By using evidence that the book of Isaiah itself supplies, readers can feel confident that the “barren” woman of Isaiah 54:1 does not refer to Gentiles. …
Identity of the Barren Woman: Devotional 2.55
The reader is on her own to determine who is the “barren that bear[s] not.” Isaiah also refers to this person as “the desolate.” We do know that the addressee is a woman. The noun inflections signify female. Also, women bear children, not men. But is the metaphorical woman a nation, a people group, an individual? These are questions the reader must ask… Therefore, it seems safe to conclude that the “barren,” or “barren one,” or “barren woman” whom God addresses in Isaiah 54:1 is not apostate (unfaithful) Israel. …