King James Version

What Does Isaiah 14:3 Mean?

Isaiah 14:3 in the King James Version says “And it shall come to pass in the day that the LORD shall give thee rest from thy sorrow, and from thy fear, and from the...” — study this verse from Isaiah chapter 14 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“And it shall come to pass in the day that the LORD shall give thee rest from thy sorrow, and from thy fear, and from the hard bondage wherein thou wast made to serve,”

Isaiah 14:3 · KJV

Fear & Courage

Context

1

For the LORD will have mercy on Jacob, and will yet choose Israel, and set them in their own land: and the strangers shall be joined with them, and they shall cleave to the house of Jacob.

2

And the people shall take them, and bring them to their place: and the house of Israel shall possess them in the land of the LORD for servants and handmaids: and they shall take them captives, whose captives they were; and they shall rule over their oppressors. whose: Heb. that had taken them captives

3

And it shall come to pass in the day that the LORD shall give thee rest from thy sorrow, and from thy fear, and from the hard bondage wherein thou wast made to serve,

4

That thou shalt take up this proverb against the king of Babylon, and say, How hath the oppressor ceased! the golden city ceased! proverb: or, taunting speech golden: or, exactress of gold

5

The LORD hath broken the staff of the wicked, and the sceptre of the rulers.

Read Isaiah 14 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
This verse transitions from Babylon's judgment (chapter 13) to Israel's restoration. 'The LORD shall give thee rest from thy sorrow, and from thy fear, and from the hard bondage wherein thou wast made to serve'—a three-fold deliverance: from sorrow (emotional anguish), fear (terror of oppression), and hard bondage (literal slavery). This echoes Exodus language, positioning Babylonian exile and return as a new exodus. God doesn't just judge the oppressor; He restores the oppressed. The rest promised is comprehensive: emotional, psychological, and physical freedom. This finds ultimate fulfillment in Christ, who gives rest to the weary and heavy laden (Matthew 11:28).

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Historical & Cultural Context

Isaiah prophesies Israel's Babylonian exile and return before it happens. The exile came in 586 BC; the return under Cyrus's decree in 538 BC. Seventy years of captivity in Babylon were indeed marked by sorrow, fear, and bondage. Yet the return from exile was only partial restoration—many didn't return, the temple was smaller, no Davidic king ruled. Full rest awaited the Messiah. For Christians, this points to Christ's work freeing us from sin's bondage, fear's tyranny, and sorrow's grip. Ultimate rest comes in the new heavens and earth.

Reflection Questions

  1. In what ways does Christ provide rest from sorrow, fear, and bondage for believers today?
  2. How do historical deliverances (like return from exile) point forward to ultimate deliverance in Christ?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 13 words
וְהָיָ֗ה1 of 13
H1961

to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)

בְּי֨וֹם2 of 13

“And it shall come to pass in the day”

H3117

a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso

הָנִ֤יחַ3 of 13

“shall give thee rest”

H5117

to rest, i.e., settle down; used in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, intransitive, transitive and causative (to dwell, stay, l

יְהוָה֙4 of 13

“that the LORD”

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

לְךָ֔5 of 13
H0
מֵֽעָצְבְּךָ֖6 of 13

“from thy sorrow”

H6090

an (idolatrous) image

וּמִֽרָגְזֶ֑ךָ7 of 13

“and from thy fear”

H7267

commotion, restlessness (of a horse), crash (of thunder), disquiet, anger

וּמִן8 of 13
H4480

properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses

הָעֲבֹדָ֥ה9 of 13

“bondage”

H5656

work of any kind

הַקָּשָׁ֖ה10 of 13

“and from the hard”

H7186

severe (in various applications)

אֲשֶׁ֥ר11 of 13
H834

who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc

עֻבַּד12 of 13

“wherein thou wast made to serve”

H5647

to work (in any sense); by implication, to serve, till, (causatively) enslave, etc

בָּֽךְ׃13 of 13
H0

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Isaiah. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Isaiah 14:3 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Isaiah 14:3 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Jeremiah 30:10Isaiah 32:18Ezra 9:8-9Zechariah 8:8Jeremiah 46:27-28Deuteronomy 28:48

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