Isaiah 4:6

Old Testament Major Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Isaiah 4:6 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And there shall be a pavilion for a shade in the day-time from the heat, and for a refuge and for a covert from storm and from rain.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And there shall be a pavilion for a shade in the day-time from the heat, and for a refuge and for a covert from storm and from rain.
Isaiah 4:6 — American Standard Version

Context — Isaiah 4

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
6And there shall be a pavilion for a shade in the day-time from the heat, and for a refuge and for a covert from storm and from rain.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And there shall be a tabernacle, &c.] Christ, who tabernacled in our nature, and is the minister of the true tabernacle, which God pitched, and not man; who will be spiritually present in the word and ordinances, where the shepherds pitch their tents; and who will be that to his people as shepherds’ tents are to them, to which the allusion is: for a shadow in the day time from the heat: from the heat of a fiery law, which works wrath; from the flaming sword of justice, which calls for vengeance; from the wrath of God, which is poured forth like fire; from Satan’s temptations, compared to fiery darts; and from the violence of persecution; for there will be no more after the last struggle of…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“And there shall be a tabernacle - The reference here is to the “tabernacle,” or sacred “tent” that God directed Moses to make in the wilderness. The image of the cloudy pillar mentioned in the previous verses, seems to have suggested to the mind of the prophet the idea of the tabernacle over which that pillar rested. The principal idea here is, however, not a tabernacle as a symbol of the divine protection, or of divine worship, but of a place of refuge from a tempest; that is, that they should be “safe” under his protection. In Eastern countries they dwelt chiefly in tents. The idea is, therefore, that God would furnish them a place of shelter, a hiding-place from the storm. In the daytime…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“And there - Or, he, the Lord, shall be a tabernacle, to defend them from the heat of the sun, and other injuries of the weather. Next: Isaiah Chapter 5”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“4:6 shelter (literally shadow; see 32:2): See 32:2; God’s protection would keep the remnant safe from enemies and from the destruction he would bring on the wicked (33:14-16).”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“tabernacle: Isa 8:14, Isa 25:4; Psa 27:5, Psa 91:1, Psa 121:5, Psa 121:6; Pro 18:10; Eze 11:16; Heb 6:18; Rev 7:16 for a covert: Isa 32:2, Isa 32:18, Isa 32:19; Mat 7:24-27; Heb 11:7 Next: Isaiah Chapter 5”
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Keil & Delitzsch
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · Commentary on the Old Testament · 19th-century historical commentary
“Thus would Zion be a secure retreat from all adversities and disasters."And it will be a booth for shade by day from the heat of the sun, and for a refuge and covert from storm and from rain." The subject to "will be" is not the miraculous roofing; for ânân (cloud) is masculine, and the verb feminine, and there would be no sense in saying that a Chuppâh or canopy would be a succâh or booth. Either, therefore, the verb contains the subject in itself, and the meaning is, "There will be a booth" (the verb hâyâh being used in a pregnant sense, as in Isa 15:6; Isa 23:13); or else Zion ( Isa 4:5) is the subject. We prefer the latter. Zion or Jerusalem would be a booth, that is to say, as the…”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification