Isaiah 47:4
“As for our redeemer, the LORD of hosts is his name, the Holy One of Israel.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Even as Babylon falls, God remains the redeemer of his people, sovereign and holy.
Context
Suddenly the oracle shifts perspective. The speaker (Isaiah, or Israel) declares confidence in God despite the trial. 'LORD of hosts' emphasizes his command over all creation; 'Holy One of Israel' is Isaiah's favorite name for God, appearing often in chapters 40-55.
What Does Isaiah 47:4 Mean?
In the midst of judgment on the nations, the prophet lifts his eyes. God is not only judge but redeemer. The same power that brings down Babylon is the power that lifts up the captive and broken. His holiness is not cold distance but the active commitment to redeem his people from corruption and captivity.
This is the turning point in Isaiah's oracle. Yes, Babylon will fall; but more importantly, God will remain. When we are in the midst of confusion and loss, the essential truth is that our God is our redeemer. He is holy (set apart, utterly faithful) and his name is 'LORD of hosts' (sovereign over all). This is sufficient.
In the Original Language
goel (גאל), 'redeemer' - one who buys back what was lost, restores kinship, avenges wrong.
Application
When the world shakes and earthly powers fall, our confidence stands: we belong to God, who is faithful and holds all things. This is not escapism but the deepest realism.