Isaiah 32:20 kjv
Blessed are ye that sow beside all waters, that send forth thither the feet of the ox and the ass.
Isaiah 32:20 nkjv
Blessed are you who sow beside all waters, Who send out freely the feet of the ox and the donkey.
Isaiah 32:20 niv
how blessed you will be, sowing your seed by every stream, and letting your cattle and donkeys range free.
Isaiah 32:20 esv
Happy are you who sow beside all waters, who let the feet of the ox and the donkey range free.
Isaiah 32:20 nlt
the LORD will greatly bless his people.
Wherever they plant seed, bountiful crops will spring up.
Their cattle and donkeys will graze freely.
Isaiah 32 20 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isa 58:11 | The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your bones. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. | Promise of provision for righteousness |
| Ps 37:3 | Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. | Linked to dwelling and goodness |
| Ps 128:2 | You will eat your labor’s fruit; blessings and prosperity will be yours. | Experiencing results of work |
| Prov 11:30 | The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and the one who is wise saves lives. | Righteousness leading to life |
| Prov 3:9-10 | Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will fill with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine. | Blessing wealth for honoring God |
| Gal 6:7-9 | Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows...Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. | Sowing and reaping principle |
| Heb 12:11 | No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. | Outcome of training in righteousness |
| Phil 4:7 | And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. | The peace accompanying God's presence |
| Matt 13:8 | Still other seeds fell on good soil, where they produced a crop— a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. | Metaphor of sowing and yielding |
| Matt 5:6 | Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. | Hunger for righteousness brings fulfillment |
| Rom 6:22 | But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you bear is for holiness, and the end is eternal life. | Fruit of serving God |
| Jer 17:7-8 | But blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by water, that sends its roots toward the stream. It does not fear when the heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worry in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit. | Trusting God leads to resilience and fruitfulness |
| Ps 32:10 | Many are the woes of the wicked, but the LORD’s lovingkindness surrounds the one who trusts in him. | Contrast with the wicked |
| Isa 60:21 | Then all your people will do what is right; they will forever inherit the land; they are the shoots that I have planted, the works of my hands, that I may be glorified. | Righteousness leading to inheritance |
| Isa 61:3 | ...to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. So they will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his glory. | Spiritual transformation through divine action |
| Amos 9:13 | "The days are coming," declares the LORD, "when the reaper will overtake the plowman, and the one who treads the grapes will overtake the sower, when the mountains will drip with sweet wine, and all the hills will flow with it." | Prophecy of abundant blessing |
| Joel 3:18 | "And in that day the mountains will drop down with new wine, and the hills will flow with milk, and all the fountains of Judah will flow with waters; and a fountain will come forth from the house of the LORD and water the Valley of Shittim." | Prophecy of abundance and divine provision |
| Micah 4:4 | "But they will sit securely under their own vines and under their own fig trees, and no one will make them afraid. For the LORD Almighty has spoken." | Security and peace under personal provision |
| Zechariah 3:10 | "'In that day,' declares the LORD Almighty, 'each of you will invite your neighbor to sit under your vine and fig tree.'" | Neighborly fellowship in times of peace |
| Luke 1:70 | ...as he spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets from of old— | Prophets speaking God's word |
Isaiah 32 verses
Isaiah 32 20 Meaning
This verse speaks of a profound blessing of abundant agricultural prosperity and a resulting spiritual peace, directly tied to acts of righteousness. The sowing of righteousness brings forth a harvest of peace, and the fruit of righteousness is quietness and confidence forever. It highlights a causal relationship between ethical behavior and divine favor, manifesting in both material and spiritual well-being.
Isaiah 32 20 Context
This verse appears in the latter part of Isaiah, a section often referred to as "Second Isaiah" or "Deutero-Isaiah." Chapter 32 provides a prophecy of restoration and future peace, specifically detailing a blessed reign under a righteous king. It contrasts the current state of distress and disorder with a future period of tranquility and divine governance. The prophecy is set against the backdrop of Israel's history of disobedience, highlighting the consequences of sin but also offering hope through God's faithfulness. This chapter bridges the transition from judgment to a redeemed future. The historical context for Isaiah's prophecy includes periods of Assyrian and Babylonian threats, internal political instability, and spiritual decline among the people of Judah. This particular prophecy likely anticipates a future kingdom characterized by justice and peace, possibly fulfilled in the Messianic era.
Isaiah 32 20 Word analysis
Blessed: (Hebrew:
ashrei) - Implies a state of happiness, good fortune, or spiritual well-being that originates from God. It's not mere superficial joy but a deep-seated contentment rooted in obedience and divine favor.Sow: (Hebrew:
zarah) - Refers to scattering seeds for planting. Metaphorically, it means to cause something to spread or develop, particularly good deeds or righteous actions.Righteousness: (Hebrew:
tzedakah) - Encompasses not just moral uprightness but also justice, charity, and faithfulness to God's covenant. It is acting in accordance with God's will and character.You: The addressees of this prophecy, implying that this blessing is available to those who adhere to righteousness.
Reap: (Hebrew:
qatsar) - To gather a harvest, signifying the reception of results from previous actions or sowing.Peace: (Hebrew:
shalom) - A comprehensive term denoting completeness, welfare, tranquility, safety, and harmony – not just absence of conflict, but the presence of divine favor and well-being in all aspects of life.Fruit: (Hebrew:
peri) - The produce of a plant. Metaphorically, it represents the outcome or consequence of actions or character.Quietness: (Hebrew:
damam) - Can mean to be silent, still, or at rest. Here, it signifies inner tranquility and stability, a state of calmness.Confidence: (Hebrew:
betach) - Implies security, trust, and assurance, a firm reliance on God.Forever: (Hebrew:
netzach) - Indicates perpetuity, eternal duration; an enduring state of peace and confidence.Group of words: "sow righteousness... reap peace": This idiomatic expression draws from agricultural imagery, establishing a direct causal link. The active scattering of seeds of righteous deeds (justice, kindness, obedience) is presented as the direct precursor to experiencing spiritual and societal
shalom.Group of words: "fruit of righteousness is quietness and confidence": This phrase illustrates the natural outcome of living a life aligned with God's ways. The products or results (
peri) of one's righteous (tzedakah) character are an inner stillness (damam) and a secure trust (betach) in God, which endure eternally (netzach).
Isaiah 32 20 Bonus section
The concept of sowing and reaping righteousness for peace is a recurring theme in Scripture, highlighting God's established order where obedience leads to blessing and righteousness bears fruit. The prophetic pronouncements in Isaiah, particularly concerning a future Messianic age, frequently intertwine divine restoration with abundant prosperity and peace for a faithful people. This verse, while grounded in Old Testament promises, finds its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ, who perfectly embodied righteousness and brings eternal peace through His sacrifice and resurrection. The New Testament elaborates on this by teaching that spiritual fruitfulness results from union with Christ and by faith in Him. The quietness and confidence spoken of are deeply rooted in the assurance of salvation and the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit.
Isaiah 32 20 Commentary
This verse serves as a powerful testament to the divine principle that God rewards righteous living with a deep and enduring peace. It underscores that true peace, both internal and external, is not a matter of chance but a direct consequence of sowing seeds of righteousness. When individuals and communities actively practice justice, kindness, and faithfulness to God, they create the conditions for a bountiful harvest of tranquility and unshakable confidence. This is not merely a reward but a natural outgrowth of a life lived in alignment with divine principles. The "fruit" of righteousness is depicted as an inherent quality of peace, stillness, and trust that undergirds a life secure in God’s favor. This enduring peace is presented as a continuous state, a perpetual inheritance for those devoted to righteous action. The essence is that one cannot expect divine peace and security without actively engaging in doing good, thereby living according to God's prescribed ways.
- Practical application: For believers today, this verse encourages active engagement in acts of justice, charity, and upright living. It reminds us that our actions have tangible consequences in both our spiritual well-being and our capacity to experience peace and trust, especially during difficult times.