Isaiah 54:2
Isaiah 54:2 in Multiple Translations
“Enlarge the site of your tent, stretch out the curtains of your dwellings, do not hold back. Lengthen your ropes and drive your stakes in deep.
Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations: spare not, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes;
Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thy habitations; spare not: lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes.
Make wide the place of your tent, and let the curtains of your house be stretched out without limit: make your cords long, and your tent-pins strong.
Make the tent where you live bigger; stretch the fabric to enlarge your home. Don't try and save space—extend your tent cords and make your tent pegs stronger.
Enlarge the place of thy tents, and let them spread out the curtains of thine habitations: spare not, stretch out thy cords and make fast thy stakes.
Enlarge the place of thy tent, And the curtains of thy tabernacles they stretch out, Restrain not — lengthen thy cords, And thy pins make strong.
“Enlarge the place of your tent, and let them stretch out the curtains of your habitations; don’t spare; lengthen your cords, and strengthen your stakes.
Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them extend the curtains of thy habitations: spare not, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes;
Enlarge the place of thy tent, and stretch out the skins of thy tabernacles, spare not: lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes.
Make your tents larger; make them wider, and fasten them firmly with tent pegs.
Berean Amplified Bible — Isaiah 54:2
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Isaiah 54:2 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
הַרְחִ֣יבִי
מְק֣וֹם
אָהֳלֵ֗/ךְ
וִ/ירִיע֧וֹת
מִשְׁכְּנוֹתַ֛יִ/ךְ
יַטּ֖וּ
אַל
תַּחְשֹׂ֑כִי
הַאֲרִ֨יכִי֙
מֵֽיתָרַ֔יִ/ךְ
וִ/יתֵדֹתַ֖יִ/ךְ
חַזֵּֽקִי
הַרְחִ֣יבִי
râchab
H7337
to enlarge
V-Hiphil-Impv-2fs
מְק֣וֹם
mâqôwm
H4725
place
N-ms
אָהֳלֵ֗/ךְ
ʼôhel
H168
tent
N-ms | Suff
וִ/ירִיע֧וֹת
yᵉrîyʻâh
H3407
curtain
Conj | N-fp
מִשְׁכְּנוֹתַ֛יִ/ךְ
mishkân
H4908
tabernacle
N-mp | Suff
יַטּ֖וּ
nâṭâh
H5186
to stretch
V-Hiphil-Imperf-3mp
אַל
ʼal
H408
not
Part
תַּחְשֹׂ֑כִי
châsak
H2820
to withhold
V-Qal-Juss-2fs
הַאֲרִ֨יכִי֙
ʼârak
H748
to prolong
V-Hiphil-Impv-2fs
מֵֽיתָרַ֔יִ/ךְ
mêythâr
H4340
cord
N-mp | Suff
וִ/יתֵדֹתַ֖יִ/ךְ
yâthêd
H3489
peg
Conj | N-fp | Suff
חַזֵּֽקִי
châzaq
H2388
to strengthen
V-Piel-Impv-2fs
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Isaiah 54:2
הַרְחִ֣יבִי
râchab
H7337
"to enlarge"
V-Hiphil-Impv-2fs
To enlarge or grow wide, as in making something bigger or more spacious, like a room or a path. This word is used in various forms throughout the Bible, including in descriptions of God's power and promises. It appears in books like Isaiah and Psalms.
Definition: 1) to be or grow wide, be or grow large 1a) (Qal) to be widened, be enlarged 1b) (Niphal) broad or roomy pasture (participle) 1c) (Hiphil) 1c1) to make large 1c2) to enlarge
Usage: Occurs in 25 OT verses. KJV: be an en-(make) large(-ing), make room, make (open) wide. See also: Genesis 26:22; Psalms 119:32; Psalms 4:2.
מְק֣וֹם
mâqôwm
H4725
"place"
N-ms
Maqom means a place or location, like a city or a region. It can also refer to a condition of the body or mind. This term is used to describe a wide range of locations and situations.
Definition: 1) standing place, place 1a) standing place, station, post, office 1b) place, place of human abode 1c) city, land, region 1d) place, locality, spot 1e) space, room, distance 1f) region, quarter, direction 1g) give place to, instead of
Usage: Occurs in 379 OT verses. KJV: country, [idiom] home, [idiom] open, place, room, space, [idiom] whither(-soever). See also: Genesis 1:9; Deuteronomy 12:3; 1 Kings 20:24.
אָהֳלֵ֗/ךְ
ʼôhel
H168
"tent"
N-ms | Suff
The Hebrew word for a tent, often used to describe the tabernacle or a nomad's home. In Exodus 33:7-11, it refers to the sacred tent where God meets with Moses.
Definition: : tent 1) tent 1a) nomad's tent, and thus symbolic of wilderness life, transience 1b) dwelling, home, habitation 1c) the sacred tent of Jehovah (the tabernacle) Also means: o.hel (אֹ֫הֶל ": home" H0168H)
Usage: Occurs in 314 OT verses. KJV: covering, (dwelling) (place), home, tabernacle, tent. See also: Genesis 4:20; Leviticus 14:23; Joshua 22:4.
וִ/ירִיע֧וֹת
yᵉrîyʻâh
H3407
"curtain"
Conj | N-fp
The Hebrew word for curtain or drape refers to a hanging or trembling fabric. It is used to describe the curtains in the tabernacle or temple, as seen in various Bible translations.
Definition: curtain, drape
Usage: Occurs in 32 OT verses. KJV: curtain. See also: Exodus 26:1; Exodus 36:12; Psalms 104:2.
מִשְׁכְּנוֹתַ֛יִ/ךְ
mishkân
H4908
"tabernacle"
N-mp | Suff
The tabernacle was a special tent where God met with the Israelites, as described in Exodus and Leviticus. It was a portable place of worship, like a dwelling place for God. The Israelites carried it with them.
Definition: 1) dwelling place, tabernacle 1a) dwelling-place 1b) dwellings Aramaic equivalent: mish.kan (מִשְׁכַּן "habitation" H4907)
Usage: Occurs in 129 OT verses. KJV: dwelleth, dwelling (place), habitation, tabernacle, tent. See also: Exodus 25:9; Numbers 3:23; Psalms 26:8.
יַטּ֖וּ
nâṭâh
H5186
"to stretch"
V-Hiphil-Imperf-3mp
To stretch or spread out, often used to describe physical movement, but also moral deflection, as seen in the story of Israel's decline in the book of Judges.
Definition: 1) to stretch out, extend, spread out, pitch, turn, pervert, incline, bend, bow 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to stretch out, extend, stretch, offer 1a2) to spread out, pitch (tent) 1a3) to bend, turn, incline 1a3a) to turn aside, incline, decline, bend down 1a3b) to bend, bow 1a3c) to hold out, extend (fig.) 1b) (Niphal) to be stretched out 1c) (Hiphil) 1c1) to stretch out 1c2) to spread out 1c3) to turn, incline, influence, bend down, hold out, extend, thrust aside, thrust away
Usage: Occurs in 207 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] afternoon, apply, bow (down, -ing), carry aside, decline, deliver, extend, go down, be gone, incline, intend, lay, let down, offer, outstretched, overthrown, pervert, pitch, prolong, put away, shew, spread (out), stretch (forth, out), take (aside), turn (aside, away), wrest, cause to yield. See also: Genesis 12:8; Psalms 31:3; Psalms 17:6.
אַל
ʼal
H408
"not"
Part
Means not or nothing, used to express negation, as in the phrase do not or let not be.
Definition: 1) not, no, nor, neither, nothing (as wish or preference) 1a) do not, let not (with a verb) 1b) let there not be (with a verb understood) 1c) not, no (with substantive) 1d) nothing (as substantive) Aramaic equivalent: al (אַל "not" H0409)
Usage: Occurs in 572 OT verses. KJV: nay, neither, [phrase] never, no, nor, not, nothing (worth), rather than. See also: Genesis 13:8; Joshua 11:6; 1 Chronicles 22:13.
תַּחְשֹׂ֑כִי
châsak
H2820
"to withhold"
V-Qal-Juss-2fs
This verb means to withhold or restrain something. It can also mean to spare, preserve, or observe. In the Bible, it is used to describe holding back or keeping something for oneself.
Definition: 1) to withhold, restrain, hold back, keep in check, refrain 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to withhold, keep back, keep for oneself, keep from, hold in check, refrain, spare, reserve 1a2) to restrain, check 1b) (Niphal) to assuage, be spared
Usage: Occurs in 27 OT verses. KJV: assuage, [idiom] darken, forbear, hinder, hold back, keep (back), punish, refrain, reserve, spare, withhold. See also: Genesis 20:6; Job 33:18; Psalms 19:14.
הַאֲרִ֨יכִי֙
ʼârak
H748
"to prolong"
V-Hiphil-Impv-2fs
This verb means to prolong or make something long, whether it's a physical object, a period of time, or a person's life, as seen in the book of Genesis where God prolongs the lives of the patriarchs. In Exodus, it describes the lengthening of the Israelites' stay in Egypt.
Definition: 1) to be long, prolong 1a) (Qal) to be long 1b) (Hiphil) 1b1) to prolong (days) 1b2) to make long (tent cords) 1b3) to grow long, continue long Aramaic equivalent: a.rakh (אֲרִיךְ "be proper" H0749)
Usage: Occurs in 34 OT verses. KJV: defer, draw out, lengthen, (be, become, make, pro-) long, [phrase] (out-, over-) live, tarry (long). See also: Genesis 26:8; 1 Kings 3:14; Psalms 129:3.
מֵֽיתָרַ֔יִ/ךְ
mêythâr
H4340
"cord"
N-mp | Suff
This word refers to a cord or string, like the ones used for a tent or a bow. It is a simple term for a length of rope or twine. In the Bible, it is translated as cord or string.
Definition: cord, string
Usage: Occurs in 9 OT verses. KJV: cord, string. See also: Exodus 35:18; Numbers 4:26; Psalms 21:13.
וִ/יתֵדֹתַ֖יִ/ךְ
yâthêd
H3489
"peg"
Conj | N-fp | Suff
A peg or nail is a small, pointed piece of metal used to hold things together, like the pegs used in the tabernacle in Exodus.
Definition: 1) pin, stake, peg, nail 1a) pin, peg, tent pin, tent stake 1b) nail, pin (fig.) 1c) pin (used in weaving)
Usage: Occurs in 19 OT verses. KJV: nail, paddle, pin, stake. See also: Exodus 27:19; Judges 4:22; Isaiah 22:23.
חַזֵּֽקִי
châzaq
H2388
"to strengthen"
V-Piel-Impv-2fs
To strengthen means to be strong or courageous, and can also mean to seize or conquer, as seen in various KJV translations.
Definition: : strengthen/support/encourage 1) to strengthen, prevail, harden, be strong, become strong, be courageous, be firm, grow firm, be resolute, be sore 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to be strong, grow strong 1a1a) to prevail, prevail upon 1a1b) to be firm, be caught fast, be secure 1a1c) to press, be urgent 1a1d) to grow stout, grow rigid, grow hard (bad sense) 1a1e) to be severe, be grievous 1a2) to strengthen 1b) (Piel) 1b1) to make strong 1b2) to restore to strength, give strength 1b3) to strengthen, sustain, encourage 1b4) to make strong, make bold, encourage 1b5) to make firm 1b6) to make rigid, make hard 1c) (Hiphil) 1c1) to make strong, strengthen 1c2) to make firm 1c3) to display strength 1c4) to make severe 1c5) to support 1c6) to repair 1c7) to prevail, prevail upon 1c8) to have or take or keep hold of, retain, hold up, sustain, support 1c9) to hold, contain 1d) (Hithpael) 1d1) to strengthen oneself 1d2) to put forth strength, use one's strength 1d3) to withstand 1d4) to hold strongly with
Usage: Occurs in 266 OT verses. KJV: aid, amend, [idiom] calker, catch, cleave, confirm, be constant, constrain, continue, be of good (take) courage(-ous, -ly), encourage (self), be established, fasten, force, fortify, make hard, harden, help, (lay) hold (fast), lean, maintain, play the man, mend, become (wax) mighty, prevail, be recovered, repair, retain, seize, be (wax) sore, strengthen (self), be stout, be (make, shew, wax) strong(-er), be sure, take (hold), be urgent, behave self valiantly, withstand. See also: Genesis 19:16; 1 Chronicles 22:13; Psalms 27:14.
Study Notes — Isaiah 54:2
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Isaiah 54:2 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Isaiah 54:2
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Isaiah 54:2
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Isaiah 54:2
- Trapp's Commentary on Isaiah 54:2
- Ellicott's Commentary on Isaiah 54:2
- Cambridge Bible on Isaiah 54:2
- Barnes' Notes on Isaiah 54:2
- Whedon's Commentary on Isaiah 54:2
- Sermons on Isaiah 54:2
Context — Future Blessings for Zion
1“Shout for joy, O barren woman, who bears no children; break forth in song and cry aloud, you who have never travailed; because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband,” says the LORD.
2“Enlarge the site of your tent, stretch out the curtains of your dwellings, do not hold back. Lengthen your ropes and drive your stakes in deep.
3For you will spread out to the right and left; your descendants will dispossess the nations and inhabit the desolate cities. 4Do not be afraid, for you will not be put to shame; do not be intimidated, for you will not be humiliated. For you will forget the shame of your youth and will remember no more the reproach of your widowhood.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Isaiah 33:20 | Look upon Zion, the city of our appointed feasts. Your eyes will see Jerusalem, a peaceful pasture, a tent that does not wander; its tent pegs will not be pulled up, nor will any of its cords be broken. |
| 2 | Jeremiah 10:20 | My tent is destroyed, and all its ropes are snapped. My sons have departed from me and are no more. I have no one left to pitch my tent or set up my curtains. |
| 3 | Isaiah 49:19–20 | For your ruined and desolate places and your ravaged land will now indeed be too small for your people, and those who devoured you will be far away. Yet the children of your bereavement will say in your hearing, ‘This place is too small for us; make room for us to live here.’ |
| 4 | Exodus 39:40 | the curtains of the courtyard with its posts and bases; the curtain for the gate of the courtyard, its ropes and tent pegs, and all the equipment for the service of the tabernacle, the Tent of Meeting; |
| 5 | Exodus 35:18 | the tent pegs for the tabernacle and for the courtyard, along with their ropes; |
Isaiah 54:2 Summary
This verse is a promise from God to His people, encouraging them to trust in His provision and to expand their spiritual influence. It's like God is saying, 'Get ready, I'm going to do great things in your life!' As we see in Psalm 23:5, God wants to bless us and give us an overflowing cup, and in Jeremiah 31:14, He promises to satisfy us with His goodness. We can trust that God will give us the courage and strength we need to reach out and minister to others, just like He promised in Isaiah 41:10, and to secure our foundations in His Word, as we see in Matthew 7:24-25.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean to 'enlarge the site of your tent' in Isaiah 54:2?
This phrase is a metaphor for expanding one's spiritual influence and capacity to receive God's blessings, as seen in Isaiah 54:1 where God promises to give more children to the desolate woman than to her who has a husband, and in Psalm 107:38, where God blesses His people and increases their families.
Why are we instructed to 'not hold back' in this verse?
God is encouraging His people to trust in His provision and promises, and to not limit themselves by their own doubts or fears, as we see in Jeremiah 29:11, where God promises to prosper His people and give them a hope and a future.
What is the significance of 'lengthening your ropes and driving your stakes in deep'?
This phrase symbolizes the idea of firmly establishing and securing one's spiritual foundations, much like the Israelites were instructed to do in Exodus 33:7, where they were to pitch their tents and secure their stakes in the ground, and in Ephesians 3:17, where believers are rooted and grounded in love.
How does this verse relate to the broader context of Isaiah 54?
This verse is part of a larger promise of restoration and redemption, where God is speaking to His people who have been barren and desolate, promising to give them a multitude of children and to spread them out to the right and left, as seen in Isaiah 54:1-3, and in Isaiah 61:4, where God promises to rebuild and restore the desolate places.
Reflection Questions
- What are some areas in my life where I need to 'enlarge the site of my tent' and trust God for expansion and growth?
- How can I apply the principle of 'not holding back' in my own life, and what fears or doubts might be limiting me?
- What are some spiritual 'stakes' that I need to drive deeper into my life, and how can I secure my foundations in God's Word?
- In what ways can I trust God to 'lengthen my ropes' and give me the courage to reach out and minister to others?
Gill's Exposition on Isaiah 54:2
Enlarge the place of thy tent,.... To which the church is compared, because of its uncertain and movable condition, being sometimes in one place, and sometimes in another; and because of its outward
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Isaiah 54:2
Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations: spare not, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes; Enlarge the place of thy tent - (Isaiah
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Isaiah 54:2
Enlarge the place of thy tent, that it may be capable of the Gentiles, which shall flock to thee in great numbers, and desire to associate themselves with thee. Let them, those to whom that work belongs, stretch forth. The meaning is, they must and shall be stretched out. Lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes, that they may be able to support that great weight which the tents this enlarged shall be upon them.
Trapp's Commentary on Isaiah 54:2
Isaiah 54:2 Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations: spare not, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes;Ver. 2. Enlarye the place of thy tent.] Thus he speaketh after the custom of those countries wherein was frequent use of tents; neither is it without a mystery, since we are all strangers in this world, neither have we here any continuing city. Justin Martyr saith of the Christians of his time, that every strange land was to them a country, and every country a strange land. They looked upon themselves as citizens of the new Jerusalem. Epist. ad Diog.
Ellicott's Commentary on Isaiah 54:2
(2) Enlarge the place of thy tent.—Interesting parallels are found in Isaiah 33:20; Jeremiah 10:20.
Cambridge Bible on Isaiah 54:2
2. The idea of the verse is expressed in Isaiah 49:20-21; for the figure of the tent (in an opposite sense) cf. Jeremiah 10:20. The curtains are the tent-hangings (Jeremiah 49:29; Habakkuk 3:7), the stakes, the tent-pegs (ch. Isaiah 33:20). The words spare not should, according to the accents, be joined to the preceding clause.
Barnes' Notes on Isaiah 54:2
Enlarge the place of thy tent - The same idea occurs in Isaiah 49:19-20 (see the notes at that chapter). The curtains of thy habitations. The word ‘curtain’ does not quite express the sense here.
Whedon's Commentary on Isaiah 54:2
2, 3. Enlarge… thy tent — It is now due that Zion be alert to extend her dwelling-place, her tabernacle area, in every direction. Spare not — Spare no pains, grudge no labour.
Sermons on Isaiah 54:2
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
Finishing the Course Well by J. Oswald Sanders | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of being active participants in our faith rather than passive observers. He compares our tendency to be "TV athletes" who watc |
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Your Calling (Compilation) by Compilations | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes that the significance of a person's life is not determined by material wealth, talent, or appearance. Rather, it is about having a heart that |
|
The Triology of Intercession by Wesley Duewel | In this sermon, Bob begins by recounting the story of Jacob's dream of a ladder reaching to heaven. He emphasizes that being a child of God is not simply about being a member of a |
|
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William Carey by Michael Haykin | The video is a summary of a sermon on the importance of missions and the involvement of the church in spreading the gospel. The speaker, Kerry, emphasizes the vastness of the world |
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(Keswick) 1959, Ministry From 2 Timothy - Part 3 by Paul S. Rees | In this sermon, the speaker reflects on the impact of William Carey, a shoe cobbler in England who became a missionary in India. Carey was deeply moved by the lack of foreign missi |
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And the Oil Stayed. by F.B. Meyer | F.B. Meyer reflects on the story of the widow and the oil in 2 Kings 4:6, emphasizing that the oil ceased to flow not because of a lack of God's power, but due to the limited numbe |
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The Wider Life by J.R. Miller | J.R. Miller emphasizes the call to 'enlarge the place of your tent' from Isaiah 54:2, urging believers to reject a narrow life and strive for fullness in all aspects of existence. |