Isaiah 42 11

Isaiah 42:11 kjv

Let the wilderness and the cities thereof lift up their voice, the villages that Kedar doth inhabit: let the inhabitants of the rock sing, let them shout from the top of the mountains.

Isaiah 42:11 nkjv

Let the wilderness and its cities lift up their voice, The villages that Kedar inhabits. Let the inhabitants of Sela sing, Let them shout from the top of the mountains.

Isaiah 42:11 niv

Let the wilderness and its towns raise their voices; let the settlements where Kedar lives rejoice. Let the people of Sela sing for joy; let them shout from the mountaintops.

Isaiah 42:11 esv

Let the desert and its cities lift up their voice, the villages that Kedar inhabits; let the habitants of Sela sing for joy, let them shout from the top of the mountains.

Isaiah 42:11 nlt

Join in the chorus, you desert towns;
let the villages of Kedar rejoice!
Let the people of Sela sing for joy;
shout praises from the mountaintops!

Isaiah 42 verses

Isaiah 42 11 Meaning

Isaiah 42:11 declares a universal call to praise the Lord, specifically targeting traditionally desolate regions and peoples who were once considered remote or even antagonistic to Israel. It foretells a time when the "wilderness," including the cities and villages of the Arabian tribes (Kedar) and the strongholds of Edom (Sela), along with the high places, will echo with shouts of joy and songs of praise to God. This verse signifies the expansive and inclusive nature of God's redemptive plan, where salvation will reach all nations and transform barren places into arenas of worship.

Isaiah 42 11 Context

Isaiah 42:11 is embedded within a prophetic message known as the "Book of Comfort" (Isaiah 40-55), a section largely addressed to Israel in exile or anticipating it, offering hope of restoration and future glory. The chapter begins by introducing the "Servant of the Lord" (v. 1-4), a key figure who will bring justice to the nations gently and enduringly. Following this, God declares His own unparalleled power and promises a "new thing" (v. 9), declaring that He will lead the blind and make darkness light before them (v. 16). This specific verse immediately follows God's declaration that He will manifest His power and make His glory known, ensuring that His praise will spread beyond Israel's immediate vicinity. It shifts from the declaration of God's universal reach through His Servant to the commanded response of universal praise from those previously outside or hostile to His covenant people, foreshadowing the inclusion of the Gentiles. The geographical locations mentioned signify the uttermost parts of the world known to the original audience, emphasizing the breadth of God's salvific work.

Isaiah 42 11 Word analysis

• Let the wilderness
  • "Let the wilderness": Hebrew וּמִדְבָּר (ūmiḏbār). מִדְבָּר (midbar) literally means "desert," "wilderness." This is not merely barren land but often the setting for God's encounters with Israel (e.g., the Exodus, Moses, John the Baptist). Its inclusion implies transformation, spiritual fertility, and life in places once associated with desolation and separation from God's presence. It signifies the power of God's redemptive work to impact even the most unlikely, forgotten, or spiritually dead regions.
• and its cities
  • "and its cities": Hebrew וְעָרָיו (və‘ārāyw). This specifies human habitation within the wilderness, suggesting that the praise will come not only from nature itself but also from people living in these remote, non-urbanized, and often overlooked areas. It denotes the broad scope of God's reach among all kinds of human communities, regardless of their cultural sophistication or political prominence.
• lift up their voice
  • "lift up their voice": Hebrew יִשְׂאוּ קוֹל (yiś’ū qōl). קוֹל (qōl) is "voice" or "sound," and יִשְׂאוּ (yiś’ū) means "they will lift up." It implies an audible, public, and enthusiastic expression. This is not silent reverence but a joyous, triumphant outcry, suggesting an irresistible outpouring of praise, celebrating a significant divine act.
• the villages that Kedar inhabits
  • "the villages that Kedar inhabits": Hebrew חֲצֵרִים תֵּשֵׁב קֵדָר (ḥaṣērim tēšēv qēdār). חֲצֵרִים (ḥaṣērim) means "settlements" or "villages." קֵדָר (Qedar) refers to a prominent confederation of nomadic Arabian tribes descended from Ishmael (Gen 25:13), residing in the Arabian Desert. They were often traders or sometimes considered hostile outsiders. Their specific mention is significant, pointing to the inclusion of Gentile nations, especially those historically distant or even adversaries to Israel, into God's circle of worshipers. It represents the uttermost fringes of the known world to the Israelites, symbolizing universal Gentile salvation.
• Let the inhabitants of Sela sing
  • "Let the inhabitants of Sela sing": Hebrew יָרוֹנוּ יֹשְׁבֵי סֶלַע (yārōnū yōšəvē Sela‘). יָרוֹנוּ (yārōnū) means "they will sing aloud" or "shout for joy." סֶלַע (Sela‘) means "rock" and refers to the capital city of Edom, later known as Petra. Edomites were descendants of Esau, brother of Jacob, but were often depicted as perpetual enemies of Israel. Sela was a strategically important, fortified city in mountainous terrain, symbolizing strength and often defiance against God or His people. For its inhabitants to "sing aloud" implies a dramatic reversal—enemies or estranged relatives are now joyfully praising God, fulfilling His universal promise of redemption.
• Let them shout from the tops of the mountains
  • "Let them shout from the tops of the mountains": Hebrew מֵרֹאשׁ הָרִים יִצְוָחוּ (mēro’š hārîm yiṣwāḥû). יִצְוָחוּ (yiṣwāḥû) means "they will cry out" or "shout." "Tops of the mountains" implies a visible, high vantage point, ensuring the proclamation is loud, far-reaching, and undeniable. It signifies the public, exalted, and widespread nature of this universal praise, emanating from prominent physical landmarks and representing an overwhelming testament to God's glory across the entire world.

Words-group Analysis:

• "the wilderness and its cities, the villages that Kedar inhabits, the inhabitants of Sela, from the tops of the mountains": This entire phrase creates a sweeping geographical panorama. It starts with desolate wilderness areas, moves to specific settlements of nomadic Arab tribes (Kedar), then to a powerful, formerly hostile Edomite stronghold (Sela), and culminates with shouts from mountaintops. This comprehensive list covers the arid regions, the nomadic peoples, settled strongholds, and prominent natural features, all designed to emphatically underscore the universal and all-encompassing nature of God's redemptive work and the subsequent global outpouring of praise. It signifies that no place or people, however remote, humble, or historically opposed, will be untouched by God's salvific act or withheld from His praise.

Isaiah 42 11 Bonus section

The specific inclusion of Kedar and Sela (Edom) is a powerful polemic. In Isaiah's time, these were not peoples naturally expected to praise the God of Israel. Kedar represented the wild, nomadic desert tribes, descendants of Ishmael, often involved in trade or raiding, signifying the 'other' or outside nations. Sela, as the capital of Edom, was a symbol of ancestral rivalry and animosity with Israel (Edom was a perennial enemy, often used as an example of unredeemed rebellion against God). Calling these two to sing and shout joyfully in praise of YHWH fundamentally undermines any ethnic or nationalistic claims to exclusive access to God. It highlights that God's plan is far grander than Israel's political boundaries or historical enmities, asserting His authority over all peoples and the earth. This foreshadows the New Testament concept of all nations being brought into the family of God through Christ, effectively leveling human distinctions for the sake of divine glory. The shift from silence or antagonism to vibrant praise also suggests an inversion of spiritual desolation to profound spiritual life, consistent with other Isaiah prophecies of the desert blooming.

Isaiah 42 11 Commentary

Isaiah 42:11 serves as a profound proclamation of God's boundless sovereignty and redemptive intent, flowing from the announcement of His Servant who brings justice to the nations. It envisions a radical transformation where even the most unlikely, remote, and often hostile peoples and regions will join in exuberant praise. The specific mention of Kedar, an Arabian tribe, and Sela (Edom), an ancestral foe, emphasizes that God's salvation is not exclusive to Israel but extends universally to the Gentiles, overturning past animosities and limitations. The "wilderness" metaphorically hints at spiritual barrenness being replaced by spiritual vitality. The call to "lift up their voice," "sing," and "shout" from "tops of the mountains" implies a joyous, public, and inescapable recognition of God's glory and saving power. This verse prefigures the global spread of the Gospel, where all nations, once alienated, find their place in worshipping the true God, reflecting a new, inclusive community united in praise for His magnificent works. It stands as a testament to God's ultimate victory and the cosmic scale of His redemptive plan.