The big picture
Isaiah 54 opens in verse 1 with “Sing, O barren, thou that didst not bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou…”, reaches its middle movement near verse 9 with “For this is as the waters of Noah unto me: for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah…”, and closes in verse 17 with “No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise…” Repeated or prominent terms include LORD, children, gather, break, created. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
Isaiah · King James Version · 17Isaiah 54:1-6
1–6: Sing, O barren, thou that didst not bear; break forth into singing, and…
Isaiah 54:1–6 opens with “Sing, O barren, thou that didst not bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou that…” and reaches “For the LORD hath called thee as a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, and a wife of youth…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Isaiah 54 develops its own movement around LORD, children, gather, break, created, with particular weight carried by LORD, break, children.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Sing, O barren, thou that didst not bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou that didst not travail with…” Naming Sing keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations: spare not, lengthen thy…” Naming Enlarge keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Isaiah 54:1-6
King James Version1Sing, O barren, thou that didst not bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou that didst not travail with child: for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife, saith the LORD .
2Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations: spare not, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes;
3For thou shalt break forth on the right hand and on the left; and thy seed shall inherit the Gentiles, and make the desolate cities to be inhabited.
4Fear not; for thou shalt not be ashamed: neither be thou confounded; for thou shalt not be put to shame: for thou shalt forget the shame of thy youth, and shalt not remember the reproach of thy widowhood any more.
5For thy Maker is thine husband; the LORD of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called.
6For the LORD hath called thee as a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, and a wife of youth, when thou wast refused, saith thy God.
Isaiah 54:7-12
7–12: For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I…
Isaiah 54:7–12 opens with “For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee.” and reaches “And I will make thy windows of agates, and thy gates of carbuncles, and all thy borders of…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Isaiah 54 develops its own movement around LORD, children, gather, break, created, with particular weight carried by depart, kindness, LORD.
Context that brings the passage to life
“For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
“In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith…” Naming Redeemer keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Isaiah 54:7-12
King James Version7For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee.
8In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the LORD thy Redeemer.
9For this is as the waters of Noah unto me: for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth; so have I sworn that I would not be wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee.
10For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the LORD that hath mercy on thee.
11O thou afflicted, tossed with tempest, and not comforted, behold, I will lay thy stones with fair colours, and lay thy foundations with sapphires.
12And I will make thy windows of agates, and thy gates of carbuncles, and all thy borders of pleasant stones.
Isaiah 54:13-17
13–17: All thy children shall be taught of the LORD ; and great shall be the…
Isaiah 54:13–17 opens with “And all thy children shall be taught of the LORD ; and great shall be the peace of thy children.” and reaches “No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Isaiah 54 develops its own movement around LORD, children, gather, break, created, with particular weight carried by LORD, children, created.
Context that brings the passage to life
“And all thy children shall be taught of the LORD ; and great shall be the peace of thy children.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
Isaiah 54:13-17
King James Version13And all thy children shall be taught of the LORD ; and great shall be the peace of thy children.
14In righteousness shalt thou be established: thou shalt be far from oppression; for thou shalt not fear: and from terror; for it shall not come near thee.
15Behold, they shall surely gather together, but not by me: whosoever shall gather together against thee shall fall for thy sake.
16Behold, I have created the smith that bloweth the coals in the fire, and that bringeth forth an instrument for his work; and I have created the waster to destroy.
17No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD , and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD .
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Isaiah 54:1 begins with “Sing, O barren, thou that didst not bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou that didst not travail with child: for more are the children of the…”
Where the chapter turns
Isaiah 54:9 forms a natural hinge: “For this is as the waters of Noah unto me: for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth; so have I sworn that I would not…”
The final note
Isaiah 54:17 leaves the reader with “No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of…”
A word trail through the chapter
The words LORD, children, gather, break, created, depart help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
KJV words made clear
- behold
- look, or pay close attention
- unto
- to
- thee
- you
- thou
- you
- thy
- your
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.