Isaiah 52 Study Notes: Zion Awakes and the Servant Is Exalted
Jerusalem is called to rise from captivity, because the LORD will free His people without payment and defend His honor before the nations. Messengers bring Zion news of God's reign, the exiles are told to leave in purity, and the final Servant Song opens with the Servant disfigured yet raised high.
General
Paul quotes 52:7 in Romans 10:15. What point is he making there?
Answer: The need for preachers to be sent so people can hear
In 52:7 messengers cross the mountains to Zion with good news of peace and salvation and the announcement that her God is King. The watchmen shout for joy, Jerusalem’s ruins break into song because the LORD has consoled and bought back His people, and all nations see Him act to save (52:8-10). Nahum uses the same picture of a herald on the mountains (Nahum 1:15). Paul quotes 52:7 in Romans 10:15 to show that people cannot call on the Lord without believing, cannot believe without hearing, and cannot hear unless someone preaches, which requires preachers to be sent. The good news of God’s reign came fully in Jesus, who announced that God’s kingdom was near (Mark 1:14-15).
- Isaiah 52:7-10 (BSB)“How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!” Listen! Your watchmen lift up their voices, together they shout for joy. For every eye will see when the LORD returns to Zion. Break forth in joy, sing together, O ruins of Jerusalem, for the LORD has comforted His people; He has redeemed Jerusalem. The LORD has bared His holy arm in the sight of all the nations; all the ends of the earth will see the salvation of our God.”Messengers bring Zion news of peace and salvation, the watchmen sing, and all nations see the LORD’s salvation.
- Romans 10:15 (BSB)“And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!””Paul quotes 52:7 while arguing that people cannot hear unless preachers are sent.
- Nahum 1:15 (BSB)“Look to the mountains—the feet of one who brings good news, who proclaims peace! Celebrate your feasts, O Judah; fulfill your vows. For the wicked will never again march through you; they will be utterly cut off.”Nahum uses the same picture of a messenger on the mountains announcing peace.
- Mark 1:14-15 (BSB)“After the arrest of John, Jesus went into Galilee and proclaimed the gospel of God. “The time is fulfilled,” He said, “and the kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe in the gospel!””Jesus proclaims the gospel of God and the nearness of God’s kingdom.
Theological
In what argument does Paul cite 52:7 in Romans 10:15?
Answer: The need for preachers to be sent so people can hear
The herald of 52:7 brings Zion news of peace, salvation, and the LORD’s reign; the watchmen rejoice, the ruins sing because the LORD has consoled and bought back His people, and His saving power is displayed before all the nations (52:8-10). Nahum 1:15 uses the same image. Paul cites 52:7 in Romans 10:15 within his chain of reasoning about the means of salvation: people cannot call without believing, believe without hearing, hear without a preacher, or preach without being sent. God saves through the proclaimed word, and the announcement of His reign reached its fulfillment in Jesus’ own proclamation that God’s kingdom was near (Mark 1:14-15).
- Isaiah 52:7-10 (BSB)“How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!” Listen! Your watchmen lift up their voices, together they shout for joy. For every eye will see when the LORD returns to Zion. Break forth in joy, sing together, O ruins of Jerusalem, for the LORD has comforted His people; He has redeemed Jerusalem. The LORD has bared His holy arm in the sight of all the nations; all the ends of the earth will see the salvation of our God.”Messengers bring Zion news of peace and salvation, the watchmen sing, and all nations see the LORD’s salvation.
- Romans 10:15 (BSB)“And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!””Paul quotes 52:7 while arguing that people cannot hear unless preachers are sent.
- Nahum 1:15 (BSB)“Look to the mountains—the feet of one who brings good news, who proclaims peace! Celebrate your feasts, O Judah; fulfill your vows. For the wicked will never again march through you; they will be utterly cut off.”Nahum uses the same picture of a messenger on the mountains announcing peace.
- Mark 1:14-15 (BSB)“After the arrest of John, Jesus went into Galilee and proclaimed the gospel of God. “The time is fulfilled,” He said, “and the kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe in the gospel!””Jesus proclaims the gospel of God and the nearness of God’s kingdom.
General
In 52:12, why will the people not need to rush away?
Answer: The LORD Himself goes ahead of them and guards the rear
The exiles are told to depart from the place of captivity and touch nothing unclean, keeping themselves pure because they carry the LORD’s vessels, the articles used in His worship (52:11). This time they will not rush or flee in panic, because the LORD goes in front of them and Israel’s God guards them from behind (52:12). At the first exodus Israel left Egypt in haste (Deuteronomy 16:3), and God’s angel and the cloud moved behind them to protect them (Exodus 14:19). Paul applies 52:11 to Christians, calling them to come out and be separate from idolatry (2 Corinthians 6:17).
- Isaiah 52:11-12 (BSB)“Depart, depart, go out from there! Touch no unclean thing; come out from it, purify yourselves, you who carry the vessels of the LORD. For you will not leave in a hurry nor flee in haste, for the LORD goes before you, and the God of Israel is your rear guard.”The exiles are told to leave, keep themselves clean as bearers of the LORD’s vessels, and go without panic under His protection.
- Deuteronomy 16:3 (BSB)“You must not eat leavened bread with it; for seven days you are to eat with it unleavened bread, the bread of affliction, because you left the land of Egypt in haste—so that you may remember for the rest of your life the day you left the land of Egypt.”Israel had left Egypt in haste, which the Passover meal recalled.
- Exodus 14:19 (BSB)“And the angel of God, who had gone before the camp of Israel, withdrew and went behind them. The pillar of cloud also moved from before them and stood behind them,”At the exodus the angel of God and the pillar of cloud moved from in front of Israel to behind them.
- 2 Corinthians 6:17 (BSB)““Therefore come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.””Paul applies 52:11 to believers, calling them to come out and be separate from idolatry.
Theological
What reason does 52:12 give that the exiles will not depart in haste?
Answer: The LORD Himself goes ahead of them and guards the rear
The command to depart is joined to a call to purity: those who bear the LORD’s vessels must touch nothing unclean (52:11). Unlike the first exodus, which was made in haste (Deuteronomy 16:3), this departure will be unhurried, for the LORD Himself leads His people and Israel’s God protects them from behind (52:12), recalling the protection of God’s angel and the cloud at the Red Sea (Exodus 14:19). Paul applies 52:11 to the church in 2 Corinthians 6:17: God’s people, as His temple, are to come out and be separate from idolatry.
- Isaiah 52:11-12 (BSB)“Depart, depart, go out from there! Touch no unclean thing; come out from it, purify yourselves, you who carry the vessels of the LORD. For you will not leave in a hurry nor flee in haste, for the LORD goes before you, and the God of Israel is your rear guard.”The exiles are told to leave, keep themselves clean as bearers of the LORD’s vessels, and go without panic under His protection.
- Deuteronomy 16:3 (BSB)“You must not eat leavened bread with it; for seven days you are to eat with it unleavened bread, the bread of affliction, because you left the land of Egypt in haste—so that you may remember for the rest of your life the day you left the land of Egypt.”Israel had left Egypt in haste, which the Passover meal recalled.
- Exodus 14:19 (BSB)“And the angel of God, who had gone before the camp of Israel, withdrew and went behind them. The pillar of cloud also moved from before them and stood behind them,”At the exodus the angel of God and the pillar of cloud moved from in front of Israel to behind them.
- 2 Corinthians 6:17 (BSB)““Therefore come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.””Paul applies 52:11 to believers, calling them to come out and be separate from idolatry.
General
Paul quotes 52:15 in Romans 15:21. What does he use it to explain?
Answer: His aim to preach Christ where He was not yet known
Many were horrified by the Servant, whose appearance was marred more than any other person’s (52:14). Yet in the same way many nations will be sprinkled by Him, and kings will fall silent before Him, because they will see and understand what no one had told them (52:15). In the Law, sprinkling blood was a priest’s act of atonement (Leviticus 16:14), and Peter speaks of believers being sprinkled by Christ’s blood (1 Peter 1:2), so many Christians see here a hint of the Servant’s priestly work for the nations. Paul quotes 52:15 to explain his aim of preaching the good news in places that had never heard of Christ, so that those never told about Him would see (Romans 15:20-21).
- Isaiah 52:14-15 (BSB)“Just as many were appalled at Him—His appearance was disfigured beyond that of any man, and His form was marred beyond human likeness— so He will sprinkle many nations. Kings will shut their mouths because of Him. For they will see what they have not been told, and they will understand what they have not heard.”Many are appalled at the Servant’s marred appearance, yet He sprinkles many nations and kings fall silent before Him.
- Romans 15:20-21 (BSB)“In this way I have aspired to preach the gospel where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone else’s foundation. Rather, as it is written: “Those who were not told about Him will see, and those who have not heard will understand.””Paul quotes 52:15 to explain his aim of preaching the gospel where Christ was not known.
- Leviticus 16:14 (BSB)“And he is to take some of the bull’s blood and sprinkle it with his finger on the east side of the mercy seat; then he shall sprinkle some of it with his finger seven times before the mercy seat.”In the Law, sprinkling blood was a priest’s act on the Day of Atonement.
- 1 Peter 1:2 (BSB)“according to the foreknowledge of God the Father and sanctified by the Spirit for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by His blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance.”Peter describes believers as chosen for obedience to Christ and sprinkling by His blood.
Theological
What does Paul use 52:15 to justify in Romans 15:20-21?
Answer: His aim to preach Christ where He was not yet known
The Servant’s disfigurement appalls many (52:14), yet correspondingly many nations will be sprinkled by Him, and kings fall silent before Him, perceiving what they had never been told (52:15). Sprinkling in the Law is a priestly act, as with the blood on the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16:14), and Peter speaks of believers sprinkled by Christ’s blood (1 Peter 1:2), so many see in the Servant a priestly work that reaches the Gentiles. Paul cites 52:15 as warrant for his apostolic strategy of preaching in places that had never heard of Christ (Romans 15:20-21): the Servant’s glory is to be made known to those who never heard.
- Isaiah 52:14-15 (BSB)“Just as many were appalled at Him—His appearance was disfigured beyond that of any man, and His form was marred beyond human likeness— so He will sprinkle many nations. Kings will shut their mouths because of Him. For they will see what they have not been told, and they will understand what they have not heard.”Many are appalled at the Servant’s marred appearance, yet He sprinkles many nations and kings fall silent before Him.
- Romans 15:20-21 (BSB)“In this way I have aspired to preach the gospel where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone else’s foundation. Rather, as it is written: “Those who were not told about Him will see, and those who have not heard will understand.””Paul quotes 52:15 to explain his aim of preaching the gospel where Christ was not known.
- Leviticus 16:14 (BSB)“And he is to take some of the bull’s blood and sprinkle it with his finger on the east side of the mercy seat; then he shall sprinkle some of it with his finger seven times before the mercy seat.”In the Law, sprinkling blood was a priest’s act on the Day of Atonement.
- 1 Peter 1:2 (BSB)“according to the foreknowledge of God the Father and sanctified by the Spirit for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by His blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance.”Peter describes believers as chosen for obedience to Christ and sprinkling by His blood.
General
In 52:5, why does the LORD say His name is blasphemed all day long?
Answer: His people are captive and their rulers mock them
The LORD reviews His people’s history. Long ago they lived in Egypt, later Assyria crushed them for no reason, and now they have been carried off once more for nothing (52:4-5). Their overlords mock, and the LORD’s name is spoken against all day long, because the nations take His people’s defeat as a slight on their God. Therefore His people will come to know His name and recognize that He is the one who speaks (52:6). Paul quotes 52:5 in Romans 2:24, applying it to people who boast in God’s law but bring shame on Him by breaking it, so that the Gentiles speak against His name on their account (Romans 2:23). Ezekiel describes the same dishonor: among the nations people remarked that these belonged to the LORD and still were driven from His country, so His holy name was profaned, and God resolved to act for the sake of that name (Ezekiel 36:20-22).
- Isaiah 52:4-6 (BSB)“For this is what the Lord GOD says: “At first My people went down to Egypt to live, then Assyria oppressed them without cause. And now what have I here? declares the LORD. For My people have been taken without cause; those who rule them taunt, declares the LORD, and My name is blasphemed continually all day long. Therefore My people will know My name; therefore they will know on that day that I am He who speaks. Here I am!””The LORD recalls Egypt and Assyria, laments His people’s captivity and the scorn of their rulers, and promises they will know His name.
- Romans 2:23-24 (BSB)“You who boast in the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law? As it is written: “God’s name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.””Paul quotes 52:5 against those who boast in the law yet break it, dishonoring God so that His name is reviled among the Gentiles.
- Ezekiel 36:20-22 (BSB)“And wherever they went among the nations, they profaned My holy name, because it was said of them, ‘These are the people of the LORD, yet they had to leave His land.’ But I had concern for My holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the nations to which they had gone. Therefore tell the house of Israel that this is what the Lord GOD says: It is not for your sake that I will act, O house of Israel, but for My holy name, which you profaned among the nations to which you went.”Among the nations it was said that the LORD’s people had to leave His land, so His name was profaned, and God resolved to act for His holy name.
Theological
What does 52:5 give as the occasion for the LORD’s name being blasphemed continually?
Answer: His people are captive and their rulers mock them
The LORD surveys His people’s history of oppression: the sojourn in Egypt, Assyria’s unprovoked aggression, and now a fresh captivity for nothing (52:4-5). Their rulers mock, and the LORD’s name is reviled without ceasing, since the nations take Israel’s humiliation as a slight on Israel’s God. His answer is to vindicate His name: His people will know that He is the one who speaks (52:6). Paul cites 52:5 in Romans 2:24 to indict those who pride themselves on the law while dishonoring God by breaking it, so that the Gentiles revile His name on their account (Romans 2:23). Ezekiel 36:20-22 states the same principle: where the exiles went, people remarked that the LORD’s own people were driven from His country, so His holy name was profaned, and God resolved to act for its sake.
- Isaiah 52:4-6 (BSB)“For this is what the Lord GOD says: “At first My people went down to Egypt to live, then Assyria oppressed them without cause. And now what have I here? declares the LORD. For My people have been taken without cause; those who rule them taunt, declares the LORD, and My name is blasphemed continually all day long. Therefore My people will know My name; therefore they will know on that day that I am He who speaks. Here I am!””The LORD recalls Egypt and Assyria, laments His people’s captivity and the scorn of their rulers, and promises they will know His name.
- Romans 2:23-24 (BSB)“You who boast in the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law? As it is written: “God’s name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.””Paul quotes 52:5 against those who boast in the law yet break it, dishonoring God so that His name is reviled among the Gentiles.
- Ezekiel 36:20-22 (BSB)“And wherever they went among the nations, they profaned My holy name, because it was said of them, ‘These are the people of the LORD, yet they had to leave His land.’ But I had concern for My holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the nations to which they had gone. Therefore tell the house of Israel that this is what the Lord GOD says: It is not for your sake that I will act, O house of Israel, but for My holy name, which you profaned among the nations to which you went.”Among the nations it was said that the LORD’s people had to leave His land, so His name was profaned, and God resolved to act for His holy name.
General
According to 52:3, how will the LORD’s people be redeemed?
Answer: With no payment, since none was received when they were sold
To redeem means to buy back or set free someone who has been sold or enslaved. The LORD says His people were handed over for nothing, so they will be redeemed without money (52:3). He gained no price when they went into captivity; their own sins were the reason (50:1). So He owes no buyer anything, and He will free them by His own power. Earlier the LORD said Cyrus would release the exiles without payment or reward (45:13). Peter takes the idea further: believers were not bought back with silver or gold but at the cost of Christ’s own precious blood (1 Peter 1:18-19). Redemption costs the redeemed nothing, though it cost God a great deal.
- Isaiah 52:3 (BSB)“For this is what the LORD says: “You were sold for nothing, and without money you will be redeemed.””The LORD says His people were handed over for nothing and will be bought back without money.
- Isaiah 50:1 (BSB)“This is what the LORD says: “Where is your mother’s certificate of divorce with which I sent her away? Or to which of My creditors did I sell you? Look, you were sold for your iniquities, and for your transgressions your mother was sent away.”Their own sins, not any debt the LORD owed, were the reason they were sent away.
- Isaiah 45:13 (BSB)“I will raise up Cyrus in righteousness, and I will make all his ways straight. He will rebuild My city and set My exiles free, but not for payment or reward, says the LORD of Hosts.””The LORD says Cyrus will set the exiles free without being paid or rewarded.
- 1 Peter 1:18-19 (BSB)“For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life you inherited from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or spot.”Believers were redeemed not by silver or gold but at the cost of Christ’s own blood.
Theological
What does 52:3 say about the means of the LORD’s redemption of His people?
Answer: With no payment, since none was received when they were sold
The LORD received no price when His people went into captivity; they were sold because of their own iniquities (50:1), not to pay any creditor. Since no one holds a claim against Him, He will redeem them without money (52:3), by His own sovereign act. Isaiah 45:13 had already said that Cyrus would free the exiles without payment or reward. Peter carries the pattern to its fullest expression: believers were redeemed not with perishable silver or gold but at the cost of Christ’s own precious blood (1 Peter 1:18-19). Redemption is wholly free to the redeemed and wholly costly to God.
- Isaiah 52:3 (BSB)“For this is what the LORD says: “You were sold for nothing, and without money you will be redeemed.””The LORD says His people were handed over for nothing and will be bought back without money.
- Isaiah 50:1 (BSB)“This is what the LORD says: “Where is your mother’s certificate of divorce with which I sent her away? Or to which of My creditors did I sell you? Look, you were sold for your iniquities, and for your transgressions your mother was sent away.”Their own sins, not any debt the LORD owed, were the reason they were sent away.
- Isaiah 45:13 (BSB)“I will raise up Cyrus in righteousness, and I will make all his ways straight. He will rebuild My city and set My exiles free, but not for payment or reward, says the LORD of Hosts.””The LORD says Cyrus will set the exiles free without being paid or rewarded.
- 1 Peter 1:18-19 (BSB)“For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life you inherited from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or spot.”Believers were redeemed not by silver or gold but at the cost of Christ’s own blood.
General
True or False: The fourth Servant Song (52:13-53:12) opens with the LORD announcing the Servant’s success and exaltation before describing His suffering.
Answer: True
This is true. The fourth Servant Song begins at 52:13, though the chapter break falls later. The LORD speaks, introducing His Servant as He did in the first song (42:1), and declares that the Servant will prosper and be raised to the highest honor (52:13). Only then does the song turn to His disfigurement, rejection, and death. The ending is announced first, so the reader knows the suffering is not defeat. Paul traces the same path in Christ: He humbled Himself to the point of dying on a cross, and for that reason God lifted Him to the place of highest honor (Philippians 2:8-9). Peter told the crowd that God had given glory to Jesus, His servant (Acts 3:13).
- Isaiah 52:13 (BSB)“Behold, My Servant will prosper; He will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted.”The LORD introduces His Servant and announces His success and exaltation.
- Isaiah 42:1 (BSB)““Here is My Servant, whom I uphold, My Chosen One, in whom My soul delights. I will put My Spirit on Him, and He will bring justice to the nations.”The first Servant Song also opens with the LORD presenting His Servant.
- Philippians 2:8-9 (BSB)“And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross. Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name above all names,”Christ humbled Himself to death on a cross, and God then exalted Him to the highest place.
- Acts 3:13 (BSB)“The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified His servant Jesus. You handed Him over and rejected Him before Pilate, even though he had decided to release Him.”Peter says God has glorified His servant Jesus, whom the people handed over.
Theological
True or False: The fourth Servant Song (52:13-53:12) opens with the LORD announcing the Servant’s success and exaltation before describing His suffering.
Answer: True
This is true. The song begins at 52:13 with the LORD’s own voice presenting My Servant, as in 42:1, and announcing His success and supreme exaltation. The exaltation frames everything that follows: the humiliation of 52:14-53:9 is the path to glory, not its contradiction. Philippians 2:8-9 traces the same pattern in Christ, whose obedience to the point of dying on a cross is followed by God’s exalting Him to supreme honor, and Peter proclaims that God has given glory to His servant Jesus (Acts 3:13), using the language of this song.
- Isaiah 52:13 (BSB)“Behold, My Servant will prosper; He will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted.”The LORD introduces His Servant and announces His success and exaltation.
- Isaiah 42:1 (BSB)““Here is My Servant, whom I uphold, My Chosen One, in whom My soul delights. I will put My Spirit on Him, and He will bring justice to the nations.”The first Servant Song also opens with the LORD presenting His Servant.
- Philippians 2:8-9 (BSB)“And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross. Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name above all names,”Christ humbled Himself to death on a cross, and God then exalted Him to the highest place.
- Acts 3:13 (BSB)“The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified His servant Jesus. You handed Him over and rejected Him before Pilate, even though he had decided to release Him.”Peter says God has glorified His servant Jesus, whom the people handed over.
General
In 52:1-2, what is Zion (Jerusalem) told to do?
Answer: Dress in splendor, get up from the dust, and loose her chains
Zion is the hill where Jerusalem and the temple stood, and the name often stands for the city and its people. In 51:17 Jerusalem was roused after drinking the cup of the LORD’s anger. Now she is told to wake, put on strength and splendid garments as the holy city, get up from the dust where captives sat, take her seat, and loose the chains from her neck (52:1-2). The reason given is that no uncircumcised or defiled person will enter her again: no more foreign invaders will pollute her. Revelation shows the final form of this hope, the new Jerusalem dressed like a bride, into which nothing impure will ever come (Revelation 21:2, 27).
- Isaiah 52:1-2 (BSB)“Awake, awake, clothe yourself with strength, O Zion! Put on your garments of splendor, O Jerusalem, holy city! For the uncircumcised and unclean will no longer enter you. Shake off your dust! Rise up and sit on your throne, O Jerusalem. Remove the chains from your neck, O captive Daughter of Zion.”Zion is roused from captivity, told to dress as the holy city and to throw off her chains.
- Isaiah 51:17 (BSB)“Awake, awake! Rise up, O Jerusalem, you who have drunk from the hand of the LORD the cup of His fury; you who have drained the goblet to the dregs—the cup that makes men stagger.”Just before, Jerusalem was roused after drinking the cup of the LORD’s anger; now she is told to dress for joy.
- Revelation 21:2 (BSB)“I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.”John sees the holy city, the new Jerusalem, prepared like a bride dressed for her husband.
- Revelation 21:27 (BSB)“But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who practices an abomination or a lie, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.”Nothing impure will come into the final holy city, the fullest form of the promise in 52:1.
Theological
What does the summons of 52:1-2 call Zion to do?
Answer: Dress in splendor, get up from the dust, and loose her chains
The double summons to wake echoes 51:17, where Jerusalem was roused after drinking the cup of the LORD’s wrath; the cup has now passed, and Zion is to clothe herself with strength and festal garments as the holy city, rise from the dust of captivity, take her seat, and loose the chains from her neck (52:1-2). The ground is that no uncircumcised or defiled person will come in again, so invaders will no longer pollute her. The promise reaches its fullness in the new Jerusalem, adorned as a bride and kept free of everything impure (Revelation 21:2, 27).
- Isaiah 52:1-2 (BSB)“Awake, awake, clothe yourself with strength, O Zion! Put on your garments of splendor, O Jerusalem, holy city! For the uncircumcised and unclean will no longer enter you. Shake off your dust! Rise up and sit on your throne, O Jerusalem. Remove the chains from your neck, O captive Daughter of Zion.”Zion is roused from captivity, told to dress as the holy city and to throw off her chains.
- Isaiah 51:17 (BSB)“Awake, awake! Rise up, O Jerusalem, you who have drunk from the hand of the LORD the cup of His fury; you who have drained the goblet to the dregs—the cup that makes men stagger.”Just before, Jerusalem was roused after drinking the cup of the LORD’s anger; now she is told to dress for joy.
- Revelation 21:2 (BSB)“I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.”John sees the holy city, the new Jerusalem, prepared like a bride dressed for her husband.
- Revelation 21:27 (BSB)“But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who practices an abomination or a lie, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.”Nothing impure will come into the final holy city, the fullest form of the promise in 52:1.