Isaiah 65 25

Isaiah 65:25 kjv

The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent's meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the LORD.

Isaiah 65:25 nkjv

The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, The lion shall eat straw like the ox, And dust shall be the serpent's food. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain," Says the LORD.

Isaiah 65:25 niv

The wolf and the lamb will feed together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox, and dust will be the serpent's food. They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain," says the LORD.

Isaiah 65:25 esv

The wolf and the lamb shall graze together; the lion shall eat straw like the ox, and dust shall be the serpent's food. They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain," says the LORD.

Isaiah 65:25 nlt

The wolf and the lamb will feed together.
The lion will eat hay like a cow.
But the snakes will eat dust.
In those days no one will be hurt or destroyed on my holy mountain.
I, the LORD, have spoken!"

Isaiah 65 verses

Isaiah 65 25 meaning

Isaiah 65:25 paints a prophetic picture of ultimate peace and harmony in God's renewed creation. It describes a radical transformation of the natural order where predators lose their destructive nature and coexist peacefully with their former prey. The verse speaks of a time when the effects of the Fall are profoundly reversed, leading to an environment free from hurt and destruction throughout God's holy domain.

Isaiah 65 25 Context

Isaiah chapter 65 begins with God addressing those who sought Him not and those who lived in idolatry, promising judgment. However, the chapter quickly shifts to a message of hope and restoration for a faithful remnant. God proclaims His intention to create "new heavens and a new earth" (v. 17) where former troubles are forgotten, and His people will rejoice eternally. This new creation involves long life, fruitful labor, and answered prayers for His servants. Verse 25, the culminating statement of this chapter's prophetic vision, specifically describes the profound peace and absence of harm in the natural world within this renewed order, completing the picture of universal well-being. It follows earlier promises of human flourishing, ensuring that even the most fundamental relationships of creation, those between predator and prey, are fundamentally reconciled, reversing the discord introduced by sin.

Isaiah 65 25 Word analysis

• The wolf and the lamb:

  • ze'ev (זְאֵב - wolf): A wild, carnivorous predator, often symbolizing danger or evil (Jer 5:6, Ez 22:27).
  • keveś (כֶּבֶשׂ - lamb): A vulnerable, docile animal, often symbolizing innocence and sacrifice (Isa 53:7).
  • Significance: Represents the most unlikely and profound reconciliation, transforming hostility into peace. It points to a radical reversal of the post-Fall natural order where violence reigned. This group, also with "leopard" and "young goat" in Isa 11, embodies the ultimate harmony.

• shall feed together:

  • Indicates shared sustenance and activity, not mutual predation.
  • Significance: A sign of profound peace, erasing fear and competition for survival among former adversaries.

• The lion:

  • ’aryeh (אַרְיֵה - lion): The most powerful predator, king of beasts, representing strength and aggression (Amos 3:8).
  • Significance: Its transformation is the ultimate demonstration of altered nature, as its core identity (a hunter) is radically changed.

• shall eat straw:

  • tבן (teven - straw): Dried plant stalk, typical food for domesticated herbivores.
  • Significance: Implies a fundamental physiological and behavioral shift for the lion, from carnivore to herbivore. This returns the creation to a state reminiscent of Genesis 1:30, where all creatures were given plants for food.

• like the ox:

  • bakar (בָּקָר - ox) or par (פַּר - young bull): A strong, domesticated herbivore known for peaceful grazing and labor.
  • Significance: The ox is the paradigm of non-predatory herbivorous existence. The lion becoming "like the ox" underscores a complete and irreversible transformation of its predatory instincts.

• and dust shall be the serpent's food:

  • ‘afar (עָפָר - dust): Ground earth, not sustenance.
  • nachash (נָחָשׁ - serpent): Refers to the serpent from Gen 3, symbolic of Satan and evil.
  • Significance: This is a direct echo of the curse on the serpent in Genesis 3:14 ("Dust you shall eat all the days of your life"). Unlike the wolf, lamb, lion, and ox who achieve harmony, the serpent retains its cursed status. This emphasizes that while creation is restored to peace, evil (represented by the serpent) does not share in this redemption but remains under judgment. This boundary distinguishes universal restoration from the unceasing defeat of spiritual evil.

• They shall not hurt nor destroy:

  • la' hara' v'lo' shachat (לֹא־יָרֵעוּ וְלֹא־יַשְׁחִיתוּ - they shall not do evil/harm and not corrupt/destroy).
  • Significance: This double negation emphatically guarantees total absence of harm, suffering, and ruin in the new creation. It's a comprehensive statement covering physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being within the domain.

• in all my holy mountain:

  • b'khol har qodshi (בְּכָל־הַר קָדְשִׁי - in all my mountain of my holiness).
  • Significance: "My holy mountain" refers to Zion, Jerusalem, the place of God's presence and reign. In an eschatological context, it expands to encompass the entirety of the "new heavens and new earth," God's purified and redeemed creation, signifying that this peace is universal where God's sovereignty is fully established. It also contrasts with literal mountains often used for idolatrous practices (Isa 57:7, Ez 18:6).

Isaiah 65 25 Bonus section

The profound animal harmony envisioned in Isaiah 65:25, paralleling Isaiah 11:6-9, served as a strong polemic against pagan beliefs of the time. Many ancient Near Eastern cultures, like those of Babylon and Assyria, frequently depicted their gods as fierce, untamed, or having animalistic aspects associated with strength and predatory power. Their myths often featured divine conflict and chaotic forces in the cosmos. In contrast, Isaiah's prophecy presents the One True God as the author of ultimate order and peace, one who tames the wildness not through brute force, but by transforming the very nature of creation. The peace is not merely a cessation of conflict but a deeper spiritual restoration, implying that true peace and justice derive from YHWH's redemptive power, not from chaotic pantheons or human-derived power structures. This future peace suggests that even the created order, fallen as it is, longs for and will participate in God's ultimate plan, reflecting the knowledge of His glory.

Isaiah 65 25 Commentary

Isaiah 65:25 serves as a capstone prophecy for God's creation of "new heavens and a new earth," portraying an ultimate vision of Edenic harmony. The imagery of predators (wolf, lion) coexisting and sharing sustenance with prey (lamb, ox) goes beyond mere coexistence; it signifies a fundamental, nature-altering transformation that undoes the violent impact of the Fall. This reversal highlights God's sovereign power to restore creation to its pristine state of peace. Crucially, the verse introduces a theological distinction: while general creation is redeemed from internal conflict and destruction, the curse upon the serpent, symbolizing Satan and evil, remains perpetually fixed ("dust shall be the serpent's food"). This confirms that God's new creation will be completely free from sin's original instigator and its destructive influence, ensuring lasting purity and holiness. The promise "They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain" confirms that universal peace and safety are intrinsic to God's presence and righteous reign. This future state represents a holistic peace for the cosmos, flowing from the spiritual redemption that defines God's Messianic kingdom.