Isaiah 62:4 - Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Bible Comments

Thou shalt no more be termed Forsaken - That is, thou shalt be no more so forsaken as to make such an I appellation proper. This refers to the new name which the prophet says Isaiah 62:2 will be conferred on her.

Neither shall thy land - Thy country shall no more be so wasted that the term desolation (שׁממה shemâmâh, Greek ἔρημος erēmos) shall be properly applied to it.

But thou shalt be called Hepzi-bah - Margin, as Hebrew, ‘My delight is in her.’ The idea is, that Yahweh would show her such favor, and he would have so much pleasure in his people, that this name of endearment would be appropriately given to her. The Septuagint renders this, Θέλημα ἐμὸν Thelēma emon - ‘My will,’ or my delight. The sense is, that Jerusalem would be eminently the object of his delight.

And thy land Beulah - Margin, as Hebrew, ‘Married;’ or rather, ‘thou art married.’ The Septuagint renders it, Οἰκουμένη Oikoumenē - ‘Inhabited.’ Lowth renders it, ‘The wedded matron.’ The figure is taken from a female who had been divorced, and whose appropriate name was Forsaken.’ God says here that the appropriate name henceforward would not be the Forsaken, but the married one - the one favored and blessed of God (see the notes at Isaiah 1:1). Language like this is common in the East. ‘A sovereign is spoken of as married to his dominions; they mutually depend on each other. When a king takes possessions from another, he is said to be married to them’ - (Roberts).

Thy land shall be married - See the notes at Isaiah 54:4-6, where this figure is extended to greater length. By a similar figure the church is represented as the beautiful bride of the Lamb of God Revelation 21:9; Revelation 19:7.

Isaiah 62:4

4 Thou shalt no more be termed Forsaken; neither shall thy land any more be termed Desolate: but thou shalt be called Hephzibah,a and thy land Beulah: for the LORD delighteth in thee, and thy land shall be married.