The Meaning of Isaiah 35:7 Explained

Isaiah 35:7

KJV: And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water: in the habitation of dragons, where each lay, shall be grass with reeds and rushes.

YLT: And the mirage hath become a pond, And the thirsty land fountains of waters, In the habitation of dragons, Its place of couching down, a court for reed and rush.

Darby: And the mirage shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water: in the habitation of wild dogs, where they lay down, shall be grass with reeds and rushes.

ASV: And the glowing sand shall become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water: in the habitation of jackals, where they lay, shall be grass with reeds and rushes.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And the parched ground  shall become a pool,  and the thirsty land  springs  of water:  in the habitation  of dragons,  where each lay,  [shall be] grass  with reeds  and rushes. 

What does Isaiah 35:7 Mean?

Context Summary

Isaiah 35:1-10 - The Rejoicing Of The Redeemed
God's judgments change Carmel and Sharon into a waste; but His blessing makes the wilderness and parched land as Carmel and Sharon. Where the smile of God rests, deserts sing and become carpeted with flowers. Your hands may be weak and your knees feeble, but when your helplessness invokes the help of God, He will begin to perform wonderful things that pass expectation. Say over and over to yourself: "My God will come: be strong, my heart, and fear not. He will come and save." Oh, for the quickened sense; the bounding leap of our nature lamed by the fall; the songs from lips that God will touch! Your dreariest desert shall become water-springs; the mirage shall no longer disappoint; thirst shall be satisfied; and the dragons of the heart extirpated. Nothing can hurt us while we walk with God in holiness. Dreaded evils may threaten to cast their shadows on our path, but they shall not stay our songs as we come with singing unto the everlasting joy.
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Chapter Summary: Isaiah 35

1  The joyful flourishing of Christ's kingdom
3  The weak are encouraged by the virtues and privileges of the Gospel

What do the individual words in Isaiah 35:7 mean?

And shall become the parched ground a pool and the thirsty land springs of water in the habitation of jackals where each lay [There shall be] grass with reeds and rushes
וְהָיָ֤ה הַשָּׁרָב֙ לַאֲגַ֔ם וְצִמָּא֖וֹן לְמַבּ֣וּעֵי מָ֑יִם בִּנְוֵ֤ה תַנִּים֙ רִבְצָ֔הּ חָצִ֖יר לְקָנֶ֥ה וָגֹֽמֶא

וְהָיָ֤ה  And  shall  become 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
הַשָּׁרָב֙  the  parched  ground 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: שָׁרָב  
Sense: burning or scorching heat, parched ground.
לַאֲגַ֔ם  a  pool 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֲגַם 
Sense: pool, troubled pool.
וְצִמָּא֖וֹן  and  the  thirsty  land 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular
Root: צִמָּאֹון  
Sense: thirsty ground.
לְמַבּ֣וּעֵי  springs 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: מַבּוּעַ  
Sense: spring of water.
מָ֑יִם  of  water 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: מַיִם  
Sense: water, waters.
בִּנְוֵ֤ה  in  the  habitation 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: נָוֶה 
Sense: abode, habitation, abode of shepherds or flocks, pasture.
תַנִּים֙  of  jackals 
Parse: Noun, common plural
Root: תַּנִּין  
Sense: dragon, serpent, sea monster.
רִבְצָ֔הּ  where  each  lay 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person feminine singular
Root: רֵבֶץ  
Sense: resting or dwelling place, place of lying down.
חָצִ֖יר  [There  shall  be]  grass 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: חָצִיר 
Sense: grass, leek, green grass, herbage.
לְקָנֶ֥ה  with  reeds 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular
Root: קָנֶה  
Sense: reed, stalk, bone, balances.
וָגֹֽמֶא  and  rushes 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular
Root: גֹּמֶא  
Sense: rush, reed, papyrus.