Isaiah 35:4 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Say to those who have an anxious heart, "Be strong; fear not! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you."

NIV: say to those with fearful hearts, "Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you."

NASB: Say to those with anxious heart, 'Take courage, fear not. Behold, your God will come with vengeance; The retribution of God will come, But He will save you.'

CSB: Say to the cowardly: "Be strong; do not fear! Here is your God; vengeance is coming. God’s retribution is coming; he will save you."

NLT: Say to those with fearful hearts, 'Be strong, and do not fear, for your God is coming to destroy your enemies. He is coming to save you.'

KJV: 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.

NKJV: Say to those who are fearful-hearted, “Be strong, do not fear! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, With the recompense of God; He will come and save you.”

Isaiah 35:1–4 describes God restoring Israel using the imagery of a desert transforming into lush terrain. Isaiah mentions the crocus, source of saffron and yellow dyes. Carmel and Sharon are both associated with abundant resources, as is Lebanon. Just as other nations are fated for destruction (Isaiah 34), Israel is destined for redemption. In the meantime the people should encourage each other and set aside fear. Divine justice is coming.

Isaiah paints a picture of a desert wilderness bursting into bloom and gladness. The Lord's people will see His glory and majesty. Those suffering now must reject fear because the Lord is coming to remove their enemies and save them. The blind, paralyzed, deaf, and mute will be healed. It will be like streams bursting forth in a desert, transforming burning sand into pools of cool water. The Lord's people will walk on a safe, clear path: the Way of Holiness. They will follow this path to Zion where there will be singing and everlasting joy.

Isaiah 35 follows the previous chapter's description of the judgment of the Lord on the nations of the earth (Isaiah 34) with an inversion. God will transform the wilderness into a lush, safe path for His people to come to Him. This passage concludes a series of prophetic visions. Most of Isaiah's words so far have been prophecies with occasional mention of current events. Next is an extended narrative (Isaiah 36—39) about King Hezekiah and an attempted invasion by Assyria.

Isaiah is among the most important prophetic books in the entire Bible. The first segment details God's impending judgment against ancient peoples for sin and idolatry (Isaiah 1—35). The second part of Isaiah briefly explains a failed assault on Jerusalem during the rule of Hezekiah (Isaiah 36—39). The final chapters predict Israel's rescue from Babylonian captivity (Isaiah 40—48), the promised Messiah (Isaiah 49—57), and the final glory of Jerusalem and God's people (Isaiah 58—66).