The Meaning of Isaiah 55:13 Explained

Isaiah 55:13

KJV: Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree: and it shall be to the LORD for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.

YLT: Instead of the thorn come up doth fir, Instead of the brier come up doth myrtle, And it hath been to Jehovah for a name, For a sign age-during -- it is not cut off!

Darby: Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress, and instead of the nettle shall come up the myrtle; and it shall be to Jehovah for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.

ASV: Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir-tree; and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle-tree: and it shall be to Jehovah for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Instead of the thorn  shall come up  the fir tree,  and instead of the brier  shall come up  the myrtle tree:  and it shall be to the LORD  for a name,  for an everlasting  sign  [that] shall not be cut off. 

What does Isaiah 55:13 Mean?

Verse Meaning

The replanting of productive, desirable trees and shrubs (representing all creation), in place of plants bearing the marks of the Fall and its curse, symbolizes the rejuvenation of creation. This transformation, and behind it the redemption accomplished by the Servant, would be a memorial that would honor Yahweh. It would be an everlasting sign of God"s salvation that would remain forever.
Isaiah mentioned three things that would be everlasting in chapters54,55: His lovingkindness (Heb. hesed, Isaiah 54:8), His covenant with His people ( Isaiah 55:3), and this sign. This sign recalls the sign of the child to come ( Isaiah 7:14). As that sign would be an immediate and physical proof that Messiah would come, so this sign would be the same kind of proof that the Servant had come.
The transformation of the world following the lifting of the curse will be observable. While this description is obviously figurative-hills do not shout for joy, and trees do not clap their hands literally-it represents a real change in nature, not just the joy that will pervade all creation. This is a description of millennial conditions on the earth after Jesus Christ returns to the earth to rule and reign (cf. Isaiah 35:1-2; Isaiah 41:18-19; Isaiah 44:3). If it were not Song of Solomon , there would be no everlasting sign. As the Passover was a sign to the Israelites of God"s first redemption of them from Egyptian bondage, the transformed earth and people will be a sign to all God"s people of His second redemption of them from Satan"s bondage.

Context Summary

Isaiah 55:1-13 - The Free Offer Of Pardoning Grace
The Prince of Life, Isaiah 55:4, r.v. Four times in the New Testament this title is applied to our Lord, and always in connection with His Resurrection. See Acts 3:14-15; Acts 5:31; Hebrews 2:9-10; Hebrews 12:2, where the words prince, author, and captain, are various translations of the same Greek word. The meaning of the original word is file leader. He leads out of death into life; out of defeat into victory; out of suffering into perfection; out of the sorrow and pain of discipline into the triumph of the sons of light.
The everlasting covenant, Isaiah 55:3. David's sin could not cancel the sure mercies of God. See 2 Samuel 7:14-16 and 2 Samuel 23:5. God will never go back on that covenant which includes us! See Hebrews 8:1-13. God's mercies in Christ are sure. Listen! Come! Hear! We are not only forever safe, but we are provided against all want.
God's abundant provision is described under several terms: waters, wine, milk, wholesome and satisfying bread, the good, fatness, Isaiah 55:1-2. We are blessed with all spiritual blessings in Christ, Ephesians 1:3. And because God's thoughts and ways are not as ours, the result is the transformation of thorns into firs and briars into myrtles. [source]

Chapter Summary: Isaiah 55

1  The prophet, with the promises of Christ, calls to faith
6  And to repentance
8  The happy success of those who believe

What do the individual words in Isaiah 55:13 mean?

Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress tree - and instead of the brier the myrtle tree and it shall be to Yahweh for a name for an sign everlasting not [that] shall be cut off -
תַּ֤חַת הַֽנַּעֲצוּץ֙ יַעֲלֶ֣ה בְר֔וֹשׁ [תחת] (וְתַ֥חַת) הַסִּרְפַּ֖ד הֲדַ֑ס וְהָיָ֤ה לַֽיהוָה֙ לְשֵׁ֔ם לְא֥וֹת עוֹלָ֖ם לֹ֥א יִכָּרֵֽת ס

תַּ֤חַת  Instead 
Parse: Preposition
Root: מִתְחָה 
Sense: the under part, beneath, instead of, as, for, for the sake of, flat, unto, where, whereas.
הַֽנַּעֲצוּץ֙  of  the  thorn 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: נַעֲצוּץ  
Sense: thornbush.
יַעֲלֶ֣ה  shall  come  up 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: סָלַק 
Sense: to go up, ascend, climb.
בְר֔וֹשׁ  the  cypress  tree 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: בְּרֹושׁ  
Sense: cypress, fir, juniper, pine.
[תחת]  - 
Parse: Preposition
(וְתַ֥חַת)  and  instead  of 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition
Root: מִתְחָה 
Sense: the under part, beneath, instead of, as, for, for the sake of, flat, unto, where, whereas.
הַסִּרְפַּ֖ד  the  brier 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: סִרְפָּד  
Sense: an unidentified desert plant.
הֲדַ֑ס  the  myrtle  tree 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: הֲדַס  
Sense: myrtle (tree).
וְהָיָ֤ה  and  it  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.
לַֽיהוָה֙  to  Yahweh 
Parse: Preposition-l, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
לְשֵׁ֔ם  for  a  name 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular
Root: שֵׁם  
Sense: name.
לְא֥וֹת  for  an  sign 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, common singular construct
Root: אֹות  
Sense: sign, signal.
עוֹלָ֖ם  everlasting 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: עֹולָם  
Sense: long duration, antiquity, futurity, for ever, ever, everlasting, evermore, perpetual, old, ancient, world.
יִכָּרֵֽת  [that]  shall  be  cut  off 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: כָּרַת  
Sense: to cut, cut off, cut down, cut off a body part, cut out, eliminate, kill, cut a covenant.
ס  - 
Parse: Punctuation