Isaiah 35

Chapter Overview

What happens in Isaiah 35

After the dark judgment of the previous chapter, Isaiah paints one of the most beautiful pictures of hope in the entire Bible. The desert will burst into bloom. The blind will see, the deaf will hear, and the lame will leap for joy. A holy highway will lead God's redeemed people back to Zion with everlasting joy and gladness.

Scripture

The Desert Blooms with Joy

Study note

The wilderness and dry desert will be transformed into a place of beauty and celebration. Lebanon was famous for its towering cedar forests, Carmel for its lush gardens, and Sharon for its fertile coastal plain. The glory of these places will be given to the desert, showing that God's restoration will surpass anything nature has ever produced. This transformation is a sign that God's glory has arrived.

1 The dry wasteland will be happy. The desert will celebrate and burst into bloom like a flower. The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose.

2 It will explode with colorful blossoms and sing with joy. It will be given the beauty of Lebanon, the splendor of Carmel and Sharon. People will see the Lord's glory, the majesty of our God. 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.

Strength for the Weak

Study note

Isaiah encourages those who are weak, afraid, and suffering. God himself will come to save them. When he does, the blind will see, the deaf will hear, the lame will jump like deer, and the mute will sing. Water will gush out in the desert, and the burning sand will become a pool of water. These promises are both literal and symbolic. Jesus later pointed to these very signs as proof that he was the promised Messiah.

3 Give strength to weak hands. Steady trembling knees. Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees.

4 Say to those whose hearts are pounding with fear, 'Be brave! Don't be afraid! Your God is coming with payback. He is bringing divine justice. He is coming to save you.' 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.

5 Then blind people will open their eyes and see, and deaf people will open their ears and hear. Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.

6 Then people who could not walk will leap like deer, and people who could not speak will shout with joy. Water will burst out in the wilderness, and streams will flow through the desert. 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.

7 The scorching sand will become a cool pool, and the parched ground will bubble up with springs. Where jackals once rested, tall grass, reeds, and rushes will grow. 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.

The Highway of Holiness

Study note

A highway called 'The Way of Holiness' will be built for God's people. No unclean person will travel on it, and no dangerous animal will be found there. Only the redeemed, those God has saved and set free, will walk on it. They will return to Zion with singing, crowned with everlasting joy. All sorrow and sadness will disappear. This image is echoed in the book of Revelation's description of the new heaven and earth.

8 A great road will be there — a highway called the Way of Holiness. No one impure will travel on it. It is for God's people. Even those who are not very smart will not get lost on it. 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.

9 No lion will prowl there. No dangerous animal will roam it. They will not be found anywhere on it. Only people the Lord has rescued will walk on it. 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:

10 The people the Lord has set free will come back. They will march into Zion singing, wearing crowns of everlasting joy on their heads. Gladness and happiness will catch up to them, and sadness and sighing will run far away. 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.

Key Themes

Themes in Isaiah 35

The desert transformed into a place of beautyHealing for the blind, deaf, lame, and muteThe highway of holiness for the redeemedEverlasting joy replacing sorrow

Prophetic Connections

How this chapter points to Christ

Isaiah 35:5-6 Matthew 11:4-5

When John the Baptist asks whether Jesus is the promised Messiah, Jesus responds by pointing to these signs from Isaiah: the blind receive sight, the lame walk, the deaf hear, confirming his messianic identity.

Isaiah 35:8 John 14:6

Jesus declares himself to be 'the way, the truth, and the life,' echoing the Highway of Holiness that Isaiah describes as the safe and holy road for God's redeemed people.

Apply This Today

Living Isaiah 35

This chapter is pure gospel hope. The blind see, the deaf hear, the lame leap, and the mute sing. When Jesus performed these exact miracles, He was announcing that Isaiah's promised kingdom had arrived. The Highway of Holiness reminds us that God's way is safe, clear, and leads to everlasting joy.

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