Old Testament · Prophecy

Isaiah 12

A Song of Salvation

With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. A short, radiant hymn — the calm after the storm of judgment.

King James Version BSB KJV

1And in that day thou shalt say, O LORD, I will praise thee: though thou wast angry with me, thine anger is turned away, and thou comfortedst me.

2Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.

3Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.

4And in that day shall ye say, Praise the LORD, call upon his name, declare his doings among the people, make mention that his name is exalted.

5Sing unto the LORD; for he hath done excellent things: this is known in all the earth.

6Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion: for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee.

Understand This

Isaiah 12, explained

What Isaiah 12 is saying

This brief psalm of thanksgiving closes the first major section of Isaiah (the 'Book of Immanuel'). The redeemed community praises God whose anger has turned to comfort, declaring Him their salvation and drawing water from wells of yeshu'ah (salvation)—a wordplay on Isaiah's own name.

The background behind it

The song's structure echoes earlier victory songs, particularly the Song of Moses (Exodus 15) and Hannah's prayer (1 Samuel 2). It functions as a liturgical response to the messianic promises of chapters 7–11.

Themes running underneath

Praise emerges from the experience of restored relationship. The transition from divine anger to comfort encapsulates the entire Immanuel narrative arc.

Why it still matters

Gratitude is the proper response to deliverance. The call to 'make known among the nations' extends the redeemed community's joy outward as testimony.

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Scripture text: King James Version — public domain.