Isaiah 41:18
I will open rivers in high places, and fountains in the midst of the valleys: I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water.
Original Language Analysis
אֶפְתַּ֤ח
I will open
H6605
אֶפְתַּ֤ח
I will open
Strong's:
H6605
Word #:
1 of 15
to open wide (literally or figuratively); specifically, to loosen, begin, plough, carve
עַל
H5921
עַל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
2 of 15
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
שְׁפָיִים֙
in high places
H8205
שְׁפָיִים֙
in high places
Strong's:
H8205
Word #:
3 of 15
bareness; concretely, a bare hill or plain
נְהָר֔וֹת
rivers
H5104
נְהָר֔וֹת
rivers
Strong's:
H5104
Word #:
4 of 15
a stream (including the sea; expectation the nile, euphrates, etc.); figuratively, prosperity
וּבְת֥וֹךְ
in the midst
H8432
וּבְת֥וֹךְ
in the midst
Strong's:
H8432
Word #:
5 of 15
a bisection, i.e., (by implication) the center
בְּקָע֖וֹת
of the valleys
H1237
בְּקָע֖וֹת
of the valleys
Strong's:
H1237
Word #:
6 of 15
properly, a split, i.e., a wide level valley between mountains
מַעְיָנ֑וֹת
and fountains
H4599
מַעְיָנ֑וֹת
and fountains
Strong's:
H4599
Word #:
7 of 15
a fountain (also collectively), figuratively, a source (of satisfaction)
אָשִׂ֤ים
I will make
H7760
אָשִׂ֤ים
I will make
Strong's:
H7760
Word #:
8 of 15
to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically)
מִדְבָּר֙
the wilderness
H4057
מִדְבָּר֙
the wilderness
Strong's:
H4057
Word #:
9 of 15
a pasture (i.e., open field, whither cattle are driven); by implication, a desert
לַאֲגַם
a pool
H98
לַאֲגַם
a pool
Strong's:
H98
Word #:
10 of 15
a marsh; hence a rush (as growing in swamps); hence a stockade of reeds
מָֽיִם׃
of water
H4325
מָֽיִם׃
of water
Strong's:
H4325
Word #:
11 of 15
water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen
Cross References
Psalms 107:35He turneth the wilderness into a standing water, and dry ground into watersprings.Isaiah 58:11And the LORD shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.Isaiah 30:25And there shall be upon every high mountain, and upon every high hill, rivers and streams of waters in the day of the great slaughter, when the towers fall.Revelation 7:17For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.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:Revelation 22:1And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.Isaiah 32:2And a man shall be as an hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest; as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land.Zechariah 14:8And it shall be in that day, that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem; half of them toward the former sea, and half of them toward the hinder sea: in summer and in winter shall it be.Joel 3:18And it shall come to pass in that day, that the mountains shall drop down new wine, and the hills shall flow with milk, and all the rivers of Judah shall flow with waters, and a fountain shall come forth of the house of the LORD, and shall water the valley of Shittim.Isaiah 12:3Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.
Historical Context
This prophetically describes both literal provision during return and spiritual transformation—God makes the desolate heart fruitful. The imagery reverses exile's curse into blessing.
Questions for Reflection
- How have you experienced God opening rivers in barren places of your life?
- What spiritually dry areas need God's transforming water to become springs of life?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
God promises supernatural provision: rivers on bare heights, fountains in valleys, wilderness transformed to pools, dry land to springs. The Hebrew 'petach' (open) suggests God creating what doesn't exist. This exceeds natural provision—it's new creation, demonstrating God's power to transform impossible situations completely.