Isaiah 65:23 kjv
They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the LORD, and their offspring with them.
Isaiah 65:23 nkjv
They shall not labor in vain, Nor bring forth children for trouble; For they shall be the descendants of the blessed of the LORD, And their offspring with them.
Isaiah 65:23 niv
They will not labor in vain, nor will they bear children doomed to misfortune; for they will be a people blessed by the LORD, they and their descendants with them.
Isaiah 65:23 esv
They shall not labor in vain or bear children for calamity, for they shall be the offspring of the blessed of the LORD, and their descendants with them.
Isaiah 65:23 nlt
They will not work in vain,
and their children will not be doomed to misfortune.
For they are people blessed by the LORD,
and their children, too, will be blessed.
Isaiah 65 23 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isaiah 65:23 | "They shall not labor in vain or bear children for calamity..." | Isa 11:9 (Peace and knowledge) |
| Isaiah 65:23 | "...for they shall be a generation blessed by the LORD..." | Gen 12:2 (Abraham's blessing) |
| Isaiah 65:23 | "...and their offspring with them." | Rev 21:3-4 (God dwelling with man, no more death) |
| Isaiah 45:8 | "Rain down, O heavens, from above... Let the earth open and produce salvation..." | Isa 45:8 (Heaven and earth cooperate for salvation) |
| Jeremiah 31:16 | "Refrain your voice from weeping and your eyes from tears, for your work shall have reward..." | Jer 31:16 (Hope after suffering) |
| Psalm 127:3 | "Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD..." | Psa 127:3 (Children as God's gift) |
| Psalm 107:23-31 | "Those who go down to the sea in ships..." (deliverance from storms) | Psa 107 (God's faithfulness in deliverance) |
| Genesis 1:28 | "Be fruitful and multiply..." | Gen 1:28 (The original mandate) |
| Leviticus 26:16 | "...I will do this to them: I will bring upon you sudden terror, wasting disease..." | Lev 26:16 (Consequences of disobedience) |
| Deuteronomy 28:30 | "You shall betroth a wife, but another man shall lie with her..." | Deut 28:30 (Curses for disobedience) |
| Zechariah 8:12 | "For there shall be a sowing of peace. The vine shall give its fruit..." | Zec 8:12 (Prosperity in the new age) |
| John 4:14 | "...but the water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." | John 4:14 (Jesus offers eternal life) |
| Romans 8:18 | "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing..." | Rom 8:18 (Suffering vs. future glory) |
| Revelation 22:3 | "No longer shall there be any curse..." | Rev 22:3 (No more curse in the new Jerusalem) |
| Revelation 21:4 | "He will wipe away every tear from their eyes..." | Rev 21:4 (End of sorrow) |
| Genesis 3:17 | "...cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life." | Gen 3:17 (The curse of the ground) |
| Exodus 21:22 | "If men strive together and strike a woman with child, so that she miscarries..." | Ex 21:22 (Consequences of striking a pregnant woman) |
| Leviticus 19:23 | "And when you come into the land and plant all kinds of trees for food..." | Lev 19:23 (Laws regarding fruit trees) |
| Psalm 37:26 | "He is[] [Or greedy] and gives without sparing, but the righteous are generous and freely share;" | Psa 37:26 (The righteous are blessed) |
| Isaiah 58:11 | "And the LORD will guide you continually and satisfy your desire with all good things..." | Isa 58:11 (Blessing for obedience and fasting) |
| Isaiah 61:9 | "Their offspring shall be known among the nations..." | Isa 61:9 (The people blessed) |
Isaiah 65 verses
Isaiah 65 23 Meaning
Isaiah 65:23 promises a future of life and sustenance, free from the toil and anxiety of producing offspring who will not survive or resources that are insufficient. In this divinely restored age, there will be no premature death of children, nor will there be the curse of fruitless labor. The results of their work will be for their enjoyment and prosperity, a direct contrast to the present struggles of sin-afflicted humanity.
Isaiah 65 23 Context
Isaiah chapter 65 describes a vision of God's ultimate redemption and the establishment of a new heavens and a new earth. It contrasts the fate of the disobedient with the blessings awaiting God's faithful people. The chapter details a radical transformation where the current suffering and barrenness will be replaced by lasting joy and abundance. Verse 23 is a key component of this future promise, specifically addressing the continuity and prosperity of future generations. This promise is set against the backdrop of Israel's history of exile and suffering, and it anticipates a complete reversal of those painful experiences. The ultimate fulfillment is seen in the New Testament in the eternal state where God's people live in His presence forever, free from sin and its consequences.
Isaiah 65 23 Word Analysis
- וְלֹא (wə·lō): And not. A conjunctive particle negating the following verb or clause.
- יַעַמְלוּ (ya‘mə·lū): they will labor, toil, work hard. From the root עָמַל (’ā·mal), meaning to toil, to be weary. In the context of the curse (Gen 3:17), labor is often associated with difficulty and lack of fruitfulness.
- שָׁוְא (šā·wə’): in vain, for vanity, emptiness, nothingness, futility. Emphasizes that the effort will yield no positive or lasting result.
- וְלֹא (wə·lō): and not.
- יֵלֵדוּ (yê·lê·ḏu): they will give birth, beget. From the root יָלַד (yā·laḏ), to bear, bring forth.
- לַחֲרָדָה (la·ḥă·rā·ḏāh): for terror, for disaster, for alarm, for ruin. Implies that children born would face calamity or be a source of distress, a poignant consequence of sin and its aftermath. This echoes curses found in Deut 28.
- כִּי־ (kî-): because, for. Introduces the reason for the preceding statement.
- הֵם (hêm): they. Refers to the offspring.
- זֶרַע (ze·ra‘): offspring, seed, descendants.
- בִּרְכַת (bir·ḵat): blessing of. From the root בָּרַך (bā·raḵ), to bless, to be on one's knees (in gratitude or submission).
- יְהוָה (Yah·wêh): LORD. The covenantal name of God, emphasizing His relationship with His people.
- וְצֶאֱצָאֵיהֶם (wə·ṣe’·’ə·ṣā·’ê·hem): and their offspring, and their descendants. The plural form of צֶאֱצָא (ṣe’·’ə·ṣā’), progeny, descendants. This reinforces the idea of continuity.
- עִמָּם (‘im·mām): with them. Indicates the presence and continuity of blessings for both parents and children.
Word Groups:
- "labor in vain or bear children for calamity" (
ya‘mə·lū šā·wə’ wə·lō yê·lê·ḏu la·ḥă·rā·ḏāh): This phrase encapsulates the futility and sorrow associated with the cursed human condition. It speaks of efforts that yield no results and offspring that bring pain rather than joy. - "offspring blessed by the LORD" (
ze·ra‘ bir·ḵat Yah·wêh): This highlights divine favor upon descendants, ensuring their prosperity and well-being. It signifies a reversal of any previous spiritual barrenness or curse on the lineage. - "their offspring with them" (
wə·ṣe’·’ə·ṣā·’ê·hem ‘im·mām): Emphasizes the holistic nature of the blessing, where generations will experience God's favor together in continuity.
Isaiah 65 23 Bonus Section
This verse is a profound assurance that in God's renewed creation, the brokenness of humanity due to sin, which manifests as hardship in work and sorrow in family, will be entirely remedied. The Hebrew terms sha'u (vain) and laḥaredah (for terror/calamity) vividly describe the emptiness and fear that marked the fall. The promise of being "a generation blessed by the LORD" with their "offspring with them" points to an unbroken line of faithful descendants, a recurring theme in God's redemptive plan, tracing back to the patriarchal promises (Gen 12:2, 3). It speaks not only of earthly prosperity but of an enduring spiritual lineage, deeply connected to God's ongoing salvific work. This resonates with the ultimate promise of life without end in Christ, where there is no "birth unto death."
Isaiah 65 23 Commentary
Isaiah 65:23 presents a glorious portrait of future redemption, promising liberation from fruitless toil and the heartache of children destined for premature or tragic ends. In the coming age, the people of God will engage in work that is meaningful and productive, and their families will be sources of sustained joy and continuation, directly blessed by Yahweh. This verse stands in stark contrast to the curses described in Deuteronomy 28 and the immediate effects of sin seen after Genesis 3, where labor is burdensome and progeny can be a source of grief. It assures believers that the "groaning of creation" (Rom 8:22) will find its ultimate cessation. The phrase "blessed by the LORD" underscores that this future state is not earned but a gift of divine grace, ensuring unbroken communion and flourishing for generations to come, a foreshadowing of the eternal fellowship described in Revelation.