Sing, O barren, you that did not bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, you that did not travail with child: for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife, said the LORD.
o barren
Isaiah 62:4 Thou shalt no more be termed Forsaken; neither shall thy land any more be termed Desolate: but thou shalt be called Hephzibah, and thy land Beulah: for the LORD delighteth in thee, and thy land shall be married.
Song of Solomon 8:8 We have a little sister, and she hath no breasts: what shall we do for our sister in the day when she shall be spoken for?
Galatians 4:27 For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband.
break
Isaiah 42:10,11 Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise from the end of the earth, ye that go down to the sea, and all that is therein; the isles, and the inhabitants thereof…
Isaiah 44:23 Sing, O ye heavens; for the LORD hath done it: shout, ye lower parts of the earth: break forth into singing, ye mountains, O forest, and every tree therein: for the LORD hath redeemed Jacob, and glorified himself in Israel.
Isaiah 49:13 Sing, O heavens; and be joyful, O earth; and break forth into singing, O mountains: for the LORD hath comforted his people, and will have mercy upon his afflicted.
for more
1 Samuel 2:5 They that were full have hired out themselves for bread; and they that were hungry ceased: so that the barren hath born seven; and she that hath many children is waxed feeble.
Psalm 113:9 He maketh the barren woman to keep house, and to be a joyful mother of children. Praise ye the LORD.
Hebrews 11:11,12 Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised…
break forth in song and cry aloud, you who have never travailed;
The command to "break forth in song" and "cry aloud" emphasizes a spontaneous and overwhelming expression of joy. The term "travailed" refers to the labor pains of childbirth, which the barren woman has never experienced. This highlights the miraculous nature of the promised transformation. The imagery of singing and crying aloud is often associated with deliverance and victory in the Bible, as seen in the songs of Moses and Miriam after the crossing of the Red Sea (Exodus 15).
because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband,”
This statement reveals a divine paradox: the desolate woman, representing Israel, will have more children than the one who is married. This prophecy points to a future expansion and blessing that defies human expectations. It echoes the promise made to Abraham about his descendants being as numerous as the stars (Genesis 15:5). The Apostle Paul references this verse in Galatians 4:27, applying it to the spiritual children of the "Jerusalem above," indicating the growth of the Church and the inclusion of Gentiles into God's covenant family.
says the LORD.
The phrase "says the LORD" underscores the authority and certainty of the prophecy. It is a divine declaration, assuring the fulfillment of God's promises. Throughout the Bible, when God speaks, His words are powerful and effective, as seen in the creation narrative (Genesis 1) and the prophetic declarations throughout Scripture. This assurance from the LORD provides hope and confidence to the exiled Israelites, affirming that their future is secure in His hands.
- “Shout for joy” (Isaiah 54:1) is an imperative, calling God’s people to erupt in praise before the promised blessing is even seen.
- Scripture often bids faith to celebrate in advance; see Joshua 6:16, Psalm 98:4, and 1 Peter 1:8–9.
- Joy here is rooted in the certainty of God’s covenant faithfulness (Isaiah 51:6), not current circumstances.
- The “barren woman” pictures Zion after exile—stripped of people, influence, and hope (2 Kings 25:11).
- Barrenness was a mark of reproach in ancient Israel (Genesis 30:1, Luke 1:24–25). By addressing her directly, God acknowledges the shame while promising reversal.
- Historically, Israel’s national life seemed dead; prophetically, the text reaches Gentile inclusion (Romans 9:25–26).
- “Break forth” signals sudden, unstoppable joy (Isaiah 44:23).
- Praise is not muted; it is loud and communal, matching the magnitude of deliverance (Psalm 126:1–3).
- God commands emotion because He guarantees the outcome (Isaiah 42:10).
- The woman has never experienced labor pains, emphasizing utter impossibility by human effort (Genesis 11:30; 1 Samuel 1:5–6).
- God alone brings life from barrenness (Romans 4:17–21).
- Paul applies this to the church, highlighting grace over law (Galatians 4:27).
- The reason for rejoicing: her offspring will exceed all expectation.
• Physical fulfillment: post-exilic population boom (Nehemiah 7:66–73).
• Spiritual fulfillment: multitudes from every nation become Abraham’s seed through faith (Genesis 15:5; Revelation 7:9).
- God turns lack into abundance, echoing Joel 2:25–26.
- Earthly security (“has a husband”) cannot match what God grants by promise.
- The line alludes to Hagar and Sarah: Hagar had natural advantages, yet Sarah, once desolate, became “mother of nations” (Genesis 17:15–16).
- Man-made systems are outstripped by divine grace (1 Corinthians 1:27–29).
- The closing seal grounds every promise in God’s unchanging character (Isaiah 40:8).
- Because He speaks, the barren rejoice, the desolate enlarge, and the impossible becomes history (Numbers 23:19; Isaiah 46:9–11).
Isaiah 54:1 commands desolate Zion to celebrate a miraculous future. Though devoid of children and human hope, she is told to sing because God Himself guarantees abundant offspring—far surpassing those of the seemingly secure. Historically fulfilled in Israel’s restoration and ultimately in the worldwide family of faith, the verse showcases the Lord’s power to transform shame into joy and scarcity into overflow, compelling believers to trust His Word and praise Him before the blessing appears.
LIV.(1) Sing, O barren . . .--The words seem to carry on the jubilant strain of Isaiah 51, Isaiah 52:1-12, leaving the section Isaiah 52:13 to Isaiah 53:12, as a mysterious episode. inserted, it may be, by the prophet to show how it was that the restoration of Israel and the victory of righteousness had become possible. We note, as bearing on Isaiah's studies, the parallelism with 1Samuel 2:5. The "children of the desolate" are primarily the returning exiles, ultimately all the citizens of the heavenly Jerusalem.
Verses 1-10. - A PROMISE TO ISRAEL OF GREAT INCREASE, AND OF GOD'S PERSISTENT PROTECTION. There is no close connection between this chapter and the last, or even between this section and the preceding. Vers. 1-5 take up the thought of Isaiah 49:19-21, and expand it. Israel is assured of a great enlargement of her numbers, and bidden to rejoice thereat. She is then further comforted with a promise that she shall never be forsaken (vers. 6-10). Verse 1. - Sing, O barren. Israel in captivity is addressed as "barren," because, in the time of suffering, her numbers rather diminished than increased. Still, she is bidden to "sing" on account of the prospect that is opening upon her. She that is now desolate and solitary will soon have more children than she formerly had, when she was a married wife, enjoying the fellowship of Jehovah, her Husband (ver. 5). The "children" spoken of are in part those who gathered themselves together in Jerusalem and the adjacent territory after the issue of the decree of Cyrus (1 Chronicles 9:2-34; Ezra 2:1-65; Ezra 8:1-20; Nehemiah 7:6-72; Nehemiah 11:3-36), but mainly such as flocked in from the Gentiles, both before and after Christ's coming (see ver. 3).