Isaiah 61:4

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

2to announce the year when the Lord will show his favor, the day when our God will seek vengeance, to console all who mourn, 3to strengthen those who mourn in Zion, by giving them a turban, instead of ashes, oil symbolizing joy, instead of mourning, a garment symbolizing praise, instead of discouragement. They will be called oaks of righteousness, trees planted by the Lord to reveal his splendor. They will rebuild the perpetual ruins and restore the places that were desolate; they will reestablish the ruined cities, the places that have been desolate since ancient times. 5“Foreigners will take care of your sheep; foreigners will work in your fields and vineyards. 6You will be called, ‘the Lord’s priests, servants of our God.’ You will enjoy the wealth of nations and boast about the riches you receive from them.

Isaiah 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, “Is it too insignificant a task for you to be my servant, to reestablish the tribes of Jacob, and restore the remnant of Israel? I will make you a light to the nations, so you can bring my deliverance to the remote regions of the earth.”
• Isaiah 58:12Your perpetual ruins will be rebuilt; you will reestablish the ancient foundations. You will be called, ‘The one who repairs broken walls, the one who makes the streets inhabitable again.’
• Ezekiel 36:23I will magnify my great name that has been profaned among the nations, that you have profaned among them. The nations will know that I am the Lord, declares the sovereign Lord, when I magnify myself among you in their sight.
• Amos 9:14I will bring back my people, Israel; they will rebuild the cities lying in rubble and settle down. They will plant vineyards and drink the wine they produce; they will grow orchards and eat the fruit they produce.

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

• Church
• Israel, Prophecies Concerning

In the dictionaries

• Beauty
• Joyful
• Preach
• Proclaim
• Raise
• Abstinence
• Builder
• Citizenship
• Ethics
• Isaiah

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