Chapter Overview
Summary
Isaiah 4 is a brief-but-rich-chapter — closing the daughter-of-Zion judgment (v. 1) and turning to Messianic-restoration: the BRANCH-OF-THE-LORD (v. 2) and the rebuilt-Zion-with-cloud-and-fire-canopy (vv. 5–6). The 'BRANCH' (tzemach) is a major-Messianic-title developed at Isaiah 11:1, Jeremiah 23:5, 33:15, Zechariah 3:8, 6:12.
Notable Variants
4:2 'BRANCH OF THE LORD' (tzemach YHWH) major Messianic-title; 4:5 cloud-by-day / fire-by-night Exodus-imagery extended; 4:5 'a canopy over all the glory' bridal-canopy imagery.
Structural Notes
MT Isaiah 4 = LXX Isaiah 4. 6 verses.
On that day seven women will seize one man, saying, "We will eat our own bread and wear our own clothing — just let us be called by your name. Take away our disgrace!"
'And seven women shall take hold of one man in that day, saying: We will eat our own bread and wear our own clothes, only let us be called by your name; take away our reproach' tracks MT. SEVEN-WOMEN-TO-ONE-MAN — extreme-male-shortage from war (closing 3:25–26).
On that day the Branch of the LORD will be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land will be the pride and splendor of the survivors of Israel.
'In that day the BRANCH OF THE LORD shall be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land shall be the pride and honor of the survivors of Israel' tracks MT. 'BRANCH OF THE LORD' (tzemach YHWH / anatolē kyriou). MAJOR MESSIANIC TITLE. Jeremiah 23:5 ('a righteous Branch'), 33:15, Zechariah 3:8 ('my servant the Branch'), 6:12 ('the man whose name is the Branch') extend. Luke 1:78's anatolē ex hypsous ('the dawn from on high') Christologically-fulfills, using the same LXX-Greek term anatolē.
And the one who remains in Zion and the one who is left in Jerusalem will be called holy — everyone written for life in Jerusalem.
'And he who is left in Zion and remains in Jerusalem will be called holy, everyone who has been recorded for life in Jerusalem' tracks MT. RECORDED-FOR-LIFE — Book-of-Life theology. Luke 10:20 ('rejoice that your names are written in heaven'), Phil 4:3, Rev 3:5, 13:8, 17:8, 20:12, 21:27 extend Christologically.
when the Lord has washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion and rinsed the bloodstains of Jerusalem from her midst by a spirit of judgment and a spirit of burning.
'When the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion and cleansed the bloodstains of Jerusalem from its midst by a spirit of judgment and by a spirit of burning' tracks MT. SPIRIT-OF-JUDGMENT / SPIRIT-OF-BURNING. Pentecost-anticipation — Acts 2:3 ('divided tongues as of fire').
Then the LORD will create over every site on Mount Zion and over her assemblies a cloud of smoke by day and the glow of a blazing fire by night. For over all the glory there will be a canopy.
'Then the LORD will create over the whole site of Mount Zion and over her assemblies a cloud by day, and smoke and the shining of a flaming fire by night; for over all the glory there will be a canopy' tracks MT. CLOUD-BY-DAY / FIRE-BY-NIGHT. Exodus 13:21–22 wilderness-pillar Christologically-extended. CANOPY (chuppah) — wedding-canopy imagery. Revelation 21:3 ('the dwelling place of God is with man') extends to-the-New-Jerusalem.
And there will be a shelter for shade from the heat by day, and a refuge and a hiding place from the storm and the rain.
'There will be a booth for shade by day from the heat, and for a refuge and a shelter from the storm and rain' tracks MT. BOOTH-FOR-SHADE — Sukkot-imagery. Revelation 7:15–16 ('he who sits on the throne will shelter them … the sun shall not strike them') Christologically extends.