Isaiah 35:8
New International Version
And a highway will be there; it will be called the Way of Holiness; it will be for those who walk on that Way. The unclean will not journey on it; wicked fools will not go about on it.

New Living Translation
And a great road will go through that once deserted land. It will be named the Highway of Holiness. Evil-minded people will never travel on it. It will be only for those who walk in God’s ways; fools will never walk there.

English Standard Version
And a highway shall be there, and it shall be called the Way of Holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it. It shall belong to those who walk on the way; even if they are fools, they shall not go astray.

Berean Standard Bible
And there will be a highway called the Way of Holiness. The unclean will not travel it—only those who walk in the Way—and fools will not stray onto it.

King James Bible
And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein.

New King James Version
A highway shall be there, and a road, And it shall be called the Highway of Holiness. The unclean shall not pass over it, But it shall be for others. Whoever walks the road, although a fool, Shall not go astray.

New American Standard Bible
A highway will be there, a roadway, And it will be called the Highway of Holiness. The unclean will not travel on it, But it will be for the one who walks that way, And fools will not wander on it.

NASB 1995
A highway will be there, a roadway, And it will be called the Highway of Holiness. The unclean will not travel on it, But it will be for him who walks that way, And fools will not wander on it.

NASB 1977
And a highway will be there, a roadway, And it will be called the Highway of Holiness. The unclean will not travel on it, But it will be for him who walks that way, And fools will not wander on it.

Legacy Standard Bible
And a roadway will be there, a highway, And it will be called the Highway of Holiness. The unclean will not pass by on it, But it will be for him who walks in that way, And ignorant fools will not wander on it.

Amplified Bible
A highway will be there, and a roadway; And it will be called the Holy Way. The unclean will not travel on it, But it will be for those who walk on the way [the redeemed]; And fools will not wander on it.

Christian Standard Bible
A road will be there and a way; it will be called the Holy Way. The unclean will not travel on it, but it will be for the one who walks the path. Fools will not wander on it.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
A road will be there and a way; it will be called the Holy Way. The unclean will not travel on it, but it will be for the one who walks the path. Even the fool will not go astray.

American Standard Version
And a highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but is shall be for the redeemed: the wayfaring men, yea fools, shall not err therein.

Contemporary English Version
A good road will be there, and it will be named "God's Sacred Highway." It will be for God's people; no one unfit to worship God will walk on that road. And no fools can travel on that highway.

English Revised Version
And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, yea fools, shall not err therein.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
A highway will be there, a roadway. It will be called the Holy Road. Sinners won't travel on it. It will be for those who walk on it. Godless fools won't wander [onto it].

Good News Translation
There will be a highway there, called "The Road of Holiness." No sinner will ever travel that road; no fools will mislead those who follow it.

International Standard Version
"A highway will be there—yes, there— and people will call it 'The Holy Way'. As for unclean people, they will not journey on it, but it will be for whomever is traveling on that Way— not even fools will get lost.

Majority Standard Bible
And there will be a highway called the Way of Holiness. The unclean will not travel it—only those who walk in the Way—and fools will not stray onto it.

NET Bible
A thoroughfare will be there--it will be called the Way of Holiness. The unclean will not travel on it; it is reserved for those authorized to use it--fools will not stray into it.

New Heart English Bible
And a highway will be there, and it will be called the Way of Holiness. The unclean shall not pass over it, but it will be for those who walk in the Way. Wicked fools will not go there.

Webster's Bible Translation
And a highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called, The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the way-faring men, though fools, shall not err therein.

World English Bible
A highway will be there, a road, and it will be called “The Holy Way”. The unclean shall not pass over it, but it will be for those who walk in the Way. Wicked fools shall not go there.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And a highway has been there, and a way, "" And it is called the “Way of Holiness.” The unclean do not pass over it, "" And He Himself [is] by them, "" Whoever is going in the way—even fools do not err.

Young's Literal Translation
And a highway hath been there, and a way, And the 'way of holiness' is called to it, Not pass over it doth the unclean, And He Himself is by them, Whoso is going in the way -- even fools err not.

Smith's Literal Translation
And a highway was there, and a way, and it shall be called to it, A way of holiness; the unclean one shall not pass through it; and it is for them; he going the way, and the foolish shall not err.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And a path and a way shall be there, and it shall be called the holy way: the unclean shall not pass over it, and this shall be unto you a straight way, so that fools shall not err therein.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And there shall be a path and a road in that place. And it will be called the Holy Way. The defiled will not pass through it. For this will be an upright path for you, so much so that the foolish will not wander along it.

New American Bible
A highway will be there, called the holy way; No one unclean may pass over it, but it will be for his people; no traveler, not even fools, shall go astray on it.

New Revised Standard Version
A highway shall be there, and it shall be called the Holy Way; the unclean shall not travel on it, but it shall be for God’s people; no traveler, not even fools, shall go astray.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And a highway shall be there, and it shall be called the way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; and there shall be no road beside it; fools shall not err therein.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And a street will be there and the way will be called holy, and impurity shall not pass through in it. The Way must be in it and fools will not go astray there
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And a highway shall be there, and a way, And it shall be called The way of holiness; The unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those; The wayfaring men, yea fools, shall not err therein.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
There shall be there a pure way, and it shall be called a holy way; and there shall not pass by there any unclean person, neither shall there be there an unclean way; but the dispersed shall walk on it, and they shall not go astray.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Glory of Zion
7The parched ground will become a pool, the thirsty land springs of water. In the haunt where jackals once lay, there will be grass and reeds and papyrus. 8And there will be a highway called the Way of Holiness. The unclean will not travel it— only those who walk in the Way— and fools will not stray onto it. 9No lion will be there, and no vicious beast will go up on it. Such will not be found there, but the redeemed will walk upon it.…

Cross References
Matthew 7:13-14
Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. / But small is the gate and narrow the way that leads to life, and only a few find it.

John 14:6
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

Proverbs 16:17
The highway of the upright leads away from evil; he who guards his way protects his life.

Isaiah 40:3
A voice of one calling: “Prepare the way for the LORD in the wilderness; make a straight highway for our God in the desert.

Isaiah 62:10
Go out, go out through the gates; prepare the way for the people! Build it up, build up the highway; clear away the stones; raise a banner for the nations!

Jeremiah 31:9
They will come with weeping, and by their supplication I will lead them; I will make them walk beside streams of waters, on a level path where they will not stumble. For I am Israel’s Father, and Ephraim is My firstborn.”

Psalm 27:11
Teach me Your way, O LORD, and lead me on a level path, because of my oppressors.

Psalm 119:1
Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the Law of the LORD.

Psalm 119:105
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

Isaiah 42:16
I will lead the blind by a way they did not know; I will guide them on unfamiliar paths. I will turn darkness into light before them and rough places into level ground. These things I will do for them, and I will not forsake them.

Isaiah 11:16
There will be a highway for the remnant of His people who remain from Assyria, as there was for Israel when they came up from the land of Egypt.

Isaiah 52:1
Awake, awake, clothe yourself with strength, O Zion! Put on your garments of splendor, O Jerusalem, holy city! For the uncircumcised and unclean will no longer enter you.

Isaiah 52:11
Depart, depart, go out from there! Touch no unclean thing; come out from it, purify yourselves, you who carry the vessels of the LORD.

Isaiah 30:21
And whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear this command behind you: “This is the way. Walk in it.”

Hebrews 12:13
Make straight paths for your feet, so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.


Treasury of Scripture

And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein.

an highway

Isaiah 11:16
And there shall be an highway for the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria; like as it was to Israel in the day that he came up out of the land of Egypt.

Isaiah 19:23
In that day shall there be a highway out of Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrian shall come into Egypt, and the Egyptian into Assyria, and the Egyptians shall serve with the Assyrians.

Isaiah 40:3,4
The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God…

the way

Ephesians 2:10
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

1 Thessalonians 4:7
For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.

2 Timothy 1:9
Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

the unclean

Isaiah 52:1,11
Awake, awake; put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city: for henceforth there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean…

Isaiah 60:21
Thy people also shall be all righteous: they shall inherit the land for ever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be glorified.

Ezekiel 43:12
This is the law of the house; Upon the top of the mountain the whole limit thereof round about shall be most holy. Behold, this is the law of the house.

but it shall be for those.

Isaiah 49:10
They shall not hunger nor thirst; neither shall the heat nor sun smite them: for he that hath mercy on them shall lead them, even by the springs of water shall he guide them.

Psalm 23:4
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Matthew 1:23
Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

the wayfaring

Isaiah 30:21
And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.

Psalm 19:7
The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.

Psalm 25:8,9
Good and upright is the LORD: therefore will he teach sinners in the way…

Jump to Previous
Err Foolish Fools Highway Holiness Holy Journey Road Roadway Sinner Therein Travel Turned Unclean Walk Walks Wander Way Wayfaring Way-Faring Wicked
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Isaiah 35
1. The joyful flourishing of Christ's kingdom
3. The weak are encouraged by the virtues and privileges of the Gospel














And there will be a highway
The term "highway" in this context is derived from the Hebrew word "mesillah," which refers to a raised road or a main thoroughfare. In ancient times, such roads were constructed for ease of travel and were often used by kings and dignitaries. Spiritually, this "highway" symbolizes a clear and direct path to God, prepared for His people. It signifies the accessibility of God's salvation and the removal of obstacles that once hindered the journey to holiness.

called the Way of Holiness
The "Way of Holiness" is a profound concept, emphasizing a path set apart for those who are consecrated to God. The Hebrew word for "holiness" is "qodesh," which denotes something sacred, pure, and dedicated to the Lord. This path is not merely a physical route but a spiritual journey that requires a life of purity and devotion. It reflects the call for believers to live in righteousness and to be distinct from the world, embodying the holiness of God in their conduct and character.

The unclean will not travel it
"Unclean" in the Hebrew context often refers to ritual impurity, but it also encompasses moral and spiritual defilement. Those who are "unclean" are those who have not been purified by the redemptive work of Christ. This phrase underscores the necessity of spiritual cleansing and repentance to walk on this holy path. It serves as a reminder that access to God's presence requires a heart that is purified and set apart from sin.

only those who walk in the Way
This phrase highlights the exclusivity of the path to those who are committed to following God's commandments. "Walk" in Hebrew is "halak," which implies a continuous, active lifestyle of obedience and faithfulness. It is not enough to merely know the way; one must actively live it out. This calls believers to a daily commitment to live according to God's will, reflecting His holiness in every aspect of life.

and fools will not stray onto it
In biblical literature, "fools" are often those who reject wisdom and live in opposition to God's truth. The Hebrew word "kesil" describes someone who is morally deficient and lacks discernment. This assurance that "fools will not stray onto it" provides comfort that the path of holiness is protected and preserved for those who earnestly seek God. It is a path of divine wisdom and guidance, inaccessible to those who choose folly over faith.

(8) An highway shall be there.--The raised causeway, as distinct from the common paths. (See Judges 5:6.) We are still in the region of parables, but the thought has a special interest as a transition, at the close of the first volume of Isaiah's writings, to the opening of the second. The use of the road has been referred, by some interpreters, to the return of the exiles from Babylon. Rather is it the road by which the pilgrims of all nations shall journey to the mountain of the Lord's house (Isaiah 2:1).

The way of holiness . . .--The name of the road confirms the interpretation just given. There was to be a true Via Sacra to the earthly temple, as the type of that eternal Temple, not made with hands, which also was in the prophet's thoughts. Along that road there would be no barbarous invaders polluting the ground they trod, no Jews ceremonially or spiritually unclean. The picture of the heavenly Jerusalem (Revelation 21:27) into which "there entereth nothing that defileth," presents a like feature. It shall be for them, i.e. . . . It is appointed for those, for whosoever walketh therein (the Hebrew verb is in the singular). Then, in strict order, comes the final clause: Even the simple ones shall not lose their way. A curious parallel is found in Ecclesiastes 10:15, where "he knoweth not how to go to the city," is one of the notes of the man who is void of understanding.

Verse 8. - And an highway shall be there, and a way (comp. Isaiah 30:21). There shall be a clear "way" marked out in which all shall be bound to walk - a "strait and narrow way" doubtless (Matthew 7:14), but one not readily missed. The way shall be called The way of holiness. It shall be that path through the dangers and difficulties of life which holiness points out and requires. The unclean shall not pass over it. It is tempting to imagine that there is here a reference to the famous chinvat peretu of the Zoro-astrians - the "bridge of the gatherer" - along which all souls had to pass in order to reach the abode of the blessed, but which the souls of the wicked never succeeded in passing ('Ancient Monarchies,' vol. it. p. 339). The 'bridge of the gatherer" is, however, in the other world, not in this world; but Isaiah's "highway" is here. It is that right course of life, which "the unclean" do not follow, though they might do so if they chose, but which the righteous follow to their great gain and advantage. But it shall be for those; rather, as in the margin, but he shall be with them; God, i.e. shall be with those who seek to walk in the way, and not to err from it. He shall direct them, support them, sustain their footsteps. The wayfaring men; rather, they that walk in the way - that make up their minds to try to walk in it. Though fools; i.e. however simple and unlearned they may be - "Ne simplicissimi quidem" (Rosenmüller). Shall not err therein; shall not wander from the way through mere simplicity. It shall be easy to find, difficult to miss.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
And there
שָׁ֞ם (šām)
Adverb
Strong's 8033: There, then, thither

will be
וְהָיָה־ (wə·hā·yāh-)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

a highway
מַסְל֣וּל (mas·lūl)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4547: A thoroughfare

called
יִקָּ֣רֵא (yiq·qā·rê)
Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7121: To call, proclaim, read

the Way
וְדֶ֤רֶךְ (wə·ḏe·reḵ)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - common singular construct
Strong's 1870: A road, a course of life, mode of action

of Holiness.
הַקֹּ֙דֶשׁ֙ (haq·qō·ḏeš)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6944: A sacred place, thing, sanctity

The unclean
טָמֵ֖א (ṭā·mê)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 2931: Unclean

will not
לֹֽא־ (lō-)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

travel it,
יַעַבְרֶ֥נּוּ (ya·‘aḇ·ren·nū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5674: To pass over, through, or by, pass on

only
וְהוּא־ (wə·hū-)
Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1931: He, self, the same, this, that, as, are

those who walk
הֹלֵ֥ךְ (hō·lêḵ)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk

in that Way—
דֶּ֛רֶךְ (de·reḵ)
Noun - common singular
Strong's 1870: A road, a course of life, mode of action

and fools
וֶאֱוִילִ֖ים (we·’ĕ·wî·lîm)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 191: Foolish

will not
לֹ֥א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

stray onto it.
יִתְעֽוּ׃ (yiṯ·‘ū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 8582: To vacillate, reel, stray


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OT Prophets: Isaiah 35:8 A highway will be there a road (Isa Isi Is)
Isaiah 35:7
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