Isaiah 37:31
And the remnant that is escaped of the house of Judah shall again take root downward, and bear fruit upward:
Original Language Analysis
וְיָ֨סְפָ֜ה
shall again
H3254
וְיָ֨סְפָ֜ה
shall again
Strong's:
H3254
Word #:
1 of 10
to add or augment (often adverbial, to continue to do a thing)
פְּלֵיטַ֧ת
that is escaped
H6413
פְּלֵיטַ֧ת
that is escaped
Strong's:
H6413
Word #:
2 of 10
deliverance; concretely, an escaped portion
בֵּית
of the house
H1004
בֵּית
of the house
Strong's:
H1004
Word #:
3 of 10
a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
יְהוּדָ֛ה
of Judah
H3063
יְהוּדָ֛ה
of Judah
Strong's:
H3063
Word #:
4 of 10
jehudah (or judah), the name of five israelites; also of the tribe descended from the first, and of its territory
הַנִּשְׁאָרָ֖ה
And the remnant
H7604
הַנִּשְׁאָרָ֖ה
And the remnant
Strong's:
H7604
Word #:
5 of 10
properly, to swell up, i.e., be (causatively, make) redundant
לְמָ֑טָּה
downward
H4295
לְמָ֑טָּה
downward
Strong's:
H4295
Word #:
7 of 10
downward, below or beneath; often adverbially with or without prefixes
Cross References
Isaiah 27:6He shall cause them that come of Jacob to take root: Israel shall blossom and bud, and fill the face of the world with fruit.Psalms 80:9Thou preparedst room before it, and didst cause it to take deep root, and it filled the land.Romans 11:5Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.Romans 9:27Esaias also crieth concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved:
Historical Context
After Assyria destroyed most of Judah, only Jerusalem and a few cities remained. God promises this remnant will become foundation for restored nation.
Questions for Reflection
- How does spiritual depth (roots) enable fruitful ministry (upward fruit)?
- What does it mean to be part of the remnant that survives judgment?
- How can we cultivate deep spiritual roots during times of upheaval?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
The metaphor "the remnant that is escaped...shall again take root downward, and bear fruit upward" uses agricultural imagery for spiritual reality. Deep roots represent firm foundation in God's promises; upward fruit represents visible blessing. This promise assures that despite devastation, the remnant will not just survive but thrive. The vertical metaphor emphasizes both hidden depth (relationship with God) and visible growth (observable blessing). Judah's future depends on spiritual depth, not merely escaping immediate danger.