Isaiah 58:8
Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the LORD shall be thy rereward.
Original Language Analysis
אָ֣ז
H227
יִבָּקַ֤ע
break forth
H1234
יִבָּקַ֤ע
break forth
Strong's:
H1234
Word #:
2 of 13
to cleave; generally, to rend, break, rip or open
אוֹרֶ֔ךָ
Then shall thy light
H216
אוֹרֶ֔ךָ
Then shall thy light
Strong's:
H216
Word #:
4 of 13
illumination or (concrete) luminary (in every sense, including lightning, happiness, etc.)
תִצְמָ֑ח
shall spring forth
H6779
תִצְמָ֑ח
shall spring forth
Strong's:
H6779
Word #:
7 of 13
to sprout (transitive or intransitive, literal or figurative)
וְהָלַ֤ךְ
shall go
H1980
וְהָלַ֤ךְ
shall go
Strong's:
H1980
Word #:
8 of 13
to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)
לְפָנֶ֙יךָ֙
before
H6440
לְפָנֶ֙יךָ֙
before
Strong's:
H6440
Word #:
9 of 13
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi
צִדְקֶ֔ךָ
and thy righteousness
H6664
צִדְקֶ֔ךָ
and thy righteousness
Strong's:
H6664
Word #:
10 of 13
the right (natural, moral or legal); also (abstractly) equity or (figuratively) prosperity
כְּב֥וֹד
thee the glory
H3519
כְּב֥וֹד
thee the glory
Strong's:
H3519
Word #:
11 of 13
properly, weight, but only figuratively in a good sense, splendor or copiousness
Cross References
Isaiah 52:12For ye shall not go out with haste, nor go by flight: for the LORD will go before you; and the God of Israel will be your rereward.Jeremiah 33:6Behold, I will bring it health and cure, and I will cure them, and will reveal unto them the abundance of peace and truth.Psalms 37:6And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.Psalms 85:13Righteousness shall go before him; and shall set us in the way of his steps.Jeremiah 30:17For I will restore health unto thee, and I will heal thee of thy wounds, saith the LORD; because they called thee an Outcast, saying, This is Zion, whom no man seeketh after.Malachi 4:2But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.Acts 10:35But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.Proverbs 4:18But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.Exodus 14:19And the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them:Psalms 97:11Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart.
Historical Context
These promises were fulfilled initially in the post-exilic restoration when those who practiced justice and mercy experienced God's blessing (Nehemiah 9:36-37, Zechariah 8:9-13). However, ultimate fulfillment comes in Christ and the new covenant. Believers experience the light of Christ (John 8:12), spiritual healing (1 Peter 2:24), imputed righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21), and God's presence through the Spirit (1 Corinthians 3:16). The glory of God becomes both our protection and our inheritance.
Questions for Reflection
- How do justice and mercy position us to receive God's blessing?
- What does it mean for God's glory to be our 'rear guard' in daily life?
- How are these promises fulfilled in Christ and the new covenant?
Analysis & Commentary
God promises abundant blessing for those who practice true religion: "Then shall thy light break forth as the morning." The Hebrew shachar (morning/dawn) suggests sudden, glorious illumination after darkness. This light likely represents God's favor, vindication, and spiritual enlightenment (Isaiah 60:1-3, Malachi 4:2). "And thine health shall spring forth speedily" uses arukhah (health/restoration), the same word for flesh growing over a wound—complete healing and restoration. "Thy righteousness shall go before thee" pictures righteousness as a herald preparing the way, demonstrating God's approval. Most glorious: "the glory of the LORD shall be thy rereward." The Hebrew me'aseph (rereward/rear guard) refers to the protecting force behind an army or caravan. God Himself guards their backs, as He did in the exodus (Exodus 14:19). From a Reformed perspective, this doesn't promise prosperity gospel health-wealth rewards for good works, but the covenant blessings of God's presence, protection, and favor for those who live out genuine faith. The blessings are primarily spiritual—light, healing, righteousness, God's presence—though they include temporal provisions.