The Meaning of Isaiah 52:7 Explained

Isaiah 52:7

KJV: How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!

YLT: How comely on the mountains, Have been the feet of one proclaiming tidings, Sounding peace, proclaiming good tidings, Sounding salvation, Saying to Zion, 'Reigned hath thy God.'

Darby: How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that announceth glad tidings, that publisheth peace; that announceth glad tidings of good, that publisheth salvation, that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!

ASV: How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace, that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation, that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!

KJV Reverse Interlinear

How beautiful  upon the mountains  are the feet  of him that bringeth good tidings,  that publisheth  peace;  that bringeth good tidings  of good,  that publisheth  salvation;  that saith  unto Zion,  Thy God  reigneth! 

What does Isaiah 52:7 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Isaiah exulted in the good news that the Lord had just revealed. The news had reached His people through a messenger whom the prophet pictured as running across mountains with his message (cf. Matthew 10:1-75; Isaiah 41:27; Nahum 1:15). The messenger"s feet were beautiful because they carried him and his message of peace, happiness, and salvation (cf. 1714003251_15; Romans 10:15). His message is that Yahweh is the only true God and that He reigns as the sovereign over the universe and all supposed gods. Watts believed the rejoicing was due to Darius seizing the reigns of power from the Babylonians. [1]
"What does God"s rule entail? It entails a condition where all things are in their proper relation to each other, with nothing left hanging, incomplete, or unfulfilled (peace, shalom); it entails a condition where creation purposes are realized (good, tob; cf. Genesis 1:4; Genesis 1:10, etc.); it entails a condition of freedom from every bondage, but particularly the bondage resultant from sin (salvation, yeshu"a). Where God reigns, these follow. Of course, this is exactly congruent with what the Christian faith considers its good news (euangelion) to be." [2]

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, Ezra 1:7-11; 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 Isaiah 52:2. 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 52:7 mean?

How beautiful upon the mountains Are the feet of him who brings good news who proclaims peace who brings glad tidings of good [things] salvation who says to Zion reigns Your God
מַה־ נָּאו֨וּ עַל־ הֶהָרִ֜ים רַגְלֵ֣י מְבַשֵּׂ֗ר מַשְׁמִ֧יעַ שָׁל֛וֹם מְבַשֵּׂ֥ר ט֖וֹב יְשׁוּעָ֑ה אֹמֵ֥ר לְצִיּ֖וֹן ! מָלַ֥ךְ אֱלֹהָֽיִךְ

מַה־  How 
Parse: Interrogative
Root: לָמָּה 
Sense: what, how, of what kind.
נָּאו֨וּ  beautiful 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: נָאָה  
Sense: to be comely, be beautiful, be befitting.
עַל־  upon 
Parse: Preposition
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
הֶהָרִ֜ים  the  mountains 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: הַר  
Sense: hill, mountain, hill country, mount.
רַגְלֵ֣י  Are  the  feet 
Parse: Noun, fdc
Root: רֶגֶל  
Sense: foot.
מְבַשֵּׂ֗ר  of  him  who  brings  good  news 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Participle, masculine singular
Root: בָּשַׂר  
Sense: to bear news, bear tidings, publish, preach, show forth.
מַשְׁמִ֧יעַ  who  proclaims 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Participle, masculine singular
Root: שָׁמַע 
Sense: to hear, listen to, obey.
שָׁל֛וֹם  peace 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: שָׁלֹום  
Sense: completeness, soundness, welfare, peace.
מְבַשֵּׂ֥ר  who  brings  glad  tidings 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Participle, masculine singular
Root: בָּשַׂר  
Sense: to bear news, bear tidings, publish, preach, show forth.
ט֖וֹב  of  good  [things] 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: טָבַב 
Sense: good, pleasant, agreeable.
יְשׁוּעָ֑ה  salvation 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: יְשׁוּעָה  
Sense: salvation, deliverance.
אֹמֵ֥ר  who  says 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
לְצִיּ֖וֹן  to  Zion 
Parse: Preposition-l, Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: צִיּׄון  
Sense: another name for Jerusalem especially in the prophetic books.
! מָלַ֥ךְ  reigns 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: מָלַךְ 
Sense: to be or become king or queen, reign.
אֱלֹהָֽיִךְ  Your  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, second person feminine singular
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).