Isaiah 35:9 meaning summary explained with word-by-word analysis enriched with context, commentary and Cross References from KJV, NIV, ESV and NLT.
Isaiah 35:9 kjv
No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there:
Isaiah 35:9 nkjv
No lion shall be there, Nor shall any ravenous beast go up on it; It shall not be found there. But the redeemed shall walk there,
Isaiah 35:9 niv
No lion will be there, nor any ravenous beast; they will not be found there. But only the redeemed will walk there,
Isaiah 35:9 esv
No lion shall be there, nor shall any ravenous beast come up on it; they shall not be found there, but the redeemed shall walk there.
Isaiah 35:9 nlt
Lions will not lurk along its course,
nor any other ferocious beasts.
There will be no other dangers.
Only the redeemed will walk on it.
Isaiah 35 9 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Divine Protection & Security | ||
| Psa 23:4 | Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil... | God's constant, protective presence. |
| Psa 91:13 | You will tread on the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion... | Believer's authority and safety from evil. |
| Isa 11:6-9 | The wolf will live with the lamb... They will not hurt or destroy on all my holy mountain... | Peaceful, harmonious New Creation. |
| Jer 23:6 | In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will live in safety... | Future national salvation and security. |
| Eze 34:25 | I will make a covenant of peace with them and rid the land of wild beasts... | Divine provision for safety from predators. |
| Hos 2:18 | In that day I will make a covenant for them with the beasts of the field... | Peace between humanity and nature. |
| Rev 21:27 | But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable... | Purity and exclusion of defilement in new heaven. |
| The Way / Path of God | ||
| Isa 40:3 | A voice of one calling: "In the wilderness prepare the way for the LORD..." | Prophecy of John the Baptist's preparatory work. |
| Isa 49:11 | I will turn all my mountains into roads, and my highways will be raised up. | God making smooth paths for return of exiles. |
| Psa 119:105 | Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. | God's guidance on the righteous journey. |
| Prov 4:18 | The path of the righteous is like the morning sun, shining ever brighter... | The clear and progressive nature of righteous living. |
| Jer 31:21 | Set up signposts... Set your heart toward the highway, the way in which you went. | Exhortation for Israel to return to God's way. |
| Matt 7:14 | For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life... | The challenging yet saving path to God. |
| Jn 14:6 | Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life..." | Jesus as the singular, divine path to the Father. |
| Heb 10:19-20 | ...we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way... | Christ's sacrifice opens a direct path to God's presence. |
| The Redeemed / Ransomed | ||
| Isa 51:11 | The ransomed of the LORD will return... everlasting joy will crown their heads... | A prophecy of joyous, secure return for God's chosen. |
| Psa 107:2 | Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he has redeemed from trouble... | Call to acknowledge God's deliverance. |
| Ex 15:13 | In your unfailing love you will lead the people you have redeemed... | God's faithful leadership of His liberated people. |
| Rev 5:9 | ...because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased persons for God... | Redemption through Christ's atoning blood. |
| Tit 2:14 | ...who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness... | Redemption from sin's power and its corrupting influence. |
| 1 Pet 1:18-19 | ...you were redeemed... not with perishable things... but with the precious blood of Christ... | The divine cost of salvation. |
| Col 1:13-14 | For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness... in whom we have redemption... | Spiritual liberation and forgiveness. |
Isaiah 35 verses
Isaiah 35 9 meaning
Isaiah 35:9 vividly portrays a divinely prepared highway of perfect security and peace, exclusively for the redeemed. It speaks of a future time when all threats, both physical and symbolic, will be utterly absent from the path of God's people. This passage signifies the profound safety and unhindered journey of those whom God has rescued and restored, guaranteeing their access to His holy presence in a transformed world.
Isaiah 35 9 Context
Isaiah chapter 35, often viewed as a climactic poem, concludes the "little apocalypse" (Isaiah 34-35), contrasting the judgment upon Edom and other nations (chapter 34) with a glorious, almost paradisiacal future for Israel. It speaks of the transformation of the barren wilderness into a fertile garden, where the lame will leap, the deaf will hear, and the blind will see. Verse 9 is an integral part of this restoration prophecy, following the description of the "Highway of Holiness" in verse 8. Historically and culturally, travel in ancient Israel, especially through wilderness areas, was fraught with danger from wild animals like lions and robbers. This promise of complete safety on God's highway directly addresses those fears, portraying a secure passage under divine protection for God's returning people. It elevates Yahweh as the ultimate source of peace and security, contrasting with the chaotic threats of the world.
Isaiah 35 9 Word analysis
No lion (לֹא אַרְיֵה - lo' 'aryeh):
lo'means "not" or "no," indicating a strong, absolute negation.'aryeh'refers to a "lion," a quintessential symbol of danger and predation in ancient Israel, often associated with destruction or spiritual enemies (e.g., 1 Pet 5:8). Its complete absence underscores total security.nor shall any ravenous beast (וּפְרִיץ חַיּוֹת לֹא - u'phriytz chayot lo') :
priytzdenotes "violent, lawless" (often predatory),chayotmeans "beasts" or "wild animals." This phrase generalizes beyond the lion to include any destructive or dangerous creature. The repeatedlo'reinforces the complete removal of any harmful entity.go up on it (יַעֲלֶנָּה - ya'alennah): From
alah, "to go up" or "ascend." Refers to the "Highway of Holiness" mentioned in Isa 35:8. These beasts will not even be able to tread upon this sacred path.they shall not be found there (לֹא תִמָּצֵא שָׁם - lo' timmatzei sham):
timmatzeimeans "shall be found," implying discovery. Their non-existence on the path is absolute and guaranteed.shamis "there," reiterating the specific location.but the redeemed (גְאוּלִים - ge'uliym): This key term comes from
ga'al, "to redeem, buy back." It refers to those who have been ransomed, rescued, and delivered by God. In Isaiah, it speaks to Israel's restoration from exile and ultimately, salvation through Christ. Only those who have received God's redemptive work are granted access to this path.shall walk there (וְהָלְכוּ בָהּ - v'halekhu vah):
halakmeans "to walk" or "go." This signifies free, unhindered movement for the redeemed.vahmeans "in it" or "on it," referring to the holy highway."No lion shall be there, nor shall any ravenous beast go up on it": This phrase emphatically communicates the divine promise of absolute safety. It is not just the absence of common predators, but any "violent beast," signifying comprehensive protection from all that harms or obstructs.
"they shall not be found there, but the redeemed shall walk there": This powerfully contrasts the fate of dangers with the destiny of God's people. The security is so complete that no threat will even be "found" on this way. Only the redeemed, God's specially chosen and delivered, have the privilege of unhindered access and peaceful passage.
Isaiah 35 9 Bonus section
The symbolic removal of predators in Isaiah 35:9 is also reflected in the broader biblical narrative of paradise lost and regained. In the Garden of Eden, harmony existed; the promise here signals a reversal of the fallen state where nature became hostile. This ties into the deeper messianic expectation where creation itself would be set right. Furthermore, the concept of the "Highway of Holiness" being exclusive to the redeemed anticipates the New Testament emphasis on Jesus Christ being "the Way" (Jn 14:6) through whom all believers gain access to God. The purity requirement for this highway (Isa 35:8, "it shall be for those who walk that way; no unclean person shall pass over it") directly points to the spiritual cleansing and sanctification necessary for entering God's eternal presence. The "redeemed" here are a foretaste of the blood-bought church.
Isaiah 35 9 Commentary
Isaiah 35:9 encapsulates the assurance of a future devoid of threats for God's people, often understood as both an immediate promise of return from Babylonian exile and an eschatological vision of the messianic kingdom. The "Highway of Holiness" represents a divine, spiritual journey. The absence of dangerous animals—from the formidable lion to any "ravenous beast"—symbolizes not just literal safety from predators, but comprehensive security from all forms of evil, whether physical dangers, human adversaries, or spiritual enemies like the devil (who "prowls around like a roaring lion" in 1 Pet 5:8). This divine pathway is guarded and purified, making it exclusive. Only the "redeemed" (ge'uliym) are permitted to tread upon it, highlighting the necessity of God's saving grace. Their ability to "walk there" speaks of freedom, peace, and unrestricted access to God's presence and provision, journeying towards an everlasting joy. Practically, this verse assures believers that in their walk of faith on God's chosen path, they are supernaturally protected from the world's dangers and spiritual foes, empowering them to press on with confidence.