What does Isaiah 62:2 mean by "a new name" given by the LORD? Text of Isaiah 62:2 “Nations will see your righteousness, and all kings your glory; you will be called by a new name that the mouth of the LORD will bestow.” Original Hebrew and Key Terms • “New name” = שֵׁם חָדָשׁ (shem ḥāḏāsh). ḥāḏāsh signals something fresh, unprecedented, or renewed—not merely a recycled title. • “Will bestow” = יִקֹּבֶנּוּ (yiqqōvennû, “will designate, specify”). The verb underscores divine initiative; the name originates from Yahweh alone. Immediate Literary Context (Isaiah 60–62) Chapters 60–62 form a single prophecy promising Zion’s restoration, international recognition, and everlasting joy. Repetition of light, glory, and righteousness (60:1–3; 61:10–11) culminates in 62:1–2: the prophet “will not keep silent” until Zion’s vindication becomes global. The “new name” therefore marks the climax of Zion’s transformation. Historical Setting and Prophetic Horizon First fulfillment: post-exilic Jerusalem (ca. 538 BC onward). Second and greater fulfillment: Messianic age inaugurated by Jesus’ resurrection (cf. Luke 24:46–47) and consummated at His return. A dual horizon is standard in Isaiah (e.g., 7:14; 9:6–7; 61:1–2). The Concept of ‘Name’ in the Hebrew Bible A name portrays character, destiny, and authority (Exodus 3:14-15; 1 Samuel 25:25). To receive a new name from God means a change of nature and vocation bestowed by covenant grace. Divine Renaming in Scripture • Abram → Abraham, “father of a multitude” (Genesis 17:5) • Sarai → Sarah, “princess” (Genesis 17:15) • Jacob → Israel, “he struggles with God” (Genesis 32:28) • Simon → Peter, “rock” (Matthew 16:18) These precedents frame Isaiah 62:2: God alone legitimizes new destiny. Hephzibah and Beulah (Isa 62:4) Verse 4 instantly supplies the content of the “new name”: “You will be called Hephzibah [My Delight Is in Her] and your land Beulah [Married].” This clarifies that the renaming signifies Yahweh’s renewed delight and covenant intimacy with His people. Gentile Recognition and Universal Witness “Nations will see your righteousness.” The new name is not private; it testifies publicly to divine redemption (cf. Isaiah 49:6; Acts 13:47). Historically, Gentile admiration began under Cyrus’s edict (Ezra 1:1-4) and peaks eschatologically in Revelation 21:24-26 where the nations bring glory into the New Jerusalem. Messianic and Eschatological Fulfillment Jesus declares the restoration of Isaiah 61:1-2 as fulfilled in His ministry (Luke 4:18-21). Through His resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:3-8), believers join Zion’s story, receiving a shared new name: • “Christians” first in Antioch (Acts 11:26) • “Children of God” (John 1:12) • “Royal priesthood” (1 Peter 2:9) The ultimate new name is inscribed “on the forehead” of overcomers (Revelation 3:12; 22:4). Canonical Echoes Isaiah’s promise reverberates: • Isaiah 56:5—“a name better than sons and daughters” • Isaiah 65:15—“He will call His servants by another name” • Revelation 2:17—“a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it.” These texts tie the concept to eternal security and intimate knowledge between God and the redeemed. Archaeological Corroboration of Restoration Context • Cyrus Cylinder (British Museum) confirms the 539 BC policy of repatriating exiles, paralleling Isaiah 44:28–45:1. • Yehud seal impressions list names like “Hezekiah” and “Netanyahu,” demonstrating vigorous post-exilic Jewish community. These finds authenticate the milieu in which Isaiah’s promise of renaming began to materialize. Theological Significance 1. Covenant Renewal: A name change ratifies restored relationship (Hosea 2:14-23). 2. Vindication: Public honor replaces former shame (Isaiah 61:7). 3. Mission: The new identity carries evangelical purpose—displaying God’s glory to the nations (Matthew 28:18-20). 4. Eschatological Assurance: Because the name is spoken “by the mouth of the LORD,” it is irrevocable (Romans 11:29). Pastoral and Ethical Implications Believers find identity not in past failures but in God’s declared righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:17). The church embodies “Hephzibah,” living so that “kings see your glory” through holy conduct and proclamation (Philippians 2:15-16). Answer to the Question “A new name” in Isaiah 62:2 is Yahweh’s own pronouncement of Zion’s transformed character and destiny—publicly recognized by all nations, inaugurated historically in the post-exilic return, fulfilled spiritually in the redeemed community through the risen Christ, and consummated in the New Jerusalem. |
    |