Isaiah 58 8

Isaiah 58:8 kjv

Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the LORD shall be thy rereward.

Isaiah 58:8 nkjv

Then your light shall break forth like the morning, Your healing shall spring forth speedily, And your righteousness shall go before you; The glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.

Isaiah 58:8 niv

Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.

Isaiah 58:8 esv

Then shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily; your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.

Isaiah 58:8 nlt

"Then your salvation will come like the dawn,
and your wounds will quickly heal.
Your godliness will lead you forward,
and the glory of the LORD will protect you from behind.

Isaiah 58 verses

Isaiah 58 8 Meaning

Then your light shall break forth like the morning, and your healing shall spring forth speedily; your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.

Isaiah 58 8 Context

This verse is part of a prophetic oracle in Isaiah chapter 58, which calls the people of Judah back to true fasting and worship. The preceding verses describe God's disappointment with their superficial religious practices. He declares that their fasting is not accepted because it is coupled with oppression and iniquity. The prophet Isaiah is instructing the people on what true righteousness and acceptable worship look like. The core message is that external religious observance must be accompanied by genuine acts of justice, compassion, and service to others. This particular verse, Isaiah 58:8, offers a glorious promise that directly follows God's exposition of true righteousness. It assures the people that when they practice the kind of fasting and service God desires – one that is focused on liberation, care, and humility – their present spiritual dimness will be replaced by radiant blessing. The promise is one of restoration, vindication, and divine protection.

Isaiah 58 8 Word Analysis

• Then ( Hebrew: אָז , az): Indicates a consequence or result; it links this promise to the preceding commands and conditions of true righteousness.
• your (Hebrew: ekhem, masculine plural possessive suffix): Refers to the people of Israel, the addressees of the prophecy.
• light (Hebrew: אוֹר , 'or): Signifies radiance, clarity, revelation, blessing, prosperity, and salvation.
• shall break forth (Hebrew: בָּקַע , baqa): Means to split, cleave, break through, or burst forth. It implies an sudden and powerful emergence.
• like (Hebrew: כְּמוֹ , kemoh): A simile, comparing the coming forth of their light to the dawn.
• the morning (Hebrew: בֹּקֶר , boqer): The time of sunrise; it evokes images of a new day, the end of darkness, and the beginning of hope and activity.
• and (Hebrew: וְ , wə): Connects the first promise (light) to the subsequent ones.
• your (ekhem): Again, referring to the people.
• healing (Hebrew: רָפָא , rəphu'ah): Means a remedy, cure, restoration, or wholeness, encompassing physical, spiritual, and national restoration.
• shall spring forth (Hebrew: צָמַח , tsamach): Means to sprout, grow, or emerge, often used for plants, suggesting a natural and inevitable growth.
• speedily (Hebrew: מְהֵרָה , məherah): With haste, quickly, promptly.
• and (wə): Further connection.
• your (ekhem): The people.
• righteousness (Hebrew: צֶדֶק , tseḍeq): Refers to justice, fairness, uprightness, and doing what is right according to God's standards. It is what precedes them.
• shall go (Hebrew: הָלַךְ , halak): Means to walk, go, or march; it suggests guidance or precedence.
• before (Hebrew: לִפְנֵי , liphnēy): In front of; indicating it leads the way.
• you ('atem, masculine plural pronoun): The people.
• and (wə): Final connection.
• the glory (Hebrew: כָּבוֹד , kavod): The manifest presence, honor, splendor, or majesty of God.
• of the LORD (Hebrew: יְהוָה , YHWH): The covenant name of God, emphasizing His faithfulness and power.
• shall be (Hebrew: הָיָה , hayah): Will become or serve as.
• your (ekhem): The people.
• rear guard (Hebrew: אַחֲרָה , 'achar or Hebrew: מְצוּדָה , mətsudah or similar concepts like protection from behind): This Hebrew word here often translates to "rear" or "after you," suggesting divine protection and safekeeping from behind, repelling any pursuers or dangers. It can also imply the divine presence guarding them.

Word Group Analysis

• "light shall break forth like the morning": This phrase evokes an immediate and powerful image of the dawn dispelling the deepest night. It signifies the end of a period of darkness, oppression, or spiritual obscurity, and the rapid onset of clarity, hope, and divine favor. This is a promise of overwhelming and triumphant revelation.
• "your healing shall spring forth speedily": This combines the concept of restoration and wholeness (rəphu'ah) with a swift and natural growth (tsamach, məherah). It assures that the processes of recovery and repair, whether personal or national, will be quick and effective.
• "your righteousness shall go before you": This speaks of divine vindication. Their adherence to true righteousness is not merely an action, but a precursor that leads the way, clearing the path and perhaps signifying that their righteous acts will pave the way for blessing and recognition.
• "the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard": This is a powerful metaphor for divine protection. The manifested presence and power of God Himself is depicted as the force safeguarding them from behind, ensuring that no enemy or danger can approach unnoticed or unchecked.

Isaiah 58 8 Bonus Section

The imagery of the "glory of the LORD" as a "rear guard" is significant. In ancient warfare, the rear guard was a crucial position responsible for protecting the main force from being attacked from behind. By making God's glory this rear guard, Isaiah conveys that the divine presence is actively involved in protecting His people from threats that might seek to exploit their vulnerabilities or undo their progress. This echoes God's faithfulness as seen in the Exodus, where God led His people and also served as a pillar of cloud by day and fire by night, guiding and protecting them. The promise is not just passive protection, but an active, manifest divine engagement safeguarding their well-being and progress on all fronts.

Isaiah 58 8 Commentary

This verse promises a dramatic reversal of fortune for those who embrace true righteousness and compassion. When God's people engage in the kind of fasting that involves justice and kindness—loosening the chains of injustice, feeding the hungry, housing the destitute, and providing for the vulnerable—they are assured of receiving abundant blessings in return. The prophet declares that their period of darkness and struggle will swiftly end, replaced by the brilliant illumination of God's favor and presence. This light symbolizes divine guidance, prosperity, and public vindication. Furthermore, their righteousness will actively lead them into blessed outcomes, clearing their path. The ultimate assurance is the direct presence and protection of God Himself, acting as a shield, covering them from all harm. It highlights the reciprocal nature of God's covenant: obedient faithfulness brings divine favor, rapid healing, and secure protection. It’s a promise of overwhelming divine empowerment that transforms their circumstances from distress to glorious restoration, emphasizing that the very presence of God becomes their ultimate defense.