Barren woman, sing for joy because your husband is your Maker and Redeemer, from Isaiah 54:1-5. What song was she to sing? Was she to sing with someone? Were the musical bars this barren woman was to sing new or old? Is there a time frame for this song? If you get the feeling I may be all over place with this one you could be right. Now for my verse 1.

Father God has been singing a Song of Salvation since the Garden, not many wanted to hear it. Abram heard the tune and danced with God to Cannan. This brings in another singer for the song, Sarai. She was ‘ă·qā·rāh or barren and is the first one to sing that part of this song. That word describes five women and is used in Isaiah 54:1. Hebrew Concordance: ‘ă·qā·rāh — 8 Occurrences  Strong’s Hebrew: 6135. עָקָר (aqar) — barren, barren one, barren womanzzz Sarai was the first, but others joined her:

• Sarai – Genesis 11:30
• Rebekah – Genesis 25:21
• Rachael – Genesis 29:31
• Samson’s mother – Judges 13:2
• Hannah, Samuel’s mother, in her prayer – 1 Samuel 2:5

Notable “covers” were given by the Shunammite woman in 2 Kings 4:14 and John the Baptist’s mother, Elizabeth – Luke 1:7.

I would like to add a personal note about this part of the Song. I have read Isaiah 54 many times, but the scale of how important this ‘ă·qā·rāh woman singing has alluded me until now. Eve was the first to hear about this Song, her descendants Sarai and Rebekah started singing their part to bring salvation into our world.

The attention getter in Isaiah 54 is it being address to a barren woman. Verse 11 refers to the afflicted city, which may put this around the time of Hezekiah and the Assyrian conquest of Judah. There are many references to Daughter Zion or Virgin Daughter Jerusalem and other daughters in Isaiah. So, this introduction seems very important. Isaiah also refers to other barren things in his lines, mostly geographic areas. Father God’s measured verses here are the anacrusis to Isaiah 60 and 61. I need to point out that our translators use the word “will” many times in this part of the Song.

When Isaiah contributed his lines to the Song, he did not write in chapters and verses, but that is our lot in life. As I have read this part of Isaiah, I have wondered about how his words bridged his time over the kings of Judah and when they were penned. Our Chapters 54, 55, and 56 talk about a barren woman, those who are thirsty, foreigners, and Rest Keepers. He composed his lines for then and for us and for a time we have not yet seen. That chorus of chapters sounds like the Song of the Kingdom to my ear.

Paul repeated 54:1 in Galatians 4:27 and draws a comparison of earthly Jerusalem (Hagar a slave) to heavenly Jerusalem (Sarah a free woman). He wrote this letter to get the Galatian Church back into the rhythm of the Song after they heard men who were out of tune with Jesus sing their own song. Paul highlighted the part of the Song about being a slave to sin and being free in Jesus. Yes, I do see that in Isaiah’s words in Chapters 54, 55, and 56, and beyond.

Being barren was a curse under the Law, yet ‘ă·qā·rāh are still a part of the song. God composed His Song to include members of His Body that were overlooked and mistreated (1 Corinthians 12:23). There was a lot in this study. The links below are some areas that harmonize with Isaiah 54:1.

• Isaiah 54:1 Hebrew Text Analysis
• BibleGateway – Keyword Search: daughter
• BibleGateway – Keyword Search: sing
• Hebrew Concordance: wə·ḡal·mū·ḏāh — 1 Occurrence 49:11 NIV say barren H 1565
• Hebrew Concordance: šə·p̄ā·yîm — 8 Occurrences in Isaiah and Jeremiah – desolate H8205
• BibleGateway – Keyword Search: woman first four are pregnant women, 54:1, and the last is a young woman, Isaiah 62:4+5 “No longer will they call you Deserted, or name your land Desolate.” (NIV)
• Ekron | The amazing name Ekron: meaning and etymology  This name is associated with the concept of barren in the Hebrew language.