Isaiah 35 10

Isaiah 35:10 kjv

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.

Isaiah 35:10 nkjv

And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, And come to Zion with singing, With everlasting joy on their heads. They shall obtain joy and gladness, And sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

Isaiah 35:10 niv

and those the LORD has rescued will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.

Isaiah 35:10 esv

And the ransomed of the LORD shall return and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

Isaiah 35:10 nlt

Those who have been ransomed by the LORD will return.
They will enter Jerusalem singing,
crowned with everlasting joy.
Sorrow and mourning will disappear,
and they will be filled with joy and gladness.

Isaiah 35 verses

Isaiah 35 10 Meaning

Isaiah 35:10 presents a triumphant vision of God's redeemed people returning to Zion. It describes a future where the deliverance from bondage is celebrated with profound and everlasting joy. All forms of sorrow, grief, and lamentation are banished permanently, signifying a state of complete restoration and divine blessing that far transcends any past suffering.

Isaiah 35 10 Context

Isaiah chapter 35, often called a "mini-gospel," serves as a magnificent prophecy of future redemption and restoration. It is situated between chapters of divine judgment (Isaiah 34 predicting devastation upon Edom, symbolizing all enemies of God) and chapters of comfort (starting with Isaiah 40), offering a sharp contrast and a bridge of hope. The chapter vividly paints a picture of a transformed wilderness bursting into life (Isa 35:1-7) and a "Highway of Holiness" (Isa 35:8) built for the exclusive passage of the "redeemed" and the "ransomed." Verse 10, therefore, is the culmination of this glorious journey: the destination and the enduring emotional state of those delivered. Historically, it offered hope to a nation facing or enduring Babylonian captivity, looking forward to their physical return to Judah. Thematically, it extends to the eschatological hope of all believers, encompassing both an earthly and a heavenly, spiritual Zion.

Isaiah 35 10 Word analysis

• And the ransomed (וּפְדוּיֵי, uph’dûyêy):

  • From the Hebrew root פָדָה (pādâh, H6299), meaning "to ransom, redeem, purchase."
  • Signifies a deliverance secured through a price or intervention, emphasizing divine ownership and powerful action.
  • It points to God's costly work in liberating His people from bondage, whether from exile, sin, or death.

• of the LORD (יהוה, YHWH):

  • The covenant name of God, revealing Him as the faithful, unchanging deliverer of His people.
  • Reinforces that this redemption is exclusively God's initiative and accomplishment.

• shall return (יָשֻׁבוּ, yāshûvû):

  • From שׁוּב (shuv, H7725), meaning "to turn, return."
  • Indicates not merely coming back, but a decisive movement towards their original, rightful place.
  • Carries connotations of a physical journey and restoration of fortune.

• and come (וּבָאוּ, uva’û):

  • From בּוֹא (bôʾ, H935), meaning "to come, go, enter."
  • Emphasizes the completion of their journey, their arrival.

• to Zion (צִיּוֹן, tsiyyôn):

  • H6726, referring to Jerusalem, particularly the holy hill and the city where God dwells.
  • Represents God's presence, the spiritual capital, and the ultimate dwelling place for His people.
  • Symbolizes both a physical city and an ideal spiritual reality (e.g., New Jerusalem).

• with singing (בְּרִנָּה, birinâh):

  • From רִנָּה (rinnah, H7818), meaning "a ringing cry, shout of joy, jubilation."
  • Suggests loud, public, and collective rejoicing, an outward expression of profound inner happiness.
  • Contrast to the groaning and sighing mentioned later.

• everlasting joy (שִׂמְחַת עוֹלָם, simchat ‘ôlām):

  • Simchat from שִׂמְחָה (simchâh, H8057), meaning "gladness, mirth, joy, delight." A strong emotion.
  • Ôlām from עוֹלָם (H5769), meaning "eternity, forever, everlasting."
  • Crucially highlights the permanent, unending nature of this joy, distinguishing it from temporary earthly happiness.

• shall be upon their heads:

  • Poetic imagery suggesting joy as a crown, an adornment, or an overwhelming, manifest presence that surrounds them.
  • It's a visible, unmistakable state of being, openly displayed.

• they shall obtain (יַשִּׂיגוּן, yassigun):

  • From נָשַׂג (nâsag, H5066), meaning "to reach, overtake, obtain."
  • Implies not merely a passive reception, but a firm possession or apprehension of this joy. It is firmly established in them.

• gladness (שָׂשׂוֹן, śâśôn):

  • H8342, often paired with simchâh, meaning "exultation, joy, rejoicing."
  • Emphasizes exuberance and delight, a fuller description of the depth of positive emotion.

• and joy (וְשִׂמְחָה, wəsimchâh):

  • Simchâh (H8057) again. The repetition underscores the overwhelming and abundant nature of their joy. It's not just one kind of joy, but a manifold, complete happiness.

• and sorrow (יָגוֹן, yâgôn):

  • H3015, meaning "grief, sorrow, sadness, distress."
  • The opposite of joy, encompassing mental and emotional pain.

• and sighing (וַאֲנָחָה, wa’ănâchâh):

  • H585, meaning "groaning, sighing, lamentation."
  • The outward expression or audible manifestation of pain and distress.

• shall flee away (נָסוּ, nâsû):

  • From נוּס (nûs, H5127), meaning "to flee, take flight, escape."
  • Conveys a swift, decisive, and permanent departure. Sorrow and sighing are not merely diminished, but utterly vanquished and absent.

• "The ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion with singing": This phrase highlights God's redemptive work as the foundation, resulting in a communal, triumphant, and joyful return to His dwelling place. It links spiritual redemption to physical and spiritual homecoming.

• "Everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain gladness and joy": This pairing emphasizes the permanency and abundant nature of the emotional state. The "upon their heads" imagery suggests a crowning glory or an encompassing aura of joy that is publicly visible and utterly possessive of them. The repetition of synonyms for joy (simchâh, śâśôn) underscores its intensity and fullness.

• "And sorrow and sighing shall flee away": This contrasts sharply with the joy, emphasizing a definitive end to all forms of suffering. The verb "flee away" is strong, implying an active, complete, and irreversible departure of all grief and distress, banished from God's redeemed community.

Isaiah 35 10 Bonus section

• The "Highway of Holiness": This verse is the direct outcome of the path described in Isa 35:8-9, the "Highway of Holiness" that the ransomed walk. Only those who are pure and redeemed can tread this path, leading directly to Zion and this state of eternal joy. It's not just the destination, but the pure journey that is also provided by God.
• A Thematic Anti-Thesis to Human Suffering: This prophecy stands in stark contrast to the common human experience of life's toil, grief, and transience. It provides a divine counter-narrative, where God's ultimate plan is to reverse the curses of sin and usher in an age of unending delight.
• Corporate Identity: The "ransomed" is a plural, collective term, highlighting that this joy and freedom are shared within God's community. It's a communal, corporate blessing and celebration.
• Messianic Implication: While rooted in Old Testament history and prophecy concerning Israel, the themes of redemption, joyous return, and the eradication of sorrow find their ultimate spiritual fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ and His new covenant. He is the one who ultimately pays the ransom, and through Him, believers access this everlasting joy.
• Polemic against Worldly Hopes: In a world where joy is fleeting and often based on worldly prosperity or comfort, this verse points to a divine, permanent source of joy. It implicitly critiques reliance on human achievements or pagan gods, who cannot offer true, lasting redemption or eliminate suffering definitively.

Isaiah 35 10 Commentary

Isaiah 35:10 encapsulates the glorious climax of divine redemption and restoration. It is a powerful vision of eschatological hope, drawing from Israel's history of exodus and return, yet pointing to a greater, more profound salvation. The "ransomed of the Lord" are those God has actively redeemed through His power, a concept ultimately fulfilled in the work of Christ on the cross. Their return to "Zion" symbolizes not only a physical restoration for Israel but also the gathering of all God's people into His presence, both in the Church now and in the New Heavens and New Earth. The overwhelming characteristics of this state are "singing," "everlasting joy," and the complete absence of "sorrow and sighing." This joy is not fleeting but 'olâm, eternal, signifying a perfect, unchanging state of blessedness, rooted in God's faithfulness and power. It's a joy so profound it becomes like a crown, visible to all, filling every part of their being. The imagery of sorrow and sighing "fleeing away" paints a vivid picture of the total eradication of all suffering and distress from this perfected kingdom, contrasting sharply with the present human experience of a fallen world. This verse promises that the tears and pains of life are temporary, while the joy provided by God's salvation is eternal.