Isaiah 25:4
in Isaiah 25For 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,
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
For thou hast 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 terrible ones is as a storm against the 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.
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This verse in Isaiah 25
Commentary
8 notes on this verseAs a storm against the wall “Like a winter-storm” - For קיר kir, read קור kor: or, as עיר ir from ערר arar, so קיר kir from קרר karar. - Capellus.
This site's exposition
a refuge for the poor
on Isaiah 25:4-5
The song turns to what God is to the poor, "a refuge for the poor, a stronghold for the needy in distress". The ruthless come on like "rain against a wall". Barnes takes the poor and needy here as all who have nowhere else to turn.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
(Chapter 25 — Verse 1 and following) O Lord, you are my God; I will exalt you and praise your name, for you have done marvelous things, faithful and true are your ancient thoughts. Amen. For you have made a city into a heap, a fortified city into ruins, a palace of foreigners, so that it is no longer a city and will never be rebuilt. On this the strong people will praise you, the city of the mighty nations will fear you.
The Medieval Church1 voice
Second, he assigns the reason, which he sets out first: because you have been a strength to the poor, who has little, even if it is sufficient for him, to the needy, who is in need: the Lord is my refuge: and my God the …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
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, 2 Cor. vi.
For thou hast been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress,....
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
the poor . . . needy--the Jews, exiles from their country (Isa 26:6; 41:17). heat--calamity (Isa 4:6; 32:2). blast--that is, wrath. storm--a tempest of rain, a winter flood, rushing against and overthrowing the wall of a house.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase
1 more voice on this verse
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
For thou hast been a strength to the poor - Thou hast sustained and upheld them in their trials, and hast delivered them. God is often spoken of as the strength of his people. Isa 26:4: ‘In the Lord Yahweh is everlasting strength.’ Psa 27:1: ‘The Lord is the strength of my life, of whom shall I be afraid?’ Psa 28:8; Psa 29:11; Psa 31:2; Psa 46:1; Isa 45:24. By the ‘poor’ and the ‘needy’ here undoubtedly are mean; the captive Jews who had been stripped of their wealth, and carried from their homes, and confined in Babylon. A refuge - A place of safety; a retreat; a protection. God is often spoken of as such a refuge; Deu 33:27: ‘The eternal God is thy refuge.’ 2Sa 22:3; Psa 9:9; Psa 14:6; Psa 46:1, Psa 46:7, Psa 46:11; Psa 57:1; Psa 59:16) From the storm - This word (זרם zerem) usually denotes a tempest of wind and rain. Here it is put for calamity and affliction. The figure is common in all languages. A shadow from the heat - (See Isa 4:6, note; Isa 16:3, note; compare Isa 32:2.) When the blast of the terrible ones - Of the fierce, mighty, invading enemies. When they sweep down all before them as a furious tempest does. Is as a storm against the wall - For ‘wall’ here (קיר qiyr), Lowth proposes to read קוּר qûr, from קרר qârar, to be cold or cool, and supposes that this means a winters storm. In this interpretation also Vitringa and Cappellus coincide. But there is no need of supposing an error in the text. The idea is, probably, that of a fierce driving storm that would prostrate walls and houses; meaning a violent tempest, and intending to describe in a striking manner the severity of the calamities that had come upon the nation.
The words behind it
17 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| כִּֽי־ | ki- | for | H3588 → | 4482 times |
| הָיִ֨יתָ | hayita | you have been | H1961 → | 3559 times |
| מָע֥וֹז | maoz | a refuge | H4581 → | 36 times |
| לַדָּ֛ל | ladal | for the poor [person] | H1800 → | 47 times |
| מָע֥וֹז | maoz | a refuge | H4581 → | 36 times |
| לָאֶבְי֖וֹן | laevyon | for the needy [person] | H34 → | 61 times |
| בַּצַּר־ | batzar- | when <the> it was distress | H6862 → | 109 times |
| ל֑וֹ | lo | to him | ||
| מַחְסֶ֤ה | machseh | a shelter | H4268 → | 20 times |
| מִזֶּ֙רֶם֙ | mizerem | from rainstorm | H2230 → | 9 times |
| צֵ֣ל | tzel | a shade | H6738 → | 49 times |
| מֵחֹ֔רֶב | mechorev | from heat | H2721 → | 16 times |
| כִּ֛י | ki | for | H3588 → | 4482 times |
| ר֥וּחַ | ruach | [the] breath of | H7307 → | 378 times |
| עָרִיצִ֖ים | ʾaritzim | ruthless [people] | H6184 → | 20 times |
| כְּזֶ֥רֶם | kezerem | [is] like a rainstorm of | H2230 → | 9 times |
| קִֽיר׃ | kir | a wall | H7023 → | 75 times |
כִּֽי־for
ki-H3588 →4482 times
הָיִ֨יתָyou have been
hayitaH1961 →3559 times
מָע֥וֹזa refuge
maozH4581 →36 times
לַדָּ֛לfor the poor [person]
ladalH1800 →47 times
מָע֥וֹזa refuge
maozH4581 →36 times
לָאֶבְי֖וֹןfor the needy [person]
laevyonH34 →61 times
בַּצַּר־when <the> it was distress
batzar-H6862 →109 times
ל֑וֹto him
lo
מַחְסֶ֤הa shelter
machsehH4268 →20 times
מִזֶּ֙רֶם֙from rainstorm
mizeremH2230 →9 times
צֵ֣לa shade
tzelH6738 →49 times
מֵחֹ֔רֶבfrom heat
mechorevH2721 →16 times
כִּ֛יfor
kiH3588 →4482 times
ר֥וּחַ[the] breath of
ruachH7307 →378 times
עָרִיצִ֖יםruthless [people]
ʾaritzimH6184 →20 times
כְּזֶ֥רֶם[is] like a rainstorm of
kezeremH2230 →9 times
קִֽיר׃a wall
kirH7023 →75 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
James 2:5Listen, my beloved brothers: Has not God chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom He promised those who love Him?
it leads to
- Matthew 5:3
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
- Luke 6:20
Looking up at His disciples, Jesus said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.
- Revelation 2:9
I know your affliction and your poverty—though you are rich! And I am aware of the slander of those who falsely claim to be Jews, but are in fact a synagogue of Satan.
- 1 Corinthians 1:26–28
Brothers, consider the time of your calling: Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were powerful; not many were of noble birth.
- 2 Corinthians 8:9
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.
- Matthew 5:3
Through
Psalms 107:41But He lifts the needy from affliction and increases their families like flocks.
it leads to
- 1 Samuel 2:8
He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap. He seats them among princes and bestows on them a throne of honor. For the foundations of the earth…
- Job 21:11
They send forth their little ones like a flock; their children skip about,
- 1 Samuel 2:8
Through
Zephaniah 3:12But I will leave within you a meek and humble people, and they will trust in the name of the LORD.
it leads to
- Isaiah 14:32
What answer will be given to the envoys of that nation? “The LORD has founded Zion, where His afflicted people will find refuge.”
- Isaiah 14:32
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies2
On this verse
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About Isaiah
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes on the Book of Isaiah; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; Jerome, Commentary on Isaiah; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Isaiah.