The Meaning of Isaiah 52:5 Explained

Isaiah 52:5

KJV: Now therefore, what have I here, saith the LORD, that my people is taken away for nought? they that rule over them make them to howl, saith the LORD; and my name continually every day is blasphemed.

YLT: And now, what -- to Me here, An affirmation of Jehovah, That taken is My people for nought? Its rulers cause howling, -- an affirmation of Jehovah, And continually all the day My name is despised.

Darby: and now, what have I here, saith Jehovah, that my people hath been taken away for nought? They that rule over them make them to howl, saith Jehovah; and continually all the day is my name scorned.

ASV: Now therefore, what do I here, saith Jehovah, seeing that my people is taken away for nought? they that rule over them do howl, saith Jehovah, and my name continually all the day is blasphemed.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Now therefore, what have I here, saith  the LORD,  that my people  is taken away  for nought?  they that rule  over them make them to howl,  saith  the LORD;  and my name  continually  every day  [is] blasphemed. 

What does Isaiah 52:5 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Yahweh reflected on the present situation: What have we here? Israel was in captivity but not because God had to give her over to a superior person. Furthermore, Israel"s leaders wailed because of the shame of their defeat. Finally, the victors held Yahweh"s name in contempt because they concluded He was weaker than their strongest gods.

Context Summary

Isaiah 52:1-15 - "thy God Reigneth!"
It is not God that has become lethargic; but we that have slept and need to awake. Being awakened, we discover that two sets of attire are waiting for us: First, His strength, so that we may not be afraid of ten thousands of people who set themselves round about; and secondly, the beautiful garments of our Lord's character. See Colossians 3:9-17.
At last the climax of the long prophetic stairway is reached and the summons for the exodus from Babylon rings out, Isaiah 52:11. It was God's return to the desolate city, Isaiah 52:2; Isaiah 52:8. The stately procession moves slowly and fearlessly. It is not the escape of a band of fugitive slaves, dreading pursuit and recapture, Isaiah 52:12. Before it speed the heralds, appearing on the sky line as they ascend the mountains which surround the Holy City, publishing peace and salvation, Isaiah 52:7. The central body is composed of white robed priests, bearing with reverent care the holy vessels, Isaiah 52:11, of which Nebuchadnezzar despoiled the Temple, but which Cyrus restored. See Ezra 1:7-11. Thus, also, the Church marches through the world. [source]

Chapter Summary: Isaiah 52

1  Christ persuades the church to believe his free redemption
7  To receive the ministers thereof
9  To joy in the power thereof
11  And to free themselves from bondage
13  Christ's kingdom shall be exalted

What do the individual words in Isaiah 52:5 mean?

Therefore now who [is] like me what have I here says Yahweh that are taken away My people for nothing - Those who rule over them Make them wail Yahweh and continually every day My name [is] blasphemed
וְעַתָּ֤ה [מי־] [לי־] (מַה־) (לִּי־) פֹה֙ נְאֻם־ יְהוָ֔ה כִּֽי־ לֻקַּ֥ח עַמִּ֖י ؟ חִנָּ֑ם [משלו] (מֹשְׁלָ֤יו) יְהֵילִ֙ילוּ֙ יְהוָ֔ה וְתָמִ֥יד כָּל־ הַיּ֖וֹם שְׁמִ֥י מִנֹּאָֽץ

וְעַתָּ֤ה  Therefore  now 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb
Root: עַתָּה  
Sense: now.
[מי־]  who  [is] 
Parse: Interrogative
[לי־]  like  me 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular
(מַה־)  what  have 
Parse: Interrogative
Root: לָמָּה 
Sense: what, how, of what kind.
פֹה֙  here 
Parse: Adverb
Root: פֹּה  
Sense: here, from here, hither.
נְאֻם־  says 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: נְאֻם  
Sense: (Qal) utterance, declaration (of prophet).
יְהוָ֔ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
כִּֽי־  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: כִּי 
Sense: that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since.
לֻקַּ֥ח  are  taken  away 
Parse: Verb, QalPass, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יָקַח 
Sense: to take, get, fetch, lay hold of, seize, receive, acquire, buy, bring, marry, take a wife, snatch, take away.
עַמִּ֖י  My  people 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: עַם 
Sense: nation, people.
؟ חִנָּ֑ם  for  nothing 
Parse: Adverb
Root: חִנָּם  
Sense: freely, for nothing, without cause.
[משלו]  - 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
(מֹשְׁלָ֤יו)  Those  who  rule  over  them 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: מָשַׁל  
Sense: to rule, have dominion, reign.
יְהֵילִ֙ילוּ֙  Make  them  wail 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: יָלַל  
Sense: (Hiphil) to howl, wail, make a howling.
יְהוָ֔ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
וְתָמִ֥יד  and  continually 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb
Root: תָּמִיד  
Sense: continuity, perpetuity, to stretch.
כָּל־  every 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
הַיּ֖וֹם  day 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: יׄום 
Sense: day, time, year.
שְׁמִ֥י  My  name 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: שֵׁם  
Sense: name.
מִנֹּאָֽץ  [is]  blasphemed 
Parse: Preposition-m, Verb, Hitpael, Participle, masculine singular
Root: נָאַץ  
Sense: to spurn, contemn, despise, abhor.