The big picture
Isaiah 4 opens in verse 1 with “And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, We will eat our own…”, reaches its middle movement near verse 3 with “And it shall come to pass, that he that is left in Zion, and he that remaineth in…”, and closes in verse 6 with “And there shall be a tabernacle for a shadow in the daytime from the heat, and for a…” Repeated or prominent terms include Jerusalem, LORD, Zion, place, spirit. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
Isaiah · King James Version · 6Isaiah 4:1-6
1–6: In that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, We will eat…
Isaiah 4:1–6 opens with “And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, We will eat our own bread, and…” and reaches “And there shall be a tabernacle for a shadow in the daytime from the heat, and for a place of…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on the wording and movement of this passage, with particular weight carried by Jerusalem, LORD, Zion.
Deep dive
The movement opens with “And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, We will eat our own bread…” By verse 3, the text has turned to “And it shall come to pass, that he that is left in Zion, and he that remaineth in Jerusalem…” It lands on “And there shall be a tabernacle for a shadow in the daytime from the heat, and for a place…” The distance between those lines matters as much as any isolated phrase. The passage has a voice and pulse of its own, including 2 verses with a speech marker, 3 verses naming the LORD or God. Those features reveal where the narrative slows down, speaks directly, or changes direction.
Accusation, warning, invitation to return, judgment, and hope each do different work. The prophet’s first audience anchors later questions about fulfillment. Words such as Jerusalem, LORD, Zion, place, spirit, apparel tie the complete block together. The central idea, “the wording and movement of this passage,” should remain answerable to the text. Some conclusions are explicit, some gather support across several verses, and others remain strong inferences or interpretations.
Names or load-bearing terms in this scene include Jerusalem, Zion, Israel, Lord. Its number language includes seven, one. The nearest hinge to the center comes in verse 3: “And it shall come to pass, that he that is left in Zion, and he that remaineth in Jerusalem, shall be called holy, even every one…” That detail helps separate the opening situation from what the passage changes next.
Words to trace: Jerusalem, LORD, Zion, place, spirit, apparel
Verse-by-verse path
- Isaiah 4:1
“And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
- Isaiah 4:2
“In that day shall the branch of the LORD be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
- Isaiah 4:3
“And it shall come to pass, that he that is left in Zion, and he that remaineth in Jerusalem, shall be called holy…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
- Isaiah 4:4
“When the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and shall have purged the blood of Jerusalem…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
- Isaiah 4:5
“And the LORD will create upon every dwelling place of mount Zion, and upon her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
- Isaiah 4:6
“And there shall be a tabernacle for a shadow in the daytime from the heat, and for a place of refuge, and for a covert…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
Isaiah 4:1-6
King James Version1And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be called by thy name, to take away our reproach.
2In that day shall the branch of the LORD be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and comely for them that are escaped of Israel.
3And it shall come to pass, that he that is left in Zion, and he that remaineth in Jerusalem, shall be called holy, even every one that is written among the living in Jerusalem:
4When the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and shall have purged the blood of Jerusalem from the midst thereof by the spirit of judgment, and by the spirit of burning.
5And the LORD will create upon every dwelling place of mount Zion, and upon her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night: for upon all the glory shall be a defence.
6And there shall be a tabernacle for a shadow in the daytime from the heat, and for a place of refuge, and for a covert from storm and from rain.
Questions to keep in mind while reading
- Identify the historical crisis, covenant failure, warning, and promised hope.
- Distinguish the prophet’s immediate audience from later biblical connections.
- Do not turn present-day headlines into confident fulfillment claims without textual evidence.
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.
Questions beneath the surface
- What account of God, human freedom, responsibility, and the good life emerges from Isaiah 4?
- Which tension does the chapter refuse to resolve quickly?
- What changes when the chapter is read as part of the whole canon rather than as an isolated moral story?
- Where might a sincere reader confuse a familiar tradition with something the text states directly?
Questions for serious personal contemplation
These open-ended questions make room for tension, honest response, prayer, and conclusions that remain accountable to the chapter.
Observe without rushing
What part of Isaiah 4 makes you stop, feel unsettled, or feel surprised, and why?
Which detail in the passage would be easiest to overlook? How does that detail change your understanding?
Where do you see tension between what happens and this focus: Isaiah 4:1–6 completes a passage that was not covered by the original study-unit map. Its own wording and immediate context supply the focus.?
What important question does the passage leave open instead of resolving quickly?
Examine your inner life honestly
Which person, response, fear, or desire in the passage feels most like your own life right now?
What assumption about God, other people, or yourself does this text challenge?
Which part would you rather soften, avoid, or explain away too quickly? What might that reaction reveal?
If this Scripture could ask you one direct question, what do you think it would ask?
Respond with wisdom and courage
What do you need to remember, confess, grieve, thank God for, or trust after reading this passage?
How might another faithful person read this situation differently without ignoring the text?
What obedient response would be costly, uncomfortable, or slow, yet still faithful to Scripture?
What question will you carry into prayer this week, and which verses will you keep in front of you?