---
title: "Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible -  Isaiah 4"
description: "CHAPTER 4   :-. that day—the calamitous
period described in previous chapter. seven—indefinite number
among the Jews. So many men would be slain, that the"
image: "/images/missing.jpg"
url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/isaiah/4"
---

CHAPTER 4

.
**that day**—the calamitous
period described in previous chapter.
**seven**—indefinite number
among the Jews. So many men would be slain, that there would be very
many more women than men; for example, seven women, contrary to their
natural bashfulness, would sue to (equivalent to "take hold of,"
[Isaiah 3:6](../../../kjv/isaiah/3/6)) one man to marry them.
**eat . . . own bread**—foregoing
the privileges, which the law ([Isaiah 3:6](../../../kjv/isaiah/3/6)) gives to wives, when a man has more than one.
**reproach**—of being
unwedded and childless; especially felt among the Jews, who were
looking for "the seed of the woman," Jesus Christ,
described in [Isaiah 4:2](../../../kjv/isaiah/4/2); [Isaiah 54:1](../../../kjv/isaiah/54/1);
[Isaiah 54:4](../../../kjv/isaiah/54/4); [Luke 1:25](../../../kjv/luke/1/25).

**2.** In contrast to those on whom
vengeance falls, there is a manifestation of Jesus Christ to the
"escaped of Israel" in His characteristic attributes,
*beauty* and *glory,* typified in Aaron's garments (). Their *sanctification* is promised as the fruit of
their being "written" in the book of life by sovereign love
([Isaiah 4:3](../../../kjv/isaiah/4/3)); the means of it are
the "spirit of judgment" and that of "burning"
([Isaiah 4:4](../../../kjv/isaiah/4/4)). Their "defense"
by the special presence of Jesus Christ is promised ([Isaiah 4:5](../../../kjv/isaiah/4/5);
[Isaiah 4:6](../../../kjv/isaiah/4/6)).
**branch**—the sprout of
JEHOVAH. Messiah ([Jeremiah 23:5](../../../kjv/jeremiah/23/5);
[Jeremiah 33:15](../../../kjv/jeremiah/33/15); [Zechariah 3:8](../../../kjv/zechariah/3/8);
[Zechariah 6:12](../../../kjv/zechariah/6/12); [Luke 1:78](../../../kjv/luke/1/78),
*Margin*). The parallel clause does not, as MAURER
objects, oppose this; for "fruit of the earth" answers to
"branch"; He shall not be a dry, but a *fruit-bearing
branch* ([Isaiah 27:6](../../../kjv/isaiah/27/6); [Ezekiel 34:23-27](../../../kjv/ezekiel/34/23-27)).
He is "of the *earth*" in His birth and death, while
He is also "of the *Lord*" (*Jehovah*) ([Ezekiel 34:23-26](../../../kjv/ezekiel/34/23-26)). His name, "the Branch," chiefly regards His
descent from David, *when the family was low and reduced*
([Luke 2:4](../../../kjv/luke/2/4); [Luke 2:7](../../../kjv/luke/2/7);
[Luke 2:24](../../../kjv/luke/2/24)); a sprout with more
than David's glory, springing as from a decayed tree ([Isaiah 11:1](../../../kjv/isaiah/11/1);
[Isaiah 53:2](../../../kjv/isaiah/53/2); [Revelation 22:16](../../../kjv/revelation/22/16)).
**excellent**— ([Hebrews 1:4](../../../kjv/hebrews/1/4);
[Hebrews 8:6](../../../kjv/hebrews/8/6)).
**comely**— ([Song of Solomon 5:15](../../../kjv/song-of-solomon/5/15);
[Song of Solomon 5:16](../../../kjv/song-of-solomon/5/16); [Ezekiel 16:14](../../../kjv/ezekiel/16/14)).
**escaped of Israel**—the
elect remnant ([Romans 11:5](../../../kjv/romans/11/5)); (1) in
the return from Babylon; (2) in the escape from Jerusalem's
destruction under Titus; (3) in the still future assault on
Jerusalem, and deliverance of "the third part"; events
mutually analogous, like concentric circles ([Zechariah 12:2-10](../../../kjv/zechariah/12/2-10);
[Zechariah 13:8](../../../kjv/zechariah/13/8); [Zechariah 13:9](../../../kjv/zechariah/13/9);
[Zechariah 14:2](../../../kjv/zechariah/14/2); [Ezekiel 39:23-29](../../../kjv/ezekiel/39/23-29);
[Joel 3:1-21](../../../kjv/joel/3/1-21)).

**3. left in Zion**—equivalent to
the "escaped of Israel" ().
**shall be called**—shall
*be* ([Isaiah 9:6](../../../kjv/isaiah/9/6)).
**holy**— ([Isaiah 52:1](../../../kjv/isaiah/52/1);
[Isaiah 60:21](../../../kjv/isaiah/60/21); [Revelation 21:27](../../../kjv/revelation/21/27)).
**written**—in the book of
life, antitypically ([Philippians 4:3](../../../kjv/philippians/4/3);
[Revelation 3:5](../../../kjv/revelation/3/5); [Revelation 17:8](../../../kjv/revelation/17/8)).
Primarily, in the *register* kept of *Israel's* families
and tribes.
**living**—not "blotted
out" from the registry, as *dead;* but written there as
among the "escaped of Israel" ([Daniel 12:1](../../../kjv/daniel/12/1);
[Ezekiel 13:9](../../../kjv/ezekiel/13/9)). To the *elect of
Israel,* rather than the saved in general, the *special*
reference is here ([Joel 3:17](../../../kjv/joel/3/17)).

**4. When**—that is, After.
**washed**— ().
**filth**—moral ().
**daughters of Zion**—same
as in [Isaiah 3:16](../../../kjv/isaiah/3/16).
**purged**—purified by
judgments; destroying the ungodly, correcting and refining the godly.
**blood**— ([Isaiah 3:16](../../../kjv/isaiah/3/16)).
**spirit**—Whatever God
does in the universe, He does by His *Spirit,* "without the
hand" of man ([Job 34:20](../../../kjv/job/34/20);
[Psalms 104:30](../../../kjv/psalms/104/30)). Here He is
represented using His power as *Judge.*
**burning**— ([Matthew 3:11](../../../kjv/matthew/3/11);
[Matthew 3:12](../../../kjv/matthew/3/12)). The same Holy Ghost,
who sanctifies believers by the fire of affliction ([Malachi 3:2](../../../kjv/malachi/3/2);
[Malachi 3:3](../../../kjv/malachi/3/3)), dooms unbelievers to
the fire of perdition ([Malachi 3:3](../../../kjv/malachi/3/3)).

**5. create**—The "new
creation" needs as much God's creative omnipotence, as the
material creation ([2 Corinthians 4:6](../../../kjv/2-corinthians/4/6);
[Ephesians 2:10](../../../kjv/ephesians/2/10)). So it shall be in the
case of the Holy Jerusalem to come ([Isaiah 65:17](../../../kjv/isaiah/65/17);
[Isaiah 65:18](../../../kjv/isaiah/65/18)).
**upon**—The pillar of
cloud stood over the tabernacle, as symbol of God's favor and
presence ([Exodus 13:21](../../../kjv/exodus/13/21); [Exodus 13:22](../../../kjv/exodus/13/22);
[Psalms 91:1](../../../kjv/psalms/91/1)). Both on *individual
families* ("every dwelling") and on the *general*
sacred "assemblies" ([Psalms 91:1](../../../kjv/psalms/91/1)). The "cloud" became a "fire" by night
in order to be seen by the Lord's people.
**upon all the glory**—"upon
the glorious whole"; namely, the Lord's people and sanctuary
[MAURER]. May it not mean,
"Upon whatever the glory (the *Shekinah* spoken of in the
previous clause) shall rest, there shall be a defense." The
symbol of His presence shall ensure also safety. So it was to Israel
against the Egyptians at the Red Sea ([Exodus 14:19](../../../kjv/exodus/14/19);
[Exodus 14:20](../../../kjv/exodus/14/20)). So it shall be to
literal Jerusalem hereafter ([Exodus 14:20](../../../kjv/exodus/14/20)). Also to the Church, the spiritual "Zion" ([Isaiah 32:18](../../../kjv/isaiah/32/18);
[Isaiah 33:15-17](../../../kjv/isaiah/33/15-17); [Hebrews 12:22](../../../kjv/hebrews/12/22)).
**tabernacle**—Christ's
body ([John 1:14](../../../kjv/john/1/14)). "The word
'tabernacled' (*Greek* for 'dwelt') among us" ([John 2:21](../../../kjv/john/2/21);
[Hebrews 8:2](../../../kjv/hebrews/8/2)). It is a "shadow
from the heat" and "refuge from the storm" of divine
wrath against man's sins ([Hebrews 8:2](../../../kjv/hebrews/8/2)). Heat and storms are violent in the East; so that a
portable tent is a needful part of a traveller's outfit. Such shall
be God's wrath hereafter, from which the "escaped of Israel"
shall be sheltered by Jesus Christ ([Isaiah 26:20](../../../kjv/isaiah/26/20);
[Isaiah 26:21](../../../kjv/isaiah/26/21); [Isaiah 32:2](../../../kjv/isaiah/32/2)).
**covert**—answering to
"defense" ([Isaiah 4:5](../../../kjv/isaiah/4/5)).
The *Hebrew* for *defense* in [Isaiah 4:5](../../../kjv/isaiah/4/5), is "covering"; the lid of the ark or mercy seat
was named from the same *Hebrew* word, *caphar;* the
*propitiatory;* for it, being sprinkled with blood by the high
priest once a year, on the day of atonement, *covered* the
people typically from wrath. Jesus Christ is the true Mercy Seat, on
whom the Shekinah rested, the *propitiatory,* or atonement,
beneath whom the law is kept, as it was literally within the ark, and
man is *covered* from the storm. The redeemed Israel shall also
be, by union with Him, a tabernacle for God's glory, which, unlike
that in the wilderness, shall not be taken down ([Isaiah 4:5](../../../kjv/isaiah/4/5)).

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