Isaiah 32:15

Authorized King James Version

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Until the spirit be poured upon us from on high, and the wilderness be a fruitful field, and the fruitful field be counted for a forest.

Original Language Analysis

עַד H5704
עַד
Strong's: H5704
Word #: 1 of 11
as far (or long, or much) as, whether of space (even unto) or time (during, while, until) or degree (equally with)
יֵ֨עָרֶ֥ה be poured H6168
יֵ֨עָרֶ֥ה be poured
Strong's: H6168
Word #: 2 of 11
to be (causatively, make) bare; hence, to empty, pour out, demolish
עָלֵ֛ינוּ H5921
עָלֵ֛ינוּ
Strong's: H5921
Word #: 3 of 11
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
ר֖וּחַ Until the spirit H7307
ר֖וּחַ Until the spirit
Strong's: H7307
Word #: 4 of 11
wind; by resemblance breath, i.e., a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively, life, anger, unsubstantiality; by extension, a region of the
מִמָּר֑וֹם upon us from on high H4791
מִמָּר֑וֹם upon us from on high
Strong's: H4791
Word #: 5 of 11
altitude, i.e., concretely (an elevated place), abstractly (elevation, figuratively (elation), or adverbially (aloft)
וְהָיָ֤ה H1961
וְהָיָ֤ה
Strong's: H1961
Word #: 6 of 11
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
מִדְבָּר֙ and the wilderness H4057
מִדְבָּר֙ and the wilderness
Strong's: H4057
Word #: 7 of 11
a pasture (i.e., open field, whither cattle are driven); by implication, a desert
וֲכַּרְמֶ֖ל and the fruitful field H3759
וֲכַּרְמֶ֖ל and the fruitful field
Strong's: H3759
Word #: 8 of 11
a planted field (garden, orchard, vineyard or park); by implication, garden produce
וֲכַּרְמֶ֖ל and the fruitful field H3759
וֲכַּרְמֶ֖ל and the fruitful field
Strong's: H3759
Word #: 9 of 11
a planted field (garden, orchard, vineyard or park); by implication, garden produce
לַיַּ֥עַר for a forest H3293
לַיַּ֥עַר for a forest
Strong's: H3293
Word #: 10 of 11
a copse of bushes; hence, a forest; hence, honey in the comb (as hived in trees)
יֵחָשֵֽׁב׃ be counted H2803
יֵחָשֵֽׁב׃ be counted
Strong's: H2803
Word #: 11 of 11
properly, to plait or interpenetrate, i.e., (literally) to weave or (generally) to fabricate; figuratively, to plot or contrive (usually in a maliciou

Cross References

Isaiah 29:17Is it not yet a very little while, and Lebanon shall be turned into a fruitful field, and the fruitful field shall be esteemed as a forest?Ezekiel 39:29Neither will I hide my face any more from them: for I have poured out my spirit upon the house of Israel, saith the Lord GOD.Isaiah 44:3For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring:Acts 2:33Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.2 Corinthians 3:8How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious?Luke 24:49And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.Psalms 104:30Thou sendest forth thy spirit, they are created: and thou renewest the face of the earth.Zechariah 12:10And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.Isaiah 63:11Then he remembered the days of old, Moses, and his people, saying, Where is he that brought them up out of the sea with the shepherd of his flock? where is he that put his holy Spirit within him?Isaiah 45:8Drop down, ye heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness: let the earth open, and let them bring forth salvation, and let righteousness spring up together; I the LORD have created it.

Analysis & Commentary

Until the spirit be poured upon us from on high (עַד־יֵעָרֶה עָלֵינוּ רוּחַ מִמָּרוֹם, ad-ye'areh aleynu ruach mimmarom)—until רוּחַ (ruach, Spirit) is עָרָה (arah, poured out) from מָרוֹם (marom, on high, exalted place). And the wilderness be a fruitful field (וְהָיָה מִדְבָּר לַכַּרְמֶל, vehayah midbar lakkarmel)—מִדְבָּר (midbar, wilderness) becomes כַּרְמֶל (karmel, fruitful field, orchard). And the fruitful field be counted for a forest (וְהַכַּרְמֶל לַיַּעַר יֵחָשֵׁב, vehakarmel laya'ar yechashev)—fruitful field becomes so abundant it's reckoned a יַעַר (ya'ar, forest).

After prophesying desolation (vv. 9-14), Isaiah pivots to restoration. The key: Spirit-outpouring. The verb עָרָה (arah) means to empty out, pour out—the same word used of pouring water (2 Kings 4:5) or wrath (Psalm 79:6). Joel 2:28-29 promises: 'I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh.' Pentecost fulfills this (Acts 2:17-18). Without Spirit, only desolation; with Spirit, wilderness becomes orchard. Transformation isn't human achievement but divine gift, grace poured from heaven.

Historical Context

The Spirit's role in creation, prophecy, empowerment appears throughout Old Testament (Genesis 1:2, Judges 14:6, Ezekiel 37:14). But Joel and Isaiah promise unprecedented universal outpouring. At Pentecost, Peter declared: 'This is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel' (Acts 2:16). The new covenant is Spirit-covenant (2 Corinthians 3:6)—internal transformation, not external conformity. What law couldn't accomplish, Spirit does (Romans 8:3-4).

Questions for Reflection

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