The Meaning of Isaiah 44:4 Explained

Isaiah 44:4

KJV: And they shall spring up as among the grass, as willows by the water courses.

YLT: And they have sprung up as among grass, As willows by streams of water.

Darby: And they shall spring up among the grass, as willows by the water-courses.

ASV: and they shall spring up among the grass, as willows by the watercourses.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And they shall spring up  [as] among  the grass,  as willows  by the water  courses. 

What does Isaiah 44:4 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Then the Israelites would grow like flowers among the grass and like poplars planted beside streams of water (cf. Psalm 1:3; Jeremiah 17:8). The Old Testament writers often regarded numerous progeny as a sign of divine blessing (cf. Genesis 15:5; Psalm 127:3-5).

Context Summary

Isaiah 44:1-11 - "besides Me There Is No God"
What gracious promises are given throughout Scripture, not only to God's children, but to their seed! Here the thirsty soul, longing for love, sympathy, God, is promised an abundant supply. See John 4:13-14; Revelation 22:17. But notice the extreme beauty of the further response, which shall be made by the young followers of our Lord:
One shall say, I am the Lord's, Isaiah 44:5. What ecstasy such a declaration causes to a parent's heart! Young friends, do not be satisfied till you have confessed Christ. Say, I am the Lord's. Another shall write on his hand, unto the Lord; that is, he shall dedicate his hand to do God's work in the world. Oh, to write a similar declaration on every member of our body! Another shall subscribe with his hand unto the Lord; that is, shall write these words on a blank sheet of paper, and his own name beneath them.
Again we have the conflict with the idols of the heathen, Isaiah 44:6-11. But what chance have their votaries when confronted by the glad and assured testimony of those who have seen the King in His beauty! [source]

Chapter Summary: Isaiah 44

1  God comforts the church with his promises
7  The vanity of idols
9  And folly of idol makers
21  He exhorts to praise God for his redemption and omnipotence

What do the individual words in Isaiah 44:4 mean?

and they will spring up among the grass Like willows by courses the watercourses
וְצָמְח֖וּ בְּבֵ֣ין חָצִ֑יר כַּעֲרָבִ֖ים עַל־ יִבְלֵי־ מָֽיִם

וְצָמְח֖וּ  and  they  will  spring  up 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person common plural
Root: צָמַח  
Sense: to sprout, spring up, grow up.
חָצִ֑יר  the  grass 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: חָצִיר 
Sense: grass, leek, green grass, herbage.
כַּעֲרָבִ֖ים  Like  willows 
Parse: Preposition-k, Noun, feminine plural
Root: עֲרָבָה  
Sense: poplar, willow.
יִבְלֵי־  courses 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: יָבָל  
Sense: a stream, watercourse.
מָֽיִם  the  watercourses 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: מַיִם  
Sense: water, waters.