The Meaning of Isaiah 54:11 Explained

Isaiah 54:11

KJV: O thou afflicted, tossed with tempest, and not comforted, behold, I will lay thy stones with fair colours, and lay thy foundations with sapphires.

YLT: O afflicted, storm-tossed, not comforted, Lo, I am laying with cement thy stones, And have founded thee with sapphires,

Darby: Thou afflicted, tossed with tempest, not comforted! Behold, I will set thy stones in antimony, and lay thy foundations with sapphires;

ASV: O thou afflicted, tossed with tempest, and not comforted, behold, I will set thy stones in fair colors, and lay thy foundations with sapphires.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

O thou afflicted,  tossed with tempest,  [and] not comforted,  behold, I will lay  thy stones  with fair colours,  and lay thy foundations  with sapphires. 

What does Isaiah 54:11 Mean?

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 54:11 mean?

You afflicted one Tossed with tempest not [and] comforted behold I will lay with colorful gems your stones and lay your foundations with sapphires
עֲנִיָּ֥ה סֹעֲרָ֖ה לֹ֣א נֻחָ֑מָה הִנֵּ֨ה אָנֹכִ֜י מַרְבִּ֤יץ בַּפּוּךְ֙ אֲבָנַ֔יִךְ וִיסַדְתִּ֖יךְ בַּסַּפִּירִֽים

עֲנִיָּ֥ה  You  afflicted  one 
Parse: Adjective, feminine singular
Root: עָנִי  
Sense: poor, afflicted, humble, wretched.
סֹעֲרָ֖ה  Tossed  with  tempest 
Parse: Verb, Pual, Perfect, third person feminine singular
Root: סָעַר  
Sense: to storm, rage.
נֻחָ֑מָה  [and]  comforted 
Parse: Verb, Pual, Perfect, third person feminine singular
Root: נָחַם  
Sense: to be sorry, console oneself, repent, regret, comfort, be comforted.
הִנֵּ֨ה  behold 
Parse: Interjection
Root: הִנֵּה  
Sense: behold, lo, see, if.
מַרְבִּ֤יץ  will  lay 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Participle, masculine singular
Root: רָבַץ  
Sense: to stretch oneself out, lie down, lie stretched out.
בַּפּוּךְ֙  with  colorful  gems 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: פּוּךְ  
Sense: antimony, stibium, black paint.
אֲבָנַ֔יִךְ  your  stones 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural construct, second person feminine singular
Root: אֶבֶן  
Sense: stone (large or small).
וִיסַדְתִּ֖יךְ  and  lay  your  foundations 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, first person common singular, second person feminine singular
Root: יָסַד 
Sense: to found, fix, establish, lay foundation.
בַּסַּפִּירִֽים  with  sapphires 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: סַפִּיר  
Sense: sapphire, lapis lazuli.