Isaiah 4:3 - Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

Shall be called holy, i.e. shall be really holy, as is said, Isaiah 60:21. To be called is oft put for to be, as Genesis 21:12 Isaiah 1:26, Isaiah 44:5. Every one that is written among the living: so this is a restriction of the foregoing indefinite proposition. Not all that are left, but a great number of them, shall be holy, even all that are written, &c., i.e. all the elect, who are frequently described by this character, that they are written in God s or the Lamb's book, or in the book of life, or of the living, Psalms 69:28 Daniel 12:1 Philippians 4:3 Revelation 3:5, Revelation 13:8 17:8, &c. But this last clause of the verse is by some learned interpreters rendered thus, all that are in Jerusalem (i.e. a very great number of them, as such general expressions are frequently used, or the generality of them) shall be written unto life, i.e. shall be such as are elected unto salvation through sanctification; which may deserve consideration. So he notes the singular privilege of this people at this time above the former ages, in which many were called, but few were chosen. In Jerusalem; of the people living in or belonging to Jerusalem.