God’s Word Translation
Isaiah 61:4
4They will rebuild the ancient ruins. They will restore the places destroyed long ago. They will renew the ruined cities, the places destroyed generations ago.
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.
- English Standard Version (ESV)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.
- 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.
Context of Isaiah 61:4
2⌞He has sent me⌟ to announce the year of the Lord’s good will and the day of our God’s vengeance, to comfort all those who grieve. 3⌞He has sent me⌟ to provide for all those who grieve in Zion, to give them crowns instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of ⌞tears of⌟ grief, and clothes of praise instead of a spirit of weakness. They will be called Oaks of Righteousness, the Plantings of the Lord, so that he might display his glory. They will rebuild the ancient ruins. They will restore the places destroyed long ago. They will renew the ruined cities, the places destroyed generations ago. 5Foreigners will come forward and become shepherds for your flocks, and children of foreigners will work your fields and vineyards. 6You will be called the priests of the Lord. You will be called the servants of our God. You will consume the wealth of the nations. You will boast in their splendor.
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 49:6Now, the Lord says, “You are not just my servant who restores the tribes of Jacob and brings back those in Israel whom I have preserved. I have also made you a light for the nations so that you would save people all over the world.”
- Isaiah 58:12Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the foundations of past generations. You will be called the Rebuilder of Broken Walls and the Restorer of Streets Where People Live.
- Ezekiel 36:23I will reveal the holiness of my great name, which has been dishonored by the nations, ⌞the name⌟ that you have dishonored among them. Then the nations will know that I am the Lord, because I will reveal my holiness among you as they watch, declares the Almighty Lord.
- Amos 9:14I will restore my people Israel. They will rebuild the ruined cities and live in them. They will plant vineyards and drink the wine from them. They will plant 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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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