Isaiah 41:18

God's faithfulness New life and rebirth Hope

¹⁶ You will winnow them, and a wind will carry them away; a gale will scatter them. But you will rejoice in the LORD; you will glory in the Holy One of Israel.

¹⁷ The poor and needy seek water, but there is none; their tongues are parched with thirst. I, the LORD, will answer them; I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them.

I will open rivers on the barren heights, and fountains in the middle of the valleys. I will turn the desert into a pool of water, and the dry land into flowing springs.

¹⁹ I will plant cedars in the wilderness, acacias, myrtles, and olive trees. I will set cypresses in the desert, elms and boxwood together,

²⁰ so that all may see and know, may consider and understand, that the hand of the LORD has done this and the Holy One of Israel has created it.”

This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: I will open rivers on the barren heights, and fountains in the middle of the valleys. I will turn the desert into a pool of water, and the dry land into flowing springs.
KJV: I will open rivers in high places, and fountains in the midst of the valleys: I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water.
WEB: I will open rivers on the bare heights, and springs in the middle of the valleys. I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water.
ASV: I will open rivers on the bare heights, and fountains in the midst of the valleys; I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water.
DARBY: I will open rivers on the bare heights, and fountains in the midst of the valleys; I will make the wilderness into a pool of water, and the dry land into water-springs.
BLB: I will open rivers on the barren heights, and fountains in the middle of the valleys; I will make the desert into a pool of water, and the dry land into flowing springs of water.

ÅB: Jeg vil la elver velle fram på bare hauger og kilder midt i daler; jeg vil gjøre en ørken til en sjø og et tørt land til vannrike kilder;
OTB: Jeg vil la elver strømme på øde høyder, og kilder i dalene. Jeg vil gjøre ørkenen til vannbassenger, og det tørre land til vannkilder.
B1930: Jeg vil la elver velle frem på bare hauger og kilder midt i daler; jeg vil gjøre en ørken til en sjø og et tørt land til vannrike kilder;

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Isaiah 35:6–7
Then the lame will leap like a deer and the mute tongue will shout for joy. For waters will gush forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert.
Read in context
Psalms 107:35
He turns a desert into pools of water and a dry land into flowing springs.
Read in context
Isaiah 58:11
The LORD will always guide you; He will satisfy you in a sun-scorched land and strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.
Read in context
Isaiah 30:25
And from every high mountain and every raised hill, streams of water will flow in the day of great slaughter, when the towers fall.
Read in context
Revelation 7:17
For the Lamb in the center of the throne will be their shepherd. ‘He will lead them to springs of living water,’ and ‘God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’”
Read in context
Ezekiel 47:1–8
Then the man brought me back to the entrance of the temple, and I saw water flowing from under the threshold of the temple toward the east (for the temple faced east). The water was coming down from under the south side of the temple, south of the altar.
Read in context
Isaiah 43:19–20
Behold, I am about to do something new; even now it is coming. Do you not see it? Indeed, I will make a way in the wilderness and streams in the desert.
Read in context
Isaiah 44:3
For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and currents on the dry ground. I will pour out My Spirit on your descendants, and My blessing on your offspring.
Read in context