Isaiah 61:4

They will rebuild the ancient ruins; they will restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities, the desolations of many generations.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The Lord speaks through the prophet to the people of Zion, immediately after declaring that mourning will be replaced by joy and praise. The address targets a community recovering from prolonged devastation and displacement.

The words — חָרְבֹת (cha.re.Vot) denotes collapsed structures or ruins, while עוֹלָם (o.Lam) specifies antiquity or long-forgotten generations. These terms anchor the promise in tangible, historical desolation rather than abstract loss.

The thread — The motif of restoring abandoned cities and foundations recurs in Isaiah 58:12, Amos 9:14, and Ezekiel 36:33. Each passage pairs divine deliverance or cleansing with the physical resettlement and reconstruction of ruined settlements.

Why it lands — The text demands recognition that restoration requires active rebuilding, not passive waiting. It calls readers to participate in renewing what generations have abandoned, aligning human effort with divine promise.

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

וּבָנוּ֙u./va.Nuand/ they will rebuild חָרְב֣וֹתcha.re.Vot[the] ruins of עוֹלָ֔םo.Lamantiquity שֹׁמְמ֥וֹתsho.me.Mot[the] desolate [places]רִֽאשֹׁנִ֖יםri.sho.Nimformer יְקוֹמֵ֑מוּye.ko.Me.muthey will raise up וְחִדְּשׁוּ֙ve./chi.de.Shuand/ they will renew עָ֣רֵי'A.rei[the] cities of חֹ֔רֶבCho.revdevastation שֹׁמְמ֖וֹתsho.me.Mot[the] desolate [places] of דּ֥וֹרDora generation וָדֽוֹר׃va./Dorand/ a generation

King James Version

And they shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations.

Cross-references

Isaiah 58:12 Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins; you will restore the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of the Breach, Restorer of the Streets of Dwelling.
Amos 9:14 I will restore My people Israel from captivity; they will rebuild and inhabit the ruined cities. They will plant vineyards and drink their wine; they will make gardens and eat their fruit.
Ezekiel 36:33 This is what the Lord GOD says: On the day I cleanse you from all your iniquities, I will cause the cities to be resettled and the ruins to be rebuilt.
Ezekiel 36:23 I will show the holiness of My great name, which has been profaned among the nations—the name you have profaned among them. Then the nations will know that I am the LORD, declares the Lord GOD, when I show My holiness in you before their eyes.
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.”