Isaiah Institute Translation
Isaiah 35
At the new exodus to Zion the righteous regenerate and the desert blooms, heralding Jehovah’s coming.
1 Wilderness and arid land shall be jubilant;the desert shall rejoicewhen it blossoms like the crocus.
2 Joyously it shall break out in flower,singing with delight;it shall be endowed with the glory of Lebanon,the splendor of Carmel and Sharon.The glory of Jehovah and the splendor of our Godthey shall see there.
3 Strengthen the hands grown feeble,steady the failing knees.
4 Say to those with fearful hearts,Take courage, be unafraid!See, your God is coming to avenge and to reward;God himself will come and deliver you.
5 Then shall the eyes of the blind be openedand the ears of the deaf unstopped.
6 Then shall the lame leap like deer,and the tongue of the dumb shout for joy.Water shall break forth in the wildernessand streams flow in the desert.
7 The land of mirages shall become one of lakes,the thirsty place springs of water;in the haunt of howling creatures[shall marshes break out],ain the reservesb shall come rushes and reeds.
8 There shall be highways and roadswhich shall be called the Way of Holiness,cfor they shall be for suchc as are holy.The unclean shall not traverse them;on them shall no reprobates wander.
9 No lions dshall be encountered there,dnor shall wild beasts intrude.But the redeemed shall walk them,
10 the ransomed of Jehovah shall return;they shall come singing to Zion,their heads crowned with everlasting joy.They shall have won joy and gladnesswhen sorrow and sighing flee away.
- a7 Hebrew ribṣâh, her resting place, emended to tiprōṣ biṣṣâ.
- b7 Hebrew ḥāṣîr, grass, emended to ḥāṣēr; compare 34:13.
- c8 Phrase transposed; in the text it follows traverse them.
- d9 Text emended to replace Hebrew lōᵓ yihyeh šām, shall not be there, with lōᵓ yimmāṣē šām, which occurs as a duplication (fem.) following intrude.
Apocalyptic Commentary
Isaiah 35
Covenant curse reversals for Jehovah’s righteous people include the regeneration of the land. Symbolic of the regeneration of his people, the desert blossoms overnight like the “crocus” (bassalet), the first flower of spring. Jehovah’s elect who abide there—who participate in the new exodus out of Babylon and new wandering in the wilderness—rejoice in their deliverance and sing Songs of Salvation (Isaiah 12:1-6; 25:1-5; 26:1-6; 30:29). Jehovah’s cloud of glory rests over them to protect them from enemies and from adverse elements in his Day of Judgment (Isaiah 4:5-6; 25:4-5; 58:8; 60:1-2).
Those who minister to Jehovah’s people in the wilderness encourage them to hold fast and trust in Jehovah to deliver them: “Though my Lord give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet shall your Teacher remain hidden no longer, but your eyes shall see the Master” (Isaiah 30:20; cf. 30:18). This is the time of testing before he comes on earth to reign: “Tell the Daughter of Zion, See, your Salvation comes, his reward with him, his work preceding him” (Isaiah 62:11; cf. 40:10). Jehovah’s “day of vengeance” (Isaiah 34:8; 61:2) lasts only until the wicked are destroyed from the earth.
During their wilderness sojourn, many who were blind and deaf—Jehovah’s people and their prophets (Isaiah 29:10; 42:18-20; 56:10-12)—see and hear through understanding “the words of the book” and emerge from spiritual darkness (Isaiah 29:18, 24; 58:10-11; 60:1-2). Jehovah’s servant opens the eyes of the blind, unstops the ears of the deaf, and delivers them from darkness (Isaiah 42:7; 49:6, 9; 50:4, 10). Healing of physical functions forms an integral part of the reversal of covenant curses that accompanies the servant’s mission before Jehovah comes (Isaiah 19:20-22; 57:18-19; 58:8).
Abundant moisture—in places where none existed—typifies the desert experience of Jehovah’s people during their wilderness wandering and at the time they receive lands of inheritance: “They shall feed along the way and find pasture on all barren heights; they shall not hunger or thirst, nor be smitten by the heatwave or the sun: he who has mercy on them will guide them; he will lead them by springs of water” (Isaiah 49:9-10); “I will open up streams in barren hill country, springs in the midst of the plains; I will turn the desert into lakes, parched lands into fountains of water” (Isaiah 41:18).
The Way of Holiness—the return road to Jehovah’s holy mountain (Isaiah 27:13; 56:7; 57:13b)—now cleared of obstacles (Isaiah 40:3-4; 57:14; 62:10), is traveled by his holy and valiant ones who survive Jehovah’s destruction of the wicked in his Day of Judgment (Isaiah 4:3; 13:3; 62:10-12). These hail from the four directions of the earth and witness Jehovah’s coming to Zion (Isaiah 11:11-12; 43:5-7; 49:11-12). Those who remain unclean, on the other hand—the reprobates who wander the highways of Jehovah’s people—perish at the hands of wild animals or other miscreants (Isaiah 5:29; 15:9; 56:9).
Persons spiritually “redeemed” by Jehovah (Isaiah 43:1; 44:22) and physically “ransomed” by righteousness (Isaiah 1:27; 51:1)—Jehovah’s servant (Isaiah 41:2; 46:11-13)—return to Zion in the exodus of Jehovah’s elect from throughout the earth (Isaiah 11:10-12; 51:9-11). Where sorrow and sighing were once the lot of Jehovah’s people (Isaiah 21:3; 29:2), now everlasting joy and gladness take their place (Isaiah 55:12; 61:7). The covenant blessings that were conditional on his people’s faithfulness through trials (Isaiah 26:2-3; 33:6) now become eternal and unconditional (Isaiah 54:10; 61:8).