Isaiah 41:19
I will plant in the wilderness the cedar, the shittah tree, and the myrtle, and the oil tree; I will set in the desert the fir tree, and the pine, and the box tree together:
Original Language Analysis
אֶתֵּ֤ן
I will plant
H5414
אֶתֵּ֤ן
I will plant
Strong's:
H5414
Word #:
1 of 13
to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
בַּמִּדְבָּר֙
in the wilderness
H4057
בַּמִּדְבָּר֙
in the wilderness
Strong's:
H4057
Word #:
2 of 13
a pasture (i.e., open field, whither cattle are driven); by implication, a desert
שָׁ֑מֶן
and the oil
H8081
שָׁ֑מֶן
and the oil
Strong's:
H8081
Word #:
7 of 13
grease, especially liquid (as from the olive, often perfumed); figuratively, richness
אָשִׂ֣ים
I will set
H7760
אָשִׂ֣ים
I will set
Strong's:
H7760
Word #:
8 of 13
to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically)
בָּעֲרָבָ֗ה
in the desert
H6160
בָּעֲרָבָ֗ה
in the desert
Strong's:
H6160
Word #:
9 of 13
a desert; especially (with the article prefix) the (generally) sterile valley of the jordan and its continuation to the red sea
בְּר֛וֹשׁ
the fir tree
H1265
בְּר֛וֹשׁ
the fir tree
Strong's:
H1265
Word #:
10 of 13
a cypress (?) tree; hence, a lance or a musical instrument (as made of that wood)
תִּדְהָ֥ר
and the pine
H8410
תִּדְהָ֥ר
and the pine
Strong's:
H8410
Word #:
11 of 13
enduring; a species of hard-wood or lasting tree (perhaps oak)
Cross References
Isaiah 55:13Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree: and it shall be to the LORD for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.Isaiah 35:1The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose.Isaiah 60:13The glory of Lebanon shall come unto thee, the fir tree, the pine tree, and the box together, to beautify the place of my sanctuary; and I will make the place of my feet glorious.Isaiah 61:11For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.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.Isaiah 60:21Thy people also shall be all righteous: they shall inherit the land for ever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be glorified.Isaiah 51:3For the LORD shall comfort Zion: he will comfort all her waste places; and he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the LORD; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody.Isaiah 61:3To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.Isaiah 32:15Until 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.Ezekiel 47:12And by the river upon the bank thereof, on this side and on that side, shall grow all trees for meat, whose leaf shall not fade, neither shall the fruit thereof be consumed: it shall bring forth new fruit according to his months, because their waters they issued out of the sanctuary: and the fruit thereof shall be for meat, and the leaf thereof for medicine.
Historical Context
This poetic description of transformed landscape symbolizes the spiritual renewal accompanying physical return. The land that became desolate under judgment will bloom under restoration.
Questions for Reflection
- How does God's promise of complete transformation encourage hope in barren situations?
- In what ways does God's restoration typically exceed merely returning to previous conditions?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Seven trees (cedar, shittah, myrtle, oil, fir, pine, box) will grow in the wilderness and desert—a complete transformation from barrenness to abundance. These specific trees include valuable timber and fragrant wood, suggesting not just survival but flourishing. God's restoration exceeds the original state.