Isaiah 52
About IsaiahWritten by AI
Isaiah is the first of the major prophets and one of the books the New Testament quotes most often. Isaiah son of Amoz preached in Jerusalem from about 740 to 700 BC, during the reigns of four kings of Judah, while the Assyrian empire threatened the land. Many scholars think chapters 40 to 66 come from later writers in the time of the exile and return. Many Christians hold that Isaiah wrote the whole book, noting that the New Testament quotes both halves under his name.
The book moves from judgment to comfort. Chapters 1 to 39 confront Judah's sin and the proud nations, with the history of King Hezekiah at the center. From chapter 40 the tone changes: “Comfort, comfort My people.” God promises to bring His people home, and the book ends with new heavens and a new earth.
Watch for God's title, the Holy One of Israel, and for the promised King from David's line and the Servant of the LORD who suffers for others. Christians see both fulfilled in Jesus, though some prophecies are read differently among believers.
Before you read Isaiah 52Written by AI
Zion is called to wake up, put on beauty and shake off the dust of captivity. Watch for the lovely image of the feet of messengers on the mountains bringing good news: “Your God reigns!” From verse 13 the fourth Servant Song begins: the Servant will be lifted high, though his appearance is marred beyond human likeness.
Deliverance for Jerusalem
Awake, awake,
clothe yourself with strength, O Zion!
Put on your garments of splendor,
O Jerusalem, holy city!
For the uncircumcised and unclean
will no longer enter you.
Shake off your dust!
Rise up and sit on your throne, O Jerusalem.
Remove the chains from your neck,
O captive Daughter of Zion.
For this is what the LORD says:
“You were sold for nothing,
and without money you will be redeemed.”
For this is what the Lord GOD says:
“At first My people went down to Egypt to live,
then Assyria oppressed them without cause.
And now what have I here?
declares the LORD.
For My people have been taken without cause;
those who rule them taunt,
declares the LORD,
and My name is blasphemed continually
all day long.
Therefore My people will know My name;
therefore they will know on that day
that I am He who speaks.
Here I am!”
How beautiful on the mountains
are the feet of those who bring good news,
who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings,
who proclaim salvation,
who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!”
Listen! Your watchmen lift up their voices,
together they shout for joy.
For every eye will see
when the LORD returns to Zion.
Break forth in joy, sing together,
O ruins of Jerusalem,
for the LORD has comforted His people;
He has redeemed Jerusalem.
The LORD has bared His holy arm
in the sight of all the nations;
all the ends of the earth will see
the salvation of our God.
Depart, depart, go out from there!
Touch no unclean thing;
come out from it, purify yourselves,
you who carry the vessels of the LORD.
For you will not leave in a hurry
nor flee in haste,
for the LORD goes before you,
and the God of Israel is your rear guard.
The Servant Exalted
Behold, My Servant will prosper;
He will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted.
Just as many were appalled at Him—
His appearance was disfigured beyond that of any man,
and His form was marred beyond human likeness—
so He will sprinkle many nations.
Kings will shut their mouths because of Him.
For they will see what they have not been told,
and they will understand what they have not heard.