Bible Strands
Isaiah 52:9
Break forth in joy, sing together, O ruins of Jerusalem, for the LORD has comforted His people; He has redeemed Jerusalem.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The prophet addresses the desolate ruins of Jerusalem, commanding them to celebrate. This proclamation follows the watchmen’s announcement of Yahweh’s return to Zion and precedes the nations’ witness of His revealed salvation.
The words — The Hebrew פִּצְח֤וּ (pitz.Chu) literally means "break forth," paired with רַנְּנוּ֙ (ra.ne.Nu) for "shout for joy." The text states that these waste places must vocalize celebration because יְהוָה֙ (Yah.weh) has comforted His people and redeemed Jerusalem.
The thread — This command to vocalize celebration echoes the directive in Psalms 98:4 to make a joyful noise to the Lord. It runs parallel to Isaiah 51:3, which promises Yahweh will comfort Zion and transform her ruins, and Isaiah 48:20, which orders a shouted declaration of liberation.
Why it lands — The text requires those in desolation to acknowledge and publicly declare divine comfort and redemption. It asks readers to recognize that restoration is already accomplished by Yahweh and must be proclaimed without delay.
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
King James Version
Break forth into joy, sing together, ye waste places of Jerusalem: for the Lord hath comforted his people, he hath redeemed Jerusalem.
Cross-references
- Psalms 98:4 Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth; break forth—let your cry ring out, and sing praises!
- Isaiah 51:3 For the LORD will comfort Zion and will look with compassion on all her ruins; He will make her wilderness like Eden and her desert like the garden of the LORD. Joy and gladness will be found in her, thanksgiving and melodious song.
- Isaiah 48:20 Leave Babylon! Flee from the Chaldeans! Declare it with a shout of joy, proclaim it, let it go out to the ends of the earth, saying, “The LORD has redeemed His servant Jacob!”
- Psalms 96:11 Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice; let the sea resound, and all that fills it.
- Isaiah 14:7 All the earth is at peace and at rest; they break out in song.
- Isaiah 42:10 Sing to the LORD a new song—His praise from the ends of the earth—you who go down to the sea, and all that is in it, you islands, and all who dwell in them.
- Isaiah 44:23 Sing for joy, O heavens, for the LORD has done this; shout aloud, O depths of the earth. Break forth in song, O mountains, you forests and all your trees. For the LORD has redeemed Jacob, and revealed His glory in Israel.
- Isaiah 44:26 who confirms the message of His servant and fulfills the counsel of His messengers, who says of Jerusalem, ‘She will be inhabited,’ and of the cities of Judah, ‘They will be rebuilt, and I will restore their ruins,’
- Isaiah 49:13 Shout for joy, O heavens; rejoice, O earth; break forth in song, O mountains! For the LORD has comforted His people, and He will have compassion on His afflicted ones.
- Isaiah 55:12 You will indeed go out with joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.