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 21 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isa 41:17 | When the poor and needy seek water... | God's provision in times of need |
| Ex 17:6 | Strike the rock, and water will come out of it... | Miraculous water provision |
| Num 20:8 | Speak to the rock before their eyes... | Divine guidance for water |
| Psa 105:41 | He opened the rock, and water gushed out... | God's faithfulness in provision |
| Psa 78:15-16 | He split rocks in the wilderness... | God supplying for the community |
| Psa 114:8 | Who turned the rock into a pool... | Symbolic representation of God's power |
| Eze 34:29 | And I will raise up for them a garden... | God as the ultimate provisioner |
| Jer 2:13 | For my people have committed two evils... | Contrast with idol worship |
| Neh 9:15 | You gave them bread from heaven for their hunger... | Heavenly provision |
| John 6:32, 35 | Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life..." | Jesus as the source of life |
| 1 Cor 10:4 | And all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual rock that followed them... | Christ as the rock |
| Rev 22:1-2 | Then he showed me the river of the water of life... | Heavenly provision of water |
| Heb 11:29 | By faith they crossed the Red Sea as if on dry ground... | Faith in God's deliverance |
| Gal 3:29 | And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to the promise. | Covenantal inheritance |
| Romans 8:32 | He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all... | God's ultimate provision |
| Psalm 23:2 | He makes me lie down in green pastures... | God as shepherd and provider |
| Matthew 6:33 | But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. | God's care for the faithful |
| Acts 17:28 | For in him we live and move and have our being... | God's sustaining power |
| John 4:14 | but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again... | Spiritual thirst quenched by Christ |
| 1 Corinthians 1:9 | God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. | God's faithfulness |
Isaiah 48 verses
Isaiah 48 21 Meaning
This verse powerfully proclaims the Lord's direct intervention and provision for His people in their time of need. He is the source of their sustenance, guiding them through desert and hardship without fail, fulfilling His covenant promises.
Isaiah 48 21 Context
This verse appears in Isaiah chapter 48, a passage focused on God's judgment and vindication. God addresses the unfaithful people of Israel, highlighting their history of rebellion despite His repeated acts of deliverance and provision. The preceding verses detail how the Lord delivered them from Egypt and led them through the wilderness. This chapter serves as a stern warning against idolatry and disobedience, while also offering a promise of future restoration and redemption. The verse specifically recalls God's miraculous provision of water in the desert as evidence of His unique power and covenant faithfulness, contrasting it with the impotent idols of other nations. It precedes a promise of a new exodus and a renewed covenant.
Isaiah 48 21 Word Analysis
- And: Conjunction, linking this verse's statement to prior pronouncements.
- He: Pronoun referring to the Lord, the subject of the sentence.
- who: Relative pronoun introducing clauses that further describe "He".
- caused: Verb, indicating God's active role in bringing about something.
- waters: Noun, plural of "water."
- to issue: Verb, meaning to come forth, to flow out, to spring up.
- from: Preposition, indicating the origin or source.
- the rock: Noun, a solid mass of stone.
- out of: Prepositional phrase, emphasizing the extraction from within.
- the depths: Noun, plural, referring to a deep place or a source of great abundance.
- And: Conjunction, connecting the next action.
- caused: Verb, same as above, highlighting divine causation.
- rivers: Noun, plural of "river," larger flowing bodies of water.
- to flow: Verb, meaning to move continuously in a stream.
Words-Group Analysis:
- "waters...to issue from the rock": This phrase evokes the miraculous provision of water from the rock in the wilderness (Exodus 17:6; Numbers 20:8). It signifies God's power to bring forth life and sustenance from seemingly barren circumstances, a recurring theme of divine intervention.
- "out of the depths to flow rivers": This group of words emphasizes abundance and overflowing provision. The "depths" can refer to hidden springs or a vast reservoir, and the outcome is plentiful "rivers," symbolizing abundant, life-giving resources, all orchestrated by God. This points to God's inexhaustible supply.
Isaiah 48 21 Bonus Section
The imagery of water flowing from a rock in the desert is deeply symbolic. The rock itself can represent Christ, who, though struck (as he was on the cross), brings forth the "living water" of the Holy Spirit and salvation. The desert context signifies a place of trial, barrenness, and dependence. God's ability to produce abundant rivers in such an environment underscores His power to overcome all obstacles and meet every need, both physical and spiritual. This verse acts as a foundational declaration of God's capability to transform desolate situations into sources of life, a promise echoed throughout Scripture, culminating in the ultimate provision of eternal life through Christ. It emphasizes that God's provision is not accidental but deliberate and powerful, rooted in His faithfulness and His unique divine nature.
Isaiah 48 21 Commentary
This verse is a potent affirmation of God's absolute power and sovereign control over creation, particularly as demonstrated through His provision for Israel. It highlights a pivotal moment of miraculous sustenance in their wilderness journey, a testament to His covenant faithfulness. Unlike pagan deities who were associated with specific natural phenomena but lacked true power, the LORD God is the source of all such phenomena, capable of commanding even rocks to yield water. The "depths" and "rivers" imagery underscores an abundant and overflowing provision, going beyond mere necessity. This supernatural outpouring is a tangible demonstration of His divine character and His unwavering commitment to His chosen people. This act serves as a concrete historical event and a prophetic type pointing towards Jesus Christ, who is Himself the Rock (1 Cor. 10:4) and the source of living water (John 4:14; 7:37-39), providing for eternal spiritual needs.