי) to emphasize absolute certainty of vindication.
The "shame of thy youth" likely refers to Egypt's bondage or wilderness rebellion; "reproach of thy widowhood" refers to exile when Jerusalem seemed abandoned by God (compare 54:1—"desolate"). The promise of forgetting these shames doesn't mean amnesia but removal of their sting and power to define identity. Past humiliation will be so thoroughly reversed that it becomes irrelevant compared to future glory.
From a Reformed perspective, this models justification and sanctification. Believers' past shame (sin) is removed through Christ's righteousness; former reproach gives way to honor as God's children (1 John 3:1). The shame of spiritual adultery (idolatry) is forgiven; the reproach of separation from God (spiritual widowhood) is ended through union with Christ. Romans 10:11 quotes Isaiah: "Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed." This verse grounds confidence in God's redemptive reversal—past failures don't define future identity.