Isaiah 4:1 Meaning: When Seven Women Seek One Man
Seven women shall take hold of one man in that day, saying, “We will eat our own bread, and wear our own clothing. Just let us be called by your name. Take away our reproach.”
And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be called by thy name, to take away our reproach.
And seven women shall take hold of one man in that day, saying, We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be called by thy name; take thou away our reproach.
And taken hold have seven women on one man, In that day, saying, `Our own bread we do eat, And our own raiment we put on, Only, let thy name be called over us, Remove thou our reproach.'
And seven women shall take hold of one man in that day, saying, Our own bread will we eat, and with our own garments will we be clothed; only let us be called by thy name; — take away our reproach!
Meaning in one sentence
Isaiah 4:1 shows desperate women begging one man for marriage after war. This judgment scene sets the stage for God's promised restoration through the Branch.
Context
This verse completes the judgment scene that began in Isaiah 3. The prophet has been describing the pride and luxury of Jerusalem’s women, and now he shows the horrifying result of their destruction. War has so devastated the male population that women, contrary to all custom, must beg a single man to marry them, promising to provide their own food and clothing. The chapter division between 3 and 4 is unfortunate; this verse is the climax of the judgment, not the start of something new. Immediately after, in verse 2, the tone shifts dramatically to the promise of the Branch, the coming Messiah who will bring beauty and glory. This verse, then, is the lowest point before God’s restorative work begins.
Key Words
The Hebrew verb behind “take hold of” (H2388 chazaq) carries a sense of gripping firmly, even desperately, not a gentle request but an urgent, almost violent grasp. These women are not coy; they are clinging. The word translated “reproach” (H2781 cherpah) is the same used for the shame of barrenness (Genesis 30:23). In a culture where marriage and children were seen as God’s blessing, being unmarried brought deep disgrace. The small word “only” (H7535 raq) reveals how much they are willing to surrender: they give up the legal right to support from a husband (Exodus 21:10). This is not a romantic scene. It is a vivid picture of the social collapse that follows when God’s people abandon Him.
How Christians Read This Verse
Most commentators agree that this verse belongs to the preceding judgment. Calvin (Reformed) says the prophet uses this extreme image to show hypocrites the severity of coming calamity. Matthew Henry (Presbyterian) notes the unnatural reversal: women become suitors because so few men survive. The Cambridge Bible (Anglican) calls it a companion picture to Isaiah 3:6, where men search for a ruler. While some Jewish interpretations (cited by Gill) connect it to the Babylonian exile, Christians across traditions have read it as the dark backdrop that makes the promise of the Branch in verse 2 so radiant. The verse describes judgment; the next describes grace.
A common misunderstanding
Some readers take this verse as a positive example of women humbly seeking marriage, offering to support themselves. In fact, it is the opposite: a sign of devastating judgment. The women are not being commendable; they are desperate. The true force of the verse is social breakdown, a world where normal relationships and dignity have collapsed because of sin and its consequences.
Living This Out
This verse invites us to see our own desperation apart from God. We may not be begging for a husband, but we often settle for less than God’s design to avoid shame, clinging to anything that gives us a name or a place. The good news is that the story does not end here. The Branch in verse 2 brings a true covering, not the empty name of a human husband. This week, when you feel the weight of shame or the urge to grab at any remedy, remember that God’s promised solution is far better. You don’t have to provide for yourself; He provides the true covering in Christ.
Main takeaway: Judgment strips away pride and leaves desperation, but God promises a coming Branch, the Messiah, who brings lasting restoration and removes every reproach.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
This verse is about a sad time when so many daddies and brothers died in war that women had to beg a man to marry them. It shows how bad things get when people stop listening to God.
For ages 9, 12
After warning about the proud women of Jerusalem, God shows what happens when His judgment falls: war causes such devastation that women must give up their rights just to have a husband. It’s a picture of complete social collapse. The next verse surprises everyone with hope: God promises a ‘Branch’ who will make everything beautiful again. So the bad news makes us appreciate the good news even more.
Questions People Ask
Why do seven women take hold of one man?
The number seven often means 'many' in the Bible. This image shows a severe shortage of men after war. The women are desperate to marry and willing to support themselves, which was humiliating in that culture. It highlights the extent of God's judgment on Judah.
Does this verse teach that polygamy is acceptable?
No. This verse describes an extreme situation of judgment, not a norm for marriage. It shows how far society has fallen. The Bible elsewhere upholds marriage between one man and one woman (Genesis 2:24). Polygamy here is a sign of desperation, not an endorsement.
What does 'take away our reproach' mean?
In ancient Israel, being unmarried and childless was considered a disgrace, often seen as a sign of God's disfavor (like Rachel in Genesis 30:23). The women want marriage to remove that social shame. The word 'reproach' is the same word used for the shame of barrenness.
How does this verse connect to the Branch in verse 2?
Verse 1 is the dark end of the judgment section. Verse 2 begins the hope: the Branch (a title for the Messiah) will bring beauty and glory instead of shame. The desperation of these women sets up the need for a true Redeemer who can remove reproach permanently.
Is this verse about the end of the world?
While 'that day' can refer to a final judgment, here it more likely points to the specific judgment coming on Judah through war (the Assyrian or Babylonian invasions). Some commentators also see a typological connection to the ultimate day of the Lord. But the immediate context is the 8th century BC crisis.
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