Isaiah 54:2

“Enlarge the site of your tent, stretch out the curtains of your dwellings, do not hold back. Lengthen your ropes and drive your stakes in deep.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The LORD addresses the desolate woman (Jerusalem) immediately after commanding her to rejoice, issuing a directive to prepare for imminent demographic and territorial growth.

The words — הַרְחִ֣יבִי (har.Chi.vi) translates literally as "enlarge," and מְק֣וֹם (me.Kom) means "place," forming the opening imperative to widen the dwelling site.

The thread — The command contrasts with Jeremiah 10:20, which describes a destroyed tent with snapped ropes, and parallels Isaiah 49:19, which states that ruined land will eventually become too small for the returning people.

Why it lands — The text commands physical preparation for future expansion, requiring the reader to act proactively to accommodate growth rather than maintain current boundaries.

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

הַרְחִ֣יבִי׀har.Chi.vienlarge מְק֣וֹםme.Kom[the] place of אָהֳלֵ֗ךְ'o.ho.Le/khtent/ your וִירִיע֧וֹתvi./ri.'otand/ [the] tent curtains of מִשְׁכְּנוֹתַ֛יִךְmish.ke.no.Ta.yi/khdwellings/ your יַטּ֖וּya.Tumay people stretch out אַל־'al-may not תַּחְשֹׂ֑כִיtach.So.khiyou refrain הַאֲרִ֙יכִי֙ha.'a.Ri.khimake long מֵֽיתָרַ֔יִךְmei.ta.Ra.yi/khtent cords/ your וִיתֵדֹתַ֖יִךְvi./te.do.Ta.yi/khand/ tent pegs/ your חַזֵּֽקִי׃cha.Ze.kimake strong

King James Version

Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations: spare not, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes;

Cross-references

Isaiah 33:20 Look upon Zion, the city of our appointed feasts. Your eyes will see Jerusalem, a peaceful pasture, a tent that does not wander; its tent pegs will not be pulled up, nor will any of its cords be broken.
Isaiah 49:19 For your ruined and desolate places and your ravaged land will now indeed be too small for your people, and those who devoured you will be far away.
Jeremiah 10:20 My tent is destroyed, and all its ropes are snapped. My sons have departed from me and are no more. I have no one left to pitch my tent or set up my curtains.
Exodus 39:40 the curtains of the courtyard with its posts and bases; the curtain for the gate of the courtyard, its ropes and tent pegs, and all the equipment for the service of the tabernacle, the Tent of Meeting;
Exodus 35:18 the tent pegs for the tabernacle and for the courtyard, along with their ropes;