Isaiah 35 7

Isaiah 35:7 kjv

And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water: in the habitation of dragons, where each lay, shall be grass with reeds and rushes.

Isaiah 35:7 nkjv

The parched ground shall become a pool, And the thirsty land springs of water; In the habitation of jackals, where each lay, There shall be grass with reeds and rushes.

Isaiah 35:7 niv

The burning sand will become a pool, the thirsty ground bubbling springs. In the haunts where jackals once lay, grass and reeds and papyrus will grow.

Isaiah 35:7 esv

the burning sand shall become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water; in the haunt of jackals, where they lie down, the grass shall become reeds and rushes.

Isaiah 35:7 nlt

The parched ground will become a pool,
and springs of water will satisfy the thirsty land.
Marsh grass and reeds and rushes will flourish
where desert jackals once lived.

Isaiah 35 verses

Isaiah 35 7 meaning

Isaiah 35:7 paints a vivid picture of radical transformation and miraculous reversal. It describes the desolate and parched wilderness, previously characterized by thirst and the haunting presence of dangerous creatures, becoming a luxuriant, well-watered landscape. The shimmering mirage (sharav) of the desert, which promises water but offers none, will give way to actual, permanent pools and gushing springs. The abode of jackals—a symbol of ultimate desolation and ruin—will become fertile ground bursting with diverse vegetation. This prophesied change signifies a profound divine blessing, bringing life, abundance, and safety where there was once only barrenness, danger, and death. It speaks to both physical restoration and a spiritual reality for the redeemed.

Isaiah 35 7 Context

Isaiah 35 serves as a bridge chapter, contrasting sharply with the preceding chapter (Isaiah 34), which describes divine judgment and the desolation of Edom, depicting it as a wilderness filled with wild beasts and birds of prey. Chapter 35, conversely, presents a radiant vision of future redemption, restoration, and joy for God's people. It anticipates the return from exile, both physically and spiritually, often seen through the lens of a Messianic kingdom. The transformation of nature—the blooming wilderness, the gushing water, and the clearing of paths—parallels the spiritual and physical healing of the redeemed. It is a glorious depiction of God’s active intervention, preparing a "Highway of Holiness" (Isa 35:8) for His ransomed to return to Zion with singing and everlasting joy (Isa 35:10). This specific verse amplifies the imagery of complete reversal from barrenness and danger to fertility and safety within this context of restoration and divine blessing.

Isaiah 35 7 Word analysis

• And the parched ground (וְהָיָה הַשָּׁרָב – və-hayah ha-sharav):
  • וְהָיָה (və-hayah): "And it shall be," pointing to a definite future event.
  • הַשָּׁרָב (ha-sharav): "The parched ground" or "the mirage." In ancient Near Eastern desert experiences, sharav referred to the shimmering heat over desert sands, creating the optical illusion of water—a false hope that exacerbates thirst. The Hebrew term evokes deceitful appearances, an empty promise.
• shall become a pool, (לַאֲגַם – la'agam):
  • לַאֲגַם (la'agam): "Into a pool," "lake," or a large, permanent body of water. This is a dramatic reversal from the deceptive mirage to a true, substantial, and life-sustaining water source. It signifies stability and reality in place of illusion.
• and the thirsty land (וְצִמָּאוֹן – və-tzimma'on):
  • וְצִמָּאוֹן (və-tzimma'on): "And the thirsty land," denoting extreme aridity and a longing for water, representing absolute barrenness and lifelessness. This is a common metaphor for spiritual longing and emptiness.
• springs of water: (מוֹצָאֵי מַיִם – motza'ei mayim):
  • מוֹצָאֵי מַיִם (motza'ei mayim): "Outflows/sources of water," "springs." These are fresh, gushing sources of water, symbolizing not just present supply but ongoing provision and refreshment.
• in the habitation of dragons, (בִּנְוֵה תַנִּים – binveih tannim):
  • בִּנְוֵה (binveih): "In the habitation/abode of." Refers to a dwelling place or haunt.
  • תַנִּים (tannim): "Dragons," "jackals," or "sea monsters/serpents." In the context of a desolate wilderness, "jackals" is the most common translation, representing creatures that thrive in ruins and contribute to their mournful desolation. The word also carries a connotation of primeval chaos or destructive forces in some biblical contexts, reinforcing the dangerous and cursed nature of the place.
• where each lay, (רִבְצָהּ – rivtzah):
  • רִבְצָהּ (rivtzah): "Her lying place," or "where each lay down." This signifies the settled presence of these creatures, marking the land as their established domain, utterly untamed and dangerous for humans. It intensifies the image of utter desolation.
• shall be grass with reeds and rushes. (חָצִיר קָנֶה וָגֹמֶא – chatzir qaneh vā-gome'):
  • חָצִיר (chatzir): "Grass," general verdant vegetation.
  • קָנֶה (qaneh): "Reed," "cane." Tall grasses that grow near water.
  • וָגֹמֶא (vā-gome'): "And rushes," or "papyrus." Dense water plants, typically growing in marshy areas, signaling abundant water.

• "parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water": This parallelism highlights a complete and comprehensive reversal of conditions. The very sources of despair (mirage and intense thirst) are replaced by stable and abundant water sources, indicating a radical, miraculous intervention of God. The transition is from deceitful appearance to genuine provision, from absence of life to its flourishing. This reflects God's capacity to transform the impossible.
• "in the habitation of dragons... shall be grass with reeds and rushes": This phrase dramatically contrasts two states. The "habitation of dragons" (or jackals) denotes a place of absolute desolation, danger, and a curse (e.g., Isa 13:21-22). Its transformation into lush vegetation—"grass with reeds and rushes"—which thrives only with plentiful water, signifies a transition from danger and death to safety, fertility, and life. This speaks of the cleansing and hallowing of a formerly defiled and fearsome place into one of beauty and sustenance. This also implies God's sovereignty over the chaotic and wild forces that once dominated.

Isaiah 35 7 Bonus section

This verse carries strong eschatological weight, anticipating the ultimate new heaven and new earth where the curse is reversed, and life abounds (Rev 22:1-2). It subtly challenges ancient Near Eastern polytheism and fertility cults, where human rituals attempted to bring rain and fertility. Here, YHWH alone, through His sovereign will, provides water and life, asserting His unique power over creation and making Him the sole source of genuine blessing, in contrast to the barrenness associated with idols. The shift from jackals to abundant plant life also highlights a reversal of judgment; places made desolate by divine curse (like Babylon or Edom, which become haunts for wild animals) are now being restored, symbolizing an end to the period of God's wrath and the commencement of His favor. Furthermore, the provision of water is often tied to the Holy Spirit in the New Testament, suggesting that this physical transformation serves as a potent metaphor for spiritual refreshing and the outpouring of the Spirit on God's people, transforming their inner spiritual deserts into fertile grounds for righteousness and life.

Isaiah 35 7 Commentary

Isaiah 35:7 is a powerful statement of divine reversal, promising an impossible transformation. It goes beyond mere watering of dry land; it speaks of transforming the very nature of desolation. The sharav, a symbol of deceptive hope and intensified suffering in the desert, becoming a genuine agam (pool), represents the fulfillment of God's promises that surpass human expectation and deliver true substance. Similarly, the desperate longing of tzimma'on (thirsty land) is quenched by gushing motza'ei mayim (springs), signifying life-giving refreshment that originates directly from God's benevolence. Most striking is the conversion of the "habitation of dragons/jackals"—a byword for utter ruin, danger, and demonic association—into a place flourishing with abundant vegetation like chatzir, qaneh, and gome'. This is a tangible demonstration of God reclaiming what was lost to desolation and restoring it with life, safety, and beauty. The verse ultimately points to the transformative power of God’s redemptive work, not only physically in the wilderness but also spiritually in the lives of His people and ultimately in the New Creation. It offers profound hope, reassuring those experiencing their own "desert seasons" that God can, and will, bring abundant life where only barrenness and peril existed before. This divine power transforms despair into delight, sorrow into song, and danger into divine peace, foreshadowing the reign of Christ where living water perpetually flows.