Isaiah 54 — Dead Sea Scrolls
17 verses • 8 variants • Columns XLIV-XLV of 1QIsaiah-a
Scroll Overview
Summary
Isaiah 54 follows the Suffering Servant passage with a burst of joy — 'Sing, O barren one, who did not bear!' The chapter has 17 verses in columns XLIV-XLV. After the intensity of chapter 53, this chapter celebrates the restoration that the servant's suffering makes possible. Variants are mostly minor.
Notable Variants
Verse 1: the scroll reads 'Sing, O barren one' identically. Verse 7: a minor variant in the time expression. Verse 10: the 'covenant of peace' (berit shelomi) is identical in both texts. Verse 13: 'all your children shall be taught by the LORD' — identical (quoted in John 6:45). Verse 17: a minor variant in the suffix form.
Scroll Condition
Well preserved. The transition from the Suffering Servant to the celebration of restoration is fully legible.
Sing, O barren one, who did not bear! Break forth into singing and cry aloud, you who have not been in labor! For the children of the desolate one will be more than the children of her who is married, says the LORD.
Masoretic (WLC)
רָנִּי עֲקָרָה
Sing, O barren one
Dead Sea Scroll
רני עקרה
Sing, O barren one
Identical consonantal text. 'Sing, O barren one, who did not bear; break forth into singing!' — the joyful imperative after the servant's suffering is the same in both traditions (cf. Galatians 4:27).
1QIsaᵃ col. XLIV, line 13
Enlarge the place of your tent, and let the curtains of your dwellings be stretched out. Do not hold back; lengthen your cords and strengthen your stakes.
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XLIV, line 14
For you will spread out to the right and to the left, and your offspring will possess the nations and will people the desolate cities.
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XLIV, line 15
Fear not, for you will not be ashamed; be not confounded, for you will not be disgraced. For you will forget the shame of your youth, and the reproach of your widowhood you will remember no more.
Masoretic (WLC)
בֹּשֶׁת
shame
Dead Sea Scroll
בושת
shame
Plene spelling with vav. Same word.
1QIsaᵃ col. XLIV, line 16
For your Maker is your husband — the LORD of hosts is His name — and your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel; the God of the whole earth He is called.
Masoretic (WLC)
בֹּעֲלַיִךְ
your Maker
Dead Sea Scroll
בועליכי
your Maker
1QIsaiah-a uses the -ki suffix characteristic of Qumran. Same meaning — 'your Maker is your husband.'
1QIsaᵃ col. XLIV, line 17
For the LORD has called you like a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, like a wife of youth when she is cast off, says your God.
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XLIV, line 18
For a brief moment I forsook you, but with great compassion I will gather you.
Masoretic (WLC)
בְּרֶגַע קָטֹן
for a brief moment
Dead Sea Scroll
ברגע קטון
for a brief moment
1QIsaiah-a uses plene spelling of qaton (with vav). 'For a brief moment I forsook you, but with great compassion I will gather you.' The theological tension between divine abandonment and restoration is preserved identically.
1QIsaᵃ col. XLIV, line 19
In overflowing wrath for a moment I hid my face from you, but with everlasting covenant love I will have compassion on you, says the LORD, your Redeemer.
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XLIV, line 20
This is like the days of Noah to me: as I swore that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth, so I have sworn that I will not be angry with you and will not rebuke you.
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XLIV, line 21
For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my covenant love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed, says the LORD, who has compassion on you.
Masoretic (WLC)
בְּרִית שְׁלוֹמִי
my covenant of peace
Dead Sea Scroll
ברית שלומי
my covenant of peace
Identical reading. 'My covenant of peace shall not be removed' — the everlasting covenant language is the same in both texts. This is one of the great covenant promises of the Hebrew Bible.
1QIsaᵃ col. XLIV, line 22
O afflicted one, storm-tossed and not comforted, behold, I will set your stones in antimony and lay your foundations with sapphires.
Masoretic (WLC)
סֹעֲרָה
storm-tossed
Dead Sea Scroll
סוערה
storm-tossed
Plene spelling. Same word — 'O afflicted one, storm-tossed.'
1QIsaᵃ col. XLV, line 1
I will make your pinnacles of agate, your gates of carbuncle, and all your walls of precious stones.
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XLV, line 2
And all your children shall be taught by the LORD, and great shall be the peace of your children.
Masoretic (WLC)
לִמּוּדֵי יְהוָה
taught by the LORD
Dead Sea Scroll
למודי יהוה
taught by the LORD
Identical reading. 'All your children shall be taught by the LORD' — quoted by Jesus in John 6:45 ('It is written in the Prophets: They will all be taught by God'). The scroll confirms this reading in the pre-Christian text.
1QIsaᵃ col. XLV, line 3
In righteousness you shall be established; you shall be far from oppression, for you shall not fear, and from terror, for it shall not come near you.
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XLV, line 4
If anyone stirs up strife, it is not from me; whoever stirs up strife with you shall fall because of you.
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XLV, line 5
Behold, I have created the smith who blows the fire of coals and produces a weapon for its purpose. I have also created the destroyer to ruin.
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XLV, line 6
No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue that rises against you in judgment you shall refute. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their vindication from me, declares the LORD.
Masoretic (WLC)
עָלַיִךְ
against you
Dead Sea Scroll
עליכי
against you
1QIsaiah-a uses the characteristic Qumran -ki suffix for the second-person feminine singular. 'No weapon formed against you shall prosper' — one of the most quoted promises in Isaiah, identical in both traditions.
1QIsaᵃ col. XLV, line 7