Isaiah 51:4

Pay attention to Me, My people, and listen to Me, My nation; for a law will go out from Me, and My justice will become a light to the nations; I will bring it about quickly.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — YHWH addresses Israel ("My people," "My nation") immediately after promising to comfort Zion and restore her ruins.

The words — The Hebrew הַקְשִׁיבוּ (hakšîvû) and הַאֲזִינוּ (haʾăzînû) command the audience to "pay attention" and "give ear," while תוֹרָה (tôrâ) denotes the "law" that will proceed from God.

The thread — This declaration of God’s justice becoming a light to the nations echoes Isaiah 2:3 and anticipates the apostolic application in 1 Peter 2:9.

Why it lands — The text demands immediate obedience to God’s forthcoming instruction, positioning His justice as the definitive guide for all peoples rather than a private comfort.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

הַקְשִׁ֤יבוּhak.Shi.vupay attention אֵלַי֙'e.La/ito/ me עַמִּ֔י'a.M/iO people/ my וּלְאוּמִּ֖יu./le.'u.M/iand/ O nation/ my אֵלַ֣י'e.La/ito/ me הַאֲזִ֑ינוּha.'a.Zi.nugive ear כִּ֤יkifor תוֹרָה֙to.Rahlaw מֵאִתִּ֣יme./'i.T/ifrom/ with <the>/ me תֵצֵ֔אte.Tze'it will go out וּמִשְׁפָּטִ֔יu./mish.pa.T/iand/ justice/ my לְא֥וֹרle./'or<into>/ a light of עַמִּ֖ים'a.Mimpeoples אַרְגִּֽיעַ׃'ar.Gi.a'I will make suddenly

King James Version

Hearken unto me, my people; and give ear unto me, O my nation: for a law shall proceed from me, and I will make my judgment to rest for a light of the people.

Cross-references

1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, to proclaim the virtues of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.
Isaiah 2:3 And many peoples will come and say: “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us His ways so that we may walk in His paths.” For the law will go forth from Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
1 Corinthians 9:21 To those without the law I became like one without the law (though I am not outside the law of God but am under the law of Christ), to win those without the law.
Isaiah 42:6 “I, the LORD, have called you for a righteous purpose, and I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and appoint you to be a covenant for the people and a light to the nations,
Isaiah 49:6 He says: “It is not enough for You to be My Servant, to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the protected ones of Israel. I will also make You a light for the nations, to bring My salvation to the ends of the earth.”
Psalms 78:1 A Maskil of Asaph. Give ear, O my people, to my instruction; listen to the words of my mouth.
Micah 4:2 And many nations will come and say: “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us His ways, so that we may walk in His paths.” For the law will go forth from Zion and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
Exodus 19:6 And unto Me you shall be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you are to speak to the Israelites.”
Exodus 33:13 Now if indeed I have found favor in Your sight, please let me know Your ways, that I may know You and find favor in Your sight. Remember that this nation is Your people.”
Psalms 33:12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people He has chosen as His inheritance!