Isaiah 61:4 kjv
And they shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations.
Isaiah 61:4 nkjv
And they shall rebuild the old ruins, They shall raise up the former desolations, And they shall repair the ruined cities, The desolations of many generations.
Isaiah 61:4 niv
They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations.
Isaiah 61:4 esv
They shall build up the ancient ruins; they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations.
Isaiah 61:4 nlt
They will rebuild the ancient ruins,
repairing cities destroyed long ago.
They will revive them,
though they have been deserted for many generations.
Isaiah 61 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isaiah 58:12 | "And your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations..." | Foreshadows rebuilding and generational impact |
| Psalm 22:30 | "Posterity shall serve him; it shall be recounted of the Lord to the next generation." | Continuous service to God |
| Psalm 100:5 | "For the LORD is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations." | God's enduring faithfulness |
| Proverbs 13:22 | "A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children..." | Inheritance passed down |
| Malachi 4:6 | "and he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers..." | Reconciliation of generations |
| Luke 1:49 | "for he who is mighty has done great things for me..." | God's mighty acts |
| Acts 2:39 | "For the promise is for you and for your children..." | Promise extending to future generations |
| Romans 11:17 | "...and though some of the branches were broken off, and you, a wild olive tree, were grafted in..." | Grafting into the lineage of faith |
| Ephesians 2:10 | "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works..." | Created for good works |
| Ephesians 3:21 | "to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever." | Glory through generations |
| Hebrews 11:9 | "By faith he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a foreign country, encamping with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise." | Heirs of the promise |
| 1 Peter 1:24-25 | "for 'All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of the field; the grass withers, the flower falls, but the word of the Lord remains forever.'" | Enduring Word |
| Revelation 7:9 | "After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages..." | Unified multitude |
| Genesis 17:7 | "I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations..." | Covenant and generations |
| Psalm 48:13 | "Consider her ramparts, set up her castles, that you may tell it to the next generation..." | Historical recounting |
| Jeremiah 12:16 | "If they will diligently learn the ways of my people, to swear by my name, 'As the LORD lives,' even as they taught my people to swear by Baal, then they shall be built up in the midst of my people." | Building up among people |
| Haggai 2:23 | "'On that day, declares the LORD of hosts, I will take you, O Zerubbabel my servant, son of Shealtiel, declares the LORD, and I will make you like a signet ring, for I have chosen you, declares the LORD of hosts.'" | Chosen servant, signet ring |
| Acts 4:12 | "And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” | Salvation in Christ |
| 1 Corinthians 15:57 | "But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." | Victory in Christ |
| Revelation 21:3 | "And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.” | God dwelling with His people |
| Revelation 21:4 | "He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” | End of sorrow, eternal peace |
Isaiah 61 verses
Isaiah 61 4 Meaning
This verse describes the enduring legacy of God's faithful people, who will establish and rebuild in their inheritance. They will leave a lasting testimony of God's goodness to future generations, never to be removed.
Isaiah 61 4 Context
Isaiah 61 is a prophecy of restoration and blessing. It begins with the Messiah being anointed to proclaim good news to the afflicted (vv. 1-3). Following this, the people who were formerly devastated and exiled will be the ones who rebuild and bring stability. The verse itself follows the declaration of restoration for the community of faith. It emphasizes their enduring presence and impact on their inheritance.
Isaiah 61 4 Word Analysis
וּבָנָ֤וּ (uvnavu): And they shall build. Hebrew verb form
banah, meaning to build, build up, establish. It implies constructing structures, but also establishing families, communities, or even religious institutions.שְׁבוּרֵיכֶם (sh'vureichem): Your ruins. Plural of
shavur, from the rootshavar(to break, shatter). Refers to breaches, broken places, or devastated areas.מִשְּׁמֹת (mishmot): From generations. Hebrew preposition
min(from) plus plural nounmot, derived frommo(time), or referring to generations of people. It can also be related tomaveth(death) but here implies extending through time or succeeding generations.וְיִקּוֹמְמ֔וּ (veyikko·mu): And they shall raise up. Hebrew verb
qum, meaning to rise, stand up, establish, fulfill. Here it conveys bringing back to a standing or prosperous state, possibly the ruins.תְּיַסְּד֑וּ (teyassedhu): You shall lay the foundation. Hebrew verb
yasad, meaning to found, establish, lay a foundation. It signifies establishing firm bases for the future.חָרְבוֹת (khorvot): Desolations. Plural of
khorev, meaning waste, desolation, ruin. Corresponds withsh'vureichem(your ruins).עֹלָמִים (olamim): Everlasting. Plural of
olam, meaning perpetuity, eternity, enduring time. Emphasizes a perpetual state or unending duration.וְיַעֲמִ֖ידוּ (veyahaminu): And they shall stand, or set up. Another form of
qum. This reinforces the idea of standing firm, establishing, or continuing.Word Groups Analysis:
- "build your ruins" (
uvnavu sh'vureichem): This paradoxically speaks of rebuilding what was broken down. It's not just reconstruction, but a revival and renewal of what was devastated. - "raise up foundations of everlasting" (
veyikko·mu teyassedhu kharvot olamim): This phrase highlights the generational and enduring nature of their future efforts. They are not just fixing past damage, but establishing a lasting, continuous presence. This implies not just physical structures, but a spiritual and community foundation that will last.
- "build your ruins" (
Isaiah 61 4 Bonus Section
The concept of rebuilding ruins and establishing foundations for future generations is a theme that resonates throughout Scripture. It’s not just about recovering from destruction but about actively laying groundwork for enduring faith and life. This rebuilding effort by God's people becomes a testament to His faithfulness and His power to restore. In the New Testament, this concept is powerfully fulfilled in Christ and His church. Believers, through faith, are built into a spiritual house (1 Peter 2:5), and their ministries and witness serve to lay foundations for the spread of the Gospel and the establishment of God's kingdom throughout history. The spiritual inheritance of faith, passed from generation to generation, is also a key aspect of this enduring legacy.
Isaiah 61 4 Commentary
This verse points to a people, deeply impacted by ruin and desolation, who will then engage in profound acts of rebuilding. Their labor is not temporary; it is meant to establish foundations that endure through "everlasting generations." This speaks of a restored community that will not only reconstruct its physical surroundings but will also lay down principles and traditions that benefit future generations. Their legacy will be one of resilience, faith, and faithful continuation, ensuring that the work of God's people is never forgotten or erased from the land. It signifies a divine empowerment for a generational work of establishment and testimony.