Isaiah 61:11
For 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.
Original Language Analysis
כִּ֤י
H3588
כִּ֤י
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
1 of 16
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
כָאָ֙רֶץ֙
For as the earth
H776
כָאָ֙רֶץ֙
For as the earth
Strong's:
H776
Word #:
2 of 16
the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
תּוֹצִ֣יא
bringeth forth
H3318
תּוֹצִ֣יא
bringeth forth
Strong's:
H3318
Word #:
3 of 16
to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim
צִמְחָ֔הּ
her bud
H6780
צִמְחָ֔הּ
her bud
Strong's:
H6780
Word #:
4 of 16
a sprout (usually concrete), literal or figurative
זֵרוּעֶ֣יהָ
causeth the things that are sown
H2221
זֵרוּעֶ֣יהָ
causeth the things that are sown
Strong's:
H2221
Word #:
6 of 16
something sown, i.e., a plant
יַצְמִ֤יחַ
in it to spring forth
H6779
יַצְמִ֤יחַ
in it to spring forth
Strong's:
H6779
Word #:
7 of 16
to sprout (transitive or intransitive, literal or figurative)
כֵּ֣ן׀
H3651
כֵּ֣ן׀
Strong's:
H3651
Word #:
8 of 16
properly, set upright; hence (figuratively as adjective) just; but usually (as adverb or conjunction) rightly or so (in various applications to manner
יְהוִ֗ה
H3068
יְהוִ֗ה
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
10 of 16
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
יַצְמִ֤יחַ
in it to spring forth
H6779
יַצְמִ֤יחַ
in it to spring forth
Strong's:
H6779
Word #:
11 of 16
to sprout (transitive or intransitive, literal or figurative)
צְדָקָה֙
will cause righteousness
H6666
צְדָקָה֙
will cause righteousness
Strong's:
H6666
Word #:
12 of 16
rightness (abstractly), subjectively (rectitude), objectively (justice), morally (virtue) or figuratively (prosperity)
נֶ֖גֶד
H5048
נֶ֖גֶד
Strong's:
H5048
Word #:
14 of 16
a front, i.e., part opposite; specifically a counterpart, or mate; usually (adverbial, especially with preposition) over against or before
Cross References
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.1 Peter 2:9But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:Isaiah 62:7And give him no rest, till he establish, and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth.Isaiah 62:1For Zion's sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth.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.Psalms 85:11Truth shall spring out of the earth; and righteousness shall look down from heaven.Isaiah 60:18Violence shall no more be heard in thy land, wasting nor destruction within thy borders; but thou shalt call thy walls Salvation, and thy gates Praise.Psalms 72:3The mountains shall bring peace to the people, and the little hills, by righteousness.Psalms 72:16There shall be an handful of corn in the earth upon the top of the mountains; the fruit thereof shall shake like Lebanon: and they of the city shall flourish like grass of the earth.Matthew 13:23But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
Historical Context
The post-exilic community saw little evidence of such growth—they were small, weak, and relatively insignificant. Yet God promised inevitable fruitfulness. The New Testament records explosive fulfillment—the gospel spreading rapidly throughout the Roman Empire and beyond (Acts 2:41, 4:4, 6:7, 9:31, 12:24, 19:20, Colossians 1:6). Throughout church history, despite opposition and persecution, the gospel has continued producing righteousness and praise among all nations. This continues until the full harvest is gathered (Revelation 7:9-10, 14:14-16).
Questions for Reflection
- How does the certainty of seed growth encourage us regarding the gospel's effectiveness?
- What does it mean that God 'causes' righteousness and praise to spring forth?
- How should the inevitability of God's purposes succeeding shape our evangelistic efforts and expectations?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
The chapter concludes with beautiful imagery: "For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth." The agricultural metaphors emphasize natural, inevitable growth—when seed is planted in good soil, growth follows necessarily. The application: "so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations." Just as growth in nature is certain given proper conditions, so God's production of righteousness (tsedaqah) and praise (tehillah) among nations is certain and inevitable. The Hebrew tsimach (spring forth/sprout) suggests organic, vigorous growth. From a Reformed perspective, this illustrates the doctrine of perseverance and the certainty of God's purposes. When God plants His word in hearts prepared by the Spirit, fruit inevitably follows (Matthew 13:23, John 15:5). The promise is comprehensive—not just individual salvation but righteousness and praise springing forth before all nations. God's redemptive purposes will certainly be accomplished (Isaiah 55:10-11), producing a harvest of righteous worshipers from every nation.