Isaiah 52:5

52:4 For thus saith the Lord GOD, My people went down aforetime into Egypt to sojourn there; and the Assyrian oppressed them without cause.

Now therefore, what have I here, saith the LORD, that my people is taken away for nought? they that rule over them make them to howl, saith the LORD; and my name continually every day is blasphemed.

KJV

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“Now therefore, what do I do here,” says Yahweh, “seeing that my people are taken away for nothing? Those who rule over them mock,” says Yahweh, “and my name is blasphemed continually all day long.

Now therefore, what have I here, saith the Lord, that my people is taken away for nought? they that rule over them make them to howl, saith the Lord; and my name continually every day is blasphemed.

Now therefore, what have I here, says the LORD, that my people is taken away for nothing? they that rule over them make them to howl, said the LORD; and my name continually every day is blasphemed.

52:6 Therefore my people shall know my name: therefore they shall know in that day that I am he that doth speak: behold, it is I.

What does Isaiah 52:5 mean?

Isaiah 52:5 is a verse in the book of Isaiah, in the Old Testament. In the original Hebrew, key words include נְאֻם (nᵉʼum), יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh), עַם (ʻam). It connects to 3 cross-referenced passages elsewhere in Scripture.

Hebrew interlinear

Now

therefore,

what

have

here,

saithנְאֻםnᵉʼum/neh-oom'/H5002an oracle

the

LORD,יְהֹוָהYᵉhôvâh/yeh-ho-vaw'/H3068Jehovah, Jewish national name of God

that

peopleעַםʻam/am/H5971a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock

taken

awayלָקַחlâqach/law-kakh'/H3947to take (in the widest variety of applications)

for

nought?חִנָּםchinnâm/khin-nawm'/H2600gratis, i.e. devoid of cost, reason or advantage

they

that

ruleמָשַׁלmâshal/maw-shal'/H4910to rule

over

them

make

them

howl,יָלַלyâlal/yaw-lal'/H3213to howl (with a wailing tone) or yell (with a boisterous one)

saithנְאֻםnᵉʼum/neh-oom'/H5002an oracle

the

LORD;יְהֹוָהYᵉhôvâh/yeh-ho-vaw'/H3068Jehovah, Jewish national name of God

and

nameשֵׁםshêm/shame/H8034an appellation, as amark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority, character

continuallyתָּמִידtâmîyd/taw-meed'/H8548properly, continuance (as indefinite extension); but used only (attributively as adjective) constant (or adverbially, constantly); ellipt. the regular (daily) sacrifice

every

dayיוֹםyôwm/yome/H3117a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverb)

blasphemed.נָאַץnâʼats/naw-ats'/H5006to scorn;

Commentary on Isaiah 52:5

HENRY_FULL · Isaiah 52:4–5

he fatherless are taken under God's special protection; with him they not only find mercy shown to them ( Hos. xiv. 3 ) but justice done for them. He is their Redeemer, their Goël, their near kinsman, that will take their part and stand up for them with jealousy, as taking himself affronted in the injuries done to them. As their Redeemer he will plead their cause against those that do them any injury, and, one way or other, will not only defend their right, and recover it for them, but avenge the wrongs done to them. And he is mighty, almighty; his omnipotence is engaged and employed for their protection, and their proudest and most powerful oppressors will not only find themselves an unequal match for this, but will find that it is at their peril to contend with it. 2. Every man therefore must be careful not to injure them in any thing, or to invade their rights, either by a clandestine removal of the old land-marks or by a forcible entry into their fields. Being fatherless, they have none to redress their wrongs, and, being in their childhood, they do not so much as apprehend the wrong that is done them. Sense of honour, and much more the fear of God, would restrain men from offering injury to children, especially fatherless children. Parental Duties. 12 Apply thine heart unto instruction, and thine ears to the words of knowledge. 13 Withhold not correction from the child: f

Cross-references

Related passages from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

Isaiah 19:18

In that day shall five cities in the land of Egypt speak the language of Canaan, and swear to the LORD of hosts; one shall be called, The city of destruction. the language: Heb. the lip of destruction: or, of Heres, or, of the sun

Isaiah 29:15

Woe unto them that seek deep to hide their counsel from the LORD, and their works are in the dark, and they say, Who seeth us? and who knoweth us?

Isaiah 29:17

Is it not yet a very little while, and Lebanon shall be turned into a fruitful field, and the fruitful field shall be esteemed as a forest?

Topics

Rulers

Verses like this

Other verses that share key original-language words with Isaiah 52:5.

Genesis 11:29

And Abram and Nahor took them wives: the name of Abram's wife was Sarai; and the name of Nahor's wife, Milcah, the daughter of Haran, the father of Milcah, and the father of Iscah.

Genesis 2:15

And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it. the man: or, Adam

Genesis 2:19

And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof. Adam: or, the man

Genesis 2:21

And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof;

Genesis 2:22

And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. made: Heb. builded

Genesis 3:22

And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:

Genesis 3:23

Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken.

Genesis 4:19

And Lamech took unto him two wives: the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah.

Frequently asked questions

What does Isaiah 52:5 say?

Isaiah 52:5 (King James Version) reads: "Now therefore, what have I here, saith the LORD, that my people is taken away for nought? they that rule over them make them to howl, saith the LORD; and my name continually every day is blasphemed."

Is Isaiah 52:5 in the Old or New Testament?

Isaiah 52:5 is in the Old Testament of the Bible, in the book of Isaiah.

Reflect

As you read Isaiah 52:5, what is one truth here you can carry into today?

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