What Does Isaiah 62:11 Mean in the King James?

Behold, the LORD hath proclaimed unto the end of the world, Say ye to the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy salvation cometh; behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him.

Isaiah 62:11 · KJV

The analysis reads the King James wording.

King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.

This verse in the Selah Decoded Version

THE KEY

Deliverance is not an abstract rescue: it comes toward you with the work and recompense of the one who brings it already in view.

THE MEANING

The announcement reaches the edge of your world: your deliverance is coming; the one who brings it carries recompense, and his work is before him. Each “behold” turns your attention to another part of the arrival.

WHAT THIS UNDOES

The verse undoes the belief that a promise of deliverance is empty until it arrives: the coming one carries recompense and has work set before him.

THE ROOT

יִשְׁעֵךְ

yishʿekh

GROWS FROM

ישע

y-sh-ʿ

Deliver, rescue, bring into safety.

“salvation” in this verse is yishʿekh. The Hebrew word is “your deliverance,” from the root ⁨יָשַׁע⁩ (yashaʿ), to deliver. It names movement out of constriction toward spaciousness: the deliverance is not merely promised but is coming toward you.

ALSO GROWS

yashaʿ: Deliver, rescue.

יָשַׁע

The verb shares the root and makes the movement inside “your salvation” visible.

yeshuʿah: Deliverance.

יְשׁוּעָה

This noun from the same root names the rescue that the verse says is coming.

הִשְׁמִיעַ

hishmîaʿ

GROWS FROM

שמע

sh-m-ʿ

Hear, listen, heed.

“proclaimed” in this verse is hishmîaʿ. The verb literally carries the sense of causing something to be heard. The announcement reaches the earth’s edge, then the hearers are told to speak it onward to Zion: the message is made heard and passed on.

ALSO GROWS

shāmaʿ: Hear, listen.

שָׁמַע

This is the root verb behind the proclamation: what is proclaimed is what the world is made to hear.

shemaʿ: Hear and respond.

שְׁמַע

The same root opens hearing toward response, fitting the movement from the LORD’s announcement to “Say ye.”

THE PATTERN

Deliverance is announced as a coming reality whose work and recompense accompany it.

Behold, the Lord GOD will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him: behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him.

Isaiah 40:10 · KJVThe coming of the LORD is joined to the same pairing of recompense with him and work before him.

The LORD hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.

Isaiah 52:10 · KJVDeliverance reaches beyond one place until the ends of the earth can see it.

And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

Revelation 22:12 · KJVThe coming one again arrives with recompense, making the arrival and what it carries inseparable.

THE THREAD

The LORD hath made known his salvation: his righteousness hath he openly shewed in the sight of the heathen.

Psalm 98:2 · KJV

Both verses use the Hebrew root ⁨ישע⁩ (y-sh-ʿ): “your deliverance” here and “his salvation” in the psalm. Isaiah says this deliverance is coming; the psalm says the LORD has made it known openly among the nations.

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