Isaiah 4:3 kjv
And it shall come to pass, that he that is left in Zion, and he that remaineth in Jerusalem, shall be called holy, even every one that is written among the living in Jerusalem:
Isaiah 4:3 nkjv
And it shall come to pass that he who is left in Zion and remains in Jerusalem will be called holy?everyone who is recorded among the living in Jerusalem.
Isaiah 4:3 niv
Those who are left in Zion, who remain in Jerusalem, will be called holy, all who are recorded among the living in Jerusalem.
Isaiah 4:3 esv
And he who is left in Zion and remains in Jerusalem will be called holy, everyone who has been recorded for life in Jerusalem,
Isaiah 4:3 nlt
All who remain in Zion
will be a holy people ?
those who survive the destruction of Jerusalem
and are recorded among the living.
Isaiah 4 3 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isa 6:13 | But yet in it shall be a tenth... so the holy seed shall be the substance thereof. | Remnant as "holy seed" |
| Isa 10:20-22 | The remnant of Israel... shall stay upon the LORD... A remnant shall return, even the remnant of Jacob... | Doctrine of the remnant |
| Zeph 3:13 | The remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity... they shall feed and lie down, and none shall make them afraid. | Purified remnant |
| Jer 31:7 | For thus saith the LORD, Sing with gladness for Jacob, and shout among the chief of the nations: Publish ye... for the remnant of Israel. | Joy over God's remnant |
| Rom 9:27 | Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved: | NT confirmation of remnant |
| Rom 11:5 | Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. | Grace in choosing remnant |
| Joel 3:17 | So shall ye know that I am the LORD your God dwelling in Zion... Then shall Jerusalem be holy, and there shall no strangers pass through her any more. | Holy Jerusalem |
| Zech 14:20-21 | In that day shall there be upon the bells of the horses, HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD... and every pot in Jerusalem and in Judah shall be holiness unto the LORD... | Pervasive holiness |
| Heb 12:14 | Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: | Necessity of holiness |
| 1 Pet 1:15-16 | But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. | Divine command for holiness |
| Ps 69:28 | Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous. | "Book of the living" |
| Phil 4:3 | And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me... whose names are in the book of life. | NT "book of life" |
| Rev 3:5 | He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life... | Persevering names |
| Rev 13:8 | All that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. | Eternal record |
| Rev 20:12 | And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life... | Judgment and book of life |
| Rev 21:27 | And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth... but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life. | Access to New Jerusalem |
| Dan 12:1 | At that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. | Book of destiny |
| Isa 2:2-3 | In the last days... the mountain of the LORD's house shall be established... and all nations shall flow unto it... for out of Zion shall go forth the law... | Future exaltation of Zion |
| Heb 12:22-24 | But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem... and to the church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven... | Heavenly Zion/Church |
| Ezek 36:25-27 | Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean... A new heart also will I give you... | Spiritual cleansing |
Isaiah 4 verses
Isaiah 4 3 Meaning
Isaiah 4:3 describes a profound future transformation where only those who survive God's purifying judgment in Zion and Jerusalem will be acknowledged as truly holy. These individuals are not merely physically present, but are spiritually aligned and divinely ordained, having their names inscribed in God's book of life. This signifies a chosen, righteous remnant preserved by God for His redemptive purposes.
Isaiah 4 3 Context
Isaiah chapter 4 serves as a hopeful conclusion to the preceding chapters (Isaiah 2-3), which heavily detail God's judgment against unfaithful Judah and Jerusalem for their idolatry, pride, and moral corruption. Chapter 2 foresees a future glorious kingdom centered in Zion, but chapter 3 and the opening of chapter 4 describe the severe consequences of their sin, leading to devastation and scarcity. Verse 4:3 specifically describes the result after the judgment and purification mentioned in 4:4 – "When the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and shall have purged the blood of Jerusalem from the midst thereof by the spirit of judgment, and by the spirit of burning." This verse, therefore, points to a time of restoration and holiness, not based on human merit but on God's divine action of cleansing and preservation, ensuring that only a pure, righteous remnant will inhabit the renewed Jerusalem. It provides a contrast between the existing corrupt state and God's promised holy future.
Isaiah 4 3 Word analysis
- And it shall come to pass: Signifies a future event, certain to occur, emphasizing God's sovereign plan and the prophetic nature of the declaration.
- he that is left (שְׁאָר, she'ar): Refers to a "remnant" or "survivor." In prophetic context, this is not just physical survival but a preserved group chosen by God, often refined through judgment, who retain spiritual fidelity.
- in Zion, and he that remaineth (יִפָּתֵר, yippater, related to pātar, "to be discharged/released," here implying those spared): Further emphasizes the concept of the remnant. It points to a distinct, God-preserved group within the geographical and spiritual heartland of God's covenant people.
- in Jerusalem: Refers to the physical city, which also symbolizes the community of God's people and the center of His dwelling. The mention of both "Zion" and "Jerusalem" highlights the completeness of the restored holy city and its inhabitants.
- shall be called holy (קָדוֹשׁ יֵאָמֶר לוֹ, qadosh ye'amer lo): "Holy" (קָדוֹשׁ, qadosh) means set apart, sacred, pure, distinct. Being "called holy" signifies not just a label, but a transformed nature and status, implying both divine declaration and an inward purity reflecting God's own holiness. It is an effect of divine cleansing.
- even every one that is written: Refers to divine selection and eternal registration. It points to a list or "book" maintained by God.
- among the living (בַּחַיִּים, bakhayyim, literally "among the lives" or "in life"): This phrase refers to the "book of life" or "book of the living." It signifies divine preservation and covenantal standing, implying that only those whose names are thus recorded truly possess life, both temporal survival through judgment and, more profoundly, spiritual and eternal life. It differentiates between mere physical existence and a vital, chosen relationship with God.
Isaiah 4 3 Bonus section
The "book of the living" mentioned here (and later the "book of life" in the New Testament) suggests that God maintains a divine register of those who are truly His, chosen for salvation and eternal blessing. This concept underscores God's sovereignty and His intimate knowledge of His elect. This passage ultimately points beyond a purely physical restoration of Jerusalem, envisioning a spiritually purified community that will inhabit the New Heavens and New Earth, where only those truly righteous and recorded by God will dwell in His presence (Rev 21:27). It also implicitly polemicizes against any false assurance based on national identity alone, stressing instead the necessity of personal and communal holiness as determined by God.
Isaiah 4 3 Commentary
Isaiah 4:3 is a poignant statement of hope, outlining God's eschatological plan for His people after a period of severe divine judgment. It underscores the "remnant theology" pervasive in Isaiah, asserting that not all of Israel, but only a purified, divinely preserved "remnant" will inherit the glorious future. This remnant's defining characteristic will be their holiness, an intrinsic quality bestowed and affirmed by God through His purging Spirit, as mentioned in the subsequent verse (4:4). This is a holiness that extends beyond ritualistic observance; it implies moral purity and a state of being truly set apart for God. Furthermore, their inclusion in the "book of the living" signifies a divine election and enduring covenant relationship. This inscription denotes their right to life, particularly access to the blessings of God's renewed presence in a truly holy Jerusalem. The verse highlights that membership in the true covenant community is not based on mere ethnicity or residence in Jerusalem, but on divine inscription and inner sanctification. It contrasts sharply with superficial religious identity, emphasizing God's rigorous standard for genuine relationship and residency in His coming kingdom.