Isaiah 52:7 How lovely on the mountains are the feet of him
who brings good news,
who announces peace
and brings good news of happiness,
who announces salvation,
and says to Zion, Your God reigns.
Basar shema shalom - Who brings good news, Who announces peace,
Basar shema tob yeshua - Who brings good news of happiness, Who announces salvation.
This verse uses some of the most important Hebrew words in a poetic verse that certainly sounds more beautiful in Hebrew than we can hear in English.
“Shema” is one of the most important Hebrew words. Given in Deuteronomy 6:4, this single word “Hear!” became a signifier of the message of the entire passage beginning, “Hear, O Israel, The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” Jesus cited this passage as the greatest commandment. (See Mt. 22:35-40, Mk. 12:28-32)
In Isaiah 52:7, the same root word is used to mean “to announce.” The good news that is announced is first “peace” (shalom) and then “salvation" (yeshua). "Yeshua" was both the name of Joshua and the Hebrew name of Jesus. So, this brief poem, which is part of a much larger poem, expresses the awesome thought that the beautiful messenger of God brings the message of God’s peace/shalom and God’s salvation/Yeshua.
who brings good news,
who announces peace
and brings good news of happiness,
who announces salvation,
and says to Zion, Your God reigns.
Basar shema shalom - Who brings good news, Who announces peace,
Basar shema tob yeshua - Who brings good news of happiness, Who announces salvation.
This verse uses some of the most important Hebrew words in a poetic verse that certainly sounds more beautiful in Hebrew than we can hear in English.
“Shema” is one of the most important Hebrew words. Given in Deuteronomy 6:4, this single word “Hear!” became a signifier of the message of the entire passage beginning, “Hear, O Israel, The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” Jesus cited this passage as the greatest commandment. (See Mt. 22:35-40, Mk. 12:28-32)
In Isaiah 52:7, the same root word is used to mean “to announce.” The good news that is announced is first “peace” (shalom) and then “salvation" (yeshua). "Yeshua" was both the name of Joshua and the Hebrew name of Jesus. So, this brief poem, which is part of a much larger poem, expresses the awesome thought that the beautiful messenger of God brings the message of God’s peace/shalom and God’s salvation/Yeshua.