Isaiah 51:3
For 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.
Original Language Analysis
כִּֽי
H3588
כִּֽי
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
1 of 20
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
נִחַם֙
he will comfort
H5162
נִחַם֙
he will comfort
Strong's:
H5162
Word #:
2 of 20
properly, to sigh, i.e., breathe strongly; by implication, to be sorry, i.e., (in a favorable sense) to pity, console or (reflexively) rue; or (unfavo
יְהוָ֑ה
For the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֑ה
For the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
3 of 20
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
צִיּ֗וֹן
Zion
H6726
צִיּ֗וֹן
Zion
Strong's:
H6726
Word #:
4 of 20
tsijon (as a permanent capital), a mountain of jerusalem
נִחַם֙
he will comfort
H5162
נִחַם֙
he will comfort
Strong's:
H5162
Word #:
5 of 20
properly, to sigh, i.e., breathe strongly; by implication, to be sorry, i.e., (in a favorable sense) to pity, console or (reflexively) rue; or (unfavo
כָּל
H3605
כָּל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
6 of 20
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
חָרְבֹתֶ֔יהָ
all her waste places
H2723
חָרְבֹתֶ֔יהָ
all her waste places
Strong's:
H2723
Word #:
7 of 20
properly, drought, i.e., (by implication) a desolation
וַיָּ֤שֶׂם
and he will make
H7760
וַיָּ֤שֶׂם
and he will make
Strong's:
H7760
Word #:
8 of 20
to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically)
מִדְבָּרָהּ֙
her wilderness
H4057
מִדְבָּרָהּ֙
her wilderness
Strong's:
H4057
Word #:
9 of 20
a pasture (i.e., open field, whither cattle are driven); by implication, a desert
וְעַרְבָתָ֖הּ
and her desert
H6160
וְעַרְבָתָ֖הּ
and her desert
Strong's:
H6160
Word #:
11 of 20
a desert; especially (with the article prefix) the (generally) sterile valley of the jordan and its continuation to the red sea
יְהוָ֑ה
For the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֑ה
For the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
13 of 20
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
וְשִׂמְחָה֙
and gladness
H8057
וְשִׂמְחָה֙
and gladness
Strong's:
H8057
Word #:
15 of 20
blithesomeness or glee, (religious or festival)
יִמָּ֣צֵא
shall be found
H4672
יִמָּ֣צֵא
shall be found
Strong's:
H4672
Word #:
16 of 20
properly, to come forth to, i.e., appear or exist; transitively, to attain, i.e., find or acquire; figuratively, to occur, meet or be present
Cross References
Isaiah 49:13Sing, O heavens; and be joyful, O earth; and break forth into singing, O mountains: for the LORD hath comforted his people, and will have mercy upon his afflicted.Isaiah 52:9Break forth into joy, sing together, ye waste places of Jerusalem: for the LORD hath comforted his people, he hath redeemed Jerusalem.Joel 2:3A fire devoureth before them; and behind them a flame burneth: the land is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; yea, and nothing shall escape them.Jeremiah 31:25For I have satiated the weary soul, and I have replenished every sorrowful soul.Genesis 13:10And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar.1 Peter 1:8Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
Historical Context
Babylon's fall and Israel's return began fulfilling this, but complete fulfillment awaits Christ's return. The wilderness-to-Eden transformation applies personally (regeneration), corporately (church growth), and cosmically (new heavens and earth).
Questions for Reflection
- What spiritual 'wildernesses' in your life has God transformed into garden-like abundance?
- How does the promise of new creation (wilderness becoming Eden) give hope for present struggles?
Analysis & Commentary
The promise to 'make her wilderness like Eden' depicts comprehensive restoration reversing judgment. Eden imagery connects creation and new creation - God's redemptive work restores pre-fall paradise. The progression from wilderness/desert to garden shows grace's transforming power. The 'joy and gladness, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody' describe worship arising from experienced redemption, anticipating Revelation 21's new creation.