4 Or “for”; , , , , “but.”
5 Hebrew חֶפְצִי־בָהּ (kheftsi-vah), traditionally transliterated “Hephzibah” (so , , ).
6 Hebrew בְּעוּלָה (bé’ulah), traditionally transliterated “Beulah” (so , , ).
7 That is, the land will be restored to the Lord’s favor and once again enjoy his blessing and protection. To indicate the land’s relationship to the Lord, the words “to him” have been supplied at the end of the clause.
8 The Hebrew text has “your sons,” but this produces an odd metaphor and is somewhat incongruous with the parallelism. In the context (v. 4b, see also 54:5–7) the Lord is the one who “marries” Zion. Therefore several prefer to emend “your sons” to בֹּנָיִךְ (bonayikh, “your builder”; e.g., ). In Ps 147:2 the Lord is called the “builder of Jerusalem.” However, this emendation is not the best option for at least four reasons. First, although the Lord is never called the “builder” of Jerusalem in Isaiah, the idea of Zion’s children possessing the land does occur (Isa 49:20; 54:3; cf. also 14:1; 60:21). Secondly, all the ancient versions support the reading. Thirdly, although the verb בָּעַל (ba’al) can mean “to marry,” its basic idea is “to possess.” Consequently, the verb stresses a relationship more than a state. All the ancient versions render this verb “to dwell in” or “to dwell with.” The point is not just that the land will be reinhabited, but that it will be in a relationship of “belonging” to the Israelites. Hence a relational verb like בָּעַל is used (J. N. Oswalt, Isaiah [], 2:). Finally, “sons” is a well-known metaphor for “inhabitants” (J. de Waard, Isaiah, 208).

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

You shall no more be termed Forsaken,

and your land shall no more be termed Desolate,

but you shall be called My Delight Is in Her,

and your land Married;

for the Lord delights in you,

and your land shall be married.

For as a young man marries a young woman,

so shall your sons marry you,

and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride,

so shall your God rejoice over you.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

No longer will they call you Deserted,

or name your land Desolate.

But you will be called Hephzibah,

and your land Beulah;

for the Lord will take delight in you,

and your land will be married.

As a young man marries a young woman,

so will your Builder marry you;

as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride,

so will your God rejoice over you.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

You will no longer be called Deserted,

and your land will not be called Desolate;

instead, you will be called My Delight Is in Her,

and your land Married;

for the Lord delights in you,

and your land will be married.

For as a young man marries a young woman,

so your sons will marry you;

and as a groom rejoices over his bride,

so your God will rejoice over you.

NLTNew Living Translation

Never again will you be called “The Forsaken City”

or “The Desolate Land.”

Your new name will be “The City of God’s Delight”

and “The Bride of God,”

for the Lord delights in you

and will claim you as his bride.

Your children will commit themselves to you, O Jerusalem,

just as a young man commits himself to his bride.

Then God will rejoice over you

as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

It shall no longer be said of you, “Forsaken,”

and it shall no longer be said of your land, “Desolation!”

but you will be called “My Delight Is In Her,”

and your land, “Married,”

for Yahweh delights in you,

and your land shall be married.

For as a young man marries a virgin,

so shall your sons marry you,

and as is the joy of the bridegroom over the bride,

so shall your God rejoice over you.

KJV 1900King James Version

Thou shalt no more be termed Forsaken;

Neither shall thy land any more be termed Desolate:

But thou shalt be called Hephzi-bah,

And thy land Beulah:

For the Lord delighteth in thee,

And thy land shall be married.

For as a young man marrieth a virgin,

So shall thy sons marry thee:

And as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride,

So shall thy God rejoice over thee.

Public Domain