The Meaning of Isaiah 51:4 Explained

Isaiah 51:4

KJV: Hearken unto me, my people; and give ear unto me, O my nation: for a law shall proceed from me, and I will make my judgment to rest for a light of the people.

YLT: Attend unto Me, O My people, And, O My nation, unto Me give ear. For a law from Me goeth out, And My judgment to the light, Peoples I do cause to rest.

Darby: Listen unto me, my people; and give ear unto me, my nation: for a law shall proceed from me, and I will establish my judgment for a light of the peoples.

ASV: Attend unto me, O my people; and give ear unto me, O my nation: for a law shall go forth from me, and I will establish my justice for a light of the peoples.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Hearken  unto me, my people;  and give ear  unto me, O my nation:  for a law  shall proceed  from me, and I will make my judgment  to rest  for a light  of the people. 

What does Isaiah 51:4 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Again the Lord urged His nation to listen attentively to Him (cf. Isaiah 51:1). What God would do for His people, in preserving them and returning them to the land, would be a lesson (Heb. torah, instruction, "law") to the whole world. His justice in fulfilling His promises to the Israelites would lead many of the Gentiles out of their darkness and into His light. This is what Isaiah revealed earlier that Messiah the Servant would do ( Isaiah 9:7; Isaiah 11:4; Isaiah 16:4-5; Isaiah 42:1-4; Isaiah 49:6).

Context Summary

Isaiah 51:1-11 - "awake, O Arm Of Jehovah!"
This chapter is extremely dramatic. We are conscious that we are nearing a revelation of unparalleled sublimity. As we hear the thrice Hearken in Isaiah 1:1-8, and the thrice Awake, Isaiah 51:9, which follows, we realize that we are traversing the entrance portico of a noble temple. When God says, Hearken, it is for us to ask Him to fulfill-Awake!
Recall the loneliness of Abraham. "He was but one!" Terah died, Lot dropped away, Hagar was thrust out, Isaac was laid on the altar, but the fire that burned in his heart only grew brighter. Do not despair if you are alone in your stand for God. One acorn, when the life of Nature touches it, may become parent to a forest. These exiled Jews hardly dared to hope that they could escape from their foes. The air was heavy with their revilings, but compare Isaiah 51:8 with Isaiah 50:9. With such assurances we may face a world in arms. The forces of evil are strong, but God is stronger. The clouds threaten, but the sun is shining. Don't forget the Lord thy Maker, thy Redeemer, thy Father! He cannot fail or forsake! [source]

Chapter Summary: Isaiah 51

1  An exhortation after the pattern of Abraham, to trust in Christ
3  By reason of his comfortable promises,
4  Of his righteous salvation
7  And man's mortality
9  Christ by his sanctified arm defends his from the fear of man
17  He bewails the afflictions of Jerusalem
21  And promises deliverance

What do the individual words in Isaiah 51:4 mean?

Listen to Me My people and My nation to Me give ear for law from Me will proceed and I will make My justice as a light of the peoples rest
הַקְשִׁ֤יבוּ אֵלַי֙ עַמִּ֔י וּלְאוּמִּ֖י אֵלַ֣י הַאֲזִ֑ינוּ כִּ֤י תוֹרָה֙ מֵאִתִּ֣י תֵצֵ֔א וּמִשְׁפָּטִ֔י לְא֥וֹר עַמִּ֖ים אַרְגִּֽיעַ

הַקְשִׁ֤יבוּ  Listen 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperative, masculine plural
Root: קָשַׁב  
Sense: to hear, be attentive, heed, incline (of ears), attend (of ears), hearken, pay attention, listen.
אֵלַי֙  to  Me 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
עַמִּ֔י  My  people 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: עַם 
Sense: nation, people.
וּלְאוּמִּ֖י  and  My  nation 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: לְאֹם  
Sense: a people, nation.
אֵלַ֣י  to  Me 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
הַאֲזִ֑ינוּ  give  ear 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperative, masculine plural
Root: אָזַן  
Sense: to hear, listen.
תוֹרָה֙  law 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: תֹּורָה  
Sense: law, direction, instruction.
מֵאִתִּ֣י  from  Me 
Parse: Preposition-m, Direct object marker, first person common singular
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
תֵצֵ֔א  will  proceed 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person feminine singular
Root: יׄוצֵאת 
Sense: to go out, come out, exit, go forth.
וּמִשְׁפָּטִ֔י  and  I  will  make  My  justice 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: מִשְׁפָּט  
Sense: judgment, justice, ordinance.
לְא֥וֹר  as  a  light 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, common singular construct
Root: אֹור  
Sense: light.
עַמִּ֖ים  of  the  peoples 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: עַם 
Sense: nation, people.
אַרְגִּֽיעַ  rest 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, first person common singular
Root: רָגַע 
Sense: to act in an instant, stir up, disturb.