Isaiah 48:21

Isaiah 48:21 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And they thirsted not when he led them through the deserts: he caused the waters to flow out of the rock for them: he clave the rock also, and the waters gushed out.
• New International Version (NIV)They did not thirst when he led them through the deserts; he made water flow for them from the rock; he split the rock and water gushed out.
• English Standard Version (ESV)They did not thirst when he led them through the deserts; he made water flow for them from the rock; he split the rock and the water gushed out.
• New King James Version (NKJV)And they did not thirst When He led them through the deserts; He caused the waters to flow from the rock for them; He also split the rock, and the waters gushed out.

Context of Isaiah 48:21

19You would have had many descendants, as much as the sand on the shore of the sea. I would not need to destroy them. Their family name would continue for ever.’ 20Now leave Babylon as free people! No longer serve the Babylonians! Shout the news with joy! Tell everyone about it, all over the world. Tell them that the Lord has redeemed his people, his servants, the Israelites. When he led them through the desert, they did not become thirsty. He broke open a rock for them, so that water poured out. They could drink as much as they needed. 22But the Lord says, ‘Wicked people will have no peace in their lives.’

Isaiah 48:21 word by word

וְלֹ֣א צָמְא֗וּ בָּחֳרָבוֹת֙ הֽוֹלִיכָ֔ם מַ֥יִם מִצּ֖וּר הִזִּ֣יל לָ֑מוֹ וַיִּ֨בְקַע־צ֔וּר וַיָּזֻ֖בוּ מָֽיִם׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And they thirstedצָמֵאtsâmê' · to thirstH6770
• he ledיָלַךְyâlak · to walkH3212
• them through the desertsחׇרְבָּהchorbâh · desolationH2723
• he caused the watersמַיmayim · waterH4325
• to flowנָזַלnâzal · to flowH5140
• out of the rockצוּרtsûr tsûr · rockH6697
• for them: he claveבָּקַעbâqa‛ · to break up/openH1234
• gushed outזוּבzûb · to flow: flowingH2100

Cross-references for Isaiah 48:21

• Isaiah 30:25Streams of water will pour down from every tall mountain and every high hill. That will happen at the time when your enemies are destroyed. Their strong towers will fall down.
• Isaiah 35:6People with weak legs will jump like deer. People who cannot speak now will shout with joy. Water will pour from springs in the desert. Streams of water will run in the wilderness.
• Isaiah 41:17Poor and helpless people look for water to drink, but there is none. They are so thirsty that their tongues are dry. But I, the Lord, will answer their prayers. I, the God of Israel, will not leave them alone.
• Isaiah 43:19Look! Now I will do something that is new! It is already beginning to happen. Surely, you can recognize it. Yes, I will make a road through the desert. I will make streams in the wilderness.
• Isaiah 49:10They will not be hungry or thirsty. The strong heat of the sun will not hurt them. The one who loves them will be their guide. He will lead them to drink from springs of water.
• Jeremiah 31:9They will be weeping as they come. They will pray for my help as I lead them. I will lead them beside streams of fresh water, and on flat paths where they will not fall down. I will help them because I am a father for Israel's people. Ephraim is like my firstborn son.’
• Exodus 17:6I will stand there, in front of you, by the rock at Sinai. Hit the rock with your stick, and water will come out of it. Then the people can drink.’ So Moses did this, while the leaders of the Israelites watched him.
• Numbers 20:11Moses lifted up his arm. He hit the rock twice with his stick. Water poured out from the rock. The people and their animals drank the water.
• Nehemiah 9:15You gave your people bread from heaven when they were hungry. You gave them water from a rock to drink when they were thirsty. You commanded them to go to the land that you had promised to give them. You told them to take it for themselves.
• Psalms 78:15He broke rocks into pieces in the wilderness so that his people had plenty of water. Springs of water came from deep in the earth.
• Psalms 105:41He broke a rock, so that water poured out from it. It ran as a river through the dry places.

Commentaries on Isaiah 48:21

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 21They thirsted not - through the deserts - Kimchi has a surprising observation upon this place: "If the prophecy," says he, "relates to the return from the Babylonish captivity, as it seems to do, it is to be wondered how it comes to pass, that in the Book of Ezra, in which he gives an account of their return, no mention is made that such miracles were wrought for them; as, for instance, that God clave the rock for them in the desert." It is really much to…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 21And they thirsted not - This is a part of that for which they would be called to celebrate his name. It was not merely that he had redeemed them, but that he had abundantly provided for their needs in the desert, and guided them safe through the pathless wilderness to their own land (see the notes at Isaiah 35:6-7; Isaiah 41:17-18). He caused the waters to flow out of the rock for them - The allusion here is undoubtedly to the fact that God caused the…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 16-22Verses 16-22 The Holy Spirit qualifies for service; and those may speak boldly, whom God and his Spirit send. This is to be applied to Christ. He was sent, and he had the Spirit without measure. Whom God redeems, he teaches; he teaches to profit by affliction, and then makes them partakers of his holiness. Also, by his grace he leads them in the way of duty; and by his providence he leads in the way of deliverance. God did not afflict them willingly. If…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 21not thirst … rock … water gushed out: These reminders of God’s provision in the exodus provide a fitting summary of what he would do to rescue Israel from captivity in Babylon (see Numbers 20:11).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2121. Ezra, in describing the return, makes no mention of God cleaving the rock for them in the desert [Kimchi]. The circumstances, therefore, of the deliverance from Egypt (Ex 17:6; Nu 20:11; Psa 78:15; 105:41) and of that from Babylon, are blended together; the language, while more immediately referring to the latter deliverance, yet, as being blended with circumstances of the former not strictly applicable to the latter, cannot wholly refer to either…Read the comment

Topics related to Isaiah 48:21

• Blessing

In the dictionaries

• Desert
• Flint
• Isaiah
• Love
• Mark, the Gospel According to
• Saviour

Commentaries on Isaiah 48

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings