Isaiah 27:6
He shall cause them that come of Jacob to take root: Israel shall blossom and bud, and fill the face of the world with fruit.
Original Language Analysis
הַבָּאִים֙
He shall cause them that come
H935
הַבָּאִים֙
He shall cause them that come
Strong's:
H935
Word #:
1 of 10
to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
יַשְׁרֵ֣שׁ
to take root
H8327
יַשְׁרֵ֣שׁ
to take root
Strong's:
H8327
Word #:
2 of 10
to root, i.e., strike into the soil, or (by implication) to pluck from it
וּפָרַ֖ח
and bud
H6524
וּפָרַ֖ח
and bud
Strong's:
H6524
Word #:
5 of 10
to break forth as a bud, i.e., bloom; generally, to spread; specifically, to fly (as extending the wings); figuratively, to flourish
יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל
Israel
H3478
יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל
Israel
Strong's:
H3478
Word #:
6 of 10
he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
וּמָלְא֥וּ
and fill
H4390
וּמָלְא֥וּ
and fill
Strong's:
H4390
Word #:
7 of 10
to fill or (intransitively) be full of, in a wide application (literally and figuratively)
פְנֵי
the face
H6440
פְנֵי
the face
Strong's:
H6440
Word #:
8 of 10
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi
Cross References
Isaiah 37:31And the remnant that is escaped of the house of Judah shall again take root downward, and bear fruit upward:Zechariah 2:11And many nations shall be joined to the LORD in that day, and shall be my people: and I will dwell in the midst of thee, and thou shalt know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto thee.Hosea 2:23And I will sow her unto me in the earth; and I will have mercy upon her that had not obtained mercy; and I will say to them which were not my people, Thou art my people; and they shall say, Thou art my God.
Historical Context
Post-exilic Jews returning from Babylon were a tiny remnant, hardly "filling the world." This prophecy pointed beyond immediate restoration to Messianic age when God's kingdom would spread globally. The church, grafted into Israel's olive tree (Romans 11:17-24), became the agent of this worldwide fruit-bearing. By the 4th century, Christianity had spread throughout the Roman Empire and beyond. Today, global Christianity numbers over 2 billion—Isaiah's vision of worldwide fruitfulness continues unfolding.
Questions for Reflection
- How does God's promise that Israel would 'fill the face of the world with fruit' find fulfillment in the global church?
- What does the progression from 'take root' to 'blossom' to 'fill the world' teach about God's patient, purposeful growth?
- In what ways can your life bear fruit that extends beyond your immediate circle to impact the world?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
He shall cause them that come of Jacob to take root: Israel shall blossom and bud, and fill the face of the world with fruit. This prophecy shifts from individual peace-making (v.5) to corporate restoration of Jacob/Israel. The Hebrew yashrish (יַשְׁרִשׁ, cause to take root) uses agricultural imagery of deep, secure rooting—no longer the shallow planting vulnerable to removal. The triple promise—blossom and bud (yatsits ufarach, יָצִיץ וּפָרַח) and fill the face of the world with fruit (umalu pnei tevel tenu'ah, וּמָלְאוּ פְנֵי־תֵבֵל תְּנוּבָה)—escalates from rooting to flowering to worldwide fruit-bearing.
This reverses the barren vineyard of chapter 5. God's restored people won't just survive but flourish globally. The phrase fill the face of the world suggests universal scope—Israel's blessing extending to all nations, fulfilling Abrahamic covenant promises (Genesis 12:3). Paul applies this to the gospel's worldwide spread through Jewish-Gentile church (Romans 11:12-15). Jesus's parable of the mustard seed (Matthew 13:31-32) and His promise of disciples bearing much fruit (John 15:8, 16) echo this vision. Pentecost began this fulfillment as Spirit-empowered witnesses went to all nations (Acts 1:8).