Isaiah 52:3
Isaiah 52:3 in Multiple Translations
For this is what the LORD says: “You were sold for nothing, and without money you will be redeemed.”
For thus saith the LORD, Ye have sold yourselves for nought; and ye shall be redeemed without money.
For thus saith Jehovah, Ye were sold for nought; and ye shall be redeemed without money.
For the Lord says, You were given for nothing, and you will be made free without price.
This is what the Lord says: You were sold for nothing, and you will be bought back without money.
For thus sayeth the Lord, Yee were solde for naught: therefore shall ye be redeemed without money.
For thus said Jehovah: 'For nought ye have been sold, And not by money are ye redeemed.'
For the LORD says, “You were sold for nothing; and you will be redeemed without money.”
For thus saith the LORD, Ye have sold yourselves for naught; and ye shall be redeemed without money.
For thus saith the Lord: You were sold gratis, and you shall be redeemed without money.
because this is what Yahweh says: “When you were taken to Babylonia, no one paid me for doing that. So now I will bring you back without being required to pay for you!”
Berean Amplified Bible — Isaiah 52:3
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Isaiah 52:3 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
כִּֽי
כֹה֙
אָמַ֣ר
יְהוָ֔ה
חִנָּ֖ם
נִמְכַּרְתֶּ֑ם
וְ/לֹ֥א
בְ/כֶ֖סֶף
תִּגָּאֵֽלוּ
כִּֽי
kîy
H3588
for
Conj
כֹה֙
kôh
H3541
thus
Adv
אָמַ֣ר
ʼâmar
H559
to say
V-Qal-Perf-3ms
יְהוָ֔ה
Yᵉhôvâh
H3068
The Lord
N-proper
חִנָּ֖ם
chinnâm
H2600
for nothing
Adv
נִמְכַּרְתֶּ֑ם
mâkar
H4376
to sell
V-Niphal-Perf-2mp
וְ/לֹ֥א
lôʼ
H3808
not
Conj | Part
בְ/כֶ֖סֶף
keçeph
H3701
silver
Prep | N-ms
תִּגָּאֵֽלוּ
gâʼal
H1350
to redeem
V-Niphal-Imperf-2mp
Hebrew Word Study
Select any word above to explore its original meaning, root, and usage across Scripture.
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Hebrew Word Reference — Isaiah 52:3
כִּֽי
kîy
H3588
"for"
Conj
A conjunction used to show cause or connection, as in Genesis 2:23 where Adam says the woman is bone of his bone because she was taken out of him. It is often translated as 'for', 'because', or 'since'.
Definition: 1) that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since 1a) that 1a1) yea, indeed 1b) when (of time) 1b1) when, if, though (with a concessive force) 1c) because, since (causal connection) 1d) but (after negative) 1e) that if, for if, indeed if, for though, but if 1f) but rather, but 1g) except that 1h) only, nevertheless 1i) surely 1j) that is 1k) but if 1l) for though 1m) forasmuch as, for therefore
Usage: Occurs in 3910 OT verses. KJV: and, + (forasmuch, inasmuch, where-) as, assured(-ly), + but, certainly, doubtless, + else, even, + except, for, how, (because, in, so, than) that, + nevertheless, now, rightly, seeing, since, surely, then, therefore, + (al-) though, + till, truly, + until, when, whether, while, whom, yea, yet. See also: Genesis 1:4; Genesis 26:16; Genesis 42:15.
כֹה֙
kôh
H3541
"thus"
Adv
This Hebrew word means thus or in this manner. It can also indicate a location or time, such as here or now. The KJV translates it in various ways, including also, here, and so.
Definition: 1) thus, here, in this manner 1a) thus, so 1b) here, here and there 1c) until now, until now...until then, meanwhile Aramaic equivalent: kah (כָּה "thus" H3542)
Usage: Occurs in 541 OT verses. KJV: also, here, + hitherto, like, on the other side, so (and much), such, on that manner, (on) this (manner, side, way, way and that way), + mean while, yonder. See also: Genesis 15:5; 1 Kings 22:20; Isaiah 7:7.
אָמַ֣ר
ʼâmar
H559
"to say"
V-Qal-Perf-3ms
This Hebrew word means to say or speak, and it's used in many different ways in the Bible. It can mean to command, promise, or think, and it's translated in the KJV as 'answer', 'appoint', or 'command'.
Definition: 1) to say, speak, utter 1a) (Qal) to say, to answer, to say in one's heart, to think, to command, to promise, to intend 1b) (Niphal) to be told, to be said, to be called 1c) (Hithpael) to boast, to act proudly 1d) (Hiphil) to avow, to avouch Aramaic equivalent: a.mar (אֲמַר "to say" H0560)
Usage: Occurs in 4337 OT verses. KJV: answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [idiom] plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), [idiom] still, [idiom] suppose, talk, tell, term, [idiom] that is, [idiom] think, use (speech), utter, [idiom] verily, [idiom] yet. See also: Genesis 1:3; Genesis 18:23; Genesis 25:32.
יְהוָ֔ה
Yᵉhôvâh
H3068
"The Lord"
N-proper
Yehovah is another name for God, often translated as 'the Lord'. It is a national name for God in the Jewish faith. This name is used throughout the Old Testament.
Definition: Another name of ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)
Usage: Occurs in 5522 OT verses. KJV: Jehovah, the Lord. Compare H3050 (יָהּ), H3069 (יְהֹוִה). See also: Genesis 2:4; Genesis 24:42; Exodus 8:8.
חִנָּ֖ם
chinnâm
H2600
"for nothing"
Adv
For nothing means something is done without a reason or cost. It can also mean something is done in vain or without purpose. This concept is seen in various Bible stories and teachings.
Definition: 1) freely, for nothing, without cause 1a) gratis, gratuitously, for nothing 1b) for no purpose, in vain 1c) gratuitously, without cause, undeservedly
Usage: Occurs in 31 OT verses. KJV: without a cause (cost, wages), causeless, to cost nothing, free(-ly), innocent, for nothing (nought, in vain. See also: Genesis 29:15; Psalms 69:5; Psalms 35:7.
נִמְכַּרְתֶּ֑ם
mâkar
H4376
"to sell"
V-Niphal-Perf-2mp
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means to sell something or someone, like a merchant selling goods or a father selling his daughter into marriage. It appears in books like Genesis and Exodus. The word can also mean to surrender or give something up.
Definition: 1) to sell 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to sell 1a2) seller (participle) 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be sold 1b2) to sell oneself 1b3) to be given over to death 1c) (Hithpael) to sell oneself
Usage: Occurs in 74 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] at all, sell (away, -er, self). See also: Genesis 25:31; Deuteronomy 32:30; Psalms 44:13.
וְ/לֹ֥א
lôʼ
H3808
"not"
Conj | Part
The Hebrew word for not or no is used to indicate absence or negation, as when God says no to the Israelites' requests, or when they disobey His commands.
Definition: 1) not, no 1a) not (with verb-absolute prohibition) 1b) not (with modifier-negation) 1c) nothing (subst) 1d) without (with particle) 1e) before (of time) Aramaic equivalent: la (לָא "not" H3809)
Usage: Occurs in 3967 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] before, [phrase] or else, ere, [phrase] except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never, no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), ([idiom] as though...,(can-), for) not (out of), of nought, otherwise, out of, [phrase] surely, [phrase] as truly as, [phrase] of a truth, [phrase] verily, for want, [phrase] whether, without. See also: Genesis 2:5; Genesis 31:15; Exodus 4:9.
בְ/כֶ֖סֶף
keçeph
H3701
"silver"
Prep | N-ms
Silver or money, often referring to payment or wealth, like the silver talents in Matthew 25. It can also describe silver as a valuable metal or ornament.
Definition: : money/payment/silver 1) silver, money 1a) silver 1a1) as metal 1a2) as ornament 1a3) as colour 1b) money, shekels, talents
Usage: Occurs in 343 OT verses. KJV: money, price, silver(-ling). See also: Genesis 13:2; Numbers 22:18; 2 Chronicles 1:17.
תִּגָּאֵֽלוּ
gâʼal
H1350
"to redeem"
V-Niphal-Imperf-2mp
This Hebrew word means redemption, describing the act of a kinsman buying back a relative's property or marrying their widow, as seen in the story of Boaz in Ruth.
Definition: : redeem 1) to redeem, act as kinsman-redeemer, avenge, revenge, ransom, do the part of a kinsman 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to act as kinsman, do the part of next of kin, act as kinsman-redeemer 1a1a) by marrying brother's widow to beget a child for him, to redeem from slavery, to redeem land, to exact vengeance 1a2) to redeem (by payment) 1a3) to redeem (with God as subject) 1a3a) individuals from death 1a3b) Israel from Egyptian bondage 1a3c) Israel from exile 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to redeem oneself 1b2) to be redeemed
Usage: Occurs in 84 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] in any wise, [idiom] at all, avenger, deliver, (do, perform the part of near, next) kinsfolk(-man), purchase, ransom, redeem(-er), revenger. See also: Genesis 48:16; Job 3:5; Psalms 19:15.
Study Notes — Isaiah 52:3
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Isaiah 52:3 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Isaiah 52:3
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Isaiah 52:3
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Isaiah 52:3
- Trapp's Commentary on Isaiah 52:3
- Ellicott's Commentary on Isaiah 52:3
- Cambridge Bible on Isaiah 52:3
- Barnes' Notes on Isaiah 52:3
- Whedon's Commentary on Isaiah 52:3
- Sermons on Isaiah 52:3
Context — Deliverance for Jerusalem
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.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 Peter 1:18 | For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life you inherited from your forefathers, |
| 2 | Isaiah 45:13 | I will raise up Cyrus in righteousness, and I will make all his ways straight. He will rebuild My city and set My exiles free, but not for payment or reward, says the LORD of Hosts.” |
| 3 | Psalms 44:12 | You sell Your people for nothing; no profit do You gain from their sale. |
| 4 | Jeremiah 15:13 | Your wealth and your treasures I will give up as plunder, without charge for all your sins within all your borders. |
| 5 | Isaiah 50:1 | This is what the LORD says: “Where is your mother’s certificate of divorce with which I sent her away? Or to which of My creditors did I sell you? Look, you were sold for your iniquities, and for your transgressions your mother was sent away. |
| 6 | Romans 7:14–25 | We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do, I do not do. But what I hate, I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I admit that the law is good. In that case, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh; for I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do. Instead, I keep on doing the evil I do not want to do. And if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. So this is the principle I have discovered: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law. But I see another law at work in my body, warring against the law of my mind and holding me captive to the law of sin that dwells within me. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God, through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with my mind I serve the law of God, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin. |
Isaiah 52:3 Summary
[Isaiah 52:3 is a promise from God that even though His people were taken captive and enslaved without any payment, He will redeem them without requiring any money from them. This is a powerful picture of God's love and grace, as seen in John 3:16, where it says God gave His only Son to save us. Just like the Israelites were freed from slavery in Egypt, as told in the book of Exodus, we can be freed from the slavery of sin through Jesus Christ, as stated in Romans 6:22. This verse reminds us that our salvation is a gift from God, and we can trust in His promise to redeem us.]
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean to be 'sold for nothing' in Isaiah 52:3?
To be 'sold for nothing' means that God's people were taken captive and enslaved without any just cause or payment, as seen in Isaiah 52:4, where it says they were oppressed without cause, much like the Israelites were in Exodus 1:14 when they were enslaved in Egypt.
How can we be redeemed without money, as stated in Isaiah 52:3?
Our redemption comes through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who paid the price for our sins with His own blood, as seen in Romans 3:24 and Ephesians 1:7, where it is written that we have redemption through His blood.
Is this verse only talking about the nation of Israel, or does it apply to all believers?
While the immediate context of Isaiah 52:3 is addressing the nation of Israel, the principle of redemption without money applies to all believers, as seen in Galatians 3:13, where it says Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law.
What is the significance of the Lord saying 'you will be redeemed' in Isaiah 52:3?
The Lord's declaration that 'you will be redeemed' is a promise of deliverance and restoration, much like the promise in Isaiah 41:14, where God says He will help and redeem His people, giving them a future and a hope, as stated in Jeremiah 29:11.
Reflection Questions
- What are some ways that I have felt 'sold for nothing' or enslaved in my own life, and how can I apply the promise of redemption to those situations?
- How does the truth that I was redeemed without money affect my understanding of God's love and grace for me?
- In what ways can I 'shake off the dust' and 'rise up' like Jerusalem in Isaiah 52:2, and what role does the promise of redemption play in that process?
- How can I share the message of redemption without money with others who may be feeling enslaved or hopeless?
Gill's Exposition on Isaiah 52:3
For thus saith the Lord, ye have sold yourselves for nought,.... As Ahab did to work wickedness; as men do freely, and get nothing by it; for there is nothing got in the service of sin, Satan, and
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Isaiah 52:3
For thus saith the LORD, Ye have sold yourselves for nought; and ye shall be redeemed without money.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Isaiah 52:3
Ye have sold yourselves, by your sins, into the hands of the Chaldeans, for nought; without any price or valuable consideration paid by them, either to you or to me, your Lord and Owner. Ye shall be redeemed without money; without paying any ransom.
Trapp's Commentary on Isaiah 52:3
Isaiah 52:3 For thus saith the LORD, Ye have sold yourselves for nought; and ye shall be redeemed without money.Ver. 3. For thus saith the Lord.] Thus he pleadeth the cause of his people. Ye have sold yourselves for nought.] Heb., Ye were sold for nought. I had not so much as thanks for you from the enemy; no more hath he from the devil: and yet a letter was framed in Hildebrand’ s days as sent from the devil, wherein he kindly thanked the Popish clergy for the many souls they daily sent him to hell by their negligence and wickedness. And ye shall be redeemed without money.] Heb., Without silver. So were we. Babylonii non egerunt mihi gratias. - Piscat. Mat. Paris. Hist., A.D. 1072.
Ellicott's Commentary on Isaiah 52:3
(3) Ye have sold yourselves . . .—Literally, ye were sold. The people had complained that Jehovah had “sold them” into the hands of their enemies (Psalms 44:12). “Not so,” is the answer. “There was no real sale, only a temporary transfer, and therefore Jehovah can redeem you at His own pleasure. A comparison with Isaiah 43:3, shows how spiritual truths may present aspects that require the most opposite illustrations.
Cambridge Bible on Isaiah 52:3
3–6. There is here a sudden change both in form and subject. The rhythmic structure of the preceding verses gives place to prose, and the figure of Jerusalem arising from the dust is altogether abandoned. Jehovah is represented as deliberating with Himself on the religious situation, so injurious to His honour, brought about by the unprecedented calamities of His people (Isaiah 52:4-5), and as resolving to end it by their deliverance (6). It is doubtful if the passage was the original sequel to Isaiah 52:1-2.
Barnes' Notes on Isaiah 52:3
Ye have sold yourselves for nought - You became captives and prisoners without any price being paid for you. You cost nothing to those who made you prisoners.
Whedon's Commentary on Isaiah 52:3
3-6. Shall be redeemed without money — As the Babylonians paid no price for Israel, so they shall receive none for her return. God punishes injustice all round.
Sermons on Isaiah 52:3
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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(1 Peter - Part 15): The Precious Blood, Our Only Hope by A.W. Tozer | In this sermon, the speaker tells a story about two men who are stranded in a cold and dangerous mountainous area. They realize that their only hope of survival is to start a fire. |
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At the Price of God's Own Blood by John Piper | In this sermon, Pastor John Piper emphasizes the importance of holiness, zeal for good works, and commitment to world evangelization. He highlights that Jesus bled and died to purc |
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(1986 Prairie Series) 4 - Rediscovering Christ by Major Ian Thomas | Major Ian Thomas emphasizes the transformative power of recognizing Christ's resurrection in the life of believers, particularly through the experience of Peter. He illustrates how |
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(Hebrews - Part 27): The Blood of Infinite Value by A.W. Tozer | In this sermon, the speaker uses the analogy of standing back from a painting to understand the passage being discussed. He emphasizes that sin leads to death and that when a perso |
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(Exodus) Exodus 13:14-19 by J. Vernon McGee | In this sermon, the speaker discusses the journey of the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt and into the Promised Land. The Israelites were not initially prepared for warfare, so G |
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God Has Spoken by B.H. Clendennen | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of progressive learning in the Christian faith. He discusses two key lessons that believers must learn: the consciousness of t |
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What Think Ye of Christ by A.W. Tozer | In this sermon, the speaker uses the analogy of a sinking ship and a lifeboat to illustrate different responses to Jesus Christ. He describes various individuals on the sinking shi |