Chapter Overview
Summary
Isaiah 32 prophesies a RIGHTEOUS-KING and the SPIRIT-POURED-FROM-ON-HIGH (vv. 15–18). Verse 1's 'a king will reign in righteousness' is Messianic. Verse 15's 'until the Spirit is poured upon us from on high' is key-prophetic-text for Pentecost.
Notable Variants
32:1 'a king will reign in righteousness' Messianic-king; 32:15 'Spirit poured from on high' → Acts 2 Pentecost foundation; 32:17 'work of righteousness shall be peace' classical theological-axiom.
Structural Notes
MT Isaiah 32 = LXX Isaiah 32. 20 verses.
Behold — a king shall reign in righteousness, and princes shall govern in justice.
'Behold, a king will reign in righteousness, and princes will rule in justice' tracks MT. KING-IN-RIGHTEOUSNESS. Messianic-king (cf. Jer 23:5). Christologically-fulfilled.
And each one shall be like a shelter from the wind, a refuge from the storm, like streams of water in a dry place, like the shadow of a massive rock in a weary land.
'Each will be like a hiding place from the wind, a shelter from the storm, like streams of water in a dry place, like the shade of a great rock in a weary land' tracks MT. HIDING-FROM-STORM. Christ-as-refuge.
And the eyes of those who see shall not be shut, and the ears of those who hear shall be attentive.
'Then the eyes of those who see will not be closed, and the ears of those who hear will give attention' tracks MT.
The heart of the rash shall understand knowledge, and the tongue of the stammering shall speak clearly and fluently.
'The heart of the hasty will understand and know, and the tongue of the stammerers will hasten to speak distinctly' tracks MT.
The fool shall no longer be called noble, nor the scoundrel be said to be generous.
'The fool will no more be called noble, nor the scoundrel said to be honorable' tracks MT. NOMENCLATURE-RESTORATION.
For the fool speaks folly, and his heart devises wickedness — to practice godlessness and to speak error against the LORD, to leave the soul of the hungry empty and to deprive the thirsty of drink.
'For the fool speaks folly, and his heart is busy with iniquity, to practice ungodliness, to utter error concerning the LORD, to leave the craving of the hungry unsatisfied, and to deprive the thirsty of drink' tracks MT.
As for the scoundrel — his schemes are evil; he devises wicked plans to ruin the afflicted with lying words, even when the cause of the needy is just.
'As for the scoundrel, his devices are evil; he plans wicked schemes to ruin the poor with lying words, even when the plea of the needy is right' tracks MT.
But the noble one plans noble things, and by noble things he shall stand.
'But he who is noble plans noble things, and on noble things he stands' tracks MT. NOBLE-CHARACTER. Phil 4:8 ('whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just') extends.
Rise up, you women who are at ease; hear my voice, you complacent daughters; give ear to my speech.
'Rise up, you women who are at ease, hear my voice; you complacent daughters, give ear to my speech' tracks MT.
In little more than a year you shall tremble, you complacent ones, for the grape harvest shall fail, the gathering shall not come.
'In little more than a year you will shudder, you complacent women; for the grape harvest fails, the fruit harvest will not come' tracks MT.
Tremble, you women at ease; shudder, you complacent ones. Strip yourselves bare and wrap sackcloth around your waists.
'Tremble, you women who are at ease, shudder, you complacent ones; strip, and make yourselves bare, and tie sackcloth around your waist' tracks MT.
Beat your breasts in mourning for the pleasant fields, for the fruitful vine.
'Beat your breasts for the pleasant fields, for the fruitful vine' tracks MT.
Upon the soil of my people thorns and briers shall grow up — yes, upon all the houses of joy in the jubilant city.
'For the soil of my people growing up in thorns and briers, yes, for all the joyous houses in the exultant city' tracks MT.
For the palace shall be abandoned, the bustling city forsaken; hill and watchtower shall become dens forever, a delight for wild donkeys, a pasture for flocks —
'For the palace is forsaken, the populous city deserted; the hill and the watchtower will become dens forever, a joy of wild donkeys, a pasture of flocks' tracks MT.
Until the Spirit is poured out upon us from on high, and the wilderness becomes a fruitful field, and the fruitful field is counted as a forest.
'Until the Spirit is poured upon us from on high, and the wilderness becomes a fruitful field, and the fruitful field is regarded as a forest' tracks MT. SPIRIT-POURED-FROM-ON-HIGH. Acts 2:17–18 (Peter citing Joel 2:28's 'pour out my Spirit') Christologically-fulfills. Joel and Isaiah 32 both anchor-Pentecost-theology. The wilderness-becoming-fruitful-field is the Spirit's-transformative-effect.
Then justice shall dwell in the wilderness, and righteousness shall abide in the fruitful field.
'Then justice will dwell in the wilderness, and righteousness abide in the fruitful field' tracks MT.
And the work of righteousness shall be shalom, and the fruit of righteousness shall be quietness and trust forever.
'And the effect of righteousness will be peace, and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust forever' tracks MT. RIGHTEOUSNESS-PRODUCES-PEACE. Romans 5:1 ('having been justified by faith, we have peace with God') Christologically-extends. James 3:18 ('a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace') extends.
And my people shall dwell in a habitation of shalom, in secure dwellings, and in undisturbed resting places.
'My people will abide in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places' tracks MT.
Though hail shall fell the forest, and the city be utterly laid low,
'And it will hail when the forest falls down, and the city will be utterly laid low' tracks MT.
Blessed are you who sow beside all waters, who let the ox and the donkey range free.
'Happy are you who sow beside all waters, who let the feet of the ox and the donkey range free' tracks MT. SOW-BESIDE-WATERS beatitude.