The Prophets · Old Testament
Isaiah 12
Isaiah 12: a song of praise for the day of salvation
General context
In that day a single voice will say, O Lord, I will praise thee, because though the Lord was angry his anger is turned away and he has comforted the speaker. God is my salvation; the speaker will trust and not fear, for the Lord JEHOVAH is his strength and song and has become his salvation. Therefore with joy they will draw water from the wells of salvation. In that day the plural you will say, Praise the Lord, call on his name, declare his doings among the people, make mention that his name is exalted. Sing to the Lord for he has done excellent things known in all the earth. The inhabitant of Zion is told to cry out and shout, for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of her.
Cited passages: Isaiah 12:1, Isaiah 12:2, Isaiah 12:3, Isaiah 12:4, Isaiah 12:5, Isaiah 12:6
Isaiah 12 (KJV)
1And in that day thou shalt say, O Lord, I will praise thee: though thou wast angry with me, thine anger is turned away, and thou comfortedst me.
2Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.
3Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.
4And in that day shall ye say, Praise the Lord, call upon his name, declare his doings among the people, make mention that his name is exalted.
5Sing unto the Lord; for he hath done excellent things: this is known in all the earth.
6Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion: for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee.
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Historical context
The six verses carry no heading, no speaker's name and no setting; the only time marker is in that day, repeated from the end of chapter eleven, so the song is placed after the gathering of the remnant described there. The first speaker is singular, thou shalt say, I will praise thee, and the second is plural, ye shall say; the text does not say who either is beyond the closing address to the inhabitant of Zion. The printed text uses the form Jehovah in the second verse; within Isaiah this source prints that name only here and in a later verse, for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength. The claim that anger is turned away directly answers the refrain of chapters five, nine and ten, his anger is not turned away, though the chapter does not say what turned it. Doings among the people and known in all the earth extend the praise beyond Zion without naming any nation.
Cited passages: Isaiah 12:1, Isaiah 11:16, Isaiah 12:4, Isaiah 12:6, Isaiah 12:2, Isaiah 26:4, Isaiah 9:12, Isaiah 12:5
Literary context
The chapter is two short songs marked by the same opening, in that day, one in the singular and one in the plural, with a Therefore verse about drawing water joining them. The first song moves from past anger to present comfort and then to a triple statement about salvation: God is my salvation, he is my strength and my song, he is become my salvation. The second song is a string of imperatives, praise, call, declare, make mention, sing, cry out, shout, that widen from the speaker to the people to all the earth and then narrow again to a single inhabitant of Zion. The last line names the Holy One of Israel, the title used for the one provoked in the first chapter, now great in the midst of the city. Placed after the refrain stanzas and the Assyrian oracle, the song closes the first movement of the book before the burdens against the nations begin in chapter thirteen with a new heading.
Cited passages: Isaiah 12:1, Isaiah 12:4, Isaiah 12:3, Isaiah 12:2, Isaiah 12:6, Isaiah 1:4, Isaiah 13:1
Key moments
- Anger turned away (Isaiah 12:1). The singer praises the Lord whose anger has turned to comfort.
- My strength and my song (Isaiah 12:2). The Lord Jehovah is named as salvation, strength and song.
- Wells of salvation (Isaiah 12:3). Water is drawn with joy from the wells of salvation.
- Declare among the people (Isaiah 12:4). The plural voice is told to call on his name and declare his doings.
- Shout, inhabitant of Zion (Isaiah 12:6). Zion is told to cry out because the Holy One of Israel is great in her midst.
For reflection
The singer says thine anger is turned away after chapters that repeat his hand is stretched out still. What in the song itself, rather than in the reader's assumptions, accounts for the change?
