Isaiah 62 Study Notes: Zion’s New Name
The speaker vows to speak out until nations see Zion’s righteousness and the LORD renames her. No longer Forsaken, she becomes Hephzibah and Beulah, His delight and bride; watchmen are posted and God is given no rest in prayer, a highway is prepared for the coming Savior, and her people are named holy and redeemed.
General
What reason does 62:4 give for Zion’s new names, Hephzibah and Beulah?
Answer: The LORD will delight in her and take her land as a bride
Zion had been called Forsaken and her land Desolate. Now she will bear the name Hephzibah and her land the name Beulah, because the LORD will delight in her and her land will be joined to Him like a bride (62:4). Like a young couple marrying, her sons will marry her, and with a bridegroom’s joy over his bride, her God will take joy in her (62:5). Zephaniah says the LORD will rejoice over His people with gladness and singing (Zephaniah 3:17), Hosea hears God promise to betroth His people to Himself forever (Hosea 2:19), and Revelation pictures the new Jerusalem as a bride dressed for her husband (Revelation 21:2).
- Isaiah 62:4-5 (BSB)“No longer will you be called Forsaken, nor your land named Desolate; but you will be called Hephzibah, and your land Beulah; for the LORD will take delight in you, and your land will be His bride. For as a young man marries a young woman, so your sons will marry you; and as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so your God will rejoice over you.”The names Forsaken and Desolate give way to Hephzibah and Beulah because of the LORD’s delight.
- Zephaniah 3:17 (BSB)“The LORD your God is among you; He is mighty to save. He will rejoice over you with gladness; He will quiet you with His love; He will rejoice over you with singing.””The LORD rejoices over His people with gladness and singing.
- Hosea 2:19 (BSB)“So I will betroth you to Me forever; I will betroth you in righteousness and justice, in loving devotion and compassion.”God promises to betroth His people to Himself forever.
- 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.”The new Jerusalem is pictured as a bride prepared for her husband.
Theological
In 62:4-5, what reason is given for replacing the names Forsaken and Desolate?
Answer: The LORD will delight in her and take her land as a bride
The old names, Forsaken and Desolate, are replaced by Hephzibah and Beulah, and the verse supplies the reason: the LORD delights in Zion, and her land is joined to Him as a bride (62:4). The marriage image continues as her sons marry her and her God takes a bridegroom’s joy in her (62:5). The covenant is pictured as a marriage, as in Hosea 2:19, with God rejoicing over His people (Zephaniah 3:17), and it culminates in Revelation’s new Jerusalem dressed as a bride for her husband (Revelation 21:2).
- Isaiah 62:4-5 (BSB)“No longer will you be called Forsaken, nor your land named Desolate; but you will be called Hephzibah, and your land Beulah; for the LORD will take delight in you, and your land will be His bride. For as a young man marries a young woman, so your sons will marry you; and as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so your God will rejoice over you.”The names Forsaken and Desolate give way to Hephzibah and Beulah because of the LORD’s delight.
- Zephaniah 3:17 (BSB)“The LORD your God is among you; He is mighty to save. He will rejoice over you with gladness; He will quiet you with His love; He will rejoice over you with singing.””The LORD rejoices over His people with gladness and singing.
- Hosea 2:19 (BSB)“So I will betroth you to Me forever; I will betroth you in righteousness and justice, in loving devotion and compassion.”God promises to betroth His people to Himself forever.
- 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.”The new Jerusalem is pictured as a bride prepared for her husband.
General
Which names close the chapter in 62:12?
Answer: The Holy People and Sought Out
The people are told to leave by the gates, clear a path for the people, construct a road, remove the stones, and lift a signal flag for the nations (62:10). The LORD has announced to the farthest parts of the earth that Zion’s Savior is coming, bringing His reward and recompense (62:11). Then His people will bear the names Holy People and the LORD’s Redeemed, and Zion will be named Sought Out, the City Not Forsaken (62:12), the reverse of the old name Forsaken in 62:4. Isaiah 40:10 also says the Lord GOD arrives bringing His reward, and in Revelation 22:12 Jesus says He is coming soon, bringing His reward. Isaiah 57:14 likewise calls for building up the road and removing obstacles for God’s people.
- Isaiah 62:10-12 (BSB)“Go out, go out through the gates; prepare the way for the people! Build it up, build up the highway; clear away the stones; raise a banner for the nations! Behold, the LORD has proclaimed to the ends of the earth, “Say to Daughter Zion: See, your Savior comes! Look, His reward is with Him, and His recompense goes before Him.” And they will be called the Holy People, the Redeemed of The LORD; and you will be called Sought Out, A City Not Forsaken.”A highway is prepared, the Savior comes, and new names are given to the people and the city.
- Isaiah 40:10 (BSB)“Behold, the Lord GOD comes with might, and His arm establishes His rule. His reward is with Him, and His recompense accompanies Him.”Isaiah earlier announced the Lord GOD coming with His reward.
- Revelation 22:12 (BSB)““Behold, I am coming soon, and My reward is with Me, to give to each one according to what he has done.”Jesus says He is coming soon, bringing His reward.
- Isaiah 57:14 (BSB)“And it will be said, “Build it up, build it up, prepare the way, take every obstacle out of the way of My people.””Isaiah elsewhere calls for building up the road and removing obstacles for God’s people.
Theological
What titles does 62:12 confer on the people and the city?
Answer: The Holy People and Sought Out
The call to leave by the gates, clear a path, construct a road, and lift a signal flag for the nations (62:10) accompanies the announcement to the farthest parts of the earth that Zion’s Savior is coming with His reward and recompense (62:11). The result is a set of new titles: the people are the Holy People and the LORD’s Redeemed, and Zion is Sought Out, the City Not Forsaken (62:12), reversing the name Forsaken of 62:4. The coming with reward echoes 40:10 and is taken up by Jesus in Revelation 22:12, and the road-building recalls 57:14.
- Isaiah 62:10-12 (BSB)“Go out, go out through the gates; prepare the way for the people! Build it up, build up the highway; clear away the stones; raise a banner for the nations! Behold, the LORD has proclaimed to the ends of the earth, “Say to Daughter Zion: See, your Savior comes! Look, His reward is with Him, and His recompense goes before Him.” And they will be called the Holy People, the Redeemed of The LORD; and you will be called Sought Out, A City Not Forsaken.”A highway is prepared, the Savior comes, and new names are given to the people and the city.
- Isaiah 40:10 (BSB)“Behold, the Lord GOD comes with might, and His arm establishes His rule. His reward is with Him, and His recompense accompanies Him.”Isaiah earlier announced the Lord GOD coming with His reward.
- Revelation 22:12 (BSB)““Behold, I am coming soon, and My reward is with Me, to give to each one according to what he has done.”Jesus says He is coming soon, bringing His reward.
- Isaiah 57:14 (BSB)“And it will be said, “Build it up, build it up, prepare the way, take every obstacle out of the way of My people.””Isaiah elsewhere calls for building up the road and removing obstacles for God’s people.
General
What does 62:2-3 say Zion will receive and become?
Answer: A new name from the LORD, and a crown in His hand
Zion will receive a fresh name spoken by the LORD Himself (62:2). She will be a splendid crown and a kingly diadem resting in God’s palm (62:3). Earlier, in 28:5, the LORD was a crown for His remnant; here His people become a crown that He holds. A new name in Scripture marks a new identity given by God. The risen Christ promises those who overcome a white stone bearing a new name (Revelation 2:17) and promises to write on them God’s name, the name of His city, and His own new name (Revelation 3:12).
- Isaiah 62:2-3 (BSB)“Nations will see your righteousness, and all kings your glory. You will be called by a new name that the mouth of the LORD will bestow. You will be a crown of glory in the hand of the LORD, a royal diadem in the palm of your God.”Zion receives a new name from the LORD and becomes a royal crown in His hand.
- Isaiah 28:5 (BSB)“On that day the LORD of Hosts will be a crown of glory, a diadem of splendor to the remnant of His people,”Earlier the LORD Himself was a crown of glory for the remnant of His people.
- Revelation 2:17 (BSB)“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who overcomes, I will give the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone inscribed with a new name, known only to the one who receives it.”The risen Christ promises the one who overcomes a white stone with a new name.
- Revelation 3:12 (BSB)“The one who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will never again leave it. Upon him I will write the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God (the new Jerusalem that comes down out of heaven from My God), and My new name.”Christ promises to write God’s name, the name of His city, and His own new name on the overcomer.
Theological
According to 62:2-3, what will Zion be given and what will she become?
Answer: A new name from the LORD, and a crown in His hand
Zion receives a new name spoken by the LORD (62:2) and becomes a splendid crown and kingly diadem resting in God’s palm (62:3), a reversal of 28:5, where the LORD was the crown of His remnant. A divinely given name signifies a new identity and status. The risen Christ takes up the theme in promising the overcomer a white stone bearing a new name (Revelation 2:17) and the inscription of God’s name, the name of His city, and His own new name (Revelation 3:12).
- Isaiah 62:2-3 (BSB)“Nations will see your righteousness, and all kings your glory. You will be called by a new name that the mouth of the LORD will bestow. You will be a crown of glory in the hand of the LORD, a royal diadem in the palm of your God.”Zion receives a new name from the LORD and becomes a royal crown in His hand.
- Isaiah 28:5 (BSB)“On that day the LORD of Hosts will be a crown of glory, a diadem of splendor to the remnant of His people,”Earlier the LORD Himself was a crown of glory for the remnant of His people.
- Revelation 2:17 (BSB)“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who overcomes, I will give the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone inscribed with a new name, known only to the one who receives it.”The risen Christ promises the one who overcomes a white stone with a new name.
- Revelation 3:12 (BSB)“The one who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will never again leave it. Upon him I will write the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God (the new Jerusalem that comes down out of heaven from My God), and My new name.”Christ promises to write God’s name, the name of His city, and His own new name on the overcomer.
General
Until when does the speaker in 62:1 refuse to keep silent?
Answer: Until Zion’s righteousness and salvation blaze out for all to see
The chapter opens with a vow on Zion’s behalf: the speaker will not keep quiet or be still until Jerusalem’s righteousness shines out brightly and her salvation blazes like a torch (62:1), so that the nations see her righteousness and kings her glory (62:2). The brightness is not something Zion produces herself; it is the righteousness and salvation that God gives her, made visible to all. Isaiah has already promised that God will bring His righteousness near and give Zion salvation (46:13). A psalmist says the LORD will make His people’s righteousness rise like daybreak (Psalm 37:6), and Isaiah 58:8 promises that the light of God’s people will break out like dawn.
- Isaiah 62:1-2 (BSB)“For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not keep still, until her righteousness shines like a bright light, her salvation like a blazing torch. Nations will see your righteousness, and all kings your glory. You will be called by a new name that the mouth of the LORD will bestow.”The speaker vows not to rest until Zion’s righteousness and salvation shine before the nations.
- Psalm 37:6 (BSB)“He will bring forth your righteousness like the dawn, your justice like the noonday sun.”The LORD brings forth His people’s righteousness like the dawn.
- Isaiah 58:8 (BSB)“Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will come quickly. Your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.”Isaiah promises that the light of God’s people will break forth like the dawn.
- Isaiah 46:13 (BSB)“I am bringing My righteousness near; it is not far away, and My salvation will not be delayed. I will grant salvation to Zion and adorn Israel with My splendor.”The LORD promises to bring His righteousness near and grant salvation to Zion.
Theological
How long does the speaker of 62:1 vow to keep speaking out?
Answer: Until Zion’s righteousness and salvation blaze out for all to see
The vow of 62:1 continues until Zion’s righteousness shines out brightly and her salvation blazes like a torch, visible to nations and kings (62:2). The righteousness in view is Zion’s vindication as God grants it, the righteousness and salvation He promised to bring near (46:13). The same image of righteousness rising like daybreak appears in Psalm 37:6 and in the promise of 58:8.
- Isaiah 62:1-2 (BSB)“For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not keep still, until her righteousness shines like a bright light, her salvation like a blazing torch. Nations will see your righteousness, and all kings your glory. You will be called by a new name that the mouth of the LORD will bestow.”The speaker vows not to rest until Zion’s righteousness and salvation shine before the nations.
- Psalm 37:6 (BSB)“He will bring forth your righteousness like the dawn, your justice like the noonday sun.”The LORD brings forth His people’s righteousness like the dawn.
- Isaiah 58:8 (BSB)“Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will come quickly. Your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.”Isaiah promises that the light of God’s people will break forth like the dawn.
- Isaiah 46:13 (BSB)“I am bringing My righteousness near; it is not far away, and My salvation will not be delayed. I will grant salvation to Zion and adorn Israel with My splendor.”The LORD promises to bring His righteousness near and grant salvation to Zion.
General
What has the LORD promised on oath in 62:8-9?
Answer: His people will enjoy the harvests they work for
The LORD has bound Himself by an oath on His own strength, the surest pledge possible, that never again will enemies eat His people’s grain or outsiders drink the wine they toiled to make (62:8). Instead, the harvesters will eat and praise Him, and the grape-gatherers will drink in the courts of His holy place (62:9). This reverses the covenant curse of Deuteronomy 28:33, where a people unknown to Israel would consume the fruit of its labor, and matches Amos 9:14 and Isaiah 65:21-22, where God’s people enjoy the fruit of their own work. Since none is greater than He, God swears by Himself (Hebrews 6:13).
- Isaiah 62:8-9 (BSB)“The LORD has sworn by His right hand and by His mighty arm: “Never again will I give your grain to your enemies for food, nor will foreigners drink the new wine for which you have toiled. For those who harvest grain will eat it and praise the LORD, and those who gather grapes will drink the wine in My holy courts.””The LORD swears that enemies will no longer consume His people’s grain and wine.
- Deuteronomy 28:33 (BSB)“A people you do not know will eat the produce of your land and of all your toil. All your days you will be oppressed and crushed.”Among the covenant curses, a foreign people would eat the produce of Israel’s toil.
- Amos 9:14 (BSB)“I will restore My people Israel from captivity; they will rebuild and inhabit the ruined cities. They will plant vineyards and drink their wine; they will make gardens and eat their fruit.”God promises restored Israel will plant vineyards and drink their own wine.
- Isaiah 65:21-22 (BSB)“They will build houses and dwell in them; they will plant vineyards and eat their fruit. No longer will they build houses for others to inhabit, nor plant for others to eat. For as is the lifetime of a tree, so will be the days of My people, and My chosen ones will fully enjoy the work of their hands.”God’s people will enjoy the work of their own hands rather than labor for others.
- Hebrews 6:13 (BSB)“When God made His promise to Abraham, since He had no one greater to swear by, He swore by Himself,”With no one greater to swear by, God swears by Himself.
Theological
What is the content of the LORD’s oath in 62:8-9?
Answer: His people will enjoy the harvests they work for
By an oath on His own strength the LORD guarantees that enemies and foreigners will no longer consume what His people have labored for (62:8); instead the harvesters will eat and praise Him, and the grape-gatherers will drink in the courts of His holy place (62:9). The oath reverses the covenant curse of Deuteronomy 28:33 and matches the restoration promises of Amos 9:14 and Isaiah 65:21-22. Because none is greater than He, God swears by Himself (Hebrews 6:13), and His oath cannot fail.
- Isaiah 62:8-9 (BSB)“The LORD has sworn by His right hand and by His mighty arm: “Never again will I give your grain to your enemies for food, nor will foreigners drink the new wine for which you have toiled. For those who harvest grain will eat it and praise the LORD, and those who gather grapes will drink the wine in My holy courts.””The LORD swears that enemies will no longer consume His people’s grain and wine.
- Deuteronomy 28:33 (BSB)“A people you do not know will eat the produce of your land and of all your toil. All your days you will be oppressed and crushed.”Among the covenant curses, a foreign people would eat the produce of Israel’s toil.
- Amos 9:14 (BSB)“I will restore My people Israel from captivity; they will rebuild and inhabit the ruined cities. They will plant vineyards and drink their wine; they will make gardens and eat their fruit.”God promises restored Israel will plant vineyards and drink their own wine.
- Isaiah 65:21-22 (BSB)“They will build houses and dwell in them; they will plant vineyards and eat their fruit. No longer will they build houses for others to inhabit, nor plant for others to eat. For as is the lifetime of a tree, so will be the days of My people, and My chosen ones will fully enjoy the work of their hands.”God’s people will enjoy the work of their own hands rather than labor for others.
- Hebrews 6:13 (BSB)“When God made His promise to Abraham, since He had no one greater to swear by, He swore by Himself,”With no one greater to swear by, God swears by Himself.
General
In 62:6-7, what are the people who call on God told to do?
Answer: Pray without ceasing until Jerusalem is established
Watchmen are posted on Jerusalem’s walls, and they are to keep calling out at all hours (62:6). Those who pray to the LORD are told to take no rest themselves and to give Him no rest until He sets Jerusalem firmly in place and makes her renowned throughout the earth (62:6-7). God has already promised Zion’s glory (62:1-5), yet He commands His people to pray persistently for it; their prayer is one of the means by which He brings about what He has promised. Jesus taught His disciples to keep praying without losing heart (Luke 18:1) and promised that God will see that justice is done for His chosen ones who call on Him continually (Luke 18:7). Ezekiel was likewise appointed a watchman for Israel (Ezekiel 3:17).
- Isaiah 62:6-7 (BSB)“On your walls, O Jerusalem, I have posted watchmen; they will never be silent day or night. You who call on the LORD shall take no rest for yourselves, nor give Him any rest until He establishes Jerusalem and makes her the praise of the earth.”Watchmen are posted, and those who pray to the LORD are to give Him no rest until He establishes Jerusalem.
- Luke 18:1 (BSB)“Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray at all times and not lose heart:”Jesus teaches His disciples to keep praying and not lose heart.
- Luke 18:7 (BSB)“Will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry out to Him day and night? Will He delay in helping them?”God will bring about justice for His chosen ones who cry out to Him continually.
- Ezekiel 3:17 (BSB)““Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from My mouth, give them a warning from Me.”Ezekiel too is appointed a watchman for Israel.
Theological
What charge does 62:6-7 give to those who pray to the LORD?
Answer: Pray without ceasing until Jerusalem is established
The watchmen on Jerusalem’s walls are to keep calling out at all hours (62:6), and those who pray to the LORD are to give themselves no rest and give Him no rest until He sets Jerusalem firmly in place and makes her renowned throughout the earth (62:6-7). The promise of Zion’s glory (62:1-5) does not make prayer unnecessary; God ordains persistent prayer as a means of accomplishing His decree. Jesus taught the same persistence without losing heart (Luke 18:1), assuring His chosen ones who call on Him continually that God will see justice done (Luke 18:7). Ezekiel’s appointment as a watchman for Israel offers a prophetic parallel (Ezekiel 3:17).
- Isaiah 62:6-7 (BSB)“On your walls, O Jerusalem, I have posted watchmen; they will never be silent day or night. You who call on the LORD shall take no rest for yourselves, nor give Him any rest until He establishes Jerusalem and makes her the praise of the earth.”Watchmen are posted, and those who pray to the LORD are to give Him no rest until He establishes Jerusalem.
- Luke 18:1 (BSB)“Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray at all times and not lose heart:”Jesus teaches His disciples to keep praying and not lose heart.
- Luke 18:7 (BSB)“Will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry out to Him day and night? Will He delay in helping them?”God will bring about justice for His chosen ones who cry out to Him continually.
- Ezekiel 3:17 (BSB)““Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from My mouth, give them a warning from Me.”Ezekiel too is appointed a watchman for Israel.