Isaiah 48 21

Isaiah 48:21 kjv

And they thirsted not when he led them through the deserts: he caused the waters to flow out of the rock for them: he clave the rock also, and the waters gushed out.

Isaiah 48:21 nkjv

And they did not thirst When He led them through the deserts; He caused the waters to flow from the rock for them; He also split the rock, and the waters gushed out.

Isaiah 48:21 niv

They did not thirst when he led them through the deserts; he made water flow for them from the rock; he split the rock and water gushed out.

Isaiah 48:21 esv

They did not thirst when he led them through the deserts; he made water flow for them from the rock; he split the rock and the water gushed out.

Isaiah 48:21 nlt

They were not thirsty
when he led them through the desert.
He divided the rock,
and water gushed out for them to drink.

Isaiah 48 verses

Isaiah 48 21 meaning

This verse recounts God's miraculous provision for the Israelites during their Exodus journey through the wilderness, specifically emphasizing His role in providing water in arid lands. It signifies that when God leads His people, He ensures their needs are met, overcoming natural impossibilities with His divine power, illustrating His faithfulness and capacity to sustain.

Isaiah 48 21 Context

This verse is situated within Isaiah's "Book of Comfort" (chapters 40-55), a prophetic message primarily addressed to the Israelites in Babylonian exile. Chapter 48 serves as a strong reminder of God's sovereignty, His foreknowledge, and His capacity to fulfill His word. It opens by rebuking Israel for their unfaithfulness and idolatry, contrasting their hard-heartedness with God's patient endurance.

Verse 21 follows a declaration for Israel to "Go out from Babylon!" (v.20), heralding a new Exodus. To inspire trust in this coming deliverance, God recounts the foundational miracle of the first Exodus from Egypt. By reminding them of His dramatic provision in the wilderness—water from the rock—God reinforces His power and unwavering commitment to His people, establishing a historical precedent for His ability to deliver and sustain them even in seemingly impossible circumstances. It's an encouragement that the same God who led and provided for their ancestors in the desolate wilderness will likewise guide and sustain them in their journey from Babylonian captivity back to their homeland.

Isaiah 48 21 Word analysis

Word-by-word analysis:

• And they thirsted not (וְלֹא צָמְאוּ - ve-lo tsam'u): "Lo" means "not" and "tsam'u" is from the root "tsamah," meaning to be thirsty. This is a powerful declaration of complete divine reversal of the natural expectation in a desert. It signifies perfect provision, where a fundamental human need was entirely absent, directly because of God's intervention.
• when he led them (בְּהוֹלִיכֹו אֹתָם - be-holikho otam): "Holikho" is the Hiphil participle of "halak," meaning "to cause to go," "to lead." This emphasizes God's active and personal leadership. The provision wasn't incidental; it was an integral part of His divine guidance and care as He guided them through a treacherous environment.
• through the deserts (בַּיְשִׁימוֹת - bayyeshimot): "Yeshimot" (plural of yeshimah) means "desolations," "waste places," "wildernesses." The plural form intensifies the sense of extreme desolation and barrenness. It underscores the utter lack of natural resources in these environments, making God's provision even more astounding.
• he caused the waters to flow out (מַזִּיל מַיִם - mazzil mayim): "Mazzil" is from "nazal," meaning "to flow" or "to drip." The Hiphil causative form highlights God's active initiation—He made the waters flow. "Mayim" is water. This isn't just a natural occurrence, but a divine command that defied nature.
• of the rock (מִסֶּלַע - mi-sela): "Mi" means "from." "Sela" refers to a crag, a strong, high rock, implying hardness and inaccessibility. This specifies the extraordinary source of the water, not a well or spring, but an unyielding, solid rock.
• for them (לָהֶם - lahem): This preposition means "for them" or "to them." It emphasizes the direct and purposeful nature of God's provision—it was specifically for the benefit of His chosen people, an act of His love and covenant faithfulness.
• he clave the rock also (וַיְבַקַּע צּוּר - vay'bakka' tsur): "Vay'bakka'" is from "baqa'," meaning "to cleave," "split," "break open violently." This strong verb emphasizes the powerful, decisive, and miraculous act. "Tsur" (sometimes sela) is a general term for "rock" or "boulder," sometimes flinty rock. The action here signifies the extraordinary, overcoming an impenetrable barrier.
• and the waters gushed out (וַיִּזְּלוּ מָיִם - vayyizzelu mayim): "Vayyizzelu" is from "nazal," often meaning "to flow gently" or "drip," but in this context, combined with "clave" and "thirsted not," it conveys an abundant, forceful outpouring, indicating an ample and immediate supply of life-giving water.

Word-groups by word-groups analysis:

• "And they thirsted not when he led them through the deserts": This entire phrase presents a miraculous triumph over utter desolation. It underlines God's comprehensive care – not only did He guide them, but He negated the most pressing danger (thirst) associated with that journey, demonstrating His supreme power over natural constraints in every step of His leading.
• "he caused the waters to flow out of the rock for them": This specifies the divine solution. God actively and specifically engineered life-giving water from an impossible source—a barren rock—for the sole benefit of His people. It highlights His omnipotence and direct concern.
• "he clave the rock also, and the waters gushed out": This reiterates and intensifies the miracle, demonstrating the raw, undeniable power of God. The verb "clave" describes a violent, direct intervention, leaving no doubt about the supernatural origin of the abundance that "gushed out." The pairing of the "splitting" action with the "gushing" result reinforces the extraordinary nature of God's creative and sustaining power.

Isaiah 48 21 Bonus section

• Dual Rock Miracles: The verse might be a generalized reference, but specific instances of water from the rock occur at Rephidim (Exo 17) and Kadesh (Num 20). The terminology used ("sela" and "tsur") can be seen as encompassing the varied descriptions found in these original narratives.
• Spiritualized Meaning: In the New Testament, notably by the Apostle Paul (1 Cor 10:4), the rock that followed Israel in the wilderness is interpreted spiritually as Christ. This means Isaiah 48:21, while historical, also points to the ultimate spiritual provision of living water that flows from Christ for all who believe, satisfying eternal thirst.
• Contrast to Idolatry: Within the larger context of Isaiah 40-48, which contrasts the living God with powerless idols, this verse stands as a stark testament to YHWH's active, life-giving power against the mute and immobile pagan gods of Babylon, who cannot create water in a desert.
• Precedent for a "New Exodus": This historical recall is not just a nostalgic memory but a crucial theological argument. It provides assurance and grounds for the people to believe that God can and will perform a "new Exodus" for them, leading them out of Babylon with similar divine care and miraculous provision.
• Metaphorical Wilderness: The concept of the "desert" or "wilderness" is often used metaphorically in scripture to represent times of trial, desolation, spiritual barrenness, or difficult journeys. This verse thus speaks to believers in every generation that God can provide solace and strength in their metaphorical deserts, providing for needs that seem impossible to meet.

Isaiah 48 21 Commentary

Isaiah 48:21 is a powerful reaffirmation of God's unceasing commitment to His covenant people. It serves as a historical touchstone, recalling one of the most significant and oft-remembered miracles of the Exodus: God's provision of water from a rock in the parched wilderness. This verse's profound impact stems from its setting – addressing exiles yearning for a new deliverance. By evoking past acts of divine care, Isaiah grounds the future hope in an unchanging, active God. It teaches that where human resources end and the environment is hostile (the "deserts" and "rock"), divine provision can begin and flourish. God doesn't merely allow survival; He ensures it by His own direct and often dramatic intervention, providing sustenance so complete that "they thirsted not." This miraculous supply underlines God's fidelity, power, and sufficiency, promising that the same God who acted decisively then, would act decisively for their current liberation from Babylon, providing everything they would need. In essence, it is a historical guarantee of future grace, assuring His people that He remains their leader and provider through any wilderness journey.