New Living Translation
Isaiah 55:13
13Where once there were thorns, cypress trees will grow. Where nettles grew, myrtles will sprout up. These events will bring great honor to the Lord’s name; they will be an everlasting sign of his power and love.”
Isaiah 55:13 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree: and it shall be to the Lord for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.
- New International Version (NIV)Instead of the thornbush will grow the juniper, and instead of briers the myrtle will grow. This will be for the Lord’s renown, for an everlasting sign, that will endure forever.”
- English Standard Version (ESV)Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress; instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle; and it shall make a name for the Lord, an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off."
- New King James Version (NKJV)Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress tree, And instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree; And it shall be to the Lord for a name, For an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.”
Context of Isaiah 55:13
11It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it. 12You will live in joy and peace. The mountains and hills will burst into song, and the trees of the field will clap their hands! Where once there were thorns, cypress trees will grow. Where nettles grew, myrtles will sprout up. These events will bring great honor to the Lord’s name; they will be an everlasting sign of his power and love.”
Read all of Isaiah 55Isaiah 55:13 word by word
תַּ֤חַת הַֽנַּעֲצוּץ֙ יַעֲלֶ֣ה בְר֔וֹשׁ וְתַ֥חַת הַסִּרְפַּ֖ד יַעֲלֶ֣ה הֲדַ֑ס וְהָיָ֤ה לַֽיהוָה֙ לְשֵׁ֔ם לְא֥וֹת עוֹלָ֖ם לֹ֥א יִכָּרֵֽת׃ סRead the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Instead of the thornנַעֲצוּץna‛ătsûts · thorn bushH5285
- shall come upעָלָה‛âlâh · to ascend: riseH5927
- the fir treeבְּרוֹשׁberôsh · cypressH1265
- and instead of the brierסִרְפָּדsarpâd · nettleH5636
- the myrtle treeהֲדַסhădas · myrtleH1918
- and it shall be to the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
- for a nameשֵׁםshêm · nameH8034
- for an everlastingעוֹלָם‛ôlâm ‛ôlâm · forever: enduringH5769
- signאוֹת'ôth · sign: indicatorH226
- shall not be cut offכָּרַתkârath · to cut: eliminateH3772
Cross-references for Isaiah 55:13
- Isaiah 11:6In that day the wolf and the lamb will live together; the leopard will lie down with the baby goat. The calf and the yearling will be safe with the lion, and a little child will lead them all.
- Isaiah 41:19I will plant trees in the barren desert— cedar, acacia, myrtle, olive, cypress, fir, and pine.
- Isaiah 60:13“The glory of Lebanon will be yours— the forests of cypress, fir, and pine— to beautify my sanctuary. My Temple will be glorious!
- Isaiah 61:3To all who mourn in Israel, he will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair. In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks that the Lord has planted for his own glory.
- Micah 7:4Even the best of them is like a brier; the most honest is as dangerous as a hedge of thorns. But your judgment day is coming swiftly now. Your time of punishment is here, a time of confusion.
- Romans 6:19Because of the weakness of your human nature, I am using the illustration of slavery to help you understand all this. Previously, you let yourselves be slaves to impurity and lawlessness, which led ever deeper into sin. Now you must give yourselves to be slaves to righteous living so that you will become holy.
- 1 Corinthians 6:9Don’t you realize that those who do wrong will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don’t fool yourselves. Those who indulge in sexual sin, or who worship idols, or commit adultery, or are male prostitutes, or practice homosexuality,
- 2 Corinthians 5:17This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!
- Isaiah 43:21I have made Israel for myself, and they will someday honor me before the whole world.
- Jeremiah 13:11As a loincloth clings to a man’s waist, so I created Judah and Israel to cling to me, says the Lord. They were to be my people, my pride, my glory—an honor to my name. But they would not listen to me.
- Jeremiah 33:9Then this city will bring me joy, glory, and honor before all the nations of the earth! The people of the world will see all the good I do for my people, and they will tremble with awe at the peace and prosperity I provide for them.
- Luke 2:14“Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”
- John 15:8When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.
- Ephesians 3:20Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.
- 1 Peter 2:9But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.
- 1 Peter 4:11Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen.
Commentaries on Isaiah 55:13
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 13Instead of the thorn "Instead of the thorny bushes" - These likewise (see note on Isaiah 55:12, and on Isaiah 54:11; (note)) are general poetical images, expressing a great and happy change for the better. The wilderness turned into a paradise, Lebanon into Carmel: the desert of the Gentiles watered with the heavenly snow and rain, which fail not to have their due effect, and becoming fruitful in piety and righteousness: or, as the Chaldee gives the moral…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 6-13Verses 6-13 Here is a gracious offer of pardon, and peace, and of all happiness. It shall not be in vain to seek God, now his word is calling to us, and his Spirit is striving with us. But there is a day coming when he will not be found. There may come such a time in this life; it is certain that at death and judgment the door will be shut. There must be not only a change of the way, but a change of the mind. We must alter our judgments about persons and…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 13Redemption is like the transformation from desert to forest (see also Isaiah 35:1; 41:19; 60:13). this will make a name for the LORD: God's glory will become increasingly visible to people as his redemption takes effect.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1313. thorn--emblem of the wicked (2Sa 23:6; Mi 7:4). fir tree--the godly (Is 60:13; Psa 92:12). Compare as to the change wrought, Ro 6:19. brier--emblem of uncultivation (Is 5:6). myrtle--Hebrew, Hedes, from which comes Hedassah, the original name of Esther. Type of the Christian Church; for it is a lowly, though beautiful, fragrant, and evergreen shrub (Psa 92:13, 14). for a name ... everlasting sign--a perpetual memorial to the glory of Jehovah (Jr…Read the comment
Topics related to Isaiah 55:13
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Isaiah 55
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- 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
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
New Living Translation — © 1996, 2004, 2015 Tyndale House Foundation
Commentaries