Charles Ellicott Commentary Isaiah 58:12

"And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places; thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in." — Isaiah 58:12 (ASV)

Shall build the old waste places. —The prophet contemplates primarily the restoration of the public and private buildings of Jerusalem, but the words obviously have a wider spiritual application.

The foundations of many generations — i.e., those that had been lying in ruins, with no superstructure, for even a longer period than the seventy years of exile.

You shall be called ... —This was to be the special work, and was to constitute the enduring fame, of the new Israel.

Paths to dwell in — i.e., the streets of the city shall be once more flanked with houses on either side, and not merely roads from one point to another.