English Standard Version
Isaiah 61:4
4They shall build up the ancient ruins; they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations.
Isaiah 61:4 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And they shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations.
- New International Version (NIV)They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations.
- New King James Version (NKJV)And they shall rebuild the old ruins, They shall raise up the former desolations, And they shall repair the ruined cities, The desolations of many generations.
- New Living Translation (NLT)They will rebuild the ancient ruins, repairing cities destroyed long ago. They will revive them, though they have been deserted for many generations.
Context of Isaiah 61:4
2to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; 3to grant to those who mourn in Zion— to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified. They shall build up the ancient ruins; they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations. 5Strangers shall stand and tend your flocks; foreigners shall be your plowmen and vinedressers; 6but you shall be called the priests of the Lord; they shall speak of you as the ministers of our God; you shall eat the wealth of the nations, and in their glory you shall boast.
Read all of Isaiah 61Isaiah 61:4 word by word
וּבָנוּ֙ חָרְב֣וֹת עוֹלָ֔ם שֹׁמְמ֥וֹת רִֽאשֹׁנִ֖ים יְקוֹמֵ֑מוּ וְחִדְּשׁוּ֙ עָ֣רֵי חֹ֔רֶב שֹׁמְמ֖וֹת דּ֥וֹר וָדֽוֹר׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And they shall buildבָּנָהbânâh · to buildH1129
- the oldעוֹלָם‛ôlâm ‛ôlâm · forever: antiquityH5769
- wastesחׇרְבָּהchorbâh · desolationH2723
- they shall raise upקוּםqûm · to arise: establishH6965
- the formerרִאשׁוֹןri'shôn ri'shôn · first: previousH7223
- desolationsשָׁמֵםshâmêm · be desolate: destroyedH8074
- and they shall repairחָדַשׁchâdash · to renewH2318
- the wasteחֹ֫רֶבchôreb · desolationH2721
- citiesעִיר‛îyr ‛âr ‛âyar · cityH5892
- of manyדּוֹרdôr dôr · generationH1755
Cross-references for Isaiah 61:4
- Isaiah 49:6he says: "It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to bring back the preserved of Israel; I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth."
- Isaiah 58:12And your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to dwell in.
- Ezekiel 36:23And I will vindicate the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, and which you have profaned among them. And the nations will know that I am the Lord, declares the Lord God, when through you I vindicate my holiness before their eyes.
- Amos 9:14I will restore the fortunes of my people Israel, and they shall rebuild the ruined cities and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and drink their wine, and they shall make gardens and eat their fruit.
Commentaries on Isaiah 61:4
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4"And they that spring from thee" - A word is lost here likewise. After ובנו ubanu, "they shall build," add ממך mimmecha, they that spring from thee. Four MSS. have it so, (two of them ancient), and one of mine has it in the margin, and it is confirmed by Isaiah 58:12, where the sentence is the very same, this word being here added. Kimchi makes the same remark: "the word ממך mimmecha is omitted here; but is found in Isaiah 58:12." The desolations of many…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4And they shall build the old wastes - (See the notes at Isaiah 58:12).Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 4-9Verses 4-9 Promises are here made to the Jews returned out of captivity, which extend to all those who, through grace, are delivered out of spiritual thraldom. An unholy soul is like a city that is broken down, and has no walls, like a house in ruins; but by the power of Christ's gospel and grace, it is fitted to be a habitation of God, through the Spirit. When, by the grace of God, we attain to holy indifference as to the affairs of this world; when…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 44. old wastes--Jerusalem and the cities of Judah which long lay in ruins (see on Is 58:12).Read the comment
Topics related to Isaiah 61:4
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Isaiah 61
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries