Old Testament · Prophecy

Isaiah 52

Beautiful Feet

How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news. Break forth in singing, for the Lord has comforted His people.

Berean Standard Bible BSB KJV

1Awake, awake, clothe yourself with strength, O Zion! Put on your garments of splendor, O Jerusalem, holy city! For the uncircumcised and unclean will no longer enter you.

2Shake off your dust! Rise up and sit on your throne, O Jerusalem. Remove the chains from your neck, O captive Daughter of Zion.

3For this is what the LORD says: “You were sold for nothing, and without money you will be redeemed.”

4For this is what the Lord GOD says: “At first My people went down to Egypt to live, then Assyria oppressed them without cause.

5And now what have I here? declares the LORD. For My people have been taken without cause; those who rule them taunt, declares the LORD, and My name is blasphemed continually all day long.

6Therefore My people will know My name; therefore they will know on that day that I am He who speaks. Here I am!”

7How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!”

8Listen! Your watchmen lift up their voices, together they shout for joy. For every eye will see when the LORD returns to Zion.

9Break forth in joy, sing together, O ruins of Jerusalem, for the LORD has comforted His people; He has redeemed Jerusalem.

10The LORD has bared His holy arm in the sight of all the nations; all the ends of the earth will see the salvation of our God.

11Depart, depart, go out from there! Touch no unclean thing; come out from it, purify yourselves, you who carry the vessels of the LORD.

12For you will not leave in a hurry nor flee in haste, for the LORD goes before you, and the God of Israel is your rear guard.

13Behold, My Servant will prosper; He will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted.

14Just as many were appalled at Him — His appearance was disfigured beyond that of any man, and His form was marred beyond human likeness—

15so He will sprinkle many nations. Kings will shut their mouths because of Him. For they will see what they have not been told, and they will understand what they have not heard.

Understand This

Isaiah 52, explained

What Isaiah 52 is saying

Zion is commanded to awake, shake off chains, and clothe herself in splendor. The beautiful feet of the messenger announce peace and salvation—'Your God reigns!' The watchmen lift their voices together as God comforts His people. The chapter transitions into the fourth Servant Song: the Servant will be exalted yet so disfigured as to be unrecognizable.

The background behind it

The 'beautiful feet' passage (v. 7) is quoted by Paul in Romans 10:15 as the basis for gospel proclamation. The final verses (13–15) introduce the Suffering Servant poem that continues through chapter 53, forming a literary unit.

Themes running underneath

Liberation is proclaimed before it is experienced—the herald arrives with news that changes everything. The shocking reversal in the Servant preview (exalted yet disfigured) sets up the central paradox of chapter 53.

Why it still matters

Good news has feet—it must be carried to those who need it. And the gospel always contains a paradox: glory through suffering, exaltation through humiliation.

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Scripture text: Berean Standard Bible — used by permission, Bible Hub.