Isaiah 35:8 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And a highway shall be there, and it shall be called the Way of Holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it. It shall belong to those who walk on the way; even if they are fools, they shall not go astray.

NIV: And a highway will be there; it will be called the Way of Holiness; it will be for those who walk on that Way. The unclean will not journey on it; wicked fools will not go about on it.

NASB: A highway will be there, a roadway, And it will be called the Highway of Holiness. The unclean will not travel on it, But it will be for the one who walks that way, And fools will not wander on it.

CSB: A road will be there and a way; it will be called the Holy Way. The unclean will not travel on it, but it will be for the one who walks the path. Fools will not wander on it.

NLT: And a great road will go through that once deserted land. It will be named the Highway of Holiness. Evil-minded people will never travel on it. It will be only for those who walk in God’s ways; fools will never walk there.

KJV: 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.

NKJV: A highway shall be there, and a road, And it shall be called the Highway of Holiness. The unclean shall not pass over it, But it shall be for others. Whoever walks the road, although a fool, Shall not go astray.

Isaiah 35:5–10 promises that God's redemption of Israel will include healing. The land, the people, and the nation will be restored to health and prosperity. God will provide a clear path for Israel to return to a relationship with Him. The ransomed (Matthew 10:28) people will find eternal joy and singing there, in Zion.

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).