The Meaning of Isaiah 65:10 Explained

Isaiah 65:10

KJV: And Sharon shall be a fold of flocks, and the valley of Achor a place for the herds to lie down in, for my people that have sought me.

YLT: And Sharon hath been for the habitation of a flock, And the valley of Achor for the lying down of a herd, For My people who have sought Me.

Darby: And the Sharon shall be a fold for flocks, and the valley of Achor a couching-place of the herds, for my people that have sought me.

ASV: And Sharon shall be a fold of flocks, and the valley of Achor a place for herds to lie down in, for my people that have sought me.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And Sharon  shall be a fold  of flocks,  and the valley  of Achor  a place for the herds  to lie down in,  for my people  that have sought  me. 

What does Isaiah 65:10 Mean?

Verse Meaning

The faithful who truly sought the Lord would inhabit the fertile western coastal plain and the barren eastern area west of Jericho, in other words, the whole land. Some interpreters regard both the Sharon and the valley of Achor as favorite places in Palestine. [1] Those who sought the Lord were not necessarily those who engaged in religious activity but those who obeyed His covenant requirements.

Context Summary

Isaiah 65:1-12 - A Seed Rescued From Destruction
The prophet now enumerates the reasons that forced the Lord to turn aside from the Chosen People, and call in the Gentiles to occupy the place and perform the mission which they had despised and forfeited. Paul makes memorable reference to this passage. See Romans 10:20-21. Their gardens were scenes of debauchery; their altars were covered by polluting engravings; they practiced necromancy in the graveyards, and ate swine's flesh, Isaiah 65:3-4. Fortune and destiny were their chosen deities, Isaiah 65:11, r.v. While professing greater holiness than others, the land was filled with abominations.
But the Lord ever discriminates between the righteous and the wicked. Did He not spare Noah and Lot and Caleb? There has always been a faithful remnant, and these become the seed germs of a new nation. Ponder Isaiah 65:8-10. Then ask that your life may be like the new young grapes of the vineyard, on which the blessing of God rests! [source]

Chapter Summary: Isaiah 65

1  The calling of the Gentiles,
2  and the rejection of the Jews, for their incredulity, idolatry, and hypocrisy
8  A remnant shall be saved
11  Judgments on the wicked, and blessings on the godly
17  The blessed state of the new Jerusalem

What do the individual words in Isaiah 65:10 mean?

And shall be Sharon a fold of flocks and the Valley of Achor for a place to lie down herds for My people who have sought Me
וְהָיָ֤ה הַשָּׁרוֹן֙ לִנְוֵה־ צֹ֔אן וְעֵ֥מֶק עָכ֖וֹר לְרֵ֣בֶץ בָּקָ֑ר לְעַמִּ֖י אֲשֶׁ֥ר דְּרָשֽׁוּנִי

וְהָיָ֤ה  And  shall  be 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
הַשָּׁרוֹן֙  Sharon 
Parse: Article, Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: לַשָּׁרֹון 
Sense: plain, level.
לִנְוֵה־  a  fold 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: נָוֶה 
Sense: abode, habitation, abode of shepherds or flocks, pasture.
צֹ֔אן  of  flocks 
Parse: Noun, common singular
Root: צֹאן  
Sense: small cattle, sheep, sheep and goats, flock, flocks.
וְעֵ֥מֶק  and  the  Valley 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: עֵמֶק  
Sense: valley, vale, lowland, open country.
עָכ֖וֹר  of  Achor 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: עָכֹור  
Sense: trouble, disturbance.
לְרֵ֣בֶץ  for  a  place  to  lie  down 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: רֵבֶץ  
Sense: resting or dwelling place, place of lying down.
בָּקָ֑ר  herds 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: בָּקָר  
Sense: cattle, herd, oxen, ox.
לְעַמִּ֖י  for  My  people 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: עַם 
Sense: nation, people.
דְּרָשֽׁוּנִי  have  sought  Me 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural, first person common singular
Root: דַּרְיׄושׁ 
Sense: to resort to, seek, seek with care, enquire, require.