The Meaning of Isaiah 25:4 Explained

Isaiah 25:4

KJV: For thou hast been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat, when the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall.

YLT: For Thou hast been a stronghold for the poor, A stronghold for the needy in his distress, A refuge from storm, a shadow from heat, When the spirit of the terrible is as a storm -- a wall.

Darby: For thou hast been a fortress to the poor, a fortress for the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat: for the blast of the terrible ones has been as the storm against a wall.

ASV: For thou hast been a stronghold to the poor, a stronghold to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shade from the heat, when the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

For thou hast been a strength  to the poor,  a strength  to the needy  in his distress,  a refuge  from the storm,  a shadow  from the heat,  when the blast  of the terrible ones  [is] as a storm  [against] the wall. 

What does Isaiah 25:4 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Specifically, they will confess how He delivered those who trusted in Him (during the Tribulation) in spite of the fierce antagonism of their enemies, which was like driving rain (cf. Psalm 61:2-4).

Context Summary

Isaiah 25:1-12 - Sorrow Turned To Gladness
Here is a song of thanksgiving at the fall of Babylon. When she fell, a sigh of relief passed over the whole world, and strong, terrible nations over which she had exerted her tyranny gratefully recognized the goodness and righteousness of Jehovah. We may anticipate, as we read these glowing words, what that song will be when the spirited Babylon is overthrown, Revelation 19:1-7.
Notice how God suits Himself to our need, whether for strength, or refuge, or shadow. Take from Him what you are needing most. As the cloud draws its veil over the burning sunshine to mitigate its heat, so does God interpose to reduce the sufferings of His own. The branch, that is, the exulting song of the terrible ones, their song of triumph, shall be hushed. From Isaiah 25:6 we learn that the hunger of man for God can only be satisfied in Jesus; and from Isaiah 25:7, that the dread of death and the hereafter, which has lain heavily on humanity as a pall shall be forever ended, when Jesus comes the second time unto salvation. Compare 1 Corinthians 15:54. God will not only wipe tears from our eyes but the fountains of tears shall be dried up, Revelation 21:4. [source]

Chapter Summary: Isaiah 25

1  Song of Praise for God's Favor

What do the individual words in Isaiah 25:4 mean?

For You have been a strength to the poor to the needy in his distress to a refuge from the storm a shade from the heat for the blast of the terrible ones [is] as a storm [against] the wall
כִּֽי־ הָיִ֨יתָ מָע֥וֹז לַדָּ֛ל לָאֶבְי֖וֹן בַּצַּר־ ל֑וֹ מַחְסֶ֤ה מִזֶּ֙רֶם֙ צֵ֣ל מֵחֹ֔רֶב כִּ֛י ר֥וּחַ עָרִיצִ֖ים כְּזֶ֥רֶם קִֽיר

הָיִ֨יתָ  You  have  been 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
מָע֥וֹז  a  strength 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: מָעֹוז 
Sense: place or means of safety, protection, refuge, stronghold.
לַדָּ֛ל  to  the  poor 
Parse: Preposition-l, Article, Adjective, masculine singular construct
Root: דַּל  
Sense: low, poor, weak, thin, one who is low.
לָאֶבְי֖וֹן  to  the  needy 
Parse: Preposition-l, Article, Adjective, masculine singular
Root: אֶבְיׄון  
Sense: in want, needy, chiefly poor, needy person.
בַּצַּר־  in  his  distress 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Adjective, masculine singular
Root: צַר 
Sense: narrow, tight.
מַחְסֶ֤ה  a  refuge 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: מַחְסֶה  
Sense: refuge, shelter.
מִזֶּ֙רֶם֙  from  the  storm 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, masculine singular
Root: זֶרֶם  
Sense: rain-shower, thunderstorm, flood of rain, downpour, rain-storm.
צֵ֣ל  a  shade 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: צֵל  
Sense: shadow, shade.
מֵחֹ֔רֶב  from  the  heat 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, masculine singular
Root: חֹרֶב 
Sense: dryness, desolation, drought, heat.
ר֥וּחַ  the  blast 
Parse: Noun, common singular construct
Root: רוּחַ  
Sense: wind, breath, mind, spirit.
עָרִיצִ֖ים  of  the  terrible  ones 
Parse: Adjective, masculine plural
Root: עָרִיץ  
Sense: awe-inspiring, terror-striking, awesome, terrifying, ruthless, mighty.
כְּזֶ֥רֶם  [is]  as  a  storm 
Parse: Preposition-k, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: זֶרֶם  
Sense: rain-shower, thunderstorm, flood of rain, downpour, rain-storm.
קִֽיר  [against]  the  wall 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: קִיר  
Sense: wall, side.