Isaiah 55 13

Isaiah 55:13 kjv

Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree: and it shall be to the LORD for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.

Isaiah 55:13 nkjv

Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress tree, And instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree; And it shall be to the LORD for a name, For an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off."

Isaiah 55:13 niv

Instead of the thornbush will grow the juniper, and instead of briers the myrtle will grow. This will be for the LORD's renown, for an everlasting sign, that will endure forever."

Isaiah 55:13 esv

Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress; instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle; and it shall make a name for the LORD, an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off."

Isaiah 55:13 nlt

Where once there were thorns, cypress trees will grow.
Where nettles grew, myrtles will sprout up.
These events will bring great honor to the LORD's name;
they will be an everlasting sign of his power and love."

Isaiah 55 13 Cross References

VerseTextReference
Isaiah 60:21Your people shall all be righteous; they shall inherit the land forever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be glorified.Affirmation of lasting righteousness and inheritance.
Psalm 102:28The children of your servants shall continue, and their offspring shall be established before you.The continuation of God's covenant through descendants.
Psalm 111:3He has done glorious deeds. His righteousness endures forever.Enduring righteousness of God's works.
Jeremiah 31:36"If my covenant with the day and night did not stand, and if I had not set the ordinances of heaven and earth, then I would reject the offspring of Jacob and David my servant..."Divine commitment to the permanence of His covenants.
Matthew 24:35Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.The eternal nature of Christ's words, mirroring God's Word.
1 Peter 1:23since you have been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the living and abiding word of God.The abiding and incorruptible nature of God's word.
Revelation 21:4He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.The eternal, transformed state brought by God's work.
Romans 11:29For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.The unchangeable nature of God's divine purposes and callings.
Psalm 40:5Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders you have done, and in your thoughts toward us; none can compare with you! I will proclaim and declare them, yet they are more than can be told.The multitude and unsearchable nature of God's works.
Isaiah 43:7everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made."God's creation for His glory, implying a lasting purpose.
Psalm 78:4-7We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the praise of the LORD, and his might, and the wonderful works that he has done. So that the next generation might know them, the children yet to be born, that they too may rise up and tell their children, so that they may set their hope in God and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments.The mandate to pass down the knowledge of God's works.
Deuteronomy 6:7you shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.The importance of teaching God's works and commandments.
Isaiah 61:3and to grant to those who mourn in Zion—to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the cloak of praise instead of a faint spirit, that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he may be glorified.Spiritual transformation and restoration as a planting of the Lord.
Psalm 92:12-13The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree; they shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. They are planted in the house of the LORD; they shall flourish in the courts of our God.The flourishing and establishment of the righteous as God's planting.
John 15:16You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give it to you.Believers appointed to bear lasting fruit for God.
Colossians 1:13He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son,Spiritual deliverance and transfer as a divine work.
Ephesians 2:10For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.Believers as God's workmanship, created for His purposes.
Hebrews 10:14For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.Christ's sacrifice perfecting believers for all time.
1 Corinthians 1:8who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.God's sustained work to keep believers blameless.
Philippians 1:6And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.God's ongoing work in believers leading to completion.

Isaiah 55 verses

Isaiah 55 13 Meaning

This verse signifies the lasting impact and divine affirmation of God's word and works. What God has done through His people, particularly through His covenant, is not fleeting. It will endure as a perpetual testament and testimony, proclaiming His nature and His ongoing actions for all time. It speaks to the permanence of spiritual blessings and the ongoing legacy of faith.

Isaiah 55 13 Context

This verse is the concluding statement of Isaiah 55, a chapter that emphatically calls people to God's abundant provisions, His unfailing love, and His life-giving words. The preceding verses emphasize the refreshment and satisfaction found in turning to God, urging them to seek Him while He may be found. This verse acts as a powerful assurance and summary of the eternal and transformative nature of God's saving work and presence. The entire chapter operates within the context of the Babylonian exile and the subsequent promise of restoration. It assures a future for God's people that is not merely a return but a divinely appointed and gloriously established reality.

Isaiah 55 13 Word Analysis

  • "It": Refers back to the actions and results of God's covenant faithfulness and redemptive work as described in the preceding verses of Isaiah and the overall message of hope. It encompasses the turning of hearts, the remission of sins, and the abundance of divine blessing promised.
  • "shall be": Indicates a future certainty and divine decree. It's not a matter of possibility but of absolute certainty, assured by God's own power and will. This emphasizes the immutable nature of God's plans.
  • "for an everlasting sign":
    • "for": signifies purpose or destiny.
    • "an": indefiniteness, yet here implies a singular, potent representation.
    • "everlasting": (Hebrew: olam, עוֹלָם) denotes a long, indefinite period, often translated as "eternity," "forever," or "for all time." It speaks of something that has no discernible end or limit, pointing to the perpetual nature of God's redemptive acts. This term is significant throughout scripture for describing God's eternal nature and His everlasting covenant.
    • "sign": (Hebrew: oth, אוֹת) means a sign, a mark, a token, or a signal. It signifies something that points to a reality beyond itself. In this context, the result of God's work serves as a visible and enduring testimony to His power, faithfulness, and presence. It could be understood as a public declaration or memorial.
  • "and": A conjunction connecting two parallel and equally significant aspects of God's promise.
  • "for a monument":
    • "for": again signifies purpose or designation.
    • "a": indefiniteness, yet highlighting a specific kind of lasting mark.
    • "monument": (Hebrew: leminnah, לִמְנִנָּה) or (sometimes leminnah), from a root meaning "to appoint" or "to enumerate," suggests something established or set up to be remembered, a memorial. It speaks of an enduring commemoration, ensuring that what God has done will not be forgotten. It functions as a perpetual remembrance or testimony. It's about enduring, positive witness.

Grouped Analysis:

  • "everlasting sign and monument": This pairing emphasizes the dual aspect of God's action. It is both a sign pointing to divine truth and presence, and a monument serving as a lasting memorial. Together, they speak of an enduring, tangible testimony to God's faithfulness and power, that will continually speak of His glory and work throughout successive generations, not ceasing with the immediate event. It reflects a permanence that testifies to God's eternal nature and His abiding commitment to His people and His promises.

Isaiah 55 13 Bonus Section

The Hebrew terms olam and oth are frequently used together or in related contexts throughout the Old Testament to speak of enduring covenants and God's eternal purposes. The concept of a "monument" or memorial relates to biblical practices like memorial stones (Genesis 28:18) or memorial offerings, which served to continually remind people of God's past actions and faithfulness. This verse thus connects the concept of eternal divine promise with tangible, remembered acts of salvation and transformation that will perpetually testify to God's character and power across generations. It emphasizes that God’s work is designed for remembrance and proclamation, ensuring His glory is continuously revealed.

Isaiah 55 13 Commentary

The closing words of Isaiah 55 offer a profound assurance. What God accomplishes through His Word and His covenant people is not ephemeral. It is divinely established to endure forever as a perpetual testament to His glory and faithfulness. This "everlasting sign and monument" can be seen in the transformation of individuals and communities, the enduring nature of Scripture, and ultimately, in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The fact that His redeemed people bear witness to His ongoing salvific work serves as a living monument. The "oaks of righteousness" planted by the Lord (Isaiah 61:3) are enduring testimonies. Similarly, the New Testament proclaims that believers are God's workmanship (Ephesians 2:10) and that the church, empowered by the Spirit, stands as a testament to His redemptive plan across ages. This verse calls believers to recognize the enduring impact of God's work and to live in such a way that their lives become further signs and monuments to His grace.