Isaiah 29:17

Changes are Coming

29:17 In just a very short time ¹ 

Lebanon will turn into an orchard,

and the orchard will be considered a forest. ² 

Isaiah 35:2

35:2 Let it richly bloom; ³ 

let it rejoice and shout with delight! ⁴ 

It is given the grandeur ⁵  of Lebanon,

the splendor of Carmel and Sharon.

They will see the grandeur of the Lord,

the splendor of our God.

Isaiah 35:7

35:7 The dry soil will become a pool of water,

the parched ground springs of water.

Where jackals once lived and sprawled out,

grass, reeds, and papyrus will grow.

Isaiah 54:1-3

Zion Will Be Secure

54:1 “Shout for joy, O barren one who has not given birth!

Give a joyful shout and cry out, you who have not been in labor!

For the children of the desolate one are more numerous

than the children of the married woman,” says the Lord.

54:2 Make your tent larger,

stretch your tent curtains farther out! ⁶ 

Spare no effort,

lengthen your ropes,

and pound your stakes deep. ⁷ 

54:3 For you will spread out to the right and to the left;

your children will conquer ⁸  nations

and will resettle desolate cities.

Isaiah 55:11-13

55:11 In the same way, the promise that I make

does not return to me, having accomplished nothing. ⁹ 

No, it is realized as I desire

and is fulfilled as I intend.” ¹⁰ 

55:12 Indeed you will go out with joy;

you will be led along in peace;

the mountains and hills will give a joyful shout before you,

and all the trees in the field will clap their hands.

55:13 Evergreens will grow in place of thorn bushes,

firs will grow in place of nettles;

they will be a monument to the Lord, ¹¹ 

a permanent reminder that will remain. ¹² 

Isaiah 60:1-22

Zion’s Future Splendor

60:1 “Arise! Shine! For your light arrives!

The splendor ¹³  of the Lord shines on you!

60:2 For, look, darkness covers the earth

and deep darkness covers ¹⁴  the nations,

but the Lord shines on you;

his splendor ¹⁵  appears over you.

60:3 Nations come to your light,

kings to your bright light.

60:4 Look all around you! ¹⁶ 

They all gather and come to you –

your sons come from far away

and your daughters are escorted by guardians.

60:5 Then you will look and smile, ¹⁷ 

you will be excited and your heart will swell with pride. ¹⁸ 

For the riches of distant lands ¹⁹  will belong to you

and the wealth of nations will come to you.

60:6 Camel caravans will cover your roads, ²⁰ 

young camels from Midian and Ephah.

All the merchants of Sheba ²¹  will come,

bringing gold and incense

and singing praises to the Lord. ²² 

60:7 All the sheep of Kedar will be gathered to you;

the rams of Nebaioth will be available to you as sacrifices. ²³ 

They will go up on my altar acceptably, ²⁴ 

and I will bestow honor on my majestic temple.

60:8 Who are these who float along ²⁵  like a cloud,

who fly like doves to their shelters? ²⁶ 

60:9 Indeed, the coastlands ²⁷  look eagerly for me,

the large ships ²⁸  are in the lead,

bringing your sons from far away,

along with their silver and gold,

to honor the Lord your God, ²⁹ 

the Holy One of Israel, ³⁰  for he has bestowed honor on you.

60:10 Foreigners will rebuild your walls;

their kings will serve you.

Even though I struck you down in my anger,

I will restore my favor and have compassion on you. ³¹ 

60:11 Your gates will remain open at all times;

they will not be shut during the day or at night,

so that the wealth of nations may be delivered,

with their kings leading the way. ³² 

60:12 Indeed, ³³  nations or kingdoms that do not serve you will perish;

such nations will be totally destroyed. ³⁴ 

60:13 The splendor of Lebanon will come to you,

its evergreens, firs, and cypresses together,

to beautify my palace; ³⁵ 

I will bestow honor on my throne room. ³⁶ 

60:14 The children of your oppressors will come bowing to you;

all who treated you with disrespect will bow down at your feet.

They will call you, ‘The City of the Lord,

Zion of the Holy One of Israel.’ ³⁷ 

60:15 You were once abandoned

and despised, with no one passing through,

but I will make you ³⁸  a permanent source of pride

and joy to coming generations.

60:16 You will drink the milk of nations;

you will nurse at the breasts of kings. ³⁹ 

Then you will recognize that I, the Lord, am your deliverer,

your protector, ⁴⁰  the powerful ruler of Jacob. ⁴¹ 

60:17 Instead of bronze, I will bring you gold,

instead of iron, I will bring you silver,

instead of wood, I will bring you ⁴²  bronze,

instead of stones, I will bring you ⁴³  iron.

I will make prosperity ⁴⁴  your overseer,

and vindication your sovereign ruler. ⁴⁵ 

60:18 Sounds of violence ⁴⁶  will no longer be heard in your land,

or the sounds of ⁴⁷  destruction and devastation within your borders.

You will name your walls, ‘Deliverance,’

and your gates, ‘Praise.’

60:19 The sun will no longer supply light for you by day,

nor will the moon’s brightness shine on you;

the Lord will be your permanent source of light –

the splendor of your God will shine upon you. ⁴⁸ 

60:20 Your sun will no longer set;

your moon will not disappear; ⁴⁹ 

the Lord will be your permanent source of light;

your time ⁵⁰  of sorrow will be over.

60:21 All of your people will be godly; ⁵¹ 

they will possess the land permanently.

I will plant them like a shoot;

they will be the product of my labor,

through whom I reveal my splendor. ⁵² 

60:22 The least of you will multiply into ⁵³  a thousand;

the smallest of you will become a large nation.

When the right time comes, I the Lord will quickly do this!” ⁵⁴ 

Isaiah 61:3-5

61:3 to strengthen those who mourn in Zion,

by giving them a turban, instead of ashes,

oil symbolizing joy, ⁵⁵  instead of mourning,

a garment symbolizing praise, ⁵⁶  instead of discouragement. ⁵⁷ 

They will be called oaks of righteousness, ⁵⁸ 

trees planted by the Lord to reveal his splendor. ⁵⁹ 

61:4 They will rebuild the perpetual ruins

and restore the places that were desolate; ⁶⁰ 

they will reestablish the ruined cities,

the places that have been desolate since ancient times.

61:5 ⁶¹ “Foreigners will take care of ⁶²  your sheep;

foreigners will work in your fields and vineyards.

Hosea 1:10-11

The Restoration of Israel

1:10 (2:1) ⁶³  However, ⁶⁴  in the future the number of the people ⁶⁵  of Israel will be like the sand of the sea which can be neither measured nor numbered. Although ⁶⁶  it was said to them, “You are not my people,” it will be said to them, “You are ⁶⁷  children ⁶⁸  of the living God!” 1:11 Then the people ⁶⁹  of Judah and the people of Israel will be gathered together. They will appoint for themselves one leader, ⁷⁰  and will flourish in the land. ⁷¹  Certainly, ⁷²  the day of Jezreel will be great!

Romans 11:18-26

11:18 do not boast over the branches. But if you boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you. 11:19 Then you will say, “The branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.” 11:20 Granted! ⁷³  They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but fear! 11:21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, perhaps he will not spare you. 11:22 Notice therefore the kindness and harshness of God – harshness toward those who have fallen, but ⁷⁴  God’s kindness toward you, provided you continue in his kindness; ⁷⁵  otherwise you also will be cut off. 11:23 And even they – if they do not continue in their unbelief – will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. 11:24 For if you were cut off from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these natural branches be grafted back into their own olive tree?

11:25 For I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers and sisters, ⁷⁶  so that you may not be conceited: A partial hardening has happened to Israel ⁷⁷  until the full number ⁷⁸  of the Gentiles has come in. 11:26 And so ⁷⁹  all Israel will be saved, as it is written:

“The Deliverer will come out of Zion;

he will remove ungodliness from Jacob.

[29:17]  ¹ tn The Hebrew text phrases this as a rhetorical question, “Is it not yet a little, a short [time]?”

[29:17]  ² sn The meaning of this verse is debated, but it seems to depict a reversal in fortunes. The mighty forest of Lebanon (symbolic of the proud and powerful, see 2:13; 10:34) will be changed into a common orchard, while the common orchard (symbolic of the oppressed and lowly) will grow into a great forest. See J. N. Oswalt, Isaiah (NICOT), 1:538.

[35:2]  ³ tn The ambiguous verb form תִּפְרַח (tifrakh) is translated as a jussive because it is parallel to the jussive form תָגֵל (tagel).

[35:2]  ⁴ tn Heb “and let it rejoice, yes [with] rejoicing and shouting.” גִּילַת (gilat) may be an archaic feminine nominal form (see GKC 421 §130.b).

[35:2]  ⁵ tn Or “glory” (KJV, NIV, NRSV); also a second time later in this verse.

[54:2]  ⁶ tn Heb “the curtains of our dwelling places let them stretch out.”

[54:2]  ⁷ tn Heb “your stakes strengthen.”

[54:3]  ⁸ tn Or “take possession of”; NAB “shall dispossess.”

[55:11]  ⁹ tn Heb “so is the word which goes out from my mouth, it does not return to empty.” “Word” refers here to divine promises, like the ones made just prior to and after this (see vv. 7b, 12-13).

[55:11]  ¹⁰ tn Heb “but it accomplishes what I desire, and succeeds [on the mission] which I send it.”

[55:13]  ¹¹ tn Heb “to the Lord for a name.” For שֵׁם (shem) used in the sense of “monument,” see also 56:5, where it stands parallel to יָד (yad).

[55:13]  ¹² tn Or, more literally, “a permanent sign that will not be cut off.”

[60:1]  ¹³ tn Or “glory” (so most English versions).

[60:2]  ¹⁴ tn The verb “covers” is understood by ellipsis (note the preceding line).

[60:2]  ¹⁵ tn Or “glory” (so most English versions); TEV “the brightness of his presence.”

[60:4]  ¹⁶ tn Heb “Lift up around your eyes and see!”

[60:5]  ¹⁷ tn Or “shine,” or “be radiant” (NAB, NASB, NIV, NRSV).

[60:5]  ¹⁸ tn Heb “and it will tremble and be wide, your heart.”

[60:5]  ¹⁹ tn Heb “the wealth of the sea,” i.e., wealth that is transported from distant lands via the sea.

[60:6]  ²⁰ tn Heb “an abundance of camels will cover you.”

[60:6]  ²¹ tn Heb “all of them, from Sheba.”

[60:6]  ²² tn Heb “and they will announce the praises of the Lord.”

[60:7]  ²³ tn Heb “will serve you,” i.e., be available as sacrifices (see the next line). Another option is to understood these “rams” as symbolic of leaders who will be subject to the people of Zion. See v. 10.

[60:7]  ²⁴ tc Heb “they will go up on acceptance [on] my altar.” Some have suggested that the preposition עַל (’al) is dittographic (note the preceding יַעֲלוּ [ya’alu]). Consequently, the form should be emended to לְרָצוֹן (lÿratson, “acceptably”; see BDB 953 s.v. רָצוֹן). However, the Qumran scroll 1QIsa^a has both לרצון followed by the preposition על, which would argue against deleted the preposition. As the above translation seeks to demonstrate, the preposition עַל (’al) indicates a norm (“in accordance with acceptance” or “acceptably”; IBHS 218 §11.2.13e, n. 111) and the “altar” functions as an objective accusative with a verb of motion (cf. Gen 49:4; Lev 2:2; Num 13:17; J. N. Oswalt, Isaiah [NICOT], 2:534, n. 14).

[60:8]  ²⁵ tn Heb “fly” (so KJV, NASB, NRSV); NAB, NIV “fly along.”

[60:8]  ²⁶ tn Heb “to their windows,” i.e., to the openings in their coops. See HALOT 83 s.v. אֲרֻבָּה.

[60:9]  ²⁷ tn Or “islands” (NIV); CEV “distant islands”; TEV “distant lands.”

[60:9]  ²⁸ tn Heb “the ships of Tarshish.” See the note at 2:16.

[60:9]  ²⁹ tn Heb “to the name of the Lord your God.”

[60:9]  ³⁰ sn See the note on the phrase “the Holy One of Israel” in 1:4.

[60:10]  ³¹ tn Heb “in my favor I will have compassion on you.”

[60:11]  ³² tn Or “led in procession.” The participle is passive.

[60:12]  ³³ tn Or “For” (KJV, NAB, NASB, NIV, NRSV, NLT); TEV “But.”

[60:12]  ³⁴ tn The infinitive absolute appears before the finite verb for emphasis.

[60:13]  ³⁵ tn Or “holy place, sanctuary.”

[60:13]  ³⁶ tn Heb “the place of my feet.” See Ezek 43:7, where the Lord’s throne is called the “place of the soles of my feet.”

[60:14]  ³⁷ sn See the note on the phrase “the Holy One of Israel” in 1:4.

[60:15]  ³⁸ tn Heb “Instead of your being abandoned and despised, with no one passing through, I will make you.”

[60:16]  ³⁹ sn The nations and kings are depicted as a mother nursing her children. Restored Zion will be nourished by them as she receives their wealth as tribute.

[60:16]  ⁴⁰ tn Or “redeemer.” See the note at 41:14.

[60:16]  ⁴¹ sn See 1:24 and 49:26.

[60:17]  ⁴² tn The words “I will bring you” are supplied in the translation; they are understood by ellipsis (see the preceding lines).

[60:17]  ⁴³ tn The words “I will bring you” are supplied in the translation; they are understood by ellipsis (see the first two lines of the verse).

[60:17]  ⁴⁴ tn Or “peace” (KJV and many other English versions).

[60:17]  ⁴⁵ tn The plural indicates degree. The language is ironic; in the past Zion was ruled by oppressive tyrants, but now personified prosperity and vindication will be the only things that will “dominate” the city.

[60:18]  ⁴⁶ tn The words “sounds of” are supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons.

[60:18]  ⁴⁷ tn The words “sounds of” are supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons.

[60:19]  ⁴⁸ tn Heb “and your God for your splendor.”

[60:20]  ⁴⁹ sn In this verse “sun” and “moon” refer to the Lord’s light, which will replace the sun and moon (see v. 19). Light here symbolizes the restoration of divine blessing and prosperity in conjunction with the Lord’s presence. See 30:26.

[60:20]  ⁵⁰ tn Heb “days” (so KJV, NAB, NIV, NRSV, NLT).

[60:21]  ⁵¹ tn Or “righteous” (NASB, NIV, NRSV, NLT); NAB “just.”

[60:21]  ⁵² tn Heb “a shoot of his planting, the work of my hands, to reveal splendor.”

[60:22]  ⁵³ tn Heb “will become” (so NASB, NIV).

[60:22]  ⁵⁴ tn Heb “I, the Lord, in its time, I will quickly do it.”

[61:3]  ⁵⁵ tn Heb “oil of joy” (KJV, ASV); NASB, NIV, NRSV “the oil of gladness.”

[61:3]  ⁵⁶ tn Heb “garment of praise.”

[61:3]  ⁵⁷ tn Heb “a faint spirit” (so NRSV); KJV, ASV “the spirit of heaviness”; NASB “a spirit of fainting.”

[61:3]  ⁵⁸ tn Rather than referring to the character of the people, צֶדֶק (tsedeq) may carry the nuance “vindication” here, suggesting that God’s restored people are a testimony to his justice. See v. 2, which alludes to the fact that God will take vengeance against the enemies of his people. Cf. NAB “oaks of justice.”

[61:3]  ⁵⁹ tn Heb “a planting of the Lord to reveal splendor.”

[61:4]  ⁶⁰ tn Heb “and the formerly desolate places they will raise up.”

[61:5]  ⁶¹ sn The Lord speaks in vv. 7-8 (and possibly v. 9). It is not clear where the servant’s speech (see vv. 1-3a) ends and the Lord’s begins. Perhaps the direct address to the people signals the beginning of the Lord’s speech.

[61:5]  ⁶² tn Heb “will stand [in position] and shepherd.”

[1:10]  ⁶³ sn Beginning with 1:10, the verse numbers through 2:23 in the English Bible differ by two from the verse numbers in the Hebrew text (BHS), with 1:10 ET = 2:1 HT, 1:11 ET = 2:2 HT, 2:1 ET = 2:3 HT, etc., through 2:23 ET = 2:25 HT. Beginning with 3:1 the verse numbers in the English Bible and the Hebrew Bible are again the same.

[1:10]  ⁶⁴ tn The vav prefixed to וְהָיָה (véhaya) functions in an adversative sense: “however” (see R. J. Williams, Hebrew Syntax, 71, §432).

[1:10]  ⁶⁵ tn Heb “sons” (so NASB); KJV, ASV “the children”; NAB, NIV “the Israelites.”

[1:10]  ⁶⁶ tn Heb “in the place” (בִּמְקוֹם, bimqom). BDB 880 s.v. מָקוֹם 7.b suggests that בִּמְקוֹם (preposition בְּ, bet, + noun מָקוֹם, maqom) is an idiom carrying a concessive sense: “instead of” (e.g., Isa 33:21; Hos 2:1). However, HALOT suggests that it functions in a locative sense: “in the same place” (HALOT 626 s.v. מָקוֹם 2b; e.g., 1 Kgs 21:19; Isa 33:21; Hos 2:1).

[1:10]  ⁶⁷ tn The predicate nominative, “You are…,” is supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons.

[1:10]  ⁶⁸ tn Heb “sons” (so KJV, NASB, NIV).

[1:11]  ⁶⁹ tn Heb “sons” (twice in this verse, so NASB); KJV, ASV “children”; NIV, NRSV, TEV “people.”

[1:11]  ⁷⁰ tn Heb “head” (so KJV, NAB, NRSV).

[1:11]  ⁷¹ tn Alternatively, “gain possession of the land” (cf. NRSV) or “rise up from the land” (cf. NIV). This clause may be understood in two ways: (1) Israel will gain ascendancy over the land or conquer the land (e.g., Exod 1:10; cf. NAB “come up from other lands”) or (2) Israel will be “planted” in the land (Hos 2:24-25; cf. NLT “will…plant his people”).

[1:11]  ⁷² tn Or “For” (so NASB); NCV “because”; TEV “Yes.”

[11:20]  ⁷³ tn Grk “well!”, an adverb used to affirm a statement. It means “very well,” “you are correct.”

[11:22]  ⁷⁴ tn Greek emphasizes the contrast between these two clauses more than can be easily expressed in English.

[11:22]  ⁷⁵ tn Grk “if you continue in (the) kindness.”

[11:25]  ⁷⁶ tn Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 1:13.

[11:25]  ⁷⁷ tn Or “Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in.”

[11:25]  ⁷⁸ tn Grk “fullness.”

[11:26]  ⁷⁹ tn It is not clear whether the phrase καὶ οὕτως (kai Joutws, “and so”) is to be understood in a modal sense (“and in this way”) or in a temporal sense (“and in the end”). Neither interpretation is conclusive from a grammatical standpoint, and in fact the two may not be mutually exclusive. Some, like H. Hübner, who argue strongly against the temporal reading, nevertheless continue to give the phrase a temporal significance, saying that God will save all Israel in the end (Gottes Ich und Israel [FRLANT], 118).