Isaiah 62


Isaiah 62 is the sixty-second chapter of the Book of Isaiah in the Hebrew Bible or the Old Testament of the Christian Bible. This book contains the prophecies attributed to the prophet Isaiah, and is one of the Books of the Prophets. Chapters 56–66 are often referred to as Trito-Isaiah. In chapters 60–62, "three magnificent chapters", the prophet "hails the rising sun of Jerusalem’s prosperity".

Text

The original text was written in Hebrew language. This chapter is divided into 12 verses.

Textual witnesses

Some early manuscripts containing the text of this chapter in Hebrew are of the Masoretic Text tradition, which includes the Codex Cairensis, the Petersburg Codex of the Prophets, Aleppo Codex, Codex Leningradensis.
Fragments containing parts of this chapter were found among the Dead Sea Scrolls :
  • 1QIsaa: complete
  • 1QIsab: extant: verses 2–12
There is also a translation into Koine Greek known as the Septuagint, made in the last few centuries BC. Extant ancient manuscripts of the Septuagint version include Codex Vaticanus, Codex Sinaiticus, Codex Alexandrinus and Codex Marchalianus.

Parashot

The parashah sections listed here are based on the Aleppo Codex. Isaiah 62 is a part of the Consolations . : open parashah; : closed parashah.

Zion's new names (62:1–9)

The first part of the poem in this chapter envisages the astonishing transformation of Zion as a result of the divine plan of its 'vindication' and 'salvation', that bring blessings for Zion in form of a new name and royal status. The new name for the restored city does not necessarily abandon the old one, but rather to signify the imagery changes of the city as the marriage-partner of YHWH from the 'desolate' condition in Isaiah 1:7, while witnessed by foreign nations.

Verse 4

  • "Forsaken": translated from the Hebrew word "Azubah", also the name of Jehoshaphat's mother.
  • "Desolate": translated from the Hebrew word "". Ezekiel prophesied the change:
  • "Hephzibah": literally, "My Delight Is in Her", also the name of King Hezekiah's wife which gave birth to king Manasseh. Hephzibah in this verse is a symbolic name for Zion once it has been restored to the favor of Yahweh.
  • "Beulah": in Hebrew means "married". see.

    Zion's coming salvation (62:10–12)

The passage links to chapter 40 with the theme of 'building the highway', the 'processional way' up into the restored city, and the identity of verse 11 with Isaiah 40:10. The restoration started in verse 4 is completed with the names for the community in verse 12: "what once was called 'forsaken' shall be so no longer".

Verse 10

The double imperatives are a marked feature of chapter 40–66 of the book.

Verse 12

  • "Sought out": that is, found after being 'lost' or 'no one seeks her'.
  • "A city not forsaken": a special reference to the name "Azubah" in Isaiah 62:4.

    Jewish

  • Christian

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