Isaiah 61:11

For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.

For as the earth {H776} bringeth forth {H3318} her bud {H6780}, and as the garden {H1593} causeth the things that are sown {H2221} in it to spring forth {H6779}; so the Lord {H136} GOD {H3069} will cause righteousness {H6666} and praise {H8416} to spring forth {H6779} before all the nations {H1471}.

For just as the earth brings forth its plants, or a garden makes its plants spring up, so ADONAI, God, will cause victory and glory to spring up before all nations.

For as the earth brings forth its growth, and as a garden enables seed to spring up, so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring up before all the nations.

For as the earth bringeth forth its bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord Jehovah will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.

Commentary

Commentary on Isaiah 61:11 (KJV)

Isaiah 61:11, from the King James Version, powerfully concludes a prophetic passage with an agricultural metaphor, affirming the certainty of God's restorative work. It reads: "For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations."

Context

This verse is the culmination of a glorious prophecy found in Isaiah 61:1-3, often referred to as the "Jubilee passage." The chapter begins with the Spirit of the Lord upon the speaker, who is anointed to preach good tidings to the meek, bind up the brokenhearted, proclaim liberty to captives, and comfort those who mourn. This passage was famously quoted by Jesus in Luke 4:18-19, indicating its Messianic fulfillment. The preceding verses in Isaiah 61 describe the transformation and restoration of God's people, promising them everlasting joy and honor instead of shame and confusion. Verse 10 expresses a profound joy and exultation in the Lord for His salvation. Verse 11, therefore, serves as a divine guarantee that these promised blessings—the spiritual growth and public vindication of God's people—will indeed come to pass, just as naturally and certainly as spring follows winter.

Key Themes

  • Divine Certainty and Faithfulness: The core message is the unwavering reliability of God's promises. Just as natural processes like seeds sprouting from the earth are inevitable and dependable, so too is the Lord GOD's commitment to His word. This illustrates God's unfailing faithfulness.
  • Spiritual Growth and Restoration: The imagery of "springing forth" (Hebrew: tsemach) signifies vibrant, natural, and unstoppable growth. It speaks of a flourishing of spiritual life, a renewal that brings forth abundant fruit. This is a powerful picture of God's work in His people, transforming them from barrenness to fruitfulness.
  • Righteousness and Praise: These are the twin fruits that God desires and will produce.
    • Righteousness (Hebrew: tzedek): This encompasses justice, moral rectitude, and conformity to God's holy standard. It also implies vindication—God establishing His people in their rightful place and demonstrating His justice to the world.
    • Praise (Hebrew: tehillah): This is the natural and joyful response to God's marvelous works. As God's righteousness is revealed, it elicits adoration and glorification from His people and a watching world.
  • Universal Witness: The phrase "before all the nations" highlights the public and global nature of this divine work. God's character, His justice, and His redemptive power will be openly displayed, drawing the attention and recognition of the entire world. This aligns with other prophecies where nations will come to God's light.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "spring forth" (צֶמַח - tsemach) used here is significant. While it literally means to sprout or grow, it is also the root for the Messianic title "Branch" or "Sprout" (e.g., Jeremiah 23:5, Zechariah 3:8). This subtle connection reinforces the idea that the flourishing of righteousness and praise is intimately tied to the work of the Messiah. The parallelism between the natural world's reliable growth and God's spiritual promises underscores divine order and certainty.

Practical Application

For believers today, Isaiah 61:11 offers immense encouragement and a call to action:

  • Assurance of God's Promises: We can trust that God is faithful to His word. Just as He ensures the seasons and natural growth, He will surely bring forth His purposes in our lives and in the world. This provides hope even in times of barrenness or despair.
  • Living Righteously: The verse reminds us that God desires to produce righteousness within us. This calls us to cultivate lives that reflect God's justice and moral character, allowing His Spirit to work within us to bear the fruits of righteousness.
  • Offering Praise: As God's righteousness springs forth, so should our praise. Our lives should be a continuous offering of thanksgiving and adoration to God for His character and His mighty works.
  • Global Impact: We are called to be part of God's plan to make His glory known "before all the nations." Our transformed lives, marked by righteousness and praise, serve as a powerful testimony to His goodness and power in a world that desperately needs to see Him.
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Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Mark 4:26

    And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground;

  • Mark 4:32

    But when it is sown, it groweth up, and becometh greater than all herbs, and shooteth out great branches; so that the fowls of the air may lodge under the shadow of it.

  • Isaiah 58:11

    And the LORD shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.

  • 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:

  • Isaiah 55:10

    For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:

  • Isaiah 55:11

    So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper [in the thing] whereto I sent it.

  • Isaiah 45:8

    Drop down, ye heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness: let the earth open, and let them bring forth salvation, and let righteousness spring up together; I the LORD have created it.
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