Isaiah 65:10

And Sharon shall be a fold of flocks, and the valley of Achor a place for the herds to lie down in, for my people that have sought me.

And Sharon {H8289} shall be a fold {H5116} of flocks {H6629}, and the valley {H6010} of Achor {H5911} a place for the herds {H1241} to lie down in {H7258}, for my people {H5971} that have sought {H1875} me.

The Sharon will be a pasture for flocks, the Akhor Valley a place for cattle to rest, for my people who have sought me.

Sharon will become a pasture for flocks, and the Valley of Achor a resting place for herds, for My people who seek Me.

And Sharon shall be a fold of flocks, and the valley of Achor a place for herds to lie down in, for my people that have sought me.

Isaiah 65:10 offers a vivid picture of future restoration and prosperity for God’s faithful people. This verse is part of a larger prophecy in Isaiah 65 that contrasts the destiny of the rebellious with the blessings reserved for those who seek the Lord.

Context

Chapter 65 of Isaiah is a profound prophetic discourse describing God's judgment on unfaithful Israel and His gracious promises to a righteous remnant. It introduces the concept of a "new heavens and a new earth," emphasizing a radical transformation. Verse 10 specifically describes the physical blessings and security that will accompany this renewed covenant relationship, highlighting a reversal of past desolation and trouble into abundance and peace.

Meaning and Imagery

The verse uses two significant geographical locations to convey its powerful message:

  • Sharon: The Plain of Sharon was a rich, fertile coastal plain in ancient Israel, renowned for its pastures and natural beauty. It was a place of abundance. Describing Sharon as a "fold of flocks" signifies a return to bountiful provision, peace, and secure dwelling for Israel's livestock, symbolizing overall prosperity and divine blessing.
  • Valley of Achor: In stark contrast to Sharon, the Valley of Achor (meaning "trouble" or "disturbance") was historically associated with judgment and sorrow. It was here that Achan was punished for his sin (Joshua 7), bringing trouble upon Israel. The prophecy that Achor will become "a place for the herds to lie down in" is a powerful symbolic reversal. It signifies that places of past trouble, judgment, and despair will be transformed into areas of rest, peace, and fruitfulness. This transformation echoes the promise found in Hosea 2:15, where the Valley of Achor is made "a door of hope."

The concluding phrase, "for my people that have sought me," is crucial. It underscores that these magnificent promises of peace and prosperity are not universal but are specifically for those who have remained faithful and earnestly pursued a relationship with God.

Key Themes

  • Divine Restoration: God's ability to transform conditions of barrenness and trouble into abundant life and peace.
  • Blessings for the Faithful: The specific and tangible rewards promised to those who genuinely seek and obey the Lord.
  • Reversal of Fortune: The powerful imagery of Achor becoming a peaceful pasture symbolizes the reversal of curses into blessings, and sorrow into lasting joy.
  • Security and Abundance: The vision of flocks and herds resting securely points to a future of stability, provision, and freedom from fear.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew terms for Sharon (שָׁרוֹן, Sharon) and Achor (עָכוֹר, Achor) carry significant geographical and historical weight. The deliberate pairing of these two places, one a symbol of natural fertility and the other of historical trouble, creates a powerful rhetorical contrast that amplifies the magnitude of God's promised restoration.

Practical Application

For believers today, Isaiah 65:10 offers profound encouragement. It reminds us that:

  • God Can Redeem Our Troubles: Just as the Valley of Achor was transformed, God can turn our personal "valleys of trouble" into places of rest and hope. No past failure or sorrow is beyond His redemptive power.
  • Faithfulness Brings Blessing: The promise is explicitly "for my people that have sought me." This emphasizes the importance of diligently seeking God, trusting in His promises, and living in obedience.
  • Hope for the Future: This verse provides a glimpse into the glorious future God has prepared for His people, a future characterized by peace, security, and abundant provision, both spiritually and physically. It encourages us to fix our hope on God's ultimate plan of restoration.
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.

  • Isaiah 35:2

    It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing: the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon, they shall see the glory of the LORD, [and] the excellency of our God.

  • Isaiah 33:9

    The earth mourneth [and] languisheth: Lebanon is ashamed [and] hewn down: Sharon is like a wilderness; and Bashan and Carmel shake off [their fruits].

  • Hosea 2:15

    And I will give her her vineyards from thence, and the valley of Achor for a door of hope: and she shall sing there, as in the days of her youth, and as in the day when she came up out of the land of Egypt.

  • Isaiah 51:1

    ¶ Hearken to me, ye that follow after righteousness, ye that seek the LORD: look unto the rock [whence] ye are hewn, and to the hole of the pit [whence] ye are digged.

  • Joshua 7:24

    And Joshua, and all Israel with him, took Achan the son of Zerah, and the silver, and the garment, and the wedge of gold, and his sons, and his daughters, and his oxen, and his asses, and his sheep, and his tent, and all that he had: and they brought them unto the valley of Achor.

  • Joshua 7:26

    And they raised over him a great heap of stones unto this day. So the LORD turned from the fierceness of his anger. Wherefore the name of that place was called, The valley of Achor, unto this day.

  • Ezekiel 34:13

    And I will bring them out from the people, and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land, and feed them upon the mountains of Israel by the rivers, and in all the inhabited places of the country.

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