Isaiah 4:3
in Isaiah 4Whoever remains in Zion and whoever is left in Jerusalem will be called holy—all in Jerusalem who are recorded among the living—
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And it shall come to pass, that he that is left in Zion, and he that remaineth in Jerusalem, shall be called holy, even every one that is written among the living in Jerusalem;
KJV
And it shall come to pass, that he that is left in Zion, and he that remaineth in Jerusalem, shall be called holy, even every one that is written among the living in Jerusalem:
⋯
This verse in Isaiah 4
Commentary
10 notes on this verse(Verse 2, 3) On that day, the Lord's shoot will be in splendor and glory, and the fruit of the earth will be exalted, and those who have been saved from Israel will rejoice. And it will be, everyone who is left in Zion and remains in Jerusalem will be called holy, everyone who is recorded in life in Jerusalem.
This site's exposition
On that day the Branch
on Isaiah 4:2-3
This is the first of several branch texts. Its parallel with "the fruit of the land" allows the produce of the land, and its title form allows a messianic title. Either way the promise attaches to a remnant, "Whoever remains in Zion," called holy and "recorded among the living."
This site's exposition
recorded among the living
Those left in Zion are written in the register of the living, the roll of Israel's families. Jamieson, Fausset and Brown saw in it the book of life of Philippians 4:3. Henry called them a remnant under grace.
The record, by era
The Medieval Church1 voice
138. And it shall come to pass, that every one. Here he promises holiness in spiritual things, and concerning this he does three things. First, he promises to spread among the people the name of holiness, which to a greater extent drew those desiring glory; …
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
It is a remnant under the dominion of grace; for every one that is written among the living, and is accordingly left, shall be called holy, shall be holy, and shall be accepted of God accordingly. Those only that are holy shall be left when the Son of man shall gather out of his kingdom every thing that offends; and all that are chosen to salvation are chosen to sanctification.
And it shall come to pass, that he that is left in Zion, and he that remaineth in Jerusalem,....
Thus, in wrath, mercy is remembered, and gospel grace is a sovereign relief, in reference to the terrors of the law and the desolations made by sin. Humiliation of the Daughters of Zion.
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
He that is left in Zion - This “properly” refers to the remnant that should remain after the mass of the people should be cut off by wars, or be borne into captivity. If it refer to the few that would come back from Babylon, it means that they would be reformed, and would be a generation different from their fathers - which was undoubtedly true.
2 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
Re 21:27). written--in the book of life, antitypically (Php 4:3; Primarily, in the register kept of Israel's families and tribes. living--not "blotted out" from the registry, as dead; but written there as among the "escaped of Israel" (Da 12:1; To the elect of Israel, rather than the saved in general, the special reference is here (Joe 3:17).
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens
Written among the living - That is, whose name stands in the enrolment or register of the people; or every man living, who is a citizen of Jerusalem. See Eze 13:9, where, “they shall not be written in the writing of the house of Israel,” is the same with what immediately goes before, “they shall not be in the assembly of my people.” Compare Psa 69:28; Psa 87:6; Exo 32:32. To number and register the people was agreeable to the law of Moses, and probably was always practiced; being, in sound policy, useful, and even necessary. David’s design of numbering the people was of another kind; it was to enroll them for his army. Michaelis Mosaisches Recht, Part iii., p. 227. See also his Dissert. de Censibus Hebraeorum.
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
On the verses either side of this one
At that time shall the Messiah of the Lord be for joy and for glory to those that are escaped, and those that keep the law shall be for greatness and for praise.
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 7 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
The words behind it
12 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וְהָיָ֣ה׀ | vehayah | and it will be | H1961 → | 3559 times |
| הַנִּשְׁאָ֣ר | hanishar | who remains | H7604 → | 133 times |
| בְּצִיּ֗וֹן | betziyon | in Zion | H6726 → | 154 times |
| וְהַנּוֹתָר֙ | vehanotar | and <the> [one who is] left behind | H3498 → | 106 times |
| בִּיר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם | birushalim | in Jerusalem | H3389 → | 643 times |
| קָד֖וֹשׁ | kadoosh | holy | H6918 → | 116 times |
| יֵאָ֣מֶר | yeamer | it will be said | H559 → | 5305 times |
| ל֑וֹ | lo | of him | ||
| כָּל־ | kol- | every | H3605 → | 5413 times |
| הַכָּת֥וּב | hakatuv | <the> [one] recorded | H3789 → | 224 times |
| לַחַיִּ֖ים | lachaiyim | for <the> life | H2416 → | 498 times |
| בִּירוּשָׁלִָֽם׃ | birushalim | in Jerusalem | H3389 → | 643 times |
וְהָיָ֣ה׀and it will be
vehayahH1961 →3559 times
הַנִּשְׁאָ֣רwho remains
hanisharH7604 →133 times
בְּצִיּ֗וֹןin Zion
betziyonH6726 →154 times
וְהַנּוֹתָר֙and <the> [one who is] left behind
vehanotarH3498 →106 times
בִּיר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔םin Jerusalem
birushalimH3389 →643 times
קָד֖וֹשׁholy
kadooshH6918 →116 times
יֵאָ֣מֶרit will be said
yeamerH559 →5305 times
ל֑וֹof him
lo
כָּל־every
kol-H3605 →5413 times
הַכָּת֥וּב<the> [one] recorded
hakatuvH3789 →224 times
לַחַיִּ֖יםfor <the> life
lachaiyimH2416 →498 times
בִּירוּשָׁלִָֽם׃in Jerusalem
birushalimH3389 →643 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
Luke 10:20Nevertheless, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
it leads to
- Revelation 20:15
And if anyone was found whose name was not written in the Book of Life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Revelation 21:27
But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who practices an abomination or a lie, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Matthew 7:22–23
Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’
- Revelation 20:12
And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne. And there were open books, and one of them was the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their…
- Hebrews 12:23
in joyful assembly, to the congregation of the firstborn, enrolled in heaven. You have come to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect,
- Revelation 20:15
Through
Revelation 21:27But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who practices an abomination or a lie, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.
it leads to
- Revelation 22:14–15
Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and may enter the city by its gates.
- Isaiah 52:1
Awake, awake, clothe yourself with strength, O Zion! Put on your garments of splendor, O Jerusalem, holy city! For the uncircumcised and unclean will no longer enter you.
- Revelation 3:5
Like them, he who overcomes will be dressed in white. And I will never blot out his name from the Book of Life, but I will confess his name before My Father and His…
- Revelation 22:14–15
Where this verse is studied
About Isaiah
Who and where
2 names in this verse with a page on the site.
- PlaceJerusalemZionThe eastern ridge David took from the Jebusites and made his stronghold, the name the Psalms and the prophets give the city the LO…
- PlaceJerusalemJerusalemThe city David took from the Jebusites and made his capital, where Solomon built the temple, where Christ was crucified and rose,…
This page draws on 9 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Franz Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary on the Prophecies of Isaiah; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; Jerome, Commentary on Isaiah; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Isaiah.