Isaiah35
World English Bible · Public Domain
1The wilderness and the dry land will be glad. The desert will rejoice and blossom like a rose.
2It will blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing. Lebanon’s glory will be given to it, the excellence of Carmel and Sharon. They will see Yahweh’s glory, the excellence of our God.
3Strengthen the weak hands, and make the feeble knees firm.
4Tell those who have a fearful heart, “Be strong! Don’t be afraid! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, God’s retribution. He will come and save you.
5Then the eyes of the blind will be opened, and the ears of the deaf will be unstopped.
6Then the lame man will leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute will sing; for waters will break out in the wilderness, and streams in the desert.
7The burning sand will become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water. Grass with reeds and rushes will be in the habitation of jackals, where they lay.
8A highway will be there, a road, and it will be called “The Holy Way”. The unclean shall not pass over it, but it will be for those who walk in the Way. Wicked fools shall not go there.
9No lion will be there, nor will any ravenous animal go up on it. They will not be found there; but the redeemed will walk there.
10Then Yahweh’s ransomed ones will return, and come with singing to Zion; and everlasting joy will be on their heads. They will obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.”
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Isaiah 35.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The flourishing state of Christ's kingdom. (1-4). The privileges of his people. (5-10).
vv1-4
Judea was prosperous in the days of Hezekiah, but the kingdom of Christ is the great subject intended. Converting grace makes the soul that was a wilderness, to rejoice with joy and singing, and to blossom abundantly. The feeble and faint-hearted are encouraged. This is the design of the gospel. Fear is weakening; the more we strive against it, the stronger we are, both for doing and suffering; and he that says to us, Be strong, has laid help for us upon One who is mighty. Assurance is given of the approach of Messiah, to take vengeance on the powers of darkness, to recompense with abundant comforts those that mourn in Zion; He will come and save. He will come again at the end of time, to punish those who have troubled his people; and to give those who were troubled such rest as will be a full reward for all their troubles.
vv5-10
When Christ shall come to set up his kingdom in the world, then wonders, great wonders, shall be wrought on men's souls. By the word and Spirit of Christ, the spiritually blind were enlightened; and those deaf to the calls of God were made to hear them readily. Those unable to do any thing good, by Divine grace were made active therein. Those that knew not how to speak of God or to God, had their lips opened to show forth his praise. When the Holy Ghost came upon the Gentiles that heard the word, then were the fountains of life opened. Most of the earth is still a desert; neither means of grace, spiritual worshippers, nor fruits of holiness, are to be found in it. But the way of religion and godliness shall be laid open. The way of holiness is the way of God's commandment; it is the good old way. And the way to heaven is a plain way. Those knowing but little, and unlearned, shall be kept from missing the road. It shall be a safe way; nothing can do them any real hurt. Christ, the way to God, shall be clearly made known; and the way of a believer's duty shall be plainly marked out. Let us then go forward cheerfully, assured that the end of this way shall be everlasting joy, and rest for the soul. Those who by faith are made citizens of the gospel Zion, rejoice in Christ Jesus; and their sorrows and sighs are made to flee away by Divine consolations. Thus these prophecies conclude. Our joyful hopes and prospects of eternal life should swallow up all the sorrows and all the joys of this present time. But of what avail is it to admire the excellence of God's word, unless we can call its precious promises our own? Do we love God, not only as our Creator, but because he gave his only Son to die for us? And are we walking in the ways of holiness? Let us try ourselves by such plain questions, rather than spend time on things that may be curious and amusing, but are unprofitable.
Key Words
מִדְבָּר: a pasture (i.e. open field, whither cattle are driven); by implication, a desert; also speech (including its organs)
צִיָּה: aridity; concretely, a desert
שׂוּשׂ: to be bright, i.e. cheerful
עֲרָבָה: a desert; especially (with the article prefix) the (generally) sterile valley of the Jordan and its continuation to the Red Sea
גִּיל: properly, to spin round (under the influence of any violent emotion), i.e. usually rejoice, or (as cringing) fear
פָּרַח: to break forth as a bud, i.e. bloom; generally, to spread; specifically, to fly (as extending the wings); figuratively, to flourish
חֲבַצֶּלֶת: probably meadow-saffron
גִּילָה: joy
רַנֵּן: shouting (for joy)
כָּבוֹד: properly, weight, but only figuratively in a good sense, splendor or copiousness
Cross References
Isaiah 35Jesus explicitly cites these physical and spiritual healings as proof of His messianic identity.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Directly quotes the exhortation to strengthen weak hands and feeble knees for spiritual perseverance.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The healed lame man literally leaps for joy in fulfillment of this messianic sign.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Nearly identical verbal parallel describing the ransomed returning to Zion with everlasting joy.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin
Christ points John's disciples to the blind seeing, deaf hearing, and lame walking.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
God promises to open rivers in high places and springs in the dry desert wilderness.
Supported by JFB
A prepared highway in the desert for the Lord and His redeemed people.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The complete absence of predatory beasts and safety on God's holy highway.
Supported by JFB
Creation itself breaks out into joy and singing as the redeemed are led forth.
Supported by JFB
Comfort for Zion by making her wilderness like Eden and her desert like the Lord's garden.
Supported by John Calvin
Contrasts the habitation of dragons in Edom's ruin with the watered pastures of Zion.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
A covenant of peace that rids the land of evil beasts so Israel can dwell safely.
Supported by JFB
The final consummation where sorrow and sighing flee away forever before God.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The heavenly Jerusalem's gate where nothing unclean shall ever enter.
Supported by JFB
The command to prepare the way and cast up the highway for the people.
Supported by JFB