Isaiah 62:4 · Bible study
Isaiah 62:4 Commentary: From Forsaken to Delight, The Meaning of New Names
Hebrew · 10 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Discover how God replaces abandonment with delight in Isaiah 62:4, renaming His people Hephzibah and the land Beulah. A study of covenant restoration.
Research Summary
- Meaning: God replaces the names “Forsaken” and “Desolate” with “My delight is in her” and “Married,” signifying restored covenant relationship.
- Key words: עֲזוּבָה (Azuvah, “forsaken”), חֶפְצִי־בָהּ (Hephzibah, “my delight is in her”), בְּעוּלָה (Beulah, “married”).
- Main debate: Whether the new names refer to a literal future restoration of national Israel or to the spiritual reality of the Church as the bride of Christ.
- Theological theme: Covenant marriage between God and His people; God’s delight as the basis for restoration.
- Best use: As a promise of hope for those who feel abandoned; to teach about God’s persistent love and the new identity believers receive in Christ.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
No longer will you be called Forsaken, nor your land named Desolate; but you will be called Hephzibah, and your land Beulah; for the LORD will take delight in you, and your land will be His bride.
WEB World English Bible 2000
You will not be called Forsaken any more, nor will your land be called Desolate any more; but you will be called Hephzibah, and your land Beulah; for Yahweh delights in you, and your land will be married.
KJV King James Version 1769
Thou shalt no more be termed Forsaken; neither shall thy land any more be termed Desolate: but thou shalt be called Hephzi–bah, and thy land Beulah: for the Lord delighteth in thee, and thy land shall be married.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
Thou shalt no more be termed Forsaken; neither shall thy land any more be termed Desolate: but thou shalt be called Hephzi-bah, and thy land Beulah; for Jehovah delighteth in thee, and thy land shall be married.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
It is not said of thee any more, `Forsaken!' And of thy land it is not said any more, `Desolate,' For to thee is cried, `My delight is in her,' And to thy land, `Married,' For Jehovah hath delighted in thee, And thy land is married.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
Thou shalt no more be termed, Forsaken; neither shall thy land any more be termed, Desolate: but thou shalt be called, My delight is in her, and thy land, Married; for Jehovah delighteth in thee, and thy land shall be married.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
Thou shalt no more be called Forsaken: and thy land shall no more be called Desolate: but thou shalt be called My pleasure in her, and thy land inhabited. Because the Lord hath been well pleased with thee: and thy land shall be inhabited.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Nunca más te llamarán Desamparada, ni tu tierra se dirá más Asolamiento; sino que serás llamada Hephzibah, y tu tierra, Beulah; porque el amor de Jehová será en ti, y tu tierra será casada.
Nunca mais te chamarão de abandonada, nem se referirão mais a tua terra como assolada; mas sim te chamarão de: “Nela Está Meu Prazer”, e à tua terra de “A Casada”, porque o SENHOR se agrade de ti, e tua terra se casará.
On ne te nommera plus délaissée,
Man soll dich nicht mehr die Verlassene noch dein Land eine Verwüstung heißen; sondern du sollst “Meine Lust an ihr” und dein Land “Liebes Weib” heißen: denn der HERR hat Lust an dir und dein Land hat einen lieben Mann.
Tot u zal niet meer gezegd worden: De verlatene, en tot uw land zal niet meer gezegd worden: Het verwoeste; maar gij zult genoemd worden: Mijn lust is aan haar! en uw land: Het getrouwde; want de HEERE heeft een lust aan u, en uw land zal getrouwd worden.
Non ti si dirà più “Abbandonata”, la tua terra non sarà più detta “Desolazione”, ma tu sarai chiamata “La mia delizia è in lei”, e la tua terra “Maritata”; poiché l’Eterno riporrà in te il suo diletto, e la tua terra avrà uno sposo.
Nie będą cię więcej zwać opuszczoną, i ziemia twoja nie będzie więcej zwana spustoszoną; ale ty nazywana będziesz rozkoszą moją, a ziemia twoja mężatką; bo Pan będzie miał rozkosz w tobie, a ziemia twoja będzie zamężna.
Не будут уже называть тебя "оставленным", и землю твою не будут более называть "пустынею", но будут называть тебя: "Мое благоволение к нему", а землю твою - "замужнею", ибо Господь благоволит к тебе, и земля твоя сочетается.
你 必不 再 稱為「撇棄的」；你的地 也不 再 稱為「荒涼的」。你 卻要 稱為「我所喜悅的」；你的地也必稱為「有夫之婦」。因為 耶和華 喜悅 你，你的地 也必歸他。
You will not now be named, She who is given up; and your land will no longer be named, The waste land: but you will have the name, My pleasure is in her, and your land will be named, Married: for the Lord has pleasure in you, and your land will be married.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Isaiah 62:4
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators across traditions agree on the core meaning: God promises to reverse Jerusalem's condition completely. The old names “Forsaken” (‛ăzuvah) and “Desolate” (sh e mâmâh) will be removed, replaced by “Hephzibah” (“My delight is in her”) and “Beulah” (“Married”). This is no mere relabeling; it signals a renewed, intimate relationship with Yahweh. Barnes notes that the new names are the “appropriate name” for one favored and blessed of God. Keil & Delitzsch stress that Zion becomes “the object of true affection” on Jehovah’s part. The marriage metaphor, as JFB states (citing Horsley), implies not only ownership but protection. The Hebrew verbs (all niphal imperfect, “it will be said,” “it will be called”) emphasize that God Himself bestows these names. The particle ‛od (“again”) underscores finality: the old terms will never apply again. The covenant bond is fully restored.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: God will replace the condition of abandonment and desolation with delight and marriage, establishing a renewed covenant relationship with His people and their land.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning of the new names | Christians and Jews together understand that the names Hephzibah and Beulah signal God’s pleasure and a restored marital bond with His people. | Some interpreters read the names as literal future appellations for Jerusalem in the messianic age; others view them as spiritual metaphors for the Church’s relationship with Christ. |
| Identity of the speaker | The promise comes from God and is mediated through the prophet Isaiah. All agree the words carry divine authority. | As Lange notes, some commentators (Stier, Delitzsch) identify the speaker as the Messiah, while others regard the prophet as the speaker, resolving to pray and proclaim until the promise is fulfilled. |
| Timing of fulfillment | The verse points to a future transformation beyond the immediate post-exilic period. | Some see partial fulfillment in the return from Babylon, then full realization in the Church age or the eschaton. Others anticipate a distinct future restoration of national Israel when the land is literally married to its people. |
Historical & Cultural Context
This prophecy comes near the end of Isaiah’s book, a time when Judah faced exile and Jerusalem’s destruction. In Isaiah 49:14, Zion had lamented, “Yahweh has forsaken me.” The names “Forsaken” and “Desolate” reflected the nation’s experience of judgment and abandonment. Now, the prophet promises a complete reversal.
The new names draw on real Hebrew proper names. “Hephzibah” was the wife of King Hezekiah and mother of Manasseh (2 Kings 21:1). By using this name, God claims the same intimate delight a husband has for his bride. “Beulah” comes from the verb ba‛al (“to be lord/husband”). In the prophets, a desolate land is a widow; an inhabited, fruitful land is a married woman (Clarke). Barnes cites an Eastern custom: “A sovereign is spoken of as married to his dominions.”
The marriage metaphor runs through the Old Testament. Yahweh is Israel’s husband (Isaiah 54:5), and the land itself participates in the covenant relationship. Desolation, the land’s barrenness, was a curse for disobedience. Now, the land will be called “Married,” meaning it will be inhabited, fruitful, and protected. This promise gave hope during exile and looks ahead to ultimate restoration when God’s delight rests on His people and their home.
Textual Notes
The consulted commentaries and interlinear sources report no significant textual variants for Isaiah 62:4. The major Hebrew manuscripts (MT) agree. Translations differ slightly in how they render the proper names (e.g., KJV “Hephzi-bah” vs. WEB “Hephzibah”; Douay-Rheims “My pleasure in her” for Hephzibah), but these are interpretive translation choices, not textual variations. The LXX (Septuagint) paraphrases “Hephzibah” as “my will” and “Beulah” as “inhabited,” but this does not reflect a different Hebrew text.
Reception History
Isaiah 62:4 has been treasured across Jewish and Christian traditions. In rabbinic interpretation, it is a messianic promise for Zion’s restoration, often linked to the future age when God’s delight will be manifest. Early Christian fathers (e.g., Jerome) read the verse allegorically as the Church exchanging the names “Forsaken” and “Desolate” for the dignity of Christ’s bride. Protestant reformers like Matthew Henry and John Wesley used the verse to comfort believers feeling abandoned, emphasizing that God’s delight does not depend on their circumstances. The names Hephzibah and Beulah appear in hymns celebrating God’s love for His people, and the verse is occasionally used in wedding liturgies to reflect the covenant of love between Christ and the Church.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- The old identity is gone forever. “No longer” and “again” (עוֹד, ‛od) emphasize finality. The names “Forsaken” and “Desolate” will never fit God’s people again.
- The new identity comes from God. “You will be called Hephzibah…and your land Beulah.” These are divinely given names, not self-chosen. They reflect God’s perspective.
- The foundation is God’s delight. The reason is stated simply: “for Yahweh delights in you.” God’s joy, not human effort, secures the change.
Five-point outline
- God speaks a new name over His people. The passive verbs (“it will be said to you,” “it will be called”) show God is the agent. He redefines their reality.
- The land shares in the transformation. The land is not just scenery; it is part of the covenant. It moves from “desolate” to “married.”
- “Hephzibah” reveals God’s delight. His pleasure is not distant approval but the warmth of a bridegroom.
- “Beulah” signifies covenant union. The land is married to its Lord. It is owned, protected, and fruitful.
- God’s delight is the source of all restoration. Everything flows from who God is, He delights, so He restores.
Illustration hooks
- A child adopted into a family receives a new surname and a new identity. The past labels (“orphan,” “unwanted”) no longer apply.
- A small town devastated by a factory closure is renamed after it becomes a thriving arts community. The old name meant “desolation”; the new name means “life.”
- A couple renews their wedding vows after years of estrangement. The “married” name takes on fresh meaning, rooted in renewed delight.
Questions your congregation is asking
- “If God delights in me, why do I still feel forsaken at times?”
- “What does it mean for the land to be married? Does this promise apply to physical creation or just to people?”
- “How can I live into the new name God gives me when my old habits and failures still feel real?”
Leading a Discussion
Isaiah 62:4 shows that God does not leave His people stuck in their broken past. He speaks new names over them, names that reflect His delight and His commitment. The passage uses the most intimate human relationship, marriage, to describe what God does for Zion. As you work through these questions, consider how this promise can shape your understanding of who you are in God’s eyes.
Discussion questions
- Observation: What two names are given to the people and the land in this verse? What were they called before?
- Interpretation: Why does God give new names? Look at the second half of verse 4: what reason does He give for the change?
- Comparison: Read Isaiah 54:1, 7. How does the marriage metaphor there compare with the one in Isaiah 62:4?
- The land: The land is personified and called “married.” What does this suggest about God’s concern for the physical world, not just spiritual realities?
- Identity: Think of a time you felt “forsaken” or “desolate.” How does the promise of a new name, Hephzibah (“My delight is in her”), speak into that experience?
- Application: In what ways can you help your church community live as people who are “delighted in” by God?
- Hope: How does knowing that God’s delight grounds our identity affect the way you face disappointment or loss?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Psalms 149:4 | For Yahweh takes pleasure in his people. He crowns the humble with salvation. |
| Isaiah 32:14 | For the palace will be forsaken. The populous city will be deserted. The hill and the watchtower will be for dens forever, a delight for wild donkeys, a pasture of flocks, |
| Isaiah 32:15 | until the Spirit is poured on us from on high, and the wilderness becomes a fruitful field, and the fruitful field is considered a forest. |
| Isaiah 49:14 | But Zion said, “Yahweh has forsaken me, and the Lord has forgotten me.” |
| Isaiah 54:1 | “Sing, barren, you who didn’t give birth! Break out into singing, and cry aloud, you who didn’t travail with child! For more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife,” says Yahweh. |
| Isaiah 54:5 | For your Maker is your husband; Yahweh of Armies is his name. The Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer. He will be called the God of the whole earth. |
| Isaiah 54:7 | “For a small moment I have forsaken you, but I will gather you with great mercies. |
| Isaiah 60:15 | “Whereas you have been forsaken and hated, so that no one passed through you, I will make you an eternal excellency, a joy of many generations. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
10 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke draws attention to the literal meaning of Beulah, which is "married." He notes that the prophets consistently picture a desolate land as a widow, while an inhabited, fruitful land is described as a married woman with a husband and children.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes explains that the names "Forsaken" and "Desolate" once fit Jerusalem and its land because of God's judgment, but now God's delight and marriage relationship make the new names Hephzibah and Beulah appropriate. He draws on Eastern imagery of a sovereign married to his dominions and links the figure to the church as Christ's bride.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The commentator points out that the Hebrew words translated "Forsaken" and "Beulah" in this verse are actual proper names used elsewhere in the Old Testament: "Forsaken" appears as a name in 1 Kings, and "Beulah" is a word for "married." This emphasizes that the verse uses concrete personal names to describe Zion's restoration.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva notes focus on the meaning of the new names themselves: Hephzibah means "the Lord delights in you," and Beulah means "married." These replace the old names Forsaken and Desolate, showing that God’s personal delight and covenantal union with His people and their land have been fully restored.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill focuses on the meaning of the names Hephzibah and Beulah. Hephzibah, "my delight is in her," shows Christ's eternal and ongoing delight in His church. Beulah, "married," describes the church's secret union with Christ from eternity, which will become openly manifest in the latter day.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB highlights that the new names Hephzibah and Beulah contrast sharply with the land's former forsaken state. Beulah, meaning married, signifies not just Jehovah's ownership but His pledged protection as the land's Husband, reversing its desolation into a secure, cherished relationship.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil-Delitzsch emphasizes that the new names for Zion and her land mark her restored condition, not her hidden essence. He highlights a double marriage: God rejoices over Zion as a bridegroom, and her children now possess the land as a man marries a virgin. From Zion's loving union with God flows her rightful authority over every earthly need.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange argues the speaker here is the Messiah, not the prophet. The Messiah declares He will not rest until Jerusalem's righteousness and salvation shine fully. He then appoints watchmen on the walls who also must not rest, praying and guarding until the city is established as a praise in the earth.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Matthew Henry emphasizes the prophet's personal, tireless commitment: he will not stop preaching or praying until the church's righteousness shines clearly. This relentless dedication, he notes, prefigures Christ himself, who made the prophetic work his very sustenance until it was complete.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley sees the names Forsaken and Beulah as marking a complete reversal from abandonment to marriage. The new name Beulah, meaning married, points to the church's restored relationship with God and the resulting abundance of spiritual children, which he connects to the great expansion seen in the gospel age.