Therefore the redeemed of the LORD shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy [shall be] upon their head: they shall obtain gladness and joy; [and] sorrow and mourning shall flee away.
Therefore the redeemed {H6299} of the LORD {H3068} shall return {H7725}, and come {H935} with singing {H7440} unto Zion {H6726}; and everlasting {H5769} joy {H8057} shall be upon their head {H7218}: they shall obtain {H5381} gladness {H8342} and joy {H8057}; and sorrow {H3015} and mourning {H585} shall flee away {H5127}.
Those ransomed by ADONAI will return and come with singing to Tziyon; on their heads will be everlasting joy. They will acquire gladness and joy, while sorrow and sighing will flee.
So the redeemed of the LORD will return and enter Zion with singing, crowned with everlasting joy. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee.
And the ransomed of Jehovah shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their heads: they shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
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Isaiah 25:8
He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken [it]. -
Revelation 21:4
And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. -
Revelation 7:17
For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes. -
Isaiah 35:10
And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away. -
2 Thessalonians 2:16
¶ Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given [us] everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, -
Isaiah 61:7
For your shame [ye shall have] double; and [for] confusion they shall rejoice in their portion: therefore in their land they shall possess the double: everlasting joy shall be unto them. -
Jeremiah 33:11
The voice of joy, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the voice of them that shall say, Praise the LORD of hosts: for the LORD [is] good; for his mercy [endureth] for ever: [and] of them that shall bring the sacrifice of praise into the house of the LORD. For I will cause to return the captivity of the land, as at the first, saith the LORD.
Isaiah 51:11 is a powerful prophecy of hope and restoration, offering comfort to God's people, especially during times of distress or exile. It paints a vivid picture of a future where suffering gives way to unending joy and gladness.
Context of Isaiah 51:11
This verse is found within the "Book of Comfort" (chapters 40-66) in the book of Isaiah, a section primarily addressed to the Israelites facing or enduring the Babylonian exile. The prophet Isaiah is speaking words of divine assurance, reminding them of God's mighty acts of deliverance in the past and His unwavering commitment to their future. The promise of "returning to Zion" would have resonated deeply with a people longing for their homeland and the restoration of their spiritual center, Jerusalem. This chapter specifically calls the people to remember God's past faithfulness, even as they look forward to His future redemption.
Key Themes and Messages
Linguistic Insights
The Hebrew word for "redeemed" here is peduyei (פְּדוּיֵי), stemming from a root that implies being bought back or delivered through payment or a powerful act. It underscores the idea of liberation from bondage. The phrase "everlasting joy" uses simchat olam (שִׂמְחַת עוֹלָם), where olam denotes a duration that is long, enduring, or eternal, reinforcing the permanence of this divine joy.
Related Scriptures
This verse finds a close parallel and perhaps an earlier iteration of the same promise in Isaiah 35:10, which uses almost identical language to describe the return of the ransomed. The ultimate fulfillment of the promise of sorrow and mourning fleeing away is powerfully envisioned in the New Testament, particularly in Revelation 21:4, where God promises to wipe away every tear and that there will be no more death, sorrow, crying, or pain in the new heaven and new earth. This future joy is also alluded to in Psalm 126:5-6, where those who sow in tears will reap with shouts of joy.
Practical Application
For believers today, Isaiah 51:11 serves as a profound source of comfort and assurance. It reminds us that even in the midst of present difficulties, trials, or "exile" from perfect peace, God has a plan for ultimate restoration and everlasting joy. It encourages us to fix our hope not on temporary circumstances but on God's unfailing promises. This verse points forward to the glorious future believers have in Christ, where true and unending joy is found, and all forms of suffering will ultimately vanish. It strengthens faith in God's power to deliver and His faithfulness to bring about His perfect will, leading to a future free from sorrow and filled with eternal gladness.