Isaiah 62

Textual witnesses

Some early manuscripts containing the text of this chapter in Hebrew are of the Masoretic Text tradition, which includes the Codex Cairensis (895), the Petersburg Codex of the Prophets (916), Aleppo Codex (10th century), Codex Leningradensis (1008).^[4]

Fragments containing parts of this chapter were found among the Dead Sea Scrolls (3rd century BC or later):

• 1QIsa^a: complete
• 1QIsa^b: extant: verses 2–12

There is also a translation into Koine Greek known as the Septuagint, made in the last few centuries BC. Extant ancient manuscripts of the Septuagint version include Codex Vaticanus (B; ${\displaystyle {\mathfrak {G}}}$^B; 4th century), Codex Sinaiticus (S; BHK: ${\displaystyle {\mathfrak {G}}}$^S; 4th century), Codex Alexandrinus (A; ${\displaystyle {\mathfrak {G}}}$^A; 5th century) and Codex Marchalianus (Q; ${\displaystyle {\mathfrak {G}}}$^Q; 6th century).^[5]

Verse 4

Thou shalt no more be termed Forsaken;

neither shall thy land any more be termed Desolate:

but thou shalt be called Hephzibah,

and thy land Beulah:

for the Lord delighteth in thee,

and thy land shall be married.^[8]

• "Forsaken": translated from the Hebrew word "Azubah" (עֲזוּבָ֗ה^[9]), also the name of Jehoshaphat's mother (1 Kings 22:42).^[10]
• "Desolate": translated from the Hebrew word "shemamah" (שְׁמָמָ֔ה;^[9] cf. Jeremiah 34:22; Jeremiah 44:2, 6; Ezekiel 33:29; Ezekiel 36:34). Ezekiel prophesied the change:^[11]

"The land that was desolate is become like the garden of Eden; and the waste and desolate and ruined cities are become fenced and are inhabited" (Ezekiel 36:35).^[11]

• "Hephzibah": literally, "My Delight Is in Her", also the name of King Hezekiah's wife which gave birth to king Manasseh (2 Kings 21:1). Hephzibah in this verse is a symbolic name for Zion once it has been restored to the favor of Yahweh.^[12]
• "Beulah": in Hebrew means "married".^[10] see Isaiah 54:1.^[13]

Verse 10

Go through, go through the gates; prepare ye the way of the people; cast up, cast up the highway; gather out the stones; lift up a standard for the people.^[14]

The double imperatives are a marked feature of chapter 40–66 of the book.^[7]

Verse 12

And they shall call them,

The holy people,

The redeemed of the Lord:

and thou shalt be called,

Sought out,

A city not forsaken.^[15]

• "Sought out": that is, found after being 'lost' (Ezekiel 34:16) or 'no one seeks her' (Jeremiah 30:17).^[16]
• "A city not forsaken": a special reference to the name "Azubah" in Isaiah 62:4 (cf. name changes in Hosea 2:1).^[10]