Isaiah 55:13

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.

Instead of the thorn {H5285} shall come up {H5927} the fir tree {H1265}, and instead of the brier {H5636} shall come up {H5927} the myrtle tree {H1918}: and it shall be to the LORD {H3068} for a name {H8034}, for an everlasting {H5769} sign {H226} that shall not be cut off {H3772}.

Cypresses will grow in place of thorns, myrtles will grow instead of briars. This will bring fame to ADONAI as an eternal, imperishable sign.

Instead of the thornbush, a cypress will grow, and instead of the brier, a myrtle will spring up; they will make a name for the LORD, an everlasting sign, never to be destroyed.”

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 Jehovah for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.

Context

Isaiah 55:13 concludes a magnificent chapter in the "Book of Comfort" (Isaiah 40-66), where the prophet Isaiah extends a gracious invitation from God to all who are thirsty and hungry for spiritual sustenance. This chapter emphasizes God's abundant provision, the efficacy of His covenant, and the unwavering power of His word. Verses 12-13 describe a joyful procession of God's people returning from exile, accompanied by a transformed creation that celebrates their deliverance. The verse directly follows the assurance that God's powerful word that will not return void, but will accomplish His purpose.

Key Themes

  • Divine Transformation and Restoration: The central message is one of radical change and complete restoration. What was once desolate and harmful (thorns and briers, symbols of the curse and wilderness) will be replaced by beauty, fruitfulness, and life (fir trees and myrtle trees). This speaks to God's ability to reverse spiritual barrenness and bring forth new life.
  • God's Glory and Everlasting Sign: The transformation is not merely for the benefit of humanity but "to the LORD for a name," meaning it brings Him glory and reveals His character. It serves as "an everlasting sign," a permanent testament to His faithfulness, power, and the enduring nature of His promises. This imagery vividly portrays a future of complete renewal and blessing, echoing themes of the new heaven and new earth.
  • Covenant Faithfulness: This verse reinforces God's commitment to His covenant people and His creation. The promised transformation is a tangible demonstration of His steadfast love and unwavering promises that "shall not be cut off."

Linguistic Insights

The contrast between the plants is significant:

  • "Thorn" (shamir) and "brier" (qimosh): These terms often represent desolation, hardship, and the curse on the ground after the fall (see Genesis 3:18). They signify a state of unfruitfulness and difficulty.
  • "Fir tree" (beroesh) and "myrtle tree" (hadas): These are beautiful, fragrant, and useful trees. The myrtle, in particular, was associated with peace, beauty, and festive occasions, often used in constructing booths for the Feast of Tabernacles (Nehemiah 8:15). They symbolize blessing, flourishing, and renewal.
The phrase "everlasting sign" (Hebrew: 'ot olam) emphasizes the eternal and unchanging nature of God's redemptive work and its lasting impact.

Practical Application

Isaiah 55:13 offers profound hope and encouragement for believers today. It assures us that God is actively working to transform our lives and circumstances.

  • Personal Transformation: Just as God replaces thorns with myrtles in the natural world, He can transform areas of our lives that are barren, painful, or marked by sin into places of beauty, fruitfulness, and peace. It offers profound hope that God can transform even the most barren and difficult aspects of our lives into something beautiful and fruitful, much like the promise of a new heart and spirit.
  • Hope in Difficult Times: When facing personal struggles or societal brokenness, this verse reminds us that God's ultimate plan is one of restoration and blessing. His work is not temporary; it is an "everlasting sign."
  • Glorifying God: Our transformed lives, marked by God's grace, become a testament to His power and character. This transformation is ultimately "to the LORD for a name," bringing Him honor and glory in the world.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Ephesians 3:20

    Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

  • Ephesians 3:21

    Unto him [be] glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

  • Isaiah 41:19

    I will plant in the wilderness the cedar, the shittah tree, and the myrtle, and the oil tree; I will set in the desert the fir tree, [and] the pine, and the box tree together:

  • 1 Peter 2:9

    But ye [are] a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

  • 1 Peter 2:10

    Which in time past [were] not a people, but [are] now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

  • Jeremiah 33:9

    And it shall be to me a name of joy, a praise and an honour before all the nations of the earth, which shall hear all the good that I do unto them: and they shall fear and tremble for all the goodness and for all the prosperity that I procure unto it.

  • Isaiah 61:3

    To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.

Add TrulyRandomVerse to your Home Screen for quick access!

← Back