Isaiah 25:4
WEB
For you have been a stronghold to the poor, a stronghold to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shade from the heat, when the blast of the dreaded ones is like a storm against the wall.
BSB
For You have been a refuge for the poor, a stronghold for the needy in distress, a refuge from the storm, a shade from the heat. For the breath of the ruthless is like rain against a wall,
KJV
For thou hast been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat, when the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall.
Matthew Henry
Hebrew interlinear
H3588
conj — relative conjunction
Derivation: a primitive particle (the full form of the prepositional prefix) indicating causal relations of all kinds, antecedent or consequent;
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
KJV: and, (forasmuch, inasmuch, where-) as, assured(-ly), but, certainly, doubtless, else, even, except, for, how, (because, in, so, than) that, nevertheless, now, rightly, seeing, since, surely, then, therefore, (al-) though, till, truly, until, when, whether, while, whom, yea, yet.
conj — that
כִּי conj. that, for, when
1. that
2.
a. Of time, when, of the past
b. elsewhere כִּי has a force approximating to if, though it usu. represents a case as more likely to occur than אִם
c. when or if, with a concessive force, i.e. though
3. Because, since
relative conjunction
כִּי אם־
1. each part. retaining its independent force, and relating to a different clause:
a. that if
b. for if
2. (About 140 t.) the two particles being closely conjoined, and relating to the same clause—
a. limiting the prec. clause, except
b. the if being neglected, and treated as pleonastic, so that the clause is no longer a limitation of the preceding clause but a contradiction of it: but rather, but
c. after an oath, surely
forasmuch as
כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as
H1961
v — exist, be, become, come to pass
Derivation: a primitive root (compare 1933);
to exist, i.e. be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
KJV: beacon, × altogether, be(-come), accomplished, committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), do, faint, fall, follow, happen, × have, last, pertain, quit (one-) self, require, × use.
vb — fall out
הָיָה 3570 vb. fall out, come to pass, become, be
Qal
I.
1.
a. Fall out, happen
b. occur, take place, come about, come to pass
2. esp. & very oft., come about, come to pass
a.
(1). וַיְהִי and it came to pass that, most often (c. 292 t.)
(2). rarely also Pf. c. וְ conj. וְהָיָה
b. less oft. וְהָיָה Pf. consec. and it shall come to pass, or frequentat. came to pass (repeatedly, etc.)
II. Come into being, become
1.
a. abs., in lively narrative, arise, appear, come
b. sq. prep.
2. become
a. sq. pred. noun (to be viewed as implicit accus.)
b. sq. pred. adj.
c. become like
d. sq. pred. לְ pers.
e. sq. לְ pred.
f. oft. c. לְ pred. לְ pers.
g. with עַל and לְ
h. sts. c. לְ pers. only = became the property of, come into the possession of
III. Be (often with subbordinate idea of becoming)
1. exist, be in existence
2. abide, remain, continue
3. with word of locality, be in or at a place, be situated, stand, lie
4. as copula, joining subj. & pred.
5. periphrastic conjug.
Niph.
1. either be done, be brought about, or occur, come to pass
2. be done, finished, gone
H4581
n-m — fortified, defence
Derivation: (also מָעוּז ); or מָעֹז (also מָעֻז; from 5810;
a fortified place; figuratively, a defence
KJV: force, fort(-ress), rock, strength(-en), (× most) strong (hold).
n.m — place of safety
מָעוֹז n.m. place or means of safety, protection
H1800
a — dangling, weak, thin
Derivation: from 1809;
properly, dangling, i.e. (by implication) weak or thin
KJV: lean, needy, poor (man), weaker.
adj — low
דַּל adj. low, weak, poor, thin (especially common in Wisd. lit. and poet.)
H34
a-m — destitute
Derivation: from 14, in the sense of want (especially in feeling);
destitute
KJV: beggar, needy, poor (man).
adj — in want
אֶבְיוֹן adj. in want, needy, poor,—so, alw. abs., Dt 15:4 + 40 t.; אֶבְיֹנְךָ Ex 23:6 Dt 15:11; אֶבְיוֹנִים Am 4:1 + 14 t.; אֶבְיוֹנֵי (אֶבְיֹנֵי) Ex 23:11 Is 29:19; אֶבְיוֹנֶיהָ ψ 132:15—(Hex. only JED; mostly poet., 23 t. ψ) needy, chiefly poor (in material things); as adj. Dt 15:7, 7, 9; 24:14 ψ 109:16 (both ∥ עָנִי); elsewhere subst.; ψ 49:3 (∥ עָשִׁיר); Dt 15:4, 11; subj. to oppression & abuse Am 2:6 5:12 (both ∥ צַדִּיק) 4:1 8:6 (all ∥ דַּל) Is 32:7; Am 8:4 Ez 16:49 18:12 22:29 ψ 37:14 Jb 24:4, 14 Pr 30:14—cf. ψ 109:16 supr.—(all ∥ עָנִי) Je 5:28 (∥ יָתוֹם) 2:34; cared for by good Jb 29:16 30:25 (∥ קְשֵׁה־יוֹם) 31:19 ψ 112:9 Est 9:22; Pr 14:31 (∥ דָּל) 31:20 Je 22:16 (∥ עָנִי); care of them enjoined, negatively Ex 23:6;—cf. Dt 24:14 supr.—positively Ex 23:11 Dt 15:11 Pr 31:9 (both ∥ עָנִי)—cf. Dt 15:7, 7, 9 supr.—ψ 82:4 (∥ דַל); cared for by God Je 20:13 ψ 107:41 132:15 Jb 5:15; I S 2:8 = ψ 113:7 Is 14:30 (all ∥ דַּל) ψ 35:10 140:13 (both ∥ עָנִי), cf. Davidic king ψ 72:12 (∥ עָנִי) = v 4 בְנֵי אֶבְ׳ (∥ id.), v 13, 13 (∥ דַּל); needing help, deliverance from trouble, esp. as delivered by God ψ 9:19 12:6 40:18 = 70:6 74:21 86:1 109:22 Is 29:19 41:17 (all ∥ עָנִי) Is 25:4 (∥ דַּל) ψ 69:34 109:31.
H6862
a n-m — narrow, tight, trouble, pebble, opponent, crowding
Derivation: or צָר; from 6887;
narrow; (as a noun) a tight place (usually figuratively, i.e. trouble); also a pebble (as in 6864); (transitive) an opponent (as crowding)
KJV: adversary, afflicted(-tion), anguish, close, distress, enemy, flint, foe, narrow, small, sorrow, strait, tribulation, trouble.
n.[m.] — straits
צַר n.[m.] straits, distress
n.m — adversary
צַר 68 n.m. adversary, foe
adj — narrow
צַר adj. narrow, tight
H4268
n-m — shelter
Derivation: or מַחְסֶה; from 2620;
a shelter (literally or figuratively)
KJV: hope, (place of) refuge, shelter, trust.
n.m — refuge
מַחְסֶּה n.m. refuge, shelter
H2230
n-m — gush
Derivation: from 2229;
a gush of water
KJV: flood, overflowing, shower, storm, tempest.
n.m — flood of rain
זֶ֫רֶם n.m. flood of rain, rain-storm, downpour
H6738
n-m — shade
Derivation: from 6751;
shade, whether literal or figurative
KJV: defence, shade(-ow).
n.m — shadow
צֵל n.m. shadow
H2721
n-m — drought, desolation
Derivation: a collaterally form of 2719;
drought or desolation
KJV: desolation, drought, dry, heat, × utterly, waste.
n.m — dryness
חֹ֫רֶב n.m. dryness, drought, heat
1. dryness
2. drought
3. parching heat
n.[m.] — desolation
חֹ֫רֶב n.[m.] desolation
H7307
n-f — wind, breath, exhalation, life, anger, unsubstantiality, region of the sky, spirit
Derivation: from 7306;
wind; by resemblance breath, i.e. a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively, life, anger, unsubstantiality; by extension, a region of the sky; by resemblance spirit, but only of a rational being (including its expression and functions)
KJV: air, anger, blast, breath, × cool, courage, mind, × quarter, × side, spirit(-ual), tempest, × vain, (whirl-) wind(-y).
n.f — breath
רוּחַ 378 n.f. (less oft. m.) breath, wind, spirit
1. breath of mouth or nostrils (33 t.)
2. wind (117 t.)
3. spirit, as that which breathes quickly in animation or agitation = temper, disposition (76 t.)
4. spirit of the living, breathing being
5. spirit as seat of emotion
6. occasionally (and late) = seat or organ of mental acts
7. rarely of the will
8. רוּחַ esp. of moral character
9. spirit of God (94 t.)
H6184
a — fearful, powerful, tyrannical
Derivation: from 6206;
fearful, i.e. powerful or tyrannical
KJV: mighty, oppressor, in great power, strong, terrible, violent.
adj — awe-inspiring
עָרִיץ adj. awe-inspiring, terror-stricken
H7023
n-m — wall, trench
Derivation: or קִר; (Isaiah 22:5), or (feminine) קִירָה; from 6979;
a wall (as built in a trench)
KJV: mason, side, town, × very, wall.
n.m — wall
קִיר 74 n.m. wall (√ unknown)
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Verses 1–5
Isaiah 25:1–5
It is said in the close of the foregoing chapter that the Lord of hosts shall reign gloriously; now, in compliance with this, the prophet here speaks of the glorious majesty of his kingdom (Psa 145:12), and gives him the glory of it; and, however this prophecy might have an accomplishment in the destruction of Babylon and the deliverance of the Jews out of their captivity there, it seems to look further, to the praises that should be offered up to God by the gospel church for Christ's victories over our spiritual enemies and the comforts he has provided for all believers. Here,
I. The prophet determines to praise God himself; for those that would stir up others should in the first place stir up themselves to praise God (Isa 25:1): "O Lord! thou art my God, a God in covenant with me." When God is punishing the kings of the earth upon the earth, and making them to tremble before him, a poor prophet can go to him, and, with a humble boldness, say, O Lord! thou art my God, and therefore I will exalt thee, I will praise thy name. Those that have the Lord for their God are bound to praise him; for therefore he took us to be his people that we might be unto him for a name and for a praise, Jer 13:11. In praising God we exalt him; not that we can make him higher than he is, but we must make him to appear to ourselves and others than he does. See Exo 15:2.
II. He pleases himself with the thought that others also shall be brought to praise God, Isa 25:3. "Therefore, because of the desolations thou hast made in the earth by thy providence (Psa 46:8) and the just vengeance thou hast taken on thy and thy church's enemies, therefore shall the strong people glorify thee in concert, and the city (the metropolis) of the terrible nations fear thee." This may be understood, 1. Of those people that have been strong and terrible against God. Those that have been enemies to God's kingdom, and have fought against the interests of it with a great deal of strength and terror, shall either be converted, and glorify God by joining with his people in his service, or at least convinced, so as to own themselves conquered. Those that have been the terror of the mighty shall be forced to tremble before the judgments of God and call in vain to rocks and mountains to hide them. Or, 2. Of those that shall be now made strong and terrible for God and by him, though before they were weak and trampled upon. God shall so visibly appear for and with those that fear him and glorify him that all shall acknowledge them a strong people and shall stand in awe of them. There was a time when many of the people of the land became Jews, for the fear of the Jews fell upon them (Est 8:17), and when those that knew their God were strong and did exploits (Dan 11:32), for which they glorified God.
III. He observes what is, and ought to be, the matter of this praise. We and others must exalt God and praise him; for, 1. He has done wonders, according to the counsel of his own will, Isa 25:1. We exalt God by admiring what he has done as truly wonderful, wonderful proofs of his power beyond what any creature could perform, and wonderful proofs of his goodness beyond what such sinful creatures as we are could expect. These wonderful things, which are new and surprising to us, and altogether unthought of, are according to his counsels of old, devised by his wisdom and designed for his own glory and the comfort of his people. All the operations of providence are according to God's eternal counsels (and those faithfulness and truth itself), all consonant to his attributes, consistent with one another, and sure to be accomplished in their season. 2. He has in particular humbled the pride, and broken the power, of the mighty ones of the earth (Isa 25:2): "Thou hast made of a city, of many a city, a heap of rubbish. Of many a defenced city, that thought itself well guarded by nature and art, and the multitude and courage of its militia, thou hast made a ruin." What created strength can hold out against Omnipotence? "Many a city so richly built that it might be called a palace, and so much frequented and visited by persons of the best rank from all parts that it might be called a palace of strangers, thou hast made to be no city; it is levelled with the ground, and not one stone left upon another, and it shall never be built again." This has been the case of many cities in divers parts of the world, and in our own nation particularly; cities that flourished once have gone to decay and are lost, and it is scarcely known (except by urns or coins digged up out of the earth) where they stood. How many of the cities of Israel have long since been heaps and ruins! God hereby teaches us that here we have no continuing city and must therefore seek one to come which will never be a ruin or go to decay. 3. He has seasonably relieved and succoured his necessitous and distressed people (Isa 25:4): Thou has been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy. As God weakens the strong that are proud and secure, so he strengthens the weak that are humble and serious, and stay themselves upon him. Nay, he not only makes them strong, but he is himself their strength; for in him they strengthen themselves, and it is his favour that is the strength of their hearts. He is a strength to the needy in his distress, when he needs strength, and when his distress drives him to God. And, as he strengthens them against their inward decays, so he shelters them from outward assaults. He is a refuge from the storm of rain or hail, and a shadow from the scorching heat of the sun in summer. God is a sufficient protection to his people in all weathers, hot and cold, wet and dry. The armour of righteousness serves both on the right hand and on the left, Co2 6:7. Whatever dangers or troubles God's people may be in, effectual care is taken that they shall sustain no real hurt or damage. When perils are most threatening and alarming God will then appear for the safety of his people: When the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall, which makes a great noise, but cannot overthrow the wall. The enemies of God's poor are terrible ones; they do all they can to make themselves so to them. Their rage is like a blast of wind, loud, and blustering, and furious; but, like the wind, it is under a divine check; for God holds the winds in his fist, and God will be such a shelter to his people that they shall be able to stand the shock, keep their ground, and maintain their integrity and peace. A storm beating on a ship tosses it, but that which beats on a wall never stirs it, Psa 76:10; Psa 138:7. 4. That he does and will shelter those that trust in him from the insolence of their proud oppressors (Isa 25:5): Thou shalt, or thou dost, bring down the noise of strangers; thou shalt abate and still it, as the heat in a dry place is abated and moderated by the shadow of a cloud interposing. The branch, or rather the son or triumph, of the terrible ones shall be brought low, and they shall be made to change their note and lower their voice. Observe here, (1.) The oppressors of God's people are called strangers; for they forget that those they oppress are made of the same mould, of the same blood, with them. They are called terrible ones; for so they affect to be, rather than amiable ones: they would rather be feared than loved. (2.) Their insolence towards the people of God is noisy and hot, and that is all; it is but the noise of strangers, who think to carry their point by hectoring and bullying all that stand in their way, and talking big. Pharaoh king of Egypt is but a noise, Jer 46:17. It is like the heat of the sun scorching in the middle of the day; but where is it when the sun has set? (3.) Their noise, and heat, and all their triumph, will be humbled and brought low, when their hopes are baffled and all their honours laid in the dust. The branches, even the top branches, of the terrible ones, will be broken off, and thrown to the dunghill. (4.) If the labourers in God's vineyard be at any time called to bear the burden and heat of the day, he will find some way or other to refresh them, as with the shadow of a cloud, that they may not be pressed above measure.
Cross-references: Ps 145:12 · Isa 25:1 · Jer 13:11 · Exod 15:2 · Isa 25:3 · Ps 46:8 · Esth 8:17 · Dan 11:32 · Isa 25:2 · Isa 25:4 · 2Cor 6:7 · Ps 76:10 · Ps 138:7 · Isa 25:5 · Jer 46:17