King James Version
Isaiah 35
10 verses with commentary
The Joy of the Redeemed
The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose.
View commentary (3 sources)
KJV Study Commentary
The "wilderness" and "desert" rejoicing marks a dramatic shift from chapter 34's judgment to restoration. The Hebrew "suws" (rejoice) and "gil" (be glad) express exuberant joy, personifying creation's response to redemption. This connects to Romans 8:19-22 where creation awaits liberation from corruption. The rose (possibly crocus) blooming symbolizes beauty emerging from barrenness, prefiguring t...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
XXXV.
(1) **The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them . . .**—The desolation of the chief enemy of Israel is contrasted with the renewed beauty of Israel’s own inheritance. The two last words are better omitted. The three nouns express varying degrees of the absence of culture, the wild pasture-land, the bare moor, the sandy steppe.
**Shall . . . blossom as the rose.**—Better, *...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
6. Not vain repetition of So 4:1, 2. The use of the same words shows His love unchanged after her temporary unfaithfulness (Mal 3:6).
It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing: the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon, they shall see the glory of the LORD, and the excellency of our God.
View commentary (2 sources)
KJV Study Commentary
The abundant blossoming and joyful singing demonstrate complete transformation. Lebanon's glory, Carmel's excellence, and Sharon's beauty represent the pinnacle of natural splendor. The promise that "they shall see the glory of the LORD" connects natural restoration to theophany—seeing God Himself is the ultimate blessing. This anticipates the new creation where God's glory illuminates everything ...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(2) **The glory of Lebanon . . .**—The three types of cultivated beauty are contrasted with the former three of desolation. See Note on Isaiah 33:9. And over this fair land of transcendent beauty, there will shine not the common light of day, but the glory of Jehovah. (Comp. Isaiah 30:26; Revelation 21:23.)
Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees.
View commentary (3 sources)
KJV Study Commentary
The command to "strengthen" weak hands and "confirm" feeble knees shifts to direct exhortation. This pastoral language addresses spiritual discouragement, using physical metaphors for spiritual weakness. Hebrews 12:12 quotes this verse in context of persevering faith. The imperative mood shows that believers have responsibility to encourage one another, not merely wait passively for God's interven...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(3) **Strengthen ye the weak hands . . .**—Here the words are obviously, as they are quoted in Hebrews 12:12, figurative and not literal, and so far suggest a like interpretation for what follows.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
**8. threescore--**indefinite number, as in So 3:7. Not queens, &c., of Solomon, but witnesses of the espousals, rulers of the earth contrasted with the saints, who, though many, are but "one" bride (Is 52:15; Lu 22:25, 26; Joh 17:21; 1Co 10:17). The one Bride is contrasted with the many wives whom Eastern kings had in violation of the marriage law (1Ki 11:1-3).
Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you. fearful: Heb. hasty
View commentary (3 sources)
KJV Study Commentary
The message "Be strong, fear not" directly addresses anxiety with the antidote—God's coming intervention. "Your God will come with vengeance" assures that justice will be done, encouraging perseverance under persecution. The "recompense of God" promises both punishment for enemies and reward for the faithful. This dual aspect of God's coming—judgment and salvation—runs throughout Scripture, culmin...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(4) **Be strong, fear not: . . .**—The words are, of course, wide and general enough, but looking to the probable date of this section, we may perhaps connect them with the tone of Hezekiah’s speech in 2Chronicles 32:7. Both king and prophet had the same words of comfort for the feeble and faint-hearted, and the ground of comfort is that the government of God is essentially a righteous government,...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
9. Hollow professors, like half wives, have no part in the one bride.
**only one of her mother--**namely, "Jerusalem above" (Ga 4:26). The "little sister" (So 8:8) is not inconsistent with her being "the only one"; for that sister is one with herself (Joh 10:16).
**choice--**(Ep 1:4; 2Th 2:13). As she exalted Him above all others (So 5:10), so He now her.
**daughters ... blessed her--**(Is 8...
Read full commentary →Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.
View commentary (3 sources)
KJV Study Commentary
This prophecy appears in Isaiah's vision of future restoration (chapter 35) and describes messianic miracles that would authenticate the Messiah. 'Then' (az, אָז) indicates a specific future time—when Messiah comes. 'The eyes of the blind shall be opened' speaks both literally and metaphorically. Physical blindness would be healed, while spiritual blindness would be removed. Jesus fulfilled this d...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(5, 6) **Then the eyes of the blind shall . . .**—The words are obviously to be interpreted, like those that precede them, and Isaiah 29:18, of spiritual infirmities. If they seem to find a literal fulfilment in the miracles of the Christ, it is, as it were, *ex abundante, *and as a pledge and earnest of something beyond themselves.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
10. The words expressing the admiration of the daughters. Historically (Ac 5:24-39).
**as the morning--**As yet she is not come to the fulness of her light (Pr 4:18).
**moon--**shining in the night, by light borrowed from the sun; so the bride, in the darkness of this world, reflects the light of the Sun of righteousness (2Co 3:18).
**sun--**Her light of justification is perfect, for it is H...
Read full commentary →Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert.
View commentary (2 sources)
KJV Study Commentary
The lame leaping like a deer and the mute tongue singing depict miraculous healing. Jesus' healing miracles (Matthew 11:5) fulfilled this prophecy, demonstrating His messianic identity. The wilderness waters breaking forth symbolizes spiritual refreshment in barren places—the Holy Spirit bringing life where death reigned. This physical-spiritual duality characterizes biblical prophecy: literal hea...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
11. The bride's words; for she everywhere is the narrator, and often soliloquizes, which He never does. The first garden (So 2:11-13) was that of spring, full of flowers and grapes not yet ripe; the second, autumn, with spices (which are always connected with the person of Jesus Christ), and nothing unripe (So 4:13, &c.). The third here, of "nuts," from the previous autumn; the end of winter, ...
Read full commentary →And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water: in the habitation of dragons, where each lay, shall be grass with reeds and rushes. grass: or, a court for reeds, etc
View commentary (3 sources)
KJV Study Commentary
The parched ground becoming a pool reverses the curse of drought and barrenness. Dragons' (jackals') habitation—previously representing desolation (34:13)—transforms into vegetation, showing complete restoration. Reeds and rushes require abundant water, indicating permanent fertility. This dramatic transformation from cursed wasteland to fertile paradise illustrates regeneration—what was dead in s...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(7) **The parched ground . . .**—The Hebrew word is essentially what we know as the *mirage, *or *fata morgana, *the silvery sheen which looks like a sparkling lake, and turns out to be barren sand. Instead of that delusive show, there shall be in the renewed earth the *lake *itself.
**In the habitation of dragons . . .**—Better, as elsewhere, *jackals, *which had their lair in the sandy desert.
*...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
12. Sudden outpourings of the Spirit on Pentecost (Ac 2:1-13), while the Church was using the means (answering to "the garden," So 6:11; Joh 3:8).
**Ammi-nadib--**supposed to me one proverbial for swift driving. Similarly (So 1:9). Rather, "my willing people" (Psa 110:3). A willing chariot bore a "willing people"; or Nadib is the Prince, Jesus Christ (Psa 68:17). She is borne in a moment into Hi...
Read full commentary →And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein. but: or, for he shall be with them
View commentary (3 sources)
KJV Study Commentary
The "highway" called "The way of holiness" represents God's sanctified path for His redeemed people. The exclusion of the unclean emphasizes purity and separation from sin. "The wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err" promises divine guidance so clear that even simple believers cannot miss it. This contrasts with the world's confusing paths. The highway anticipates John 14:6 where Jesus declar...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(8) **An highway shall be there.**—The raised causeway, as distinct from the common paths. (See Judges 5:6.) We are still in the region of parables, but the thought has a special interest as a transition, at the close of the first volume of Isaiah’s writings, to the opening of the second. The use of the road has been referred, by some interpreters, to the return of the exiles from Babylon. Rather ...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
13. Entreaty of the daughters of Jerusalem to her, in her chariot-like flight from them (compare 2Ki 2:12; 2Sa 19:14).
**Shulamite--**new name applied to her now for the first time. Feminine of Solomon, Prince of Peace; His bride, daughter of peace, accepting and proclaiming it (Is 52:7; Joh 14:27; Ro 5:1; Ep 2:17). Historically, this name answers to the time when, not without a divine design in...
Read full commentary →No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there:
View commentary (2 sources)
KJV Study Commentary
The promise "No lion shall be there" removes danger from God's highway, echoing Eden's pre-fall safety and anticipating the peaceable kingdom (Isaiah 11:6-9). "Ravenous beasts" represent spiritual dangers—Satan as a roaring lion (1 Peter 5:8) cannot access this protected way. "The redeemed shall walk there" specifies who travels this highway—only those purchased by God's grace. This security assur...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(9) **No lion shall be there . . .**—We have to remember that the lion had not ceased to haunt the valley of the Jordan, as it had done in the days of Samson (Judges 14:5), and David (1Samuel 17:3-4; 2Samuel 23:20). The recent depopulation of the northern kingdom had probably laid the country more open to their attack (2Kings 17:25), and thus gave a special force to the prophet’s description. For ...
Read full commentary →And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
View commentary (3 sources)
KJV Study Commentary
The "ransomed of the LORD" returning to Zion with singing depicts triumphant homecoming. "Everlasting joy" and sorrow fleeing away describe permanent transformation from mourning to gladness. Revelation 21:4 echoes this promise in the new creation. The "ransomed" (Hebrew "paduwy") emphasizes payment of redemption price, pointing to Christ's atoning work. This glorious procession anticipates believ...
Read full commentary →Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers
(10) **With songs and everlasting joy . . .**—The first volume of Isaiah’s prophecy closes fitly with this transcendent picture, carrying the thoughts of men beyond any possible earthly fulfilment. The outward imagery probably had its starting-point in the processions of the pilgrims who came up to the Temple singing psalms, like those known as the “songs of degrees” at their successive halting-pl...
Read full commentary →Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
CHAPTER 7
So 7:1-13.
**1. thy feet--**rather, "thy goings" (Psa 17:5). Evident allusion to Is 52:7: "How beautiful ... are the feet of him ... that publisheth peace" (Shulamite, So 6:13).
**shoes--**Sandals are richly jewelled in the East (Lu 15:22; Ep 6:15). She is evidently "on the mountains," whither she was wafted (So 6:12), above the daughters of Jerusalem, who therefore portray her fee...
Read full commentary →