The Meaning of Isaiah 65:18 Explained

Isaiah 65:18

KJV: But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy.

YLT: But joy ye, and rejoice for ever, that I am Creator, For, lo, I am creating Jerusalem a rejoicing, And her people a joy.

Darby: But be glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create. For behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy.

ASV: But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create; for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

But be ye glad  and rejoice  for ever  [in that] which I create:  for, behold, I create  Jerusalem  a rejoicing,  and her people  a joy. 

What does Isaiah 65:18 Mean?

Verse Meaning

This new creation is a cause for ceaseless hope and rejoicing among God"s people. The New Jerusalem would be a place of rejoicing, in contrast to present mourning, and its people would be eternally happy (cf. Revelation 21:9 to Revelation 22:5).

Context Summary

Isaiah 65:13-25 - A New Earth For God's Servants
Notice the wide difference that religion makes to the soul. The children of God are secured against the evils which visit all others. They eat; they drink; they rejoice; they sing; they are called by another name, Isaiah 65:13-15.
Behold a new creation, Isaiah 65:17-25! The present dispensation is ended. Jerusalem, restored to her former glory, sings for very joy; and her rejoicing sends a thrill of joy through the nature of God. Long years of life and security of tenure are granted again to man. The red rapine of the forest is ended, for creation is emancipated from its bondage and participates in the glorious liberty of the sons of God. Peace shall reign in the forest glades, never again to abdicate her throne, Isaiah 65:25. But, best of all, there shall be such unity between man and God that prayer will be anticipated, and the pleading soul shall be conscious of the listening ear of God. Hasten, O day of days, for which creation groans, and the saints groan with inexpressible desire! [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 65:18 mean?

Be you glad but be glad and rejoice that forever in what I create for behold I create a rejoicing and Jerusalem and her people [as] a rejoicing A joy
כִּֽי־ אִם־ שִׂ֤ישׂוּ וְגִ֙ילוּ֙ עֲדֵי־ עַ֔ד אֲשֶׁ֖ר אֲנִ֣י בוֹרֵ֑א כִּי֩ הִנְנִ֨י בוֹרֵ֧א אֶת־ יְרוּשָׁלִַ֛ם גִּילָ֖ה וְעַמָּ֥הּ מָשֽׂוֹשׂ

כִּֽי־  Be  you  glad 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: כִּי 
Sense: that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since.
שִׂ֤ישׂוּ  be  glad 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine plural
Root: שׂוּשׂ  
Sense: to exult, rejoice.
וְגִ֙ילוּ֙  and  rejoice 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine plural
Root: גִּיל  
Sense: to rejoice, exult, be glad.
עֲדֵי־  that 
Parse: Preposition
Root: עַד  
Sense: perpetuity, for ever, continuing future.
עַ֔ד  forever 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: עַד  
Sense: as far as, even to, until, up to, while, as far as.
אֲשֶׁ֖ר  in  what 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
בוֹרֵ֑א  create 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: בָּרָא 
Sense: to create, shape, form.
הִנְנִ֨י  behold  I 
Parse: Interjection, first person common singular
Root: הֵן  
Sense: behold, lo, though hypothetical part.
בוֹרֵ֧א  create 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: בָּרָא 
Sense: to create, shape, form.
אֶת־  a  rejoicing 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
יְרוּשָׁלִַ֛ם  and  Jerusalem 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: יְרוּשָׁלַםִ  
Sense: the chief city of Palestine and capital of the united kingdom and the nation of Judah after the split.
גִּילָ֖ה  and  her  people 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular construct, third person feminine singular
Root: גִּילָה  
Sense: rejoicing.
וְעַמָּ֥הּ  [as]  a  rejoicing 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: עַם 
Sense: nation, people.
מָשֽׂוֹשׂ  A  joy 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: מָשֹׂושׂ 
Sense: exultation, joy, rejoicing.