Isaiah 62 6

Isaiah 62:6 kjv

I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the LORD, keep not silence,

Isaiah 62:6 nkjv

I have set watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem; They shall never hold their peace day or night. You who make mention of the LORD, do not keep silent,

Isaiah 62:6 niv

I have posted watchmen on your walls, Jerusalem; they will never be silent day or night. You who call on the LORD, give yourselves no rest,

Isaiah 62:6 esv

On your walls, O Jerusalem, I have set watchmen; all the day and all the night they shall never be silent. You who put the LORD in remembrance, take no rest,

Isaiah 62:6 nlt

O Jerusalem, I have posted watchmen on your walls;
they will pray day and night, continually.
Take no rest, all you who pray to the LORD.

Isaiah 62 verses

Isaiah 62 6 Meaning

Isaiah 62:6 reveals God's divine appointment of watchmen, or intercessors, on Jerusalem's walls. These watchmen are called to a ministry of unceasing prayer and petition to the Lord. Their solemn charge is to persistently remind God of His covenant promises concerning Jerusalem's restoration and glory, allowing Him no rest until His word is fully accomplished and Zion becomes a praise throughout the earth. This verse emphasizes the power and necessity of persistent, expectant prayer aligned with God's prophetic purposes.

Isaiah 62 6 Context

Isaiah chapter 62 bursts forth with renewed hope and declarations of Zion's glorious future. Preceding this verse, the prophet, speaking on behalf of God, pledges an unwavering commitment to Jerusalem's restoration, promising that her righteousness will shine like the dawn and her salvation like a burning torch (Isa 62:1). He proclaims new names for Jerusalem, indicating a complete transformation from being "forsaken" or "desolate" to being "My delight is in her" (Hephzibah) and "Married" (Beulah), reflecting God's intimate and joyful relationship with His city (Isa 62:2-5). The historical context is generally seen through the lens of post-exilic longing, though the prophetic vision extends far beyond any historical return to Jerusalem. It encompasses a complete eschatological restoration and glorification, ultimately fulfilled in the new heavens and new earth. Against this backdrop of divine promise and future glory, Isaiah 62:6 then introduces human participation – the role of watchmen whose intercession serves as a vital bridge between God's promise and its manifestation, showing that God's plan often includes His people's prayers.

Isaiah 62 6 Word analysis

• עַל־חוֹמֹתַ֙יִךְ֙ יְר֣וּשָׁלִַ֗ם (al chomotayich Yerushalayim) – "On your walls, O Jerusalem":
  • חוֹמֹת (chomot): Walls. In ancient cities, walls were for defense, security, and identity. Watchmen would patrol them, guarding against physical threats. Spiritually, they represent boundaries, protection, and the visibility of God's people. Placing watchmen "on" them signifies an elevated vantage point, alertness, and public position.
  • יְרוּשָׁלִַם (Yerushalayim): Jerusalem. Not merely a physical city, but the chosen city of God, symbolizing God's presence, kingdom, and covenant people. It carries profound theological significance as the future center of God's reign and a dwelling place for His glory.
• הִפְקַ֣דְתִּי (hifkadti) – "I have appointed/posted":
  • Root פקד (paqad): To visit, attend to, appoint, commit, muster, remember. The Hiphil conjugation (hifkadti) means "I have appointed" or "I have caused to be posted." This emphasizes a divine, authoritative initiative. God Himself is the one assigning these roles; it is not a human initiative but a sovereign commission. It denotes intentionality and divine strategy.
• שֹׁמְרִ֔ים (shomrim) – "watchmen/sentinels":
  • Root שמר (shamar): To guard, keep, observe, preserve. Shomrim refers to those who literally keep watch, guard the city, or shepherd a flock. In a prophetic and spiritual sense, it denotes those who are vigilant, alert, and primarily, those who intercede or act as spiritual overseers, much like prophets. They observe for both danger and for the dawn of God's purposes.
• כָּל־הַיּ֖וֹם וְכָל־הַלַּ֑יְלָה (kol hayyom vechol hallaylah) – "all the day and all the night":
  • כָּל (kol): All, every. Emphasizes totality and comprehensiveness.
  • הַיּוֹם (hayyom): The day. הַלַּיְלָה (hallaylah): The night. Together, they signify unceasing, continuous activity. There is no break, no cessation. This speaks to relentless vigilance and unwavering commitment.
• תָּמִ֞יד (tamid) – "continually/without ceasing":
  • An adverb reinforcing the concept of ceaselessness already established by "day and night." It indicates a perpetual, unwavering nature of their activity. This word is often used in relation to temple rituals that were performed daily and continuously, implying a sacred and regular duty.
• לֹא־יֶחֱשׁ֤וּ (lo-yecheshu) – "they will not keep silent/be silent":
  • Root חשׁה (hashah): To be silent, keep quiet, to rest. The negative "לֹא (lo)" combined with the future tense ("will not") indicates an emphatic prohibition against silence. This silence is not merely an absence of noise, but a cessation of appeal or intercession. Their mission requires continuous speech towards God.
• הַמַּזְכִּרִ֥ים אֶת־יְהוָ֖ה (hammaskirim et Yahweh) – "You who put the LORD in remembrance" / "You who call upon the LORD":
  • מַזְכִּרִים (maskirim): The Hiphil participle of זכר (zakhar), meaning "to remember." In the Hiphil, it means "to cause to remember," "to bring to remembrance," or "to remind." This is a crucial and profound concept. It does not imply that God forgets His promises; rather, it highlights the function of intercession as actively recalling God's covenant word back to Him. It's a bold, faith-filled engagement with God's nature and promises, stirring His responsiveness and aligning human will with divine will. It's an active partnership where believers present God's own declarations back to Him.
  • אֶת־יְהוָה (et Yahweh): The LORD, the covenant God of Israel. Directing their "reminding" specifically to Yahweh underscores His covenant faithfulness and power to act.
• Words-group analysis:
  • "I have appointed watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem": This phrase establishes God's initiative in assigning a specific spiritual role. The "walls" suggest a strategic, defensive, and visible position for this task, directly connected to the well-being and identity of Jerusalem (God's people).
  • "all the day and all the night, continually": This triple emphasis on unending action ("day," "night," "continually") underscores the relentless, vigilant, and persevering nature of the watchmen's assignment. There is no break in their duty; it's a ministry of persistent engagement.
  • "they will not keep silent, you who put the LORD in remembrance": This identifies the core activity of these watchmen: prayer and intercession that is unceasing and specific. The negative "not keep silent" (active speech towards God) is clarified by "you who put the LORD in remembrance," detailing what they are not silent about – they are consistently appealing to God based on His promises. This isn't mere verbalizing; it's a strategic, covenantal intercession.

Isaiah 62 6 Bonus section

The concept of "putting the LORD in remembrance" (מַזְכִּרִים - maskirim) reflects a deep theological truth in Hebrew thought. It is not an act of reminding an oblivious God, but rather:

• An appeal to God's covenant faithfulness: It means reminding God of His character and commitments. It's a prayer rooted in His promises and His name (Yahweh), demonstrating trust that He is true to His word.
• Aligning human will with divine will: When believers remind God of His word, they are essentially echoing His own heart and plan back to Him, signifying their agreement and desire for His will to be done.
• Expressing fervent desire and expectation: The continuous nature implies an earnest longing and active expectation for the fulfillment of the divine promises. This isn't passive waiting but active, faith-filled pursuit.
• The priest-like role of intercessors: In the Old Testament, there were often priestly functions of bringing things "into remembrance" before God (e.g., the memorial stones, the Urim and Thummim, the breastplate worn by the high priest with the names of the tribes). The intercessor thus takes on a quasi-priestly role, standing between God and His people, presenting their cause and God's promises.
• Corporate intercession: While individuals can be watchmen, the plural "watchmen" and "you who put..." strongly suggests a corporate body of believers engaged in this unceasing intercession. It's a community task for the good of God's people (Jerusalem).

Isaiah 62 6 Commentary

Isaiah 62:6 presents a profound image of divine partnership in the outworking of God's redemptive plan. God Himself initiates and commissions "watchmen" to Jerusalem's walls, highlighting the spiritual significance of His chosen city and the necessity of guarding its divine destiny. These watchmen are not merely physical sentinels; their "keeping watch" is translated into incessant, focused intercession. Their charge to "not keep silent" emphasizes a proactive, sustained spiritual activity rather than passive waiting. The powerful phrase "you who put the LORD in remembrance" reveals the essence of their prayer: not informing an amnesiac God, but passionately bringing His own prophetic declarations and covenant promises back before His throne. It's a prayer of faith that engages God's faithfulness and divine purpose. This constant appeal serves as a catalyst for the fulfillment of Jerusalem's destiny as depicted throughout Isaiah 62. It calls God's people to align their prayers with His expressed will, demonstrating that while God's plan is certain, He often involves His people's persistent pleas in its manifestation. This ancient charge remains a call for believers today to intercede tirelessly for the fulfillment of God's promises in their lives, communities, and the world, giving Him no rest until His kingdom comes and His will is done.