King James Version

What Does Isaiah 32:4 Mean?

Isaiah 32:4 in the King James Version says “The heart also of the rash shall understand knowledge, and the tongue of the stammerers shall be ready to speak plainly....” — study this verse from Isaiah chapter 32 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“The heart also of the rash shall understand knowledge, and the tongue of the stammerers shall be ready to speak plainly. rash: Heb. hasty plainly: or, elegantly”

Isaiah 32:4 · KJV

Context

2

And a man shall be as an hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest; as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land. great: Heb. heavy

3

And the eyes of them that see shall not be dim, and the ears of them that hear shall hearken.

4

The heart also of the rash shall understand knowledge, and the tongue of the stammerers shall be ready to speak plainly. rash: Heb. hasty plainly: or, elegantly

5

The vile person shall be no more called liberal, nor the churl said to be bountiful.

6

For the vile person will speak villany, and his heart will work iniquity, to practise hypocrisy, and to utter error against the LORD, to make empty the soul of the hungry, and he will cause the drink of the thirsty to fail.

Read Isaiah 32 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
The heart also of the rash shall understand knowledge (וּלְבַב נִמְהָרִים יָבִין לָדַעַת, ulevav nimharim yavin lada'at)—the לֵב (lev, heart) of the נִמְהָרִים (nimharim, rash, hasty) will בִּין (bin, understand, discern) דַּעַת (da'at, knowledge). And the tongue of the stammerers shall be ready to speak plainly (וּלְשׁוֹן עִלְּגִים תְּמַהֵר לְדַבֵּר צָחוֹת, uleshon illegim temaher ledabber tsachot)—the לָשׁוֹן (lashon, tongue) of עִלְּגִים (illegim, stammerers) will be quick (מָהַר, mahar) to speak צָחוֹת (tsachot, plainly, clearly, distinctly).

Transformation affects both reception (heart understanding) and expression (tongue speaking). The 'rash' (נִמְהָרִים, nimharim)—those hasty in judgment, impulsive—gain contemplative wisdom. Stammerers gain fluency. This recalls Moses's objection: 'I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue' (Exodus 4:10), to which God responded by enabling him. At Pentecost, the Spirit gave utterance (Acts 2:4)—stammering Galileans spoke eloquently in multiple languages. The gospel transforms both comprehension and communication.

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Historical & Cultural Context

Ancient cultures highly valued eloquence and wisdom. Kings employed wise counselors; prophets needed clear speech. Yet Israel's history showed the rash making foolish decisions (Rehoboam, 1 Kings 12) and the wise being silenced. Messianic age inverts this: former fools gain wisdom, former stammerers speak clearly. This describes conversion—the foolish things of the world becoming wise (1 Corinthians 1:27), fishermen becoming articulate apostles.

Reflection Questions

  1. How has Christ transformed your 'rash heart' to understand spiritual knowledge you couldn't grasp before?
  2. When has God enabled you to speak clearly about Him despite feeling like a 'stammerer'?
  3. What area of spiritual understanding remains 'rash' (hasty, shallow) and needs deeper transformation?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 9 words
וּלְבַ֥ב1 of 9

“The heart”

H3824

the heart (as the most interior organ)

תְּמַהֵ֖ר2 of 9

“also of the rash”

H4116

properly, to be liquid or flow easily, i.e., (by implication)

יָבִ֣ין3 of 9

“shall understand”

H995

to separate mentally (or distinguish), i.e., (generally) understand

לָדָ֑עַת4 of 9
H3045

to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including o

וּלְשׁ֣וֹן5 of 9

“and the tongue”

H3956

the tongue (of man or animals), used literally (as the instrument of licking, eating, or speech), and figuratively (speech, an ingot, a fork of flame,

עִלְּגִ֔ים6 of 9

“of the stammerers”

H5926

stuttering

תְּמַהֵ֖ר7 of 9

“also of the rash”

H4116

properly, to be liquid or flow easily, i.e., (by implication)

לְדַבֵּ֥ר8 of 9

“to speak”

H1696

perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue

צָחֽוֹת׃9 of 9

“plainly”

H6703

dazzling, i.e., sunny, bright, (figuratively) evident

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 32:4 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 32:4 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Isaiah 29:24Luke 21:14-15Galatians 1:23Acts 6:7Matthew 16:17Exodus 4:11

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