Break forth together into singing, you waste places of Jerusalem, for the LORD has comforted his people; he has redeemed Jerusalem.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The incredible part here is that the prophet calls the ruins of Jerusalem to sing! It’s a poetic way of saying that even the desolate, broken parts of the city will be so completely restored and filled with joy that they will join in the celebration of God’s comfort and redemption.
Break forth together into singing, you waste places of Jerusalem, for the LORD has comforted his people; he has redeemed Jerusalem.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The prophet has been speaking of a future deliverance and restoration for Jerusalem and its people, moving from messages of judgment to those of comfort. Following the announcement of good news and the return of Zion, this verse calls on the very ruins of the city to join in the celebration of God's comforting presence and redemptive work. This scene of joyous revival is set against the backdrop of exile and desolation, promising a complete reversal of their suffering.
Imagine the most desolate place you know. Now imagine it bursting into song. That's the picture Isaiah paints here, calling even the ruins to celebrate!
Isaiah uses a powerful, almost poetic image: the 'waste places' of Jerusalem are told to 'break forth into singing.' This isn't just about buildings; it's about the very landscape of a people's life, lying in ruins after exile and destruction.
Why can desolate places sing? Because the Lord has done two crucial things: He's comforted His people and He's redeemed them. These aren't just nice words; they are the foundation of Israel's hope.
The reason for the ruins to sing is found in the Lord's powerful actions:
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Together, comfort and redemption paint a picture of God's active, powerful love—first healing the pain and then restoring what was lost.
Understand the original words
nacham · Hebrew Verb
Divine consolation or relief offered to those in suffering or exile. It signifies God drawing near to turn mourning into gladness.
ga'al · Hebrew Verb
To buy back or liberate through the payment of a price. It represents God’s legal and redemptive action to release His people from bondage or captivity.
This prophecy speaks to the deep joy and restoration following the devastating destruction of Jerusalem and the Babylonian Exile. The 'waste places' are called to sing because God's people are being comforted and redeemed, a promise fulfilled when Cyrus the Great allowed the exiles to return and rebuild their city and Temple.
c. 586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem and Temple
The Babylonians, under Nebuchadnezzar II, destroy Jerusalem, burn the Temple, and deport a significant portion of the population to Babylon. This marks the beginning of the Babylonian Exile.
c. 539 BC
Cyrus the Great Conquers Babylon
Cyrus the Great of Persia conquers the Neo-Babylonian Empire, ushering in a new era for the exiles. His policy was generally to allow conquered peoples to return to their homelands.
538 BC— this verse
Cyrus' Decree for Return
Cyrus issues a decree permitting the Jewish exiles to return to Judah and rebuild their Temple in Jerusalem. This marks the end of the Babylonian captivity.
c. 516 BC
Rebuilding of the Second Temple
The Second Temple in Jerusalem is completed and dedicated, symbolizing the restoration of worship and a focal point for the returning community. This event signifies a partial but significant fulfillment of prophetic promises.
This passage speaks of watchmen proclaiming joy and rebuilding in Ephraim, echoing Isaiah's call to the 'waste places' and linking divine comfort with restoration.
Psalm 126:1-3This Psalm vividly describes the joy of the exiles returning from captivity, comparing it to a dream and emphasizing the 'great things' the Lord has done, which directly parallels the 'comfort' and 'redemption' mentioned in Isaiah.
Luke 2:10-11The angelic announcement of Jesus' birth as 'good news of great joy' directly reflects the theme of divine comfort and salvation being brought to God's people, fulfilling the prophetic promise of redemption.
Romans 8:21-22This passage describes creation 'groaning' in its present state but anticipating liberation and freedom from its bondage, which mirrors the 'waste places' of Jerusalem waiting for the Lord's redemptive work to bring them into a state of glory.
Revelation 21:4The promise of God dwelling with his people, wiping away every tear, and eliminating death, mourning, and pain, is the ultimate fulfillment of the 'comfort' and 'redemption' Isaiah proclaimed for Jerusalem.
pulpitIsaiah 52:9: "Break forth into joy, sing together, ye waste places of Jerusalem: for the LORD hath comforted his people, he hath redeemed Jerusalem."
Verse 9. - Ye waste places of Jerusalem (comp. Isaiah 44:26; Isaiah 49:19; Isaiah 64:10, 11). The city had not been wholly destroyed. Only the temple, the royal palace, and the houses of the nobles had been "burnt with fire" (2 Kings 25:9; 2 Chronicles 36:19). The poorer houses had been left. Even these, however, must in the space of fifty years…
barnesIsaiah 52:9: "Break forth into joy, sing together, ye waste places of Jerusalem: for the LORD hath comforted his people, he hath redeemed Jerusalem."
Break forth into joy - Jerusalem, at the time here referred to, was lying waste and in ruins. This call on the waste places of Jerusalem to break out into expressions of praise, is in accordance with a style which frequently occurs in Isaiah, and in other sacred writers, by which inanimate objects are called on to manifest their joy (see the notes…
The incredible part here is that the prophet calls the ruins of Jerusalem to sing! It’s a poetic way of saying that even the desolate, broken parts of the city will be so completely restored and filled with joy that they will join in the celebration of God’s comfort and redemption.
The prophet has been speaking of a future deliverance and restoration for Jerusalem and its people, moving from messages of judgment to those of comfort. Following the announcement of good news and the return of Zion, this verse calls on the very ruins of the city to join in the celebration of God's comforting presence and redemptive work. This scene of joyous revival is set against the backdrop of exile and desolation, promising a complete reversal of their suffering.
The prophet has been speaking of a future deliverance and restoration for Jerusalem and its people, moving from messages of judgment to those of comfort. Following the announcement of good news and the return of Zion, this verse calls on the very ruins of the city to join in the celebration of God's comforting presence and redemptive work. This scene of joyous revival is set against the backdrop of exile and desolation, promising a complete reversal of their suffering.
"Break forth together into singing, you waste places of Jerusalem, for the LORD has comforted his people; he has redeemed Jerusalem." — The incredible part here is that the prophet calls the ruins of Jerusalem to sing! It’s a poetic way of saying that even the desolate, broken parts of the city will be so completely restored and fi…
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Last reviewed October 2026