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.
• 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.
• New Living Translation (NLT)They were not thirsty when he led them through the desert. He divided the rock, and water gushed out for them to drink.

Context of Isaiah 48:21

19your offspring would have been like the sand, and your descendants like its grains; their name would never be cut off or destroyed from before me." 20Go out from Babylon, flee from Chaldea, declare this with a shout of joy, proclaim it, send it out to the end of the earth; say, "The Lord has redeemed his servant Jacob!" 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. 22"There is no peace," says the Lord, "for the wicked."

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 30:25And on every lofty mountain and every high hill there will be brooks running with water, in the day of the great slaughter, when the towers fall.
• Isaiah 35:6then shall the lame man leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute sing for joy. For waters break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert;
• Isaiah 41:17When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue is parched with thirst, I the Lord will answer them; I the God of Israel will not forsake them.
• Isaiah 43:19Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.
• Isaiah 49:10they shall not hunger or thirst, neither scorching wind nor sun shall strike them, for he who has pity on them will lead them, and by springs of water will guide them.
• Jeremiah 31:9With weeping they shall come, and with pleas for mercy I will lead them back, I will make them walk by brooks of water, in a straight path in which they shall not stumble, for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn.
• Exodus 17:6Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock at Horeb, and you shall strike the rock, and water shall come out of it, and the people will drink." And Moses did so, in the sight of the elders of Israel.
• Numbers 20:11And Moses lifted up his hand and struck the rock with his staff twice, and water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their livestock.
• Nehemiah 9:15You gave them bread from heaven for their hunger and brought water for them out of the rock for their thirst, and you told them to go in to possess the land that you had sworn to give them.
• Psalms 78:15He split rocks in the wilderness and gave them drink abundantly as from the deep.
• Psalms 105:41He opened the rock, and water gushed out; it flowed through the desert like a river.

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