Isaiah 55 · Verse 13

Isaiah 55:13

Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree: and it shall be to the Lord for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.
Isaiah 55:13, King James Version

Isaiah 55:13 in other translations

BSBInstead of the thornbush, a cypress will grow, and instead of the brier, a myrtle will spring up; they will make a name for the LORD, an everlasting sign, never to be destroyed.”
WEBInstead of the thorn the cypress tree will come up; and instead of the brier the myrtle tree will come up. It will make a name for the LORD, for an everlasting sign that will not be cut off.”
ASVInstead of the thorn shall come up the fir-tree; and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle-tree: and it shall be to Jehovah for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.
YLTInstead of the thorn come up doth fir, Instead of the brier come up doth myrtle, And it hath been to Jehovah for a name, For a sign age-during--it is not cut off!
DARBYInstead of the thorn shall come up the cypress, and instead of the nettle shall come up the myrtle; and it shall be to Jehovah for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.
BBEIn place of the thorn will come up the fir-tree, and in place of the blackberry the myrtle: and it will be to the Lord for a name, for an eternal sign which will not be cut off.
WebsterInstead of the thorn shall come up the fir-tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle-tree: and it shall be to the LORD for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.

What does Isaiah 55:13 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
13. thorn--emblem of the wicked (2Sa 23:6; Mi 7:4). fir tree--the godly (Is 60:13; Psa 92:12). Compare as to the change wrought, Ro 6:19. brier--emblem of uncultivation (Is 5:6). myrtle--Hebrew, Hedes, from which comes Hedassah, the original name of Esther. Type of the Christian Church; for it is a lowly, though beautiful, fragrant, and evergreen shrub (Psa 92:13, 14). for a name ... everlasting sign--a perpetual memorial to the glory of Jehovah (Jr 13:11; 33:9).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 13 Instead of the thorn "Instead of the thorny bushes" - These likewise (see note on Isa 55:12, and on Isa 54:11 (note)) are general poetical images, expressing a great and happy change for the better. The wilderness turned into a paradise, Lebanon into Carmel: the desert of the Gentiles watered with the heavenly snow and rain, which fail not to have their due effect, and becoming fruitful in piety and righteousness: or, as the Chaldee gives the moral sense of the emblem, "instead of the wicked shall arise the just; and instead of sinners, such as fear to sin." Compare Isa 35:1, Isa 35:2; Isa 41:19. And instead of - The conjunction ו vau is added, ותחת vetachath, in forty-five MSS. of Kennicott's several of De Rossi's, and five editions; and it is acknowledged by all the ancient Versions. The Masoretes therefore might have safely received it into the text, and not have referred us for it to the margin. But this is no uncommon case with them. Even in our own Version the best reading is very often found in the margin.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Isaiah 55:6-13

Here is a gracious offer of pardon, and peace, and of all happiness. It shall not be in vain to seek God, now his word is calling to us, and his Spirit is striving with us. But there is a day coming when he will not be found. There may come such a time in this life; it is certain that at death and judgment the door will be shut. There must be not only a change of the way, but a change of the mind. We must alter our…

Read the full comment on Isaiah 55:6-13 →

Isaiah 55:13 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

תַּ֤חַתTa.chatin place ofH8478
הַֽנַּעֲצוּץ֙ha.na.'a.Tzutzthe thornbushH5285
יַעֲלֶ֣הya.'a.Lehit will grow upH5927
בְר֔וֹשׁve.Ro.osha cypressH1265
וְתַ֥חַתve.ta.chatand in place ofH8478
הַסִּרְפַּ֖דha.sir.Padthe nettleH5636
יַעֲלֶ֣הya.'a.Lehit will grow upH5927
הֲדַ֑סha.Dasa myrtle treeH1918
וְהָיָ֤הve.ha.Yahand it will becomeH1961
לַֽיהוָה֙la.Yah.wehfor YahwehH3068
לְשֵׁ֔םle.Shem<into> a nameH8034
לְא֥וֹתle.'ot<into> a sign ofH226
עוֹלָ֖םo.LamperpetuityH5769
לֹ֥אlo'[which] notH3808
יִכָּרֵֽת\׃\ \סyi.ka.Retit will be cut downH3772

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Isaiah 55:13

  • Ephesians 3:20-21

    Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

  • 1 Peter 2:9-10

    But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

  • Isaiah 41:19

    I will plant in the wilderness the cedar, the shittah tree, and the myrtle, and the oil tree; I will set in the desert the fir tree, and the pine, and the box tree together:

  • Isaiah 61:3

    To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified.

  • Jeremiah 33:9

    And it shall be to me a name of joy, a praise and an honour before all the nations of the earth, which shall hear all the good that I do unto them: and they shall fear and tremble for all the goodness and for all the prosperity that I procure unto it.

  • 2 Corinthians 5:17

    Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

  • Isaiah 60:13

    The glory of Lebanon shall come unto thee, the fir tree, the pine tree, and the box together, to beautify the place of my sanctuary; and I will make the place of my feet glorious.

  • 1 Peter 4:11

    If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

  • Jeremiah 50:5

    They shall ask the way to Zion with their faces thitherward, saying, Come, and let us join ourselves to the Lord in a perpetual covenant that shall not be forgotten.

  • Romans 6:19

    I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.

  • Luke 2:14

    Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

  • 1 Corinthians 6:9-11

    Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
of the thorn.
11:6-9; 41:19; 60:13,21; 61:3; Mic 7:4; Ro 6:19; 1Co 6:9-11
2Co 5:17
for a.
43:21; Jer 13:11; 33:9; Lu 2:14; Joh 15:8; Eph 3:20,21; 1Pe 2:9,10
1Pe 4:11
an everlasting.
54:10; Jer 50:5

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Isaiah 55:12

    For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.

  • Isaiah 55:13

    Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree: and it shall be to the Lord for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.

Read all of Isaiah 55

Isaiah 55:13 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		En lugar de la zarza crecerá haya, y en lugar de la ortiga crecerá arrayán: y será á Jehová por nombre, por señal eterna que nunca será raída.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		au lieu de l’épine croîtra le cyprès; au lieu de l’ortie croîtra le myrte; et ce sera pour l’ Éternel un nom, un signe à toujours, qui ne sera pas retranché.
German
Elberfelder 1871		statt der Dornsträucher werden Cypressen aufschießen, und statt der Brennesseln werden Myrten aufschießen. Und es wird Jehova zum Ruhme, zu einem ewigen Denkzeichen sein, das nicht ausgerottet wird.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Pro saliunca ascendet abies, et pro urtica crescet myrtus; et erit Dominus nominatus in signum æternum quod non auferetur.