Isaiah 41 19

Isaiah 41:19 kjv

I will plant in the wilderness the cedar, the shittah tree, and the myrtle, and the oil tree; I will set in the desert the fir tree, and the pine, and the box tree together:

Isaiah 41:19 nkjv

I will plant in the wilderness the cedar and the acacia tree, The myrtle and the oil tree; I will set in the desert the cypress tree and the pine And the box tree together,

Isaiah 41:19 niv

I will put in the desert the cedar and the acacia, the myrtle and the olive. I will set junipers in the wasteland, the fir and the cypress together,

Isaiah 41:19 esv

I will put in the wilderness the cedar, the acacia, the myrtle, and the olive. I will set in the desert the cypress, the plane and the pine together,

Isaiah 41:19 nlt

I will plant trees in the barren desert ?
cedar, acacia, myrtle, olive, cypress, fir, and pine.

Isaiah 41 verses

Isaiah 41 19 Meaning

Isaiah 41:19 conveys a powerful divine promise: God will supernaturally transform the most desolate and barren places—represented by "the wilderness" and "the desert"—into lush, vibrant landscapes filled with diverse and magnificent trees. This imagery signifies a comprehensive spiritual and physical restoration for His people, particularly the exiles, assuring them of divine provision, comfort, beauty, and abundance in what previously felt like a hopeless situation. It underscores God's absolute sovereignty to bring life and flourishing where human efforts are utterly futile.

Isaiah 41 19 Context

Isaiah 41 is a crucial chapter within the broader "Book of Comfort" (Isaiah 40-55). It directly addresses the people of Judah, who are facing or enduring Babylonian exile, feeling abandoned and disheartened. God challenges both the nations and His own people to acknowledge His supreme sovereignty. He declares His unique power as the Creator and orchestrator of history, contrasting it with the impotence of idols and the gods of other nations. Verse 19 is part of a series of promises (vv. 17-20) given to a "poor and needy" Israel. It assures them that despite their current barren and desperate circumstances—their spiritual "wilderness" and physical "desert" of exile—God Himself will intervene miraculously. He promises not just survival but glorious transformation, demonstrating His steadfast love and power, and validating His exclusive claim as the only true God to whom His people can turn. This sets the stage for God's redemptive plan, culminating in the ministry of the Servant (Ch. 42 onwards).

Isaiah 41 19 Word analysis

• I will plant (אֶטַּע - eṭṭaʿ): The verb root naṭaʿ means to plant or firmly establish. This highlights God's personal, deliberate, and intentional act of bringing forth life and order. It's an active, caring intervention.
• in the wilderness (בַּמִּדְבָּר - bammidbār): From midbār, meaning a desert, arid plain, or steppe. This denotes a place naturally hostile to lush growth, symbolizing utter desolation, spiritual dryness, and the hopelessness of exile.
• the cedar (אֶרֶז - 'erez): A noble, tall, strong, and majestic evergreen from Lebanon, renowned for its fragrance and durability. Symbolizes strength, permanence, and dignity.
• the acacia (שִׁטָּה - shiṭṭāh): A resilient, thorny tree known for growing in arid regions. Its durable wood was specifically used in the construction of the Tabernacle (Exod 25:10). Represents utility, endurance, and sacred purpose.
• the myrtle (הֲדַס - hădass): An attractive, fragrant evergreen bush. Often associated with beauty, joy (Neh 8:15, feast of Tabernacles), and peace (Zech 1:8).
• and the olive (וְעֵץ שָׁמֶן - wĕ'ēṣ shāmen, lit. "tree of oil"): The olive tree is long-lived, evergreen, and a source of sustenance (oil), light, and healing. Symbolizes prosperity, richness, light, blessing, and endurance.
• I will put (אֶשִׂים - 'āsîm): A general verb for placing or setting. While distinct from 'plant,' it reaffirms God's active, intentional, and purposeful bringing forth of these trees. It emphasizes the directness of His action.
• in the desert (בָּעֲרָבָה - ba'ărāvāh): From 'ărāvāh, referring to an even more specific type of arid land, often denoting the desolate Jordan rift valley. Reinforces the extremity of barrenness, making God's intervention all the more miraculous.
• the cypress (בְּרוֹשׁ - bərōsh): Often translated as fir or juniper. A tall, strong evergreen, useful for building (sometimes associated with cedar, 1 Ki 6). Denotes steadfastness, dignity, and a beautiful canopy.
• the plane (תִּדְהַר - tidhar): An identifying tree that provides ample shade (sometimes identified as elm, larch, or box tree). Represents comfort, rest, and protection.
• and the pine together (וְתְאַשּׁוּר יַחַד - wĕtĕ'ashshūr yaḥad): Tĕ'ashshūr is another strong, ornamental tree, sometimes translated as cypress, ash, or box tree, suggesting beauty and strength. Yaḥad means "together," emphasizing the completeness and comprehensive nature of this supernatural act—a diverse, flourishing forest appearing simultaneously.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• "I will plant in the wilderness...I will put in the desert": This dual phrasing powerfully emphasizes God's sovereign initiative and ability to transform the absolute impossible. It uses two distinct but synonymous terms for desolation, highlighting the magnitude of the promised miracle and God's unwavering resolve. It signifies His intention to transform both the deep and superficial aspects of their barrenness.
• "the cedar, the acacia, the myrtle and the olive; I will put in the desert the cypress, the plane and the pine together": This comprehensive list of seven distinct trees, carefully chosen, is central to the verse's meaning. These trees collectively represent majesty, strength, utility, beauty, joy, shade, and fruitfulness. Their miraculous presence together in a wilderness signifies a complete ecosystem of divine provision and an unseasonal, supernatural abundance. The selection includes trees from diverse climates, some typically found on mountains, others in fertile plains, others in more arid regions. Their combined presence in the desert represents a new, ideal creation where all needs (shelter, sustenance, beauty, joy, stability) are met. It signifies an over-the-top, glorious restoration rather than mere survival, bringing a diverse "garden" into the harshest landscape.

Isaiah 41 19 Bonus section

• A "New Eden" Imagery: The planting of such a diverse and flourishing array of trees in the wilderness vividly recalls the imagery of the Garden of Eden (Gen 2:8), where God Himself planted every tree pleasant to the sight and good for food. This echoes a new creation theme, suggesting a restoration that transcends the return to a homeland, implying a state of blessedness akin to humanity's original, ideal environment.
• The Sevenfold Trees: The list of seven distinct trees (cedar, acacia, myrtle, olive, cypress, plane, pine) holds symbolic significance, often representing completeness and perfection in biblical numerology. This sevenfold planting emphasizes that God's restoration will be perfect, comprehensive, and lacking nothing.
• The Uniqueness of the Act: The passage stresses the miraculous nature of this planting. It is not just about bringing a few trees, but establishing an entire, diverse arboretum that normally would not thrive together in such arid conditions. This supernatural act underscores God's omnipotence and distinguishes Him sharply from the powerless idols worshiped by other nations, who could not effect such transformations.

Isaiah 41 19 Commentary

Isaiah 41:19 stands as a magnificent testament to God's transformative power and profound love for His covenant people. For the exiles feeling forgotten in the barren "wilderness" of Babylon, this verse is a potent promise of radical change. It speaks not of gradual improvement but of immediate, miraculous divine intervention: God Himself will plant and place a diverse, beautiful, and fruitful forest where life previously could not sustain itself. This is far more than an ecological miracle; it's a vibrant metaphor for spiritual renewal, national restoration, and the complete reversal of fortune for a nation dried up by sin and judgment. The specific trees symbolize distinct blessings: the strength and glory of the cedar, the endurance and sacred utility of the acacia, the joy and beauty of the myrtle, the abundance and light of the olive, the protection and dignity of the cypress, the comfort of the plane, and the strength of the pine. Together, they paint a picture of comprehensive provision, turning mourning into gladness and desolation into a verdant display of God's unparalleled glory, inviting Israel to find their hope and trust in Him alone. This verse reminds believers that God is able to make beauty and provision grow even in their most desolate seasons.