Isaiah 62 · a question people ask

"For Zion’s sake I will not hold my peace" (62:1). Who is speaking?

In the text

The verse doesn't say. It speaks of Zion and Jerusalem as her: "until her righteousness shines out like the dawn" (62:1). From 62:2 the words speak to her: "You will be called by a new name, which the LORD’s mouth will name" (62:2), and "You will also be a crown of beauty in the LORD’s hand" (62:3). 62:6 also has an I, and doesn't name who says it: "I have set watchmen on your walls, Jerusalem" (62:6). The WEB prints no quotation marks in 62:1-7; the first come with the LORD's oath, "Surely I will no more give your grain to be food for your enemies" (62:8). And the chapter says who proclaims the words of 62:11: "Behold, the LORD has proclaimed to the end of the earth" (62:11). The chapter doesn't name the one who says "I will not hold my peace" (62:1), and these notes don't either.

The verses

“For Zion’s sake I will not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest, until her righteousness shines out like the dawn, and her salvation like a burning lamp. The nations will see your righteousness, and all kings your glory. You will be called by a new name, which the LORD’s mouth will name. You will also be a crown of beauty in the LORD’s hand, and a royal diadem in your God’s hand.”
Isaiah 62:1-3 · World English Bible
“I have set watchmen on your walls, Jerusalem. They will never be silent day nor night. You who call on the LORD, take no rest,”
Isaiah 62:6 · World English Bible
“The LORD has sworn by his right hand, and by the arm of his strength, “Surely I will no more give your grain to be food for your enemies, and foreigners will not drink your new wine, for which you have labored,”
Isaiah 62:8 · World English Bible
“Behold, the LORD has proclaimed to the end of the earth: “Say to the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold, your salvation comes! Behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him!’””
Isaiah 62:11 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of Isaiah 62

Isaiah 62: Called by a new name

Those who call on the LORD are told to take no rest and to give him no rest, with one Hebrew word both times (62:6-7). Beulah (62:4) is the same Hebrew form as "the married wife" (Isaiah 54:1), and 62:11's "his reward is with him, and his recompense before him" is 40:10's line, word for word.

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