Isaiah 62:12 kjv
And they shall call them, The holy people, The redeemed of the LORD: and thou shalt be called, Sought out, A city not forsaken.
Isaiah 62:12 nkjv
And they shall call them The Holy People, The Redeemed of the LORD; And you shall be called Sought Out, A City Not Forsaken.
Isaiah 62:12 niv
They will be called the Holy People, the Redeemed of the LORD; and you will be called Sought After, the City No Longer Deserted.
Isaiah 62:12 esv
And they shall be called The Holy People, The Redeemed of the LORD; and you shall be called Sought Out, A City Not Forsaken.
Isaiah 62:12 nlt
They will be called "The Holy People"
and "The People Redeemed by the LORD."
And Jerusalem will be known as "The Desirable Place"
and "The City No Longer Forsaken."
Isaiah 62 12 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ex 19:5-6 | "you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation." | Identity as a holy nation for God. |
| Deut 7:6 | "For you are a people holy to the LORD your God." | Echoes the designation "Holy People." |
| 1 Pet 2:9 | "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation..." | NT fulfillment of Israel's holy status in Christ. |
| Isa 35:9-10 | "the redeemed shall walk there... they shall obtain joy and gladness." | Mentions the "redeemed" returning to Zion. |
| Isa 43:1 | "I have called you by name, you are mine... I have redeemed you." | God's personal act of redemption. |
| Psa 107:2 | "Let the redeemed of the LORD say so." | Call for the redeemed to testify of God's goodness. |
| Titus 2:14 | "who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness." | Redemption in Christ from sin. |
| Isa 62:4 | "No longer will they call you Desolate... but My Delight Is in Her." | Direct contrast to being "forsaken" and new names. |
| Isa 49:14-16 | "Can a woman forget her nursing child... I will not forget you." | God's unwavering remembrance despite perceived forsaking. |
| Isa 54:6-7 | "For the LORD has called you like a wife forsaken... for a brief moment I forsook you." | Temporary forsaking, leading to great mercies. |
| Psa 94:14 | "For the LORD will not forsake his people." | Divine promise of unfailing faithfulness. |
| Zech 8:3 | "Thus says the LORD: I have returned to Zion and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem." | God's promised return to dwelling in Zion. |
| Rev 21:2 | "And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven." | Ultimate, holy city, forever God's dwelling. |
| Jer 31:3 | "I have loved you with an everlasting love." | Underlines the eternal nature of God's love. |
| Isa 55:3 | "I will make with you an everlasting covenant." | Reinforces God's unbreakable commitment. |
| Isa 60:1-3 | "Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you." | Envisioning Jerusalem's future glory. |
| Rev 2:17 | "To the one who conquers I will give a white stone, with a new name written on the stone." | Receiving new names in ultimate salvation. |
| Rev 3:12 | "I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God." | Receiving the name of the New Jerusalem. |
| Rom 9:25-26 | "Those who were not my people I will call 'My people'." | Expansion of God's people beyond initial Israel. |
| Joel 3:17 | "So you shall know that I am the LORD your God, who dwells in Zion, my holy mountain." | God's holy dwelling place. |
| Zech 2:10-11 | "Shout and be glad, Daughter Zion, for I am coming to dwell among you." | God's presence as security and glory. |
| Gal 4:26 | "But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother." | Spiritual fulfillment of Jerusalem as the church. |
| Phil 3:20 | "But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior." | Heavenly identity of believers. |
| Heb 12:22 | "But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem." | Believers already partake in heavenly Jerusalem. |
Isaiah 62 verses
Isaiah 62 12 Meaning
Isaiah 62:12 proclaims the glorious new identity and restored status of God's people and the city of Jerusalem. It declares that they will be publicly recognized and given new, divinely bestowed names: "The Holy People" and "The Redeemed of the LORD," emphasizing their sacred nature and the Lord's redemptive work. Furthermore, the city itself, representing the community, will be known as "Sought Out" and "A City Not Forsaken," signifying God's active, permanent interest and presence, completely reversing its former state of desolation and abandonment. This verse is a climactic declaration of God's enduring covenant faithfulness and His ultimate triumph in establishing His dwelling place among a sanctified and redeemed people.
Isaiah 62 12 Context
Isaiah 62 falls within the "Book of Comfort" (Isaiah 40-66), primarily addressing the exilic or post-exilic community of Israel. Chapters 60-62 specifically detail Zion's glorious future, illuminated by God's own glory, and promised ultimate restoration. Chapter 62 portrays God as intensely committed to Zion's vindication and salvation, promising not to rest until Jerusalem's righteousness shines brightly. It emphasizes a dramatic transformation for Jerusalem and its inhabitants, moving from a state of desolation, neglect, and being "forsaken" (implied from Isa 62:4, also historical reality of the destroyed city during Babylonian exile) to one of profound glory, divine favor, and renown among nations. The preceding verses (62:1-11) build anticipation for this new identity and recognition, detailing how Jerusalem will become a "crown of beauty" and a "royal diadem" in God's hand, given new names, and that "salvation is coming." Verse 12 serves as the climax, solidifying these promises with specific new designations for both the people and the city, ensuring they will never again experience the shame of abandonment.
Isaiah 62 12 Word analysis
And they shall call them: (וְקָרְא֤וּ - vəqāre'ū)
- They: This pronoun suggests broad recognition, likely by the surrounding nations or people universally. It signifies an external acknowledgement of God's work.
- Call: This act of "calling" (or naming) in Hebrew thought bestows identity and pronounces destiny. It is a definitive public declaration, establishing the new reality.
The Holy People: (עַם־הַקֹּ֔דֶשׁ - ʿam-haqqōḏeš)
- Holy: (קֹדֶשׁ - qōḏeš) Denotes separation and dedication to God. It implies intrinsic purity and divine ownership, distinguishing Israel from all other nations. Their holiness is not inherent but derived from God's choosing and sanctifying act.
The Redeemed of the LORD: (גְּאוּלֵ֣י יְהוָ֑ה - gə'ûlê YHWH)
- Redeemed: (גְּאוּלֵי - gə'ûlê) From the root גאל (ga'al), which signifies to buy back, recover, or act as a kinsman-redeemer (go'el). It highlights liberation from bondage (e.g., exile, sin, spiritual death) and restoration to former rights and property.
- of the LORD: Emphasizes that this redemption is exclusively God's initiative and power, not man's effort. It signifies belonging to Him.
and you shall be called: (וְלָךְ֙ יִקָּרֵ֔א - vəlāḵ yiqqārēʾ)
- You: Refers specifically to the city of Zion/Jerusalem (feminine singular pronoun), which often stands for its inhabitants.
- Shall be called: Passive voice indicates a divinely initiated bestowment of identity, rather than self-declaration. God Himself orchestrates this new naming.
Sought Out: (דְּרוּשָׁ֖ה - dərûšāh)
- This passive participle from דָּרַשׁ (dāraš, to seek, search, inquire, desire) means actively looked for, cared for, or desired. It reverses Zion's previous state of being overlooked or neglected, suggesting God's renewed, intense, and favorable attention.
A City Not Forsaken: (עִ֣יר לֹא֩ נֶעֱזָֽבָה׃ - ʿîr lōʾ neʿězāḇāh)
- City: (עִיר - ʿîr) Specifies Jerusalem.
- Not Forsaken: (לֹא נֶעֱזָבָה - lōʾ neʿězāḇāh) Directly counters previous descriptions and experiences of Jerusalem being abandoned, desolate, or "Desolate" (ʿăzûḇāh) (as in Isa 62:4). It promises God's permanent presence, care, and protection, assuring its eternal security and rejection of any future abandonment.
Isaiah 62 12 Bonus section
The naming conventions in this verse are not merely descriptive but prescriptive and performative. They signify a fundamental change in status and destiny. In the ancient Near East, a name defined one's character, relationship, and fate. God's giving of these new names (both explicitly mentioned here and hinted at in 62:4) guarantees the new reality. This is part of the larger "new heavens and new earth" motif in Isaiah, where the former things pass away, and God creates all things new, including the very identity of His people and their dwelling place. The terms anticipate a comprehensive spiritual and physical restoration, fulfilled progressively through the Church and ultimately in the New Jerusalem.
Isaiah 62 12 Commentary
Isaiah 62:12 serves as the climactic assurance of Zion's glorious transformation and secure future. It pronounces a new divine identity for God's people and the city of Jerusalem, signaling a complete reversal of their past shame and desolation. "The Holy People" underscores their sacred, set-apart status, rooted in God's election and sanctification, not their own merit. They are not merely any nation but specifically God's chosen for His divine purpose. "The Redeemed of the LORD" highlights the source of this new status: God's powerful, liberating act as the Go'el (Kinsman-Redeemer) who rescues them from oppression, sin, and exile, and restores them to a right relationship with Himself.
The designation of the city as "Sought Out" emphatically demonstrates God's intense, personal interest and proactive engagement. No longer forgotten or ignored, Jerusalem becomes the focus of divine attention and favor, reversing its prior state of ruin and neglect. This new name implicitly celebrates its value and desirability in God's eyes. Finally, "A City Not Forsaken" delivers the ultimate comfort, directly refuting the previous fears and reality of abandonment that came with judgment and exile. It affirms God's covenant faithfulness and permanent presence within Jerusalem, assuring its perpetual dwelling, safety, and prosperity. This verse encapsulates the eschatological hope for a divinely established and maintained community, serving as a beacon of God's redemptive power and enduring love.