1 Awake, arise; clothe yourself with power, O Zion!Put on your robes of glory, O Jerusalem, holy city.No more shall the uncircumcised and defiled enter you.
2 Shake yourself free, rise from the dust;sit enthroned, O Jerusalem.Loose yourself from the bands around your neck,O captive Daughter of Zion.
3 Thus says Jehovah: You were sold without price,and you shall be redeemed without money.
4 For thus says my Lord Jehovah:At first my people went down to Egypt to sojourn there.Then the Assyrians subjected them for nothing.
5 And now, what have I here? says Jehovah.My people are taken over without price;those who govern themaact presumptuously,a says Jehovah,and my name is constantly abused all the day.
6 Therefore shall my people come to know my name;in that day they shall knowthat I, who speak, am at hand.
7 Then shall they say,How comely upon the mountainsare the feet of the messenger announcing peace,who brings tidings of good,who heralds salvation,saying to Zion, Your God reigns!
A pseudonym of Jehovah God of Israel, who personifies everlasting salvation to his repentant people, whose coming to reign on the earth his servant and watchmen declare to the nations.
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8 Hark! Your watchmen lift up their voice;as one they cry out for joy:for they shall see eye to eyewhen Jehovah returns to Zion.
A pseudonym of Jehovah God of Israel, who personifies everlasting salvation to his repentant people, whose coming to reign on the earth his servant and watchmen declare to the nations.
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A pseudonym of Jehovah's end-time servant, Jehovah's voice to his repentant people, who is lifted up or sustained by Zion's watchmen at the time Jehovah's coming to the earth draws near.
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10 b Jehovah has bared his holy armin the eyes of all nations,that all ends of the earth may seeour God’s salvation.
A pseudonym of Jehovah God of Israel, who personifies everlasting salvation to his repentant people, whose coming to reign on the earth his servant and watchmen declare to the nations.
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A pseudonym of Jehovah's end-time servant, Jehovah's voice to his repentant people, who is lifted up or sustained by Zion's watchmen at the time Jehovah's coming to the earth draws near.
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A pseudonym of Jehovah's end-time servant, his arm of righteousness, whom Jehovah empowers to gather his elect from among the nations of the world and lead them in new exodus to Zion.
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A pseudonym of Jehovah God of Israel, who personifies everlasting salvation to his repentant people by saving them spiritually from their sins and temporally from their enemies.
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9 Break out all together into song,you ruined places of Jerusalem:Jehovah has comforted his people;he has redeemed Jerusalem.
A pseudonym of Jehovah God of Israel, who personifies everlasting salvation to his repentant people, whose coming to reign on the earth his servant and watchmen declare to the nations.
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A pseudonym of Jehovah's end-time servant, Jehovah's voice to his repentant people, who is lifted up or sustained by Zion's watchmen at the time Jehovah's coming to the earth draws near.
blue
A pseudonym of Jehovah's end-time servant, his arm of righteousness, whom Jehovah empowers to gather his elect from among the nations of the world and lead them in new exodus to Zion.
blue
A pseudonym of Jehovah God of Israel, who personifies everlasting salvation to his repentant people by saving them spiritually from their sins and temporally from their enemies.
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11 Turn away, depart;touch nothing defiled as you leave Babylon.cCome out of her and be pure,you who bear Jehovah’s vessels.
A pseudonym of Jehovah God of Israel, who personifies everlasting salvation to his repentant people, whose coming to reign on the earth his servant and watchmen declare to the nations.
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A pseudonym of Jehovah's end-time servant, Jehovah's voice to his repentant people, who is lifted up or sustained by Zion's watchmen at the time Jehovah's coming to the earth draws near.
blue
A pseudonym of Jehovah's end-time servant, his arm of righteousness, whom Jehovah empowers to gather his elect from among the nations of the world and lead them in new exodus to Zion.
blue
A pseudonym of Jehovah God of Israel, who personifies everlasting salvation to his repentant people by saving them spiritually from their sins and temporally from their enemies.
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12 But you shall not leave in haste or go in flight:Jehovah will go before you,the God of Israel behind you.
A pseudonym of Jehovah God of Israel, who personifies everlasting salvation to his repentant people, whose coming to reign on the earth his servant and watchmen declare to the nations.
green
A pseudonym of Jehovah's end-time servant, Jehovah's voice to his repentant people, who is lifted up or sustained by Zion's watchmen at the time Jehovah's coming to the earth draws near.
blue
A pseudonym of Jehovah's end-time servant, his arm of righteousness, whom Jehovah empowers to gather his elect from among the nations of the world and lead them in new exodus to Zion.
blue
A pseudonym of Jehovah God of Israel, who personifies everlasting salvation to his repentant people by saving them spiritually from their sins and temporally from their enemies.
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13 My servant, being astute, shall be highly exalted;he shall become exceedingly eminent:
A pseudonym of Jehovah God of Israel, who personifies everlasting salvation to his repentant people, whose coming to reign on the earth his servant and watchmen declare to the nations.
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A pseudonym of Jehovah's end-time servant, Jehovah's voice to his repentant people, who is lifted up or sustained by Zion's watchmen at the time Jehovah's coming to the earth draws near.
blue
A pseudonym of Jehovah's end-time servant, his arm of righteousness, whom Jehovah empowers to gather his elect from among the nations of the world and lead them in new exodus to Zion.
blue
A pseudonym of Jehovah God of Israel, who personifies everlasting salvation to his repentant people by saving them spiritually from their sins and temporally from their enemies.
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14 just as hed appalled many—his appearance was marred beyond human likeness,his semblance unlike that of men—
A pseudonym of Jehovah God of Israel, who personifies everlasting salvation to his repentant people, whose coming to reign on the earth his servant and watchmen declare to the nations.
green
A pseudonym of Jehovah's end-time servant, Jehovah's voice to his repentant people, who is lifted up or sustained by Zion's watchmen at the time Jehovah's coming to the earth draws near.
blue
A pseudonym of Jehovah's end-time servant, his arm of righteousness, whom Jehovah empowers to gather his elect from among the nations of the world and lead them in new exodus to Zion.
blue
A pseudonym of Jehovah God of Israel, who personifies everlasting salvation to his repentant people by saving them spiritually from their sins and temporally from their enemies.
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15 So shall he yet astounde many nations,kings shutting their mouths at him—what was not told them, they shall see;what they had not heard, they shall consider.
A pseudonym of Jehovah God of Israel, who personifies everlasting salvation to his repentant people, whose coming to reign on the earth his servant and watchmen declare to the nations.
green
A pseudonym of Jehovah's end-time servant, Jehovah's voice to his repentant people, who is lifted up or sustained by Zion's watchmen at the time Jehovah's coming to the earth draws near.
blue
A pseudonym of Jehovah's end-time servant, his arm of righteousness, whom Jehovah empowers to gather his elect from among the nations of the world and lead them in new exodus to Zion.
blue
A pseudonym of Jehovah God of Israel, who personifies everlasting salvation to his repentant people by saving them spiritually from their sins and temporally from their enemies.
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Apocalyptic Commentary
Isaiah 52
The awakening and arising from the dust of Jehovah’s people who pass his tests of their loyalty on the Zion/Jerusalem level signifies their rebirth or re-creation on the son/servant level. Identified as the Daughter of Zion (the Woman Zion), they ascend to this elect level after experiencing a descent phase of personal trials. Comprising a “holy city,” these holy and valiant ones Jehovah protects by his direct intervention in his Day of Judgment (Isaiah 4:3-6; 6:13; 13:3; 35:8-10). They become the “holy people” to whom Jehovah comes after they have prepared the way before him (Isaiah 40:1-5; 62:10-12).
Like the term “holy,” the term “power” or “strength” (‘oz) forms a word link: “Your faithfulness in time [of trial] shall prove to be a strength” (Isaiah 33:6). After they prove loyal to him by keeping the terms of the Davidic Covenant and become “holy” or sanctified, Jehovah empowers them when their enemies come against them. That empowerment occurs on the heels of his empowering his arm—his servant—to restore his people: “Awake, arise; clothe yourself with power, O arm of Jehovah!” (Isaiah 51:9); “For I won honor in the eyes of Jehovah when my God became my strength” (Isaiah 49:5).
The rebirth and re-creation of Jehovah’s people thus means that the servant’s mission is succeeding. At the time the Woman Zion rises from the dust to sit on her throne, moreover, the Harlot Babylon descends from her throne into the dust (Isaiah 47:1) as an integral part of their reversal of circumstances. Belonging to the Babylon category are the “uncircumcised and defiled”—“sinners in Zion” and other reprobates (Isaiah 33:14; 59:2-4). These suffer the same fate as the Harlot Babylon (Isaiah 9:13-19; 26:10-11) whom Jehovah destroys as he did Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19:24; Isaiah 13:19).
The Woman Zion’s depiction as a “holy city” thus has a counterpart in an unholy city—also representing Jehovah’s people—that was once a “faithful city” but that has turned into a “harlot” (Isaiah 1:21; 57:7-12). It is a “city of revelry” (Isaiah 22:2; 32:13) that Jehovah makes a heap of rubble (Isaiah 25:2); an elite or “exalted city” that he casts to the ground, lays even with the dust (Isaiah 26:5). As the character traits of the wicked city and Jehovah’s alienated people typify a Babylon category—both exalting themselves over Jehovah’s holy ones—both end up in the dust (Isaiah 2:10; 29:4; 47:1).
The Woman Zion’s awakening and arising from the dust, moreover, signifies resurrection at the time Jehovah abolishes death: “Your dead shall live when their bodies arise. [You will say to them,] ‘Awake, and sing for joy, you who abide in the dust: your dew is the dew of sunrise!’ For the earth shall cast up its dead” (Isaiah 26:19; cf. 25:7-8). Resurrection from the dead thus takes place concurrently with Zion’s rebirth. The robes of glory that replace the bands around her neck allude to Zion’s release from captivity and her priestly endowment by Jehovah’s servant (Isaiah 42:6-7; 49:8-9, 25; 61:1-3, 10).
Those who sell Jehovah’s elect “without price” are their political and ecclesiastical leaders: (1) political, because those who govern them emulate their exemplar, the king of Assyria/Babylon, in taking people captive (v 5; Isaiah 10:3-6; 14:16-17; 49:24); and (2) ecclesiastical, because their priests and prophets deprive them of the truths of God that empower them against being led captive and that lead them to know Jehovah personally (v 6; Isaiah 5:13; 8:14-17; 28:13). Accordingly, Jehovah in the end redeems his elect without price from their captive state (v 9; Isaiah 35:8-10; 54:5-8; 62:11-12).
Historically, two precedents of bondage became types for a third: (1) Israel’s bondage in Egypt (Deuteronomy 26:6; Isaiah 10:24); (2) Israel’s subjection to Assyria (2 Kings 15:29; Isaiah 10:24); and (3) Judah’s captivity in Babylon (2 Kings 24:10-16; Isaiah 47:6). All three are types of an end-time captivity of “my people”—Jehovah’s covenant people. Profane political leaders manage to subjugate them “without price” or bloodshed while ecclesiastical leaders dupe them (Isaiah 9:15-16; 32:5-7). Jehovah freely redeems them, however (v 3), at the time his servant fulfills his mission (Isaiah 45:13; 55:1-5).
Those of Jehovah’s people who become “my people”—by renewing his covenant and keeping its terms—ultimately come to know Jehovah (Isaiah 19:21, 25). While knowing about him—based on exercising faith and receiving a testimony of him through his holy Spirit—constitutes a first step toward knowing him in person, in the millennial age, the “knowledge of Jehovah” that overspreads the earth (Isaiah 11:9) implies much more than a belief in him. At his coming, Jehovah reveals himself personally to his elect as he did to Moses and Israel’s elders (Exodus 24:9-11; Isaiah 24:23; cf. 6:1-8).
The “messenger” who announces good tidings primarily identifies Jehovah’s end-time servant (Isaiah 41:27; 44:26). It additionally identifies Zion’s watchmen (v 8) and Zion/Jerusalem (Isaiah 40:9)—all those to whom the servant ministers (Isaiah 61:1, 3). Parallelism of the terms “peace,” “good,” and “salvation” reveals them as synonyms. All three comprise covenant blessings that flow from covenant keeping: (1) “peace” is engendered by Jehovah (Isaiah 26:3, 12; 53:5); (2) “good” comes from proving loyal to him (Isaiah 38:3; 55:1-7); and (3) “salvation” is wrought by him (Isaiah 33:2; 43:12).
As the term “mountains” is a metaphor for nations (Isaiah 13:4; 64:1-3), the servant’s declaring good tidings “upon the mountains” extends to all nations to whom Jehovah sends him (Isaiah 42:1, 4, 6; 49:1, 6). His heralding salvation—which Jehovah personifies (Isaiah 12:2; 17:10)—means that he declares salvation both as a principle that comes of righteousness (Isaiah 26:1-2; 33:14-15) and as anticipating Jehovah at his coming (Isaiah 25:9; 62:11). As King of Zion, Jehovah comes to reign when persons affiliated with Zion become “my people” and he becomes “your God” (vv 6-7; Isaiah 40:1, 3).
The appearance of Zion’s “watchmen” after the appearance of Jehovah’s servant in the Book of Isaiah implies that he occasions their emergence and ministry. Those who “follow” and “know” righteousness (Isaiah 51:1, 7)—Jehovah’s servant—in other words, ultimately ascend spiritually and assume restorative functions toward Jehovah’s people as the servant does: “I have appointed watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem, who shall not be silent day or night. You who call upon Jehovah, let not up nor give him respite till he reestablishes Jerusalem and makes it renowned in the earth” (Isaiah 62:6-7).
Those whom Jehovah’s servant endows in the holy priesthood are thus called “oaks of righteousness” and “priests of Jehovah” (Isaiah 61:3, 6). These righteous watchmen “lift up their voice,” signifying (1) that they herald Jehovah’s coming as the servant does; and (2) that they sustain the servant—Jehovah’s voice to his people (Isaiah 40:3; 50:10). Unlike Jehovah’s blind and unwary watchmen whom they replace—the “dumb watchdogs” and “lolling seers” who come under condemnation (Isaiah 56:10-12)—Zion’s watchmen “see eye to eye,” having seen the same vision of the end from the beginning.
Jehovah’s “baring” or “revealing” (hasap) his holy arm to all nations (Isaiah 53:1) is on a parallel with Jehovah’s “revealing” his righteousness—his servant—to all nations (Isaiah 41:1-2; 51:4-5; 56:1). It implies that at first Jehovah’s arm is withheld or kept hidden from the world: “He has made my mouth like a sharp sword—in the shadow of his hand he hid me. He has made me into a polished arrow—in his quiver he kept me secret” (Isaiah 49:2). As Jehovah’s coming to the earth draws near—as his people’s salvation approaches—Jehovah empowers his servant to intervene on their behalf.
A time of comfort and rejoicing arrives when Jehovah’s people who expiate their iniquities see covenant curses turn into blessings and their desolate circumstances transformed (Isaiah 40:1-2; 49:8-13; 51:3; 61:1-3). With the empowerment of Jehovah’s servant and his associates, a new day dawns for those who ascend to the Zion/Jerusalem level and levels higher. Jehovah “comforts” them in their distress when he “redeems” them—when he releases them from bondage and gathers them home in a new exodus to Zion (vv 3, 11-12; Isaiah 35:9-10; 43:1-2; 48:20-21; 51:9-12; 54:5-8; 66:12-13).
The new exodus out of Greater Babylon—out of a wicked world at its destruction (Isaiah 13:1, 9, 11, 19; 21:9)—is the signal event that separates the righteous from the wicked and sets in motion their reversal of circumstances. As Israel was born as a nation following its exodus out of Egypt—the Red Sea representing the birth canal—so Zion is born at the new exodus. Those who bear Jehovah’s “vessels”—a metaphor that designates Jehovah’s people (Isaiah 22:24; 66:20)—are the spiritual kings and queens of the Gentiles who gather Jehovah’s sons and daughters to Zion (Isaiah 43:6; 49:22-23).
The new exodus to Zion consists of an orderly event accompanied by Jehovah’s presence and characterized by extraordinary divine intervention. While the wicked flee in terror from the destructions that come upon them (Isaiah 13:14; 21:15; 24:17-18; 30:17), the kings and queens of the Gentiles—those who are “pure,” who “touch nothing defiled”—lead home their charges in joyous processions from the four directions of the earth (Isaiah 11:12, 16; 30:29; 35:8-10; 43:5-6). Jehovah’s presence with them marks the latter as his elect, those who have ascended to the son/servant category of his people.
In the course of serving as a proxy savior of Jehovah’s people—“bearing their iniquities” under the terms of the Davidic Covenant (Isaiah 53:11)—Jehovah’s “servant” or vassal suffers horrific physical “marring beyond human likeness” at the hands of enemies as an intrinsic part of his descent phase. Just as many people are appalled at his plight, however, so he astounds them when Jehovah heals him (Isaiah 57:18-19). In his ascent phase that follows—when Jehovah empowers him over his enemies (Isaiah 49:8; 51:9)—he becomes “highly exalted” and “exceedingly eminent” (cf. Isaiah 11:10; 55:5).
From the similar exalted language that describes Jehovah (Isaiah 6:1; 57:15), we learn that as his people ascend spiritually they may assume not only his righteous attributes but also inherit greater degrees of glory (v 1; Isaiah 24:16; 46:13; 62:2-3). Like Jehovah’s servant, in other words, all who covenant with Jehovah may ascend and attain higher spiritual categories (Isaiah 4:2; 11:2-5, 10; 55:3-5)—from Jacob/Israel to Zion/Jerusalem to sons/servants to seraphs/saviors. In the millennial age of peace that ensues, they may likewise inherit thrones of glory (v 2; Isaiah 9:6-7; 22:23-24; 32:1; 62:2).
Among those who ascend are the spiritual kings of the Gentiles who hush up when Jehovah’s servant ministers to them: “To you who know me, who are of my fold, I have reported what I heard from Jehovah of Hosts” (Isaiah 21:10). What hitherto “was not told them,” and which they “had not heard,” the servant thus teaches them, empowering them to perform their savior roles (Isaiah 49:22-23; 50:4; 61:1-3, 6). As the servant resembles Solomon—who was “astute” or “sapient” (yaskil)—so these kings and their queens resemble the monarchs who came to hear Solomon (1 Kings 4:29-34; cf. Isaiah 49:7).