Isaiah 54 11

Isaiah 54:11 kjv

O thou afflicted, tossed with tempest, and not comforted, behold, I will lay thy stones with fair colours, and lay thy foundations with sapphires.

Isaiah 54:11 nkjv

"O you afflicted one, Tossed with tempest, and not comforted, Behold, I will lay your stones with colorful gems, And lay your foundations with sapphires.

Isaiah 54:11 niv

"Afflicted city, lashed by storms and not comforted, I will rebuild you with stones of turquoise, your foundations with lapis lazuli.

Isaiah 54:11 esv

"O afflicted one, storm-tossed and not comforted, behold, I will set your stones in antimony, and lay your foundations with sapphires.

Isaiah 54:11 nlt

"O storm-battered city,
troubled and desolate!
I will rebuild you with precious jewels
and make your foundations from lapis lazuli.

Isaiah 54 verses

Isaiah 54 11 meaning

Isaiah 54:11 conveys a powerful message of profound restoration and glorification for God's people, often personified as Zion or Jerusalem, after a period of intense suffering and desolation. It assures a community that felt utterly broken, like a desolate and storm-battered city without comfort, that God Himself will undertake an unparalleled rebuilding project. This divine work will transform their ruined state into one of unimaginable beauty, security, and permanence, symbolized by precious stones, where even the foundational elements will gleam with divine splendor.

Isaiah 54 11 Context

Isaiah chapter 54 follows immediately after the "Suffering Servant" passage (Isa 52:13-53:12), which describes the redemptive work of Christ. It pivots from the atoning work to the glorious outcome—the restoration of God's people. Chapter 54 is a "Song of the Barren Woman," depicting Jerusalem, devastated by exile, as a barren wife who will now become supernaturally fruitful, extending her tent pegs and settling in new places. This expansion and fruitfulness signify God's unfailing love and eternal covenant, replacing previous humiliation with abundance and peace. Verse 11 specifically addresses the utter destruction and psychological trauma suffered by the people, personifying Jerusalem as an "afflicted city" in need of ultimate divine intervention and reconstruction. The historical context is primarily during or just after the Babylonian exile, when Jerusalem lay in ruins, and the Jewish people were dispersed and feeling abandoned by God. The prophecy counters contemporary despair and offers a vivid picture of God's transformative promise for the future.

Isaiah 54 11 Word analysis

• O afflicted city: The Hebrew term for "afflicted" is ʿǎnîyâ (עֲנִיָּה), conveying ideas of being downtrodden, humiliated, oppressed, and poor. It emphasizes the deep suffering and destitution of Jerusalem (representing God's people), a state of profound distress resulting from divine judgment and external forces.

• tempest-tossed: The Hebrew sōʿărâ (סֹעֲרָה) literally means "storm-tossed" or "violently agitated." It paints a picture of extreme turmoil, danger, and instability, likening the city to a ship caught in a violent storm, reflecting its devastating experiences during war and exile.

• and not comforted: Lōʾ nuchāmâ (לֹא נֻחָמָה) means "not consoled" or "without solace." This highlights the depth of their despair and sense of abandonment, suggesting that no human comfort could reach or alleviate their profound sorrow and feeling of being forsaken.

• behold, I will set: Hinnēh (הִנֵּה), "behold," draws immediate attention to God's imminent, direct, and significant action. ʾāšît (אֶשִׁית), "I will set," confirms that this restoration is entirely God's initiative and accomplishment, emphasizing His sovereign power and commitment.

• your stones in antimony: Ba-pûḵ ʾăḇānayik (בַּפוּךְ אֲבָנַיִךְ).

  • Pûḵ (פוּךְ) literally refers to "antimony" or kohl, a dark mineral powder used for cosmetic purposes (eye makeup) in ancient times. However, in an architectural context, it could denote a dark, lustrous material (perhaps black onyx, dark marble, or even a strong, dark mortar infused with pigments) used for setting stones, giving them a brilliant, contrasting, or polished effect. It suggests value, beauty, and solidity.
  • ʾăḇānayik (אֲבָנַיִךְ) means "your stones," referring to the common building blocks that were once perhaps rubble, now destined for magnificent elevation.

• and lay your foundations with sapphires: Wîsadtîḵ ba-sappîrîm (וִיסַדְתִּיךְ בַּסַּפִּירִים).

  • Wîsadtîḵ (וִיסַדְתִּיךְ) means "and I will lay your foundations," signifying an act of firm establishment, promising enduring stability and permanence under divine construction.
  • Sappîrîm (סַפִּירִים), "sapphires," are highly precious, often blue, gemstones. They symbolize extreme value, heavenly splendor, divine glory, and the very presence of God (e.g., Exod 24:10, Ezek 1:26). Their use for foundations elevates the city's future status to one of divine and unearthly beauty and security.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "O afflicted city, tempest-tossed, and not comforted": This opening phrase starkly captures the profound distress and abandonment felt by Jerusalem. It uses a triple descriptive phrase to emphasize the depth of the city's (and thus the people's) physical destruction, social upheaval, and emotional despair. It acknowledges the lived reality of suffering.
  • "behold, I will set your stones in antimony, and lay your foundations with sapphires": This portion provides a powerful contrast and promise. "Behold" marks God's decisive intervention. The transformation is complete: from uncomforted ruins to a city constructed with precious materials, its ordinary "stones" elevated, and its "foundations"—the very basis of its existence—laid with divinely significant "sapphires." This signifies not just physical rebuilding but also a profound spiritual and social renewal, marking an enduring, glorious, and divinely secured future.

Isaiah 54 11 Bonus section

The prophetic vision in Isaiah 54:11, detailing the reconstruction of Jerusalem with precious materials like antimony and sapphires, directly prefigures and deeply influences the imagery of the New Jerusalem found in Revelation 21. This strong textual link emphasizes that Isaiah's vision points towards an ultimate, eternal fulfillment in God's completed kingdom, rather than just a temporary, earthly rebuilding. The "afflicted city" is not only Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile but also the collective body of God's suffering people throughout history, including the Church. God's promise to "set your stones" and "lay your foundations" goes beyond typical construction; it is a profound declaration of His meticulous care, His personal investment in His people, and His commitment to establishing a lasting and glorious future for them, secured by His own divine character. The shift from human failure and destruction to divine rebuilding underscores that this salvation is not earned but is a gracious gift from God.

Isaiah 54 11 Commentary

Isaiah 54:11 is a prophetic declaration of God's magnificent restoration for His deeply wounded people. It vividly portrays a dramatic shift from profound desolation to extraordinary glory, entirely orchestrated by divine power and love. The city, once depicted as suffering the extremes of affliction, tossed by tempests, and devoid of any human comfort, is promised a miraculous transformation. God Himself becomes the architect and builder, taking the ruined elements ("your stones") and setting them within precious, perhaps dark and shimmering, antimony, providing a striking contrast and highlight. Even more significant, the very bedrock ("your foundations") of this rebuilt city will be established with sapphires, gemstones that traditionally signify celestial glory, immense value, and divine presence. This imagery surpasses mere physical reconstruction; it symbolizes an eternal covenant of peace, spiritual beautification, unshakeable security, and a re-established, unbreakable relationship between God and His people, foreshadowing the ultimate splendor of the New Jerusalem. It is a promise that sorrow will be turned into unparalleled triumph, a testimony to God's compassionate nature as the one who comforts the desolate and exalts the humble.