Bible/Isaiah/41

Isaiah 41:18

41:17 When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I the LORD will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them.
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.

KJV

Save image

I will open rivers on the bare heights, and springs in the middle of the valleys. I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water.

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.

I will open rivers in high places, and fountains in the middle of the valleys: I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water.

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:

What does Isaiah 41:18 mean?

Isaiah 41:18 is a verse in the book of Isaiah, in the Old Testament. In the original Hebrew, key words include פָּתַח (pâthach), נָהָר (nâhâr), שְׁפִי (shᵉphîy). It connects to 9 cross-referenced passages elsewhere in Scripture.

Hebrew interlinear

Full chapter interlinear →
I
will
openפָּתַחpâthach/paw-thakh'/H6605to open wide (literally or figuratively); specifically, to loosen, begin, plough, carve
riversנָהָרnâhâr/naw-hawr'/H5104a stream (including the sea; expectation the Nile, Euphrates, etc.); figuratively, prosperity
in
high
places,שְׁפִיshᵉphîy/shef-ee'/H8205bareness; concretely, a bare hill or plain
and
fountainsמַעְיָןmaʻyân/mah-yawn'/H4599a fountain (also collectively), figuratively, a source (of satisfaction)
in
the
midstתָּוֶךְtâvek/taw'-vek/H8432a bisection, i.e. (by implication) the centre
of
the
valleys:בִּקְעָהbiqʻâh/bik-aw'/H1237properly, a split, i.e. a wide level valley between mountains
I
will
makeשׂוּםsûwm/soom/H7760to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically)
the
wildernessמִדְבָּרmidbâr/mid-bawr'/H4057a pasture (i.e. open field, whither cattle are driven); by implication, a desert; also speech (including its organs)
a
poolאֲגַםʼăgam/ag-am'/H98a marsh; hence a rush (as growing in swamps); hence a stockade of reeds
of
water,מַיִםmayim/mah'-yim/H4325water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen
and
the
dryצִיָּהtsîyâh/tsee-yaw'/H6723aridity; concretely, a desert
landאֶרֶץʼerets/eh'-rets/H776the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
springsמוֹצָאmôwtsâʼ/mo-tsaw'/H4161a going forth, i.e. (the act) an egress, or (the place) an exit; hence, a source or product; specifically, dawn, the rising of the sun (the East), exportation, utterance, a gate, a fountain, a mine, a meadow (as producing grass)
of
water.מַיִםmayim/mah'-yim/H4325water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen

Commentary on Isaiah 41:18

HENRY_FULL · Isaiah 41:18
1 Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife. These words recommend family-love and peace, as conducing very much to the comfort of human life. 1. Those that live in unity and quietness, not only free from jealousies and animosities, but vying in mutual endearments, and obliging to one another, live very comfortably, though they are low in the world, work hard and fare hard, though they have but each of them a morsel, and that a dry morsel. There may be peace and quietness where there are not three meals a day, provided there by a joint satisfaction in God's providence and a mutual satisfaction in each other's prudence. Holy love may be found in a cottage. 2. Those that live in contention, that are always jarring and brawling, and reflecting upon one another, though they have plenty of dainties, a house full of sacrifices, live uncomfortably; they cannot expect the blessing of God upon them and what they have, nor can they have any true relish of their enjoyments, much less any peace in their own consciences. Love will sweeten a dry morsel, but strife will sour and embitter a house full of sacrifices. A little of the leaven of malice will leaven all the enjoyments. 2 A wise servant shall have rule over a son that causeth shame, and shall have part of the inheritance among the brethren.

Cross-references

Related passages from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

Psalms 26:2

Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my reins and my heart.

Psalms 66:10

For thou, O God, hast proved us: thou hast tried us, as silver is tried.

Isaiah 48:10

Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction. with: or, for silver

Jeremiah 17:10

I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.

Zechariah 13:9

And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God.

Malachi 3:2

But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap:

Malachi 3:3

And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.

1 Peter 1:7

That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

Revelation 2:23

And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.

Topics

Pools and PondsRiversValleysWater

Verses like this

Other verses that share key original-language words with Isaiah 41:18.

Exodus 23:31

And I will set thy bounds from the Red sea even unto the sea of the Philistines, and from the desert unto the river: for I will deliver the inhabitants of the land into your hand; and thou shalt drive them out before thee.

Micah 2:12

I will surely assemble, O Jacob, all of thee; I will surely gather the remnant of Israel; I will put them together as the sheep of Bozrah, as the flock in the midst of their fold: they shall make great noise by reason of the multitude of men.

Psalms 107:33

He turneth rivers into a wilderness, and the watersprings into dry ground;

Frequently asked questions

What does Isaiah 41:18 say?

Isaiah 41:18 (King James Version) reads: "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."

Is Isaiah 41:18 in the Old or New Testament?

Isaiah 41:18 is in the Old Testament of the Bible, in the book of Isaiah.

Reflect

As you read Isaiah 41:18, what is one truth here you can carry into today?

Plan a sermon or study on Isaiah 41:18 →
← 41:17Read all of Isaiah 4141:19 →