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 11 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isaiah 60:17 | I will make your overseers peace and your employers righteousness. | Future glory and perfect rule |
| Revelation 21:18-19 | The material was fine jasper, but the city was pure gold, like clear glass. The great city was richly adorned with every kind of jewel. | Heavenly city description |
| Revelation 21:21 | Each of the twelve gates was a single pearl, each gate made of a single pearl. The street of the city was made of pure gold, transparent as glass. | New Jerusalem's beauty |
| Jeremiah 31:4 | "Once more you will be rebuilt, Virgin Israel. You will flourish... | Restoration of Israel |
| Zechariah 14:20-21 | "On that day 'HOLINESS TO THE LORD' will be inscribed on the bells of the horses, and on the pots in the house of the LORD will be like the basins before the altar." | Sacredness of the restored city |
| Psalm 45:13 | The king's daughter is all glorious within her inner chamber; she is clad in gold embroidery. | Majesty of the bride of Christ |
| 1 Peter 2:5 | you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house... | Believers as living stones |
| Ephesians 2:20-22 | ...built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. | Christ as cornerstone |
| Isaiah 49:17-18 | Your builders will hasten, and your destroyers who laid you waste will go out from you. Lift up your eyes and look around; all these your children gather to you. | Swift restoration and increase |
| Isaiah 54:14-16 | You will be established in righteousness; you will be far from oppression, for you shall not fear; and from terror, for it shall not come near you. Indeed they shall surely gather together, but not because of Me. Whoever gathers together against you shall fall for your sake. | God's protective power |
| Isaiah 61:3 | And provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of heaviness. | God's comfort and beauty for Zion |
| Matthew 13:44-46 | The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field... like a merchant searching for fine pearls. | Value of the Kingdom |
| Hebrews 12:22-23 | But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem... and to the church of the firstborn whose names are written in heaven. | Heavenly Jerusalem |
| John 14:2-3 | My Father’s house has many rooms; if it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me... | Christ preparing a dwelling |
| Revelation 7:9 | After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language... | Diverse redeemed people |
| Revelation 21:9 | One of the seven angels... said to me, “Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.” | The Bride of Christ |
| Revelation 22:2 | ...in the middle of its street, and on either side of the river was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit... | Tree of life and its fruit |
| Revelation 22:14 | Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by its gates. | Entry to the city |
| Titus 2:13 | ...while we wait for the blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. | Appearance of Christ's glory |
| Psalm 27:1 | The LORD is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid? | God as stronghold and light |
| Nahum 1:7 | The LORD is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He knows those who take refuge in him. | God as a refuge |
Isaiah 54 verses
Isaiah 54 11 Meaning
This verse vividly describes God's boundless compassion and restoration for His people, portrayed as a besieged and distressed city. He promises to rebuild and adorn the city with precious stones, signifying its ultimate glory, security, and beauty under His divine care. The foundation will be made of precious stones and the windows of sparkling jewels, symbolizing an unshakeable and magnificent dwelling place, a foreshadowing of the New Jerusalem.
Isaiah 54 11 Context
Chapter 54 of Isaiah continues the theme of God's unfailing love and restoration for Israel after their period of suffering and exile. The preceding verses speak of a barren woman becoming a mother of many children and a covenant of peace. This specific verse acts as a powerful declaration of the ultimate glorious rebuilding of Jerusalem and, by extension, God's people. It shifts the focus from their present affliction to their future blessedness. The imagery points towards a redeemed people dwelling in a magnificently restored city, a picture that resonates with prophetic visions of a perfected Kingdom. Historically, this would have offered immense comfort and hope to a people who had experienced devastation and displacement.
Isaiah 54 11 Word Analysis
- O thou afflicted: Addressed to Jerusalem or Israel in their time of distress and hardship.
- Tossed with tempest: Depicts a state of great turmoil and lack of stability, like a ship battered by a storm.
- and afflicted: Reinforces the suffering and hardship endured.
- neither comforted: Emphasizes their lack of consolation or relief from their adversaries or circumstances.
- behold: A particle calling attention to what follows, signaling a significant divine declaration.
- I will lay thy stones: God Himself will meticulously place the foundation and structure.
- with saintly stones: Implies precious, pure, and consecrated materials, indicating high value and divine purpose. Some traditions associate this with gemstones.
- and lay thy foundations: Establishing a secure and enduring base.
- with sapphires: A precious blue gemstone, symbolizing heavenly qualities, faithfulness, and beauty.
- And: Conjunction connecting the previous statement to the next.
- I will make thy: God is the active agent in constructing this new reality.
- windows: Openings for light and view, signifying transparency and the inflow of divine light.
- of adamant: Extremely hard and unbreakable material, indicating immense strength and durability for the structures.
- and thy gates: Portals of entry and exit, representing access and protection.
- of sparkling jewels: Translucent and radiant gemstones, highlighting beauty, value, and brilliance.
- word: Referring to the divine decree or promise that will establish this reality.
- The: Article specifying the following nouns.
- street: The pathways and public spaces within the city.
- foundation: The base upon which structures are built, representing stability and permanence.
- jewels: Precious stones used for adornment and substance, signifying immense worth and beauty.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "O thou afflicted, tossed with tempest, and afflicted, neither comforted": This group of phrases powerfully encapsulates the state of extreme suffering, instability, and isolation experienced by the people. It evokes a sense of utter devastation where no earthly comfort can reach them.
- "Behold, I will lay thy stones with saintly stones, and lay thy foundations with sapphires": This phrase is God's direct counter-declaration of restoration. The use of "behold" signifies the momentous nature of His promise. The description of laying stones and foundations with precious and durable materials ("saintly stones," "sapphires") signifies a building of unparalleled beauty, value, and resilience, initiated and guaranteed by God Himself.
- "And I will make thy windows of adamant, and thy gates of sparkling jewels": This builds upon the previous image. "Adamant" (often interpreted as diamond or an equally unbreakable material) for windows speaks of unwavering divine oversight and protection, allowing divine light in but keeping all harm out. "Sparkling jewels" for gates emphasizes the beauty, desirability, and impregnable security of the city when it is fully established and welcoming.
- "and all thy borders of pleasant stones": This phrase, found in some translations, extends the imagery of precious materials to the entire perimeter and structure of the rebuilt city, reinforcing the theme of complete and magnificent restoration.
Isaiah 54 11 Bonus Section
The imagery of precious stones in this verse echoes the Breastplate of the High Priest (Exodus 28:17-21), which bore the twelve tribes of Israel, symbolizing their unity and preciousness to God. It also strongly prefigures the detailed description of the New Jerusalem in Revelation 21, where foundations are adorned with every kind of jewel, and gates are made of pearls, reinforcing the continuity of God's redemptive plan from the Old Testament to its ultimate fulfillment in Christ and the eternal state. The application extends to how believers, as living stones, are being built into a spiritual house where Christ is the cornerstone (1 Peter 2:4-6).
Isaiah 54 11 Commentary
Isaiah 54:11 presents a breathtaking vision of divine architectural promise. It’s God’s assurance to His people that their future will be marked not by affliction and abandonment, but by a magnificent and secure rebuilding. The very foundations and structure of their future dwelling, the restored city and its inhabitants, will be made of the most precious and durable materials. This signifies intrinsic worth, heavenly design, and unassailable security. The "windows of adamant" suggest a divinely fortified perspective, where God’s truth and light penetrate, but no harm can enter. The "gates of sparkling jewels" speak of a beautiful, precious, and ultimately inviolable entry point into God's presence and kingdom. This is a prophetic glimpse of the eternal city, New Jerusalem, where all is perfected in God's glory and presence, fulfilling the promise of ultimate rest and beauty for His people.