Isaiah 65:25

Authorized King James Version

The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent's meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the LORD.

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
זְאֵ֨ב
The wolf
a wolf
#2
וְטָלֶ֜ה
and the lamb
a lamb
#3
יִרְע֣וּ
shall feed
to tend a flock; i.e., pasture it; intransitively, to graze (literally or figuratively); generally to rule; by extension, to associate with (as a frie
#4
כְאֶחָ֗ד
together
properly, united, i.e., one; or (as an ordinal) first
#5
וְאַרְיֵה֙
and the lion
a lion
#6
כַּבָּקָ֣ר
like the bullock
a beeve or an animal of the ox family of either gender (as used for plowing); collectively, a herd
#7
יֹֽאכַל
shall eat
to eat (literally or figuratively)
#8
תֶּ֔בֶן
straw
properly, material, i.e., (specifically) refuse haum or stalks of grain (as chopped in threshing and used for fodder)
#9
וְנָחָ֖שׁ
shall be the serpent's
a snake (from its hiss)
#10
עָפָ֣ר
and dust
dust (as powdered or gray); hence, clay, earth, mud
#11
לַחְמ֑וֹ
meat
food (for man or beast), especially bread, or grain (for making it)
#12
לֹֽא
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
#13
יָרֵ֧עוּ
They shall not hurt
properly, to spoil (literally, by breaking to pieces); figuratively, to make (or be) good for nothing, i.e., bad (physically, socially or morally)
#14
וְלֹֽא
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
#15
יַשְׁחִ֛יתוּ
nor destroy
to decay, i.e., (causatively) ruin (literally or figuratively)
#16
בְּכָל
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
#17
הַ֥ר
mountain
a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively)
#18
קָדְשִׁ֖י
in all my holy
a sacred place or thing; rarely abstract, sanctity
#19
אָמַ֥ר
saith
to say (used with great latitude)
#20
יְהוָֽה׃
the LORD
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

Analysis

The salvation theme here intersects with the metanarrative of redemption running from Genesis to Revelation. Biblical theology recognizes this as part of a unified storyline from the promise in Genesis 3:15 to its fulfillment in Christ. The phrase emphasizing divine sovereignty contributes to our systematic understanding of Christian doctrine and connects to the broader scriptural witness about God's saving work from the Exodus to the cross.

Historical Context

The literary and historical milieu of the literary conventions and historical circumstances of biblical literature shapes this text's meaning. The historical development of salvation within the theological tradition of Isaiah Understanding the ancient worldview that shaped the author's theological expression helps modern readers appreciate why the author emphasizes divine sovereignty in this particular way.

Questions for Reflection

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