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 |
|---|---|---|
| Isa 44:3 | "For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour my Spirit upon your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants." | Direct preceding context of spiritual outpouring. |
| Psa 1:3 | "He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit..." | Righteous flourishing through God's sustenance. |
| Jer 17:7-8 | "Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD... He is like a tree planted by water..." | Trust in God leads to unfailing growth. |
| Ezek 47:12 | "On both banks of the river, there will grow all kinds of trees for food..." | Life-giving river from the temple, symbol of God's blessing. |
| Hos 14:5-7 | "I will be like the dew to Israel; he shall blossom like the lily..." | God's restorative love causing Israel to flourish. |
| Isa 58:11 | "And the LORD will guide you continually... like a well-watered garden..." | Divine guidance leading to sustained fruitfulness. |
| Gen 22:17 | "I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars..." | Promise of innumerable offspring, divine blessing. |
| Exo 1:7 | "But the people of Israel were fruitful and increased greatly; they multiplied..." | Literal fulfillment of multiplication under God's hand. |
| John 7:38-39 | "Whoever believes in me... 'Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.' Now this he said about the Spirit..." | Spirit's outpouring leading to life-giving streams. |
| Acts 2:17-18 | "'And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh...'" | Fulfillment of Joel's prophecy and Isa 44:3. |
| Tit 3:5-6 | "...he saved us, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly..." | Spirit's renewal for new life and growth. |
| Zec 12:10 | "And I will pour out on the house of David... a spirit of grace and supplication..." | Outpouring of the Spirit in the Messianic age. |
| Joel 2:28-29 | "And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh..." | Prophecy of the universal outpouring of the Spirit. |
| 1 Cor 3:6-7 | "I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth." | God is the ultimate source of spiritual growth. |
| Col 2:6-7 | "Therefore... rooted and built up in him and established in your faith..." | Emphasizes being rooted for stable growth. |
| Gal 5:22-23 | "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience..." | The manifestations of spiritual life from the Spirit. |
| Isa 35:7 | "And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water..." | Transformation of desolation into fruitful land. |
| Isa 41:18-19 | "I will open rivers on the bare heights, and fountains in the midst of the valleys..." | God provides refreshment in unlikely places. |
| Jer 2:13 | "...They have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns..." | Contrasts God as living water with broken cisterns. |
| Rev 22:1-2 | "Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life... On either side of the river stood the tree of life..." | The ultimate fulfillment of living water and life in New Jerusalem. |
| Matt 13:8 | "Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold..." | Parable of abundant growth in receptive hearts. |
| Eph 4:15-16 | "...grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ..." | Exhortation to mature, unified growth in Christ. |
| Phil 1:9-11 | "And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more..." | Prayer for overflowing spiritual growth and fruit. |
Isaiah 44 verses
Isaiah 44 4 Meaning
Isaiah 44:4 vividly promises that God's people, upon whom He pours out His Spirit and blessing (as mentioned in verse 3), will experience remarkable and abundant growth. This growth is likened to the vigorous springing up of vegetation—both common grass and majestic willows—in fertile, well-watered environments. It signifies a profound spiritual revival, characterized by flourishing life, rapid increase, and steadfast vitality, rooted deeply in the sustaining grace of God. The imagery conveys not only an increase in numbers but also an abundance of spiritual life and health, indicative of divine favor and presence.
Isaiah 44 4 Context
Isaiah chapter 44 is part of the "Book of Comfort" (Isaiah 40-55), delivered during or anticipating the Babylonian exile. It primarily focuses on Israel's future restoration, God's unmatched sovereignty as the only true God, and His deep commitment to His people. Verse 4 immediately follows God's promise in verse 3 to "pour water on the thirsty land" and "pour my Spirit upon your offspring and my blessing on your descendants." This promise directly addresses a people facing desolation and yearning for renewal, providing assurance of divine provision and revitalization. The surrounding verses also contain strong polemics against the absurdity and futility of idol worship, contrasting the deadness of man-made gods with the life-giving power of YHWH. Thus, verse 4 encapsulates the resultant flourishing and growth that will follow God's life-giving Spirit and blessing, a clear distinction from the barrenness promised by other deities.
Isaiah 44 4 Word analysis
And they shall spring up (וְצָמְחוּ, və·tzā·mə·ḥū): From the Hebrew root צמח (tsamach), meaning "to sprout, grow, spring up, shoot forth." This word implies vigorous, natural, and sustained growth, suggesting a vitality that emanates from within but is divinely initiated. It conveys an image of rapid and abundant emergence.
among (בְּבֵ֥ין, bə·ḇên): Signifies being in the midst of or within a larger context. Here, it suggests an organic integration of the new growth within the existing environment of grass.
the grass (חָצִֽיר, ḥā·ṣîr): Refers to common green herbage or pasture grass. It sets a baseline of everyday, abundant growth, suggesting that the flourishing will be widespread and perhaps even surprisingly prolific amidst the ordinary.
as willows (כַּעֲרָבִ֖ים, ka·‘ă·rā·ḇîm): The Hebrew term עֲרָבִים (‘ărābîm) likely refers to poplars or willows. These trees are well-known in the ancient Near East for their rapid growth and strong preference for well-watered environments. They symbolize lushness, beauty, and prosperity due to their characteristic abundance along water sources. The simile emphasizes impressive and sustained flourishing.
by the water courses (עַל־ יִבְלֵי־ מָֽיִם, ‘al- yiḇ·lê- mā·yim):
- by (עַל־, ‘al): Here denotes proximity or "beside."
- water courses (יִבְלֵי־ מָֽיִם, yiḇ·lê- mā·yim): From יובל (yuv·āl) for stream or river, and מַיִם (mayim) for water. These are natural, flowing sources of water, providing a constant and reliable supply, critical for the thriving of willows and other verdant growth. It highlights the source of nourishment for the sustained life.
"spring up among the grass": This phrase speaks to the widespread and perhaps unexpected nature of this spiritual renewal. It suggests that growth will not be limited to a few prominent figures but will be broad and pervasive, even amidst common people, rising with vigor like grass after rain. This indicates an accessible and ubiquitous outpouring of God's blessing.
"as willows by the water courses": This simile elevates the imagery, moving beyond mere widespread growth to depict majestic, flourishing, and enduring vitality. Willows are not just common; they are iconic symbols of sustained life and vigor due to their intimate connection with constant water sources, emphasizing that the growth is robust, stable, and deeply nourished by an unending supply.
Isaiah 44 4 Bonus section
The choice of "willows" (or poplars) is highly symbolic. In ancient Near Eastern literature and biblical contexts, these trees were deeply associated with sources of water and often represented life, fertility, and mourning. Their flexibility also sometimes symbolized humility or the capacity to bend without breaking in the face of trials. Here, their specific connection to "water courses" powerfully emphasizes continuous nourishment and resilience, portraying the sustained vitality of God's people. This image also contrasts sharply with the "dry and thirsty land" that so often describes those estranged from God, asserting the LORD's unparalleled ability to bring flourishing where there was desolation. The passage looks forward to a Messianic era where the desert literally and figuratively blossoms, and where God's Spirit is the life-giving river sustaining all. The immediate preceding verse mentions "your offspring" and "your descendants," suggesting a generational promise of spiritual legacy and continued multiplication under God's blessing.
Isaiah 44 4 Commentary
Isaiah 44:4 is a beautiful promise of spiritual rejuvenation and prolific expansion for God's chosen, flowing directly from the divine outpouring of the Holy Spirit and blessing detailed in the preceding verse. The dual imagery of "grass" and "willows by water courses" communicates a comprehensive vision of growth: it will be both widespread and common, like the abundant grass in a fertile meadow, and yet strikingly vital and resilient, like trees deeply rooted by ever-flowing streams. This signifies that the blessing of God’s Spirit will produce not only a rapid increase in numbers but also profound spiritual depth, steadfastness, and beauty. This is a life-affirming contrast to the spiritual barrenness of idol worship, positioning God as the sole provider of true life and enduring fruitfulness. It speaks of a flourishing that is naturally abundant, continually refreshed, and visibly distinct as a testament to His powerful grace, reflecting the abundant life Christ later promised (John 10:10). This growth is divinely ordained, nourished by the Spirit, and intended to be seen and celebrated.