Isaiah 4:2-6

Zion's Happy Estate. Probably post-exilic on grounds of style, ideas, and imagery. In the blessed future the land will be glorious with vegetation and fruit for the holy remnant, that will escape the sifting judgment with which Yahweh will cleanse Jerusalem from its impurity and bloodshed. Then over the whole city and its assemblies He will create, as in the wilderness, cloud by day and flame by night, and a shelter from heat and storm.

Isaiah 4:2. branch of the Lord: that which Yahweh causes to spring from the ground. There is no reference to the Messiah, as is clear from the unambiguous parallel the fruit of the land. Predictions of Canaan's fertility are frequent in such prophecies.

Isaiah 4:3. written unto life (mg.) : their names are in the Book of Life: when the great judgment falls on Israel they will survive it and live on into the Messianic era, while others die. The reference is not to the life after death, but to life in the regenerate community on earth.

Isaiah 4:5 f. difficult; RV gives the general sense, but read in Isaiah 4:6 And he will be (LXX).