Isaiah 12 4

Isaiah 12:4 kjv

And in that day shall ye say, Praise the LORD, call upon his name, declare his doings among the people, make mention that his name is exalted.

Isaiah 12:4 nkjv

And in that day you will say: "Praise the LORD, call upon His name; Declare His deeds among the peoples, Make mention that His name is exalted.

Isaiah 12:4 niv

In that day you will say: "Give praise to the LORD, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done, and proclaim that his name is exalted.

Isaiah 12:4 esv

And you will say in that day: "Give thanks to the LORD, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the peoples, proclaim that his name is exalted.

Isaiah 12:4 nlt

In that wonderful day you will sing:
"Thank the LORD! Praise his name!
Tell the nations what he has done.
Let them know how mighty he is!

Isaiah 12 verses

Isaiah 12 4 meaning

Isaiah 12:4 is an urgent, collective call to worship and witness, anticipated to occur in the "Day of the Lord," signifying a time of ultimate salvation and deliverance. It urges God's people to actively give thanks and proclaim the character, actions, and supreme majesty of Yahweh to all nations, recognizing His sovereignty and redemptive deeds. The verse encapsulates a universal mission, demonstrating that God's plan extends beyond Israel to encompass all humanity in praise and knowledge of His name.

Isaiah 12 4 Context

Isaiah 12 is a prophetic "Song of Salvation," forming the climax of Isaiah chapters 7-12. This section addresses God's judgment on Assyria and Judah, but it culminates in a hopeful vision of restoration centered on the coming Messiah, referred to in earlier chapters (e.g., Isa 7:14, 9:6-7, 11:1-10). The preceding chapter 11 vividly describes the peaceful and righteous reign of the Messiah. Isaiah 12, therefore, provides the collective response of a delivered people – both Israel and the nations – who will experience the peace and justice of this Messianic age. Verse 4 specifically transitions the thanksgiving from an inward, individual act to an outward, missional mandate, echoing themes of universal recognition of Yahweh's sovereignty that appear throughout Isaiah. Historically, the original audience, facing imminent judgment and exile, would have seen this as a distant but firm promise of future deliverance and an eventual universal spread of God's truth.

Isaiah 12 4 Word analysis

• And in that day (וְאָמַרְתֶּם בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא - Ve'amartem bayyom hahu): The phrase "in that day" is a standard prophetic marker pointing to a future, decisive period. In Isaiah, it frequently refers to the "Day of the Lord," encompassing both judgment and ultimate salvation, specifically the Messianic era. It signifies a pivotal, divinely appointed time of restoration and glory.

• ye will say (וְאָמַרְתֶּם - ve'amartem): This plural verb indicates a collective, communal response. It's not just an individual utterance but the unified voice of God's redeemed people, possibly including both restored Israel and the Gentiles.

• Praise (הוֹדוּ - Hodhu): From the root יָדָה (yadah), meaning to throw, confess, give thanks. It's a Hiphil imperative, demanding active, open thanksgiving and confession directed toward God. This praise flows from a heart acknowledging God's redemptive work.

• the Lord (לַֽיהוָה - l'YHVH): The sacred Tetragrammaton, the covenant name of God, YHWH. This highlights that the praise is directed to the specific, personal, covenant-keeping God of Israel, whose identity is now being proclaimed universally.

• call upon his name (קִרְאוּ בִשְׁמוֹ - qir'u vishmo): This phrase implies both invocation in prayer and proclamation of God's character. It's an active act of declaring who God is, invoking His presence, and calling on His authority, making His identity widely known and recognized.

• declare his doings (הוֹדִיעוּ בָֽעַמִּים עֲלִילֹתָיו - hodhi'u va'ammim 'alilotav):

  • declare (הוֹדִיעוּ - hodhi'u): Hiphil imperative of יָדַע (yada), "to make known." It implies an intentional and public declaration.
  • his doings (עֲלִילֹתָיו - alilotav): Refers to His mighty deeds, powerful acts, and interventions in history, especially His acts of salvation and judgment.
  • among the people/nations (בָֽעַמִּים - va'ammim): Crucially extends the audience beyond Israel to all ethnic groups and peoples. This is a clear missional mandate, signifying universal witness.

• make mention (הַזְכִּירוּ - hazkiru): Hiphil imperative of זָכַר (zakhar), "to remember, to cause to remember, to proclaim." It implies both a memorial (bringing to mind God's past works) and an active proclamation or commemoration of God's majesty and significance.

• that his name is exalted (כִּי נִשְׂגָּב שְׁמוֹ - ki nisgav shmo):

  • that (כִּי - ki): Introduces the reason or content of the proclamation.
  • is exalted (נִשְׂגָּב - nisgav): A Nifal participle of שָׂגַב (sagav), "to be high, to be inaccessible, to be lofty, to be magnified." It describes God's name as being raised far above all else, indicating His supreme sovereignty, majesty, and unchallengeable position.
  • his name (שְׁמוֹ - shmo): In Hebrew thought, the "name" encompasses God's very being, His character, reputation, authority, and presence. To say His name is exalted is to declare His ultimate divine identity and authority above all.

• Praise the Lord, call upon his name: These actions represent the fundamental expressions of worship, a deep and reverent recognition of God's identity and power.

• declare his doings among the people: This transforms internal devotion into external mission, making God's salvific acts universally known.

• make mention that his name is exalted: This articulates the core reason for such praise and proclamation—God's transcendent majesty and supremacy.

Isaiah 12 4 Bonus section

This verse anticipates a radical shift from the covenant limited to Israel to a universal redemptive plan, demonstrating God's consistent purpose across testaments. It prefigures the New Testament concept of the Church as a diverse body proclaiming Christ to every tongue and tribe. The emphasis on God's "doings" and "exalted name" provides a holistic basis for faith: not merely a philosophical assent but a response to tangible acts of divine intervention and the inherent, supreme worth of God Himself. This future hope empowers resilience in present trials, knowing that God's ultimate victory and universal recognition are assured.

Isaiah 12 4 Commentary

Isaiah 12:4 serves as a foundational declaration of gratitude and evangelism for God's delivered people in the promised future. This "Day" is one of salvation, triggering an outflow of collective praise for Yahweh's acts. It moves from general thanks ("Praise the Lord") to a specific engagement with His identity ("call upon His name"). The call is explicitly missional ("declare His doings among the nations"), revealing that God's redemptive work is not limited to one group but intended for global revelation. The ultimate justification for this witness is the unchallengeable truth of His exalted name, underscoring His unique sovereignty and power above all. This verse thus lays an Old Testament blueprint for universal worship and the spread of divine truth, finding ultimate fulfillment in the New Covenant through the Church's Great Commission. Practically, it encourages believers today to actively share their testimonies of God's work, engage in prayer that acknowledges His power, and participate in making His name and deeds known globally.