The Meaning of Isaiah 58:12 Explained

Isaiah 58:12

KJV: And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in.

YLT: And they have built out of thee the wastes of old, The foundations of many generations thou raisest up, And one calleth thee, 'Repairer of the breach, Restorer of paths to rest in.'

Darby: And they that come of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations that have remained from generation to generation; and thou shalt be called, Repairer of the breaches, restorer of frequented paths.

ASV: And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places; thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And [they that shall be] of thee shall build  the old  waste places:  thou shalt raise up  the foundations  of many  generations;  and thou shalt be called,  The repairer  of the breach,  The restorer  of paths  to dwell in. 

What does Isaiah 58:12 Mean?

Verse Meaning

True worshippers would also rebuild what their sin had previously torn down. This refers not only to the return and rebuilding of Jerusalem and Judah following the exile. [1] It also refers to the Promised Land in the Millennium and to the restoration of other types of "ruins" caused by sin.
The remaining two verses continue the explanation of true worship begun in Isaiah 58:6, but they also conclude this chapter by returning to consider proper response to a specific aspect of the Mosaic legislation, namely: Sabbath observance.

Context Summary

Isaiah 58:1-14 - The Fast That God Has Chosen
The divorce between outward rites and inward piety has been the curse of every age. When the Pharisees were plotting our Lord's death, they refused to enter Pilate's hall. Not the bowed head, but the broken heart; not the sackcloth and ashes of the flesh, but the contrition of the soul!
Notice the three paragraphs descriptive of the experiences of the devout and consecrated soul: (1.) The conditions of blessedness, Isaiah 58:6-7. (2.) The successive items which go to make a blessed life, Isaiah 58:8-12. (3.) The true Sabbath-keeping, Isaiah 58:13-14. Primarily, it is inward, not outward. Let us be on our watch against the entrance into our hearts of all thoughts that would break the holy inward calm. Remember to imitate Nehemiah's instructions: Nehemiah 13:16-22. Let the divine peace rule within and be as a sentinel keeping the outward gate, Colossians 3:15; Philippians 4:7. Cease to follow your own ways, or find your own pleasures, or speak your own words. Delight yourself in God; so shall you sit with Christ in heavenly places and feed at the heavenly table. [source]

Chapter Summary: Isaiah 58

1  The prophet, being sent to reprove hypocrisy,
3  shows the difference between a counterfeit fast and a true
8  He declares what promises are due unto godliness
13  And to the keeping of the Sabbath

What do the individual words in Isaiah 58:12 mean?

And shall build Those from among you the waste places old the foundations of and many generations You shall raise up and shall be called you the Repairer of the Breach the Restorer of Streets to Dwell in
וּבָנ֤וּ מִמְּךָ֙ חָרְב֣וֹת עוֹלָ֔ם מוֹסְדֵ֥י דוֹר־ וָד֖וֹר תְּקוֹמֵ֑ם וְקֹרָ֤א לְךָ֙ גֹּדֵ֣ר פֶּ֔רֶץ מְשֹׁבֵ֥ב נְתִיב֖וֹת לָשָֽׁבֶת

וּבָנ֤וּ  And  shall  build 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person common plural
Root: בָּנָה  
Sense: to build, rebuild, establish, cause to continue.
מִמְּךָ֙  Those  from  among  you 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine singular
Root: מִן 
Sense: from, out of, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not, more than.
חָרְב֣וֹת  the  waste  places 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural construct
Root: חָרְבָּה  
Sense: a place laid waste, ruin, waste, desolation.
עוֹלָ֔ם  old 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: עֹולָם  
Sense: long duration, antiquity, futurity, for ever, ever, everlasting, evermore, perpetual, old, ancient, world.
מוֹסְדֵ֥י  the  foundations 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: מֹוסָדָה  
Sense: foundation.
וָד֖וֹר  and  many  generations 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular
Root: דֹּור 
Sense: period, generation, habitation, dwelling.
תְּקוֹמֵ֑ם  You  shall  raise  up 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: קוּם 
Sense: to rise, arise, stand, rise up, stand up.
וְקֹרָ֤א  and  shall  be  called 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Pual, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: קָרָא  
Sense: to call, call out, recite, read, cry out, proclaim.
גֹּדֵ֣ר  the  Repairer 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: גָּדַר  
Sense: to wall up, wall off, close off, build a wall.
פֶּ֔רֶץ  of  the  Breach 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: פֶּרֶץ  
Sense: breach, gap, bursting forth.
מְשֹׁבֵ֥ב  the  Restorer 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Participle, masculine singular
Root: שׁוּב  
Sense: to return, turn back.
נְתִיב֖וֹת  of  Streets 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural
Root: נָתִיב 
Sense: trodden with the feet, path, pathway.
לָשָֽׁבֶת  to  Dwell  in 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: יָשַׁב 
Sense: to dwell, remain, sit, abide.