The Meaning of Isaiah 54:4 Explained

Isaiah 54:4

KJV: Fear not; for thou shalt not be ashamed: neither be thou confounded; for thou shalt not be put to shame: for thou shalt forget the shame of thy youth, and shalt not remember the reproach of thy widowhood any more.

YLT: And desolate cities they cause to be inhabited. Fear not, for thou art not ashamed, Nor blush, for thou art not confounded, For the shame of thy youth thou forgettest, And the reproach of thy widowhood Thou dost not remember any more.

Darby: Fear not, for thou shalt not be ashamed; neither be thou confounded, for thou shalt not be put to shame: for thou shalt forget the shame of thy youth, and shalt not remember the reproach of thy widowhood any more.

ASV: Fear not; for thou shalt not be ashamed: neither be thou confounded; for thou shalt not be put to shame: for thou shalt forget the shame of thy youth; and the reproach of thy widowhood shalt thou remember no more.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Fear  not; for thou shalt not be ashamed:  neither be thou confounded;  for thou shalt not be put to shame:  for thou shalt forget  the shame  of thy youth,  and shalt not remember  the reproach  of thy widowhood  any more. 

What does Isaiah 54:4 Mean?

Verse Meaning

God"s third command (cf. Isaiah 54:1-2) was not to fear. These were not idle promises; God would stand behind them and bring them to pass. Sarah initially felt ashamed because she did not believe the Lord would give her a child ( Genesis 18:12-14; cf. Genesis 16:4; 1 Samuel 1:6; 1 Samuel 1:25; Luke 1:25). Nevertheless, God stood by His promise, gave her a child, and she had no reason to feel ashamed. The relative barrenness of God"s people throughout their lifetime would end, and their reproach would pass away. Israel"s youth included Egyptian slavery (cf. Jeremiah 2:2-3), and her widowhood involved Babylonian captivity.

Context Summary

Isaiah 54:1-17 - The Wondrous Love Of God
We have heard the exiles summoned to leave Babylon, and have beheld the Savior becoming the sin-bearer. Here our attention is recalled to the still desolate condition of Jerusalem. See Nehemiah 1:3; Nehemiah 2:3; Nehemiah 2:13-17. Jehovah says, Sing, but Israel replies that she cannot sing so long as she lies desolate. In reply God declares His inalienable love: He is their husband still and has sworn that the waters of death and destruction shall never be able to separate them from Himself. The kindness of His mercy is everlasting, and His covenant of peace shall outlast the mountains and hills.
In the closing paragraph, Isaiah 54:11-17, we behold the chosen city emerging from her heap of ruins. Watched by the eye of the great Architect, wrought by unseen hands, tested by the line and plummet of righteousness, she arises to fulfill her mission to the world. To inspired hearts it seems as though her common stones are jewels. Her children are taught of the Lord. Every accusing voice is hushed. All weapons of destruction are impotent. The New Jerusalem seems to have come down from heaven. [source]

Chapter Summary: Isaiah 54

1  The prophet, to comfort the Gentiles, prophesies the amplitude of their church
4  Their safety
6  Their certain deliverance out of affliction
11  Their fair edification
15  And their sure preservation

What do the individual words in Isaiah 54:4 mean?

Not do fear for not you will be ashamed and neither be disgraced for you will be put to shame the shame of your youth you will forget and the reproach of your widowhood will remember anymore
אַל־ תִּֽירְאִי֙ כִּי־ לֹ֣א תֵב֔וֹשִׁי וְאַל־ תִּכָּלְמִ֖י כִּ֣י תַחְפִּ֑ירִי בֹ֤שֶׁת עֲלוּמַ֙יִךְ֙ תִּשְׁכָּ֔חִי וְחֶרְפַּ֥ת אַלְמְנוּתַ֖יִךְ תִזְכְּרִי־ עֽוֹד

תִּֽירְאִי֙  do  fear 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person feminine singular
Root: יָרֵא 
Sense: to fear, revere, be afraid.
תֵב֔וֹשִׁי  you  will  be  ashamed 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person feminine singular
Root: בֹּושׁ 
Sense: to put to shame, be ashamed, be disconcerted, be disappointed.
וְאַל־  and  neither 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb
Root: אַל  
Sense: not, no, nor, neither, nothing (as wish or preference).
תִּכָּלְמִ֖י  be  disgraced 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Imperfect, second person feminine singular
Root: כָּלַם  
Sense: to insult, shame, humiliate, blush, be ashamed, be put to shame, be reproached, be put to confusion, be humiliated.
תַחְפִּ֑ירִי  you  will  be  put  to  shame 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, second person feminine singular
Root: חָפַר  
Sense: to be ashamed, be confounded, be abashed, feel abashed.
בֹ֤שֶׁת  the  shame 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: בֹּשֶׁת  
Sense: shame.
עֲלוּמַ֙יִךְ֙  of  your  youth 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, second person feminine singular
Root: עֲלוּמִים  
Sense: youth, youthful, vigour.
תִּשְׁכָּ֔חִי  you  will  forget 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person feminine singular
Root: כָּשַׁח 
Sense: to forget, ignore, wither.
וְחֶרְפַּ֥ת  and  the  reproach 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: חֶרְפָּה  
Sense: reproach, scorn.
אַלְמְנוּתַ֖יִךְ  of  your  widowhood 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural construct, second person feminine singular
Root: אַלְמָנוּת  
Sense: widowhood.
תִזְכְּרִי־  will  remember 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person feminine singular
Root: זָכַר 
Sense: to remember, recall, call to mind.
עֽוֹד  anymore 
Parse: Adverb
Root: עֹוד  
Sense: a going round, continuance adv.