Isaiah 35 6

Isaiah 35:6 kjv

Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert.

Isaiah 35:6 nkjv

Then the lame shall leap like a deer, And the tongue of the dumb sing. For waters shall burst forth in the wilderness, And streams in the desert.

Isaiah 35:6 niv

Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy. Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert.

Isaiah 35:6 esv

then shall the lame man leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute sing for joy. For waters break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert;

Isaiah 35:6 nlt

The lame will leap like a deer,
and those who cannot speak will sing for joy!
Springs will gush forth in the wilderness,
and streams will water the wasteland.

Isaiah 35 verses

Isaiah 35 6 meaning

Isaiah 35:6 prophesies a future time of profound divine restoration and joy. It foretells that the physically impaired, specifically the lame, will experience complete healing, regaining agility and strength, while the mute will be enabled to express themselves joyously through song. This miraculous transformation of human disability is paralleled by an equally dramatic transformation of nature: parched wilderness and barren deserts will burst forth with abundant, life-giving water, symbolizing spiritual refreshing and the flourishing of life in previously desolate places. This verse is a powerful declaration of God's redemptive work, bringing salvation, healing, and life to both individuals and the natural world.

Isaiah 35 6 Context

Isaiah chapter 35, often referred to as "The Highway of Holiness," stands as a vibrant beacon of hope amidst prophecies of judgment that characterize earlier chapters. Following a somber description of the desolation of Edom (Is 34), Chapter 35 paints a dramatic picture of future restoration, joy, and divine blessing for Judah and ultimately for God's people. The prophecy envisions the desert blossoming (Is 35:1-2), a strengthening of the faint-hearted (Is 35:3-4), and then in verse 5, the opening of eyes, ears, and in verse 6, the healing of the lame and mute, coupled with the miraculous transformation of the parched land into a source of abundant water. Historically, it offered comfort and reassurance to a people facing or recovering from the trauma of exile, promising a triumphant return through a divinely prepared wilderness route, reminiscent of the Exodus but on a grander scale. This vision transcends immediate historical return, pointing toward a full Messianic era where physical, spiritual, and environmental brokenness are profoundly reversed by God's salvific power.

Isaiah 35 6 Word analysis

• Then (אָז - 'az): A temporal adverb signifying "at that time," indicating a consequential event. It ties this verse directly to the preceding promise of God's vengeance and recompense, and the opening of physical senses in verse 5, making these acts of restoration the immediate result of God's coming.

• shall the lame man (פִּסֵּחַ - pisseach): Refers to someone with impaired mobility, unable to walk properly. In ancient societies, the lame were often marginalized, dependent, and symbolic of weakness or inability. Their healing signifies complete restoration and overcoming of human limitations.

• leap (יְדַלֵּג - yedallēg): To jump, spring, skip with joy and energy. It describes vigorous movement, contrasting sharply with the previous state of the lame man, conveying exuberance and a complete reversal of physical impediment.

• as an hart (כְּאַיָּל - kĕ'ayyāl): The "hart" (a male deer or stag) is known for its agility, speed, and strong, bounding movements across varied terrain. This simile emphasizes not merely walking, but joyful, powerful, unhindered movement, suggesting full health and vitality. It often symbolizes longing (Ps 42:1) but here represents robust, exultant activity.

• and the tongue (וּלְשׁוֹן - u-lĕšôn): The organ of speech, emphasizing the ability to communicate and express.

• of the dumb (אִלֵּם - 'illēm): One who cannot speak; mute. Muteness implies isolation and inability to communicate or participate fully in societal praise or lament. Its reversal is a profound liberation.

• sing (תָּרֹן - tārōn): To rejoice loudly, to sing with gladness. This goes beyond mere speech, indicating an overflow of joy, praise, and expressive celebration. It represents an outpouring of devotion and happiness.

• for (כִּי - kî): A causal conjunction meaning "because," "for," or "indeed." It introduces the underlying reason and the powerful, miraculous cause for the preceding physical healings and joyful expressions.

• in the wilderness (בַּמִּדְבָּר - bammiḏbār): An arid, desolate, uncultivated, often uninhabited region. It signifies barrenness, desolation, and a lack of life, reflecting the hopelessness experienced during exile or spiritual emptiness.

• shall waters break out (נִבְקְעוּ מַיִם - nivqĕ'û mayim): "Break out" (נִבְקְעוּ - nivqĕ'û) implies a forceful, sudden, and miraculous emergence or gushing forth, suggesting an overwhelming abundance. "Waters" (מַיִם - mayim) are universally essential for life, symbolizing spiritual renewal, blessing, cleansing, and God's provision.

• and streams (וּנְחָלִים - û-nəḥālîm): Watercourses, wadis, or perennial streams. This term emphasizes continuity and sustained provision of water, not just a momentary burst.

• in the desert (בָּעֲרָבָה - ba'ărābâ): Another term for a dry, desolate plain or steppe, often hotter and even more barren than a midbar. Its inclusion intensifies the image of desolation, making the miraculous emergence of water even more striking.

• Then shall the lame man leap as an hart: This phrase beautifully captures the complete reversal of disability. It speaks not only of regaining the ability to walk, but of an exuberance and agility previously impossible, reflecting divine empowerment and supernatural joy. The simile "as a hart" evokes an image of robust, healthy life.

• and the tongue of the dumb sing: This parallel phrase emphasizes restoration to communication and, more profoundly, to expressive worship and joy. Muteness implies silence and isolation; singing signifies freedom, praise, and communal participation. This points to a restored voice, both literally and spiritually, to glorify God.

• for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert: This crucial phrase provides the divine explanation for the miraculous human transformations. The land itself, symbolic of life's desolate conditions or the spiritual barrenness of humanity, is made alive by God's provision. The spontaneous gushing of water in the most unlikely, parched places signifies an act of powerful, miraculous intervention that brings life, fertility, and renewal, both physically to the land and metaphorically to the human spirit. The repetition of two terms for desolate land ("wilderness," "desert") amplifies the depth of desolation, making the abundance of water even more profound.

Isaiah 35 6 Bonus section

The dramatic imagery in Isaiah 35:6, particularly the hart and gushing waters, serves a dual purpose: immediate comfort for exilic Israel and a future-oriented Messianic prophecy. The "hart" (deer) in biblical context sometimes signifies an ideal or strong creature, but often in distress seeks water (Ps 42:1), thus its vigorous leaping in a land flowing with water underscores the completeness of relief from all previous lack and suffering. This promise of abundant water breaking out in the wilderness specifically resonates with the historical Exodus experience where God miraculously provided water (Ex 17, Num 20), but amplifies it, portraying not just a temporary provision but a pervasive, life-altering change of the entire desolate landscape. This transformation symbolizes the ultimate restoration of creation, a 'New Creation' where the original curse is reversed (Gen 3), foreshadowing the eschatological peace and glory found in the New Heavens and New Earth (Rev 21-22). The New Testament frequently points to Jesus' miracles of healing the lame and mute (Matt 11:5; Acts 3:8) as direct fulfillments, linking this Old Testament prophecy irrevocably to the Person and work of the Messiah. The water breaking forth in the desert is profoundly interpreted by Christian scholars as a prophecy of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, which brings spiritual life and fruitfulness to once-barren human hearts.

Isaiah 35 6 Commentary

Isaiah 35:6 is a potent prophetic vision of holistic restoration rooted in divine intervention. It assures that God's coming salvation will transform not only the natural landscape from barren wilderness into a fertile, life-giving environment but also human lives, reversing severe physical disabilities. The imagery of the lame man leaping like a hart and the mute singing highlights an extraordinary return of function and an overflow of uncontainable joy, symbolic of liberation from all forms of bondage. The underlying cause—the miraculous eruption of waters in the desert—speaks of God's abundant and unexpected provision of life, often understood as the life-giving presence and power of the Holy Spirit (as indicated in Isa 44:3). This verse is a promise of profound hope, revealing a future where suffering is replaced by celebration, weakness by strength, and desolation by abundant life, all flowing from God's gracious and powerful hand in the Messianic era. It calls believers to anticipation and trust in God's ability to utterly transform the most desolate of circumstances and lives.