This verse speaks about reversing Jerusalem’s shame and humiliation, again using the metaphor of a childless woman. In ancient Hebrew culture a woman felt great shame if she was unable to have children (see, for example, Gen 16.4; 1 Sam 1.6). Two more imperatives followed by reasons occur in the first half of this verse.

Fear not, for you will not be ashamed: The imperative Fear not is used frequently in chapters 40–55 to give assurance to a person called to some special task (see, for example, 40.9; 41.10, 13-14). Here it calls on the people of Jerusalem to face the future confidently. The Hebrew particle ki rendered for introduces the reason for this confidence: they will no longer feel the shame of being like a childless woman. They will no longer be humiliated as they are at present in Babylonia. For the Hebrew verb rendered will … be ashamed, see the comments on 41.11, where it is translated “put to shame.”

Be not confounded, for you will not be put to shame is parallel and largely synonymous with the previous line. Be not confounded means “do not feel ashamed.” For the Hebrew verb here see the comments on 41.11. New International Version says “Do not fear disgrace,” and Revised English Bible has “do not be downcast.” For you will not be put to shame is the reason for not feeling ashamed. It assures the people again that they will no longer be humiliated. For the Hebrew verb rendered will … be put to shame, see the comments on 1.29, where it is translated “blush.” New Revised Standard Version and Revised English Bible say “[for] you will not suffer disgrace,” and New International Version has “you will not be humiliated.”

Verses 4b-6 give further reasons why the Israelites should not be afraid and feel shame, but rejoice. The Hebrew particle ki rendered for/“For” in these verses introduces the additional reasons. The rest of this verse assures the people that they will forget their present sense of shame.

You will forget the shame of your youth: The Hebrew noun rendered shame comes from the same root as the verb translated will … be ashamed. The shame of your youth refers to the shame Jerusalem felt during her youth. Some scholars have suggested that this phrase points to the time the Israelites suffered oppression in Egypt; others think it refers to the time the Assyrians oppressed them. In this context it most likely refers to the time when they went into exile to Babylonia. They felt shame at that time like a woman who is childless. Because the shame of your youth is rather vague, translators may say “your past shame.” Good News Translation interprets this to mean “your unfaithfulness as a young wife,” and Contemporary English Version is similar with “how sinful you were [when you were young].” We recommend against taking these as models and prefer a more general rendering.

And the reproach of your widowhood you will remember no more is parallel to the previous line. The shame of your youth refers to Jerusalem’s past, but the reproach of your widowhood points to her present situation. Just as a widow feels humiliation, so do the exiled people of Jerusalem. In this context the Hebrew word for reproach refers to shame due to criticism (see the comments on 4.1). People treated widows harshly, causing them to feel disgrace. Good News Translation omits the idea of reproach by rendering this line as “and your desperate loneliness as a widow,” but translators should retain it.

The verbs forget and remember no more should not be taken in their literal sense. Rather, they refer to the removal of shame and criticism. In languages where forget and remember no more cannot be used in a figurative sense, translators may render the last two lines as “the shame you suffered in the past will be gone, and the contempt you feel as a widow will be taken away entirely.”

Translation examples for this verse are:

• Do not be afraid,
because you will no longer bear shame;
do not feel ashamed,
because you will no longer suffer humiliation.
For you will forget the shame you suffered in the past,
and the criticism of being a widow you will remember no more.

• Do not fear!
You will bear no more shame.
Do not be ashamed!
You will suffer no more humiliation.
Because you will forget your past shame,
and the humiliation of being widowed you will not remember anymore.

Quoted with permission from Ogden, Graham S. and Sterk, Jan. A Handbook on Isaiah. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2011. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .