Isaiah 44:4 kjv
And they shall spring up as among the grass, as willows by the water courses.
Isaiah 44:4 nkjv
They will spring up among the grass Like willows by the watercourses.'
Isaiah 44:4 niv
They will spring up like grass in a meadow, like poplar trees by flowing streams.
Isaiah 44:4 esv
They shall spring up among the grass like willows by flowing streams.
Isaiah 44:4 nlt
They will thrive like watered grass,
like willows on a riverbank.
Isaiah 44 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isaiah 44:4 | And they shall spring up as among the grass, as willows by the watercourses. | Present Verse |
| Psalm 1:3 | He is like a tree planted by streams of water, yielding its fruit in due season. | Fruitfulness |
| Psalm 105:37 | He brought them out with silver and gold, and there was no weak among their tribes. | Divine Protection & Provision |
| Psalm 107:37 | And sow fields and plant vineyards, and gather a fruitful harvest. | Agricultural Prosperity |
| Isaiah 27:6 | Soon shall Jacob take root, Israel blossom and put forth shoots; they shall fill the face of the world with fruit. | Prolific Growth |
| Isaiah 44:2 | Thus says the Lord who made you, who formed you from the womb, your help. | God as Creator & Helper |
| Isaiah 58:11 | And the Lord will guide you continually and satisfy your soul in scorched lands and will renew your strength. | God’s Constant Guidance |
| Jeremiah 17:8 | He is like a tree planted beside the waters, which sends out its roots toward the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green. | Resilience & Endurance |
| Ezekiel 47:7 | And by the river on the bank, on this side and on that side, will grow all kinds of trees for food, whose leaves will not wither, nor its fruit fail. | Life-giving Waters |
| Ezekiel 47:12 | And along the bank, on this side and on that side, will grow all kinds of trees for food. Their leaves will not wither, nor their fruit fail, but bore fresh fruit every month, because the water for them flows from the sanctuary. | Continuous Fruitfulness |
| Zechariah 10:1 | Ask rain from the Lord in the season of spring rain, even the Lord who makes the storm clouds. He will give them showers of rain, plants in the field to each. | Divine Blessing |
| John 15:1 | "I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser." | Christ as Vine |
| John 15:4 | Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. | Dependence on Christ |
| John 15:5 | I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit. | Fruit-bearing through Him |
| Galatians 5:22 | But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness. | Spiritual Fruit |
| Ephesians 2:10 | For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. | God's Workmanship |
| Colossians 1:10 | So that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. | Walking Worthy |
| 2 Peter 1:5-8 | Besides this also, applying all diligence, join with your faith virtue, and with virtue knowledge, and with knowledge self-control, and with self-control perseverance, and with perseverance godliness, and with godliness brotherly affection, and with brotherly affection love. For if these things are yours and abound, they will not make you unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. | Growth in Faith |
| Revelation 22:2 | On either side of the river, on the bank of the river, grew trees of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding it each month, and on the leaves of the tree for the healing of the nations. | Eternal Life and Healing |
| Romans 6:22 | But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you bear leads to holiness, and its end is eternal life. | Fruit unto Holiness |
Isaiah 44 verses
Isaiah 44 4 Meaning
This verse speaks of God’s unwavering favor upon His people, comparing them to shoots or saplings watered by the Divine hand. It assures them that they will grow strong and numerous, like offspring. This divine nourishment and subsequent prosperity is presented as an assured outcome of God's chosen relationship.
Isaiah 44 4 Context
Chapter 44 of Isaiah is a powerful message of hope and reassurance to the Israelites, specifically addressed to the "servant Jacob" and "Israel" whom He has chosen. It comes in the wake of the Babylonian exile and the threat of idolatry. God, through Isaiah, is declaring His unique sovereignty and His enduring commitment to His people, despite their past failings. This verse, 44:4, directly follows God’s affirmation of His creative power and His role as their redeemer. It’s a promise that after a period of hardship, they will flourish, not through their own might or the false promises of idols, but through the life-giving presence and care of God. The broader context emphasizes the futility of idols and the unparalleled power of the true God.
Isaiah 44 4 Word Analysis
- וְ (vĕ-) : And
- Conjunction, often connecting clauses or ideas, signifying continuation or addition. Here, it links the promise of sprouting to the preceding declaration of God’s relationship.
- יִפְרָ֑ח (yiph'rach) : shall spring up / shall blossom
- Root: פרח (parach). Meaning: to bloom, to sprout, to blossom, to flourish.
- This verb implies a rapid and abundant growth, moving from a dormant or neglected state to one of vibrant life.
- כִּבְנֵ֣י (kivnē) : as children / as sons
- Prefix כְּ (kĕ-) means "as" or "like."
- בֵּן (ben) means "son" or "child."
- This imagery highlights proliferation and inheritable blessing, signifying a growing posterity that is precious to God.
- בַיָּרָ֑ק (bayyarāq) : among the grass / upon the green
- Prefix בְּ (bĕ-) means "in" or "among."
- יֶרֶק (yĕreq) refers to green plants, vegetation, herbs, or grass.
- Suggests natural abundance and commonness, implying their growth will be a visible and natural occurrence, though divinely enabled.
- כֶּֽעֲרָבִ֧ים (ke‘arāvīm) : as willows / like poplars
- כְּ (kĕ-) means "as" or "like."
- עָרָב (‘arāv) refers to a willow or poplar tree.
- These trees are known for their rapid growth and their preference for moist environments.
- עַל־נַֽחֲלֵי־מָֽיִם׃ (‘al-nachălē-māyim) : by the watercourses / beside the streams of water
- עַל־ (‘al-) means "upon" or "beside" or "along."
- נַחַל (nachal) means stream, brook, or wadi.
- מַיִם (māyim) means water.
- This phrase is crucial, indicating the source of life and sustenance. It directly points to God’s provision as the essential element for their flourishing.
Words Group Analysis
- "yiph'rach kivnē" (shall spring up as sons): This fusion suggests not just simple growth but a familial, fruitful multiplication, emphasizing an increase that reflects God's fatherly care and the legacy of His covenant.
- "bayyarāq, ke‘arāvīm ‘al-nachălē-māyim" (among the grass, as willows by the watercourses): This pair of similes paints a vivid picture. "Bayyarāq" implies widespread, easily visible growth, like common green shoots appearing everywhere. "Ke‘arāvīm ‘al-nachălē-māyim" adds the specific characteristic of rapid, vigorous, and well-nourished growth, typical of willows drawing life from abundant water. Together, they signify a prolific and enduring vitality.
Isaiah 44 4 Bonus Section
The Hebrew word for "watercourses" (נַחֲלֵי־מָֽיִם) implies streams or brooks, often with a sense of continuous flow. This contrasts with a stagnant pool, highlighting the dynamic and persistent nature of God’s life-giving provision. The association of willows (עֲרָבִ֧ים) with water also subtly ties into prophetic imagery where God’s justice and blessings flow like a river, bringing life to arid places, a theme resonating strongly in later prophetic writings and into the New Testament descriptions of living water. The promise here is not just survival, but abundant flourishing as a direct result of God's presence and nurture.
Isaiah 44 4 Commentary
This verse powerfully contrasts God’s life-giving power with the lifelessness of idols presented elsewhere in the chapter. The people of Israel are assured of abundant, natural growth and prosperity. This is not an earned success, but a divine blessing bestowed upon those connected to God, depicted as a sapling drawing life from abundant water. The imagery of willows by watercourses speaks to resilience and continuous sustenance. Furthermore, the comparison to "sons" suggests not merely population increase but a cherished and fruitful offspring. The emphasis on "watercourses" is a direct spiritual pointer to God’s Word and Spirit, the true source of life and growth for believers, as reflected in the New Testament emphasis on abiding in Christ and being nourished by His Word.