The Meaning of Isaiah 55:4 Explained

Isaiah 55:4

KJV: Behold, I have given him for a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people.

YLT: Lo, a witness to peoples I have given him, A leader and commander to peoples.

Darby: Behold, I have given him for a witness to the peoples, a prince and commander to the peoples.

ASV: Behold, I have given him for a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander to the peoples.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Behold, I have given  him [for] a witness  to the people,  a leader  and commander  to the people. 

What does Isaiah 55:4 Mean?

Context Summary

Isaiah 55:1-13 - The Free Offer Of Pardoning Grace
The Prince of Life, Isaiah 55:4, r.v. Four times in the New Testament this title is applied to our Lord, and always in connection with His Resurrection. See Acts 3:14-15; Acts 5:31; Hebrews 2:9-10; Hebrews 12:2, where the words prince, author, and captain, are various translations of the same Greek word. The meaning of the original word is file leader. He leads out of death into life; out of defeat into victory; out of suffering into perfection; out of the sorrow and pain of discipline into the triumph of the sons of light.
The everlasting covenant, Isaiah 55:3. David's sin could not cancel the sure mercies of God. See 2 Samuel 7:14-16 and 2 Samuel 23:5. God will never go back on that covenant which includes us! See Hebrews 8:1-13. God's mercies in Christ are sure. Listen! Come! Hear! We are not only forever safe, but we are provided against all want.
God's abundant provision is described under several terms: waters, wine, milk, wholesome and satisfying bread, the good, fatness, Isaiah 55:1-2. We are blessed with all spiritual blessings in Christ, Ephesians 1:3. And because God's thoughts and ways are not as ours, the result is the transformation of thorns into firs and briars into myrtles. [source]

Chapter Summary: Isaiah 55

1  The prophet, with the promises of Christ, calls to faith
6  And to repentance
8  The happy success of those who believe

What do the individual words in Isaiah 55:4 mean?

Indeed [as] a witness to the people I have given him a leader and commander for the people
הֵ֛ן עֵ֥ד לְאוּמִּ֖ים נְתַתִּ֑יו נָגִ֥יד וּמְצַוֵּ֖ה לְאֻמִּֽים

הֵ֛ן  Indeed 
Parse: Interjection
Root: הֵן  
Sense: behold, lo, though hypothetical part.
עֵ֥ד  [as]  a  witness 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: עֵד  
Sense: witness.
לְאוּמִּ֖ים  to  the  people 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: לְאֹם  
Sense: a people, nation.
נְתַתִּ֑יו  I  have  given  him 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common singular, third person masculine singular
Root: יָתַן 
Sense: to give, put, set.
נָגִ֥יד  a  leader 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: נָגִיד  
Sense: leader, ruler, captain, prince.
וּמְצַוֵּ֖ה  and  commander 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Piel, Participle, masculine singular
Root: צָוָה  
Sense: to command, charge, give orders, lay charge, give charge to, order.
לְאֻמִּֽים  for  the  people 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: לְאֹם  
Sense: a people, nation.