SUMMARY
As a sign of God’s new beginning, ZionZion originally referred to a mountain near Jerusalem where David conquered a Jebusite stronghold. Later the term came to mean a number of other things like the Temple, Jerusalem, and even the Promised Land. More is given new names. The time of judgment is past.
ANALYSIS
In the harsh message of judgment given to Isaiah at his call (Isaiah 6:9-13), God announced that the land would be “desolate” (v. 11) and “forsaken” (v. 12 NIV; “emptiness” in NRSV). Now those same two Hebrew terms are taken up and overturned: the land is no longer called “desolate” but “Married”; no longer “forsaken” but “My Delight Is in Her.” These words, terms of God’s overwhelming graceGrace is the unmerited gift of God's love and acceptance. In Martin Luther's favorite expression from the Apostle Paul, we are saved by grace through faith, which means that God showers grace upon us even though we do not deserve it. More and favor, were often used by believers, especially in generations past, as names for newborn girls (“Beulah” and “Hephzibah” in Hebrew).
“Hephzibah” builds from a root used often in Isaiah, translated usually as purpose, will, delight, or intention. Here God makes clear that the divine “purpose” (same root) to redeem Israel (44:28), which was to be accomplished by God’s word (55:11) and through God’s servant (53:10, using the same Hebrew root), is coming to pass.
