Isaiah 55:13 Instead of the thornbush, a cypress will grow, and instead of the brier, a myrtle will spring up; they will make a name for the LORD, an everlasting sign, never to be destroyed."

◄ Isaiah 55:13 ►

New International Version
Instead of the thornbush will grow the juniper, and instead of briers the myrtle will grow. This will be for the LORD’s renown, for an everlasting sign, that will endure forever.”

New Living Translation
Where once there were thorns, cypress trees will grow. Where nettles grew, myrtles will sprout up. These events will bring great honor to the LORD’s name; they will be an everlasting sign of his power and love.”

English Standard Version
Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress; instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle; and it shall make a name for the LORD, an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.”

Berean Standard Bible
Instead of the thornbush, the cypress will grow, and instead of the brier, the myrtle will spring up; this will make a name for the LORD, an everlasting sign, never to be destroyed.”

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress 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.”

New American Standard Bible
“Instead of the thorn bush, the juniper will come up, And instead of the stinging nettle, the myrtle will come up; And it will be a memorial to the LORD, An everlasting sign which will not be eliminated.”

NASB 1995
“Instead of the thorn bush the cypress will come up, And instead of the nettle the myrtle will come up, And it will be a memorial to the LORD, For an everlasting sign which will not be cut off.”

NASB 1977
“Instead of the thorn bush the cypress will come up; And instead of the nettle the myrtle will come up; And it will be a memorial to the LORD, For an everlasting sign which will not be cut off.”

Legacy Standard Bible
Instead of the thorn bush the cypress will come up, And instead of the nettle the myrtle will come up, And it will be to Yahweh for His renown, For an everlasting sign which will not be cut off.”

Amplified Bible
“Instead of the thorn bush the cypress tree will grow, And instead of the nettle the myrtle tree will grow; And it will be a memorial to the LORD, For an everlasting sign [of His mercy] which will not be cut off.”

Christian Standard Bible
Instead of the thornbush, a cypress will come up, and instead of the brier, a myrtle will come up; this will stand as a monument for the LORD, an everlasting sign that will not be destroyed.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Instead of the thornbush, a cypress will come up, and instead of the brier, a myrtle will come up; it will make a name for Yahweh as an everlasting sign that will not be destroyed.

American Standard Version
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.

Contemporary English Version
Cypress and myrtle trees will grow in fields once covered by thorns. And then those trees will stand as a lasting witness to the glory of the LORD.

English Revised Version
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.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Cypress trees will grow where thornbushes grew. Myrtle trees will grow where briars grew. This will be a reminder of the LORD's name and an everlasting sign that will never be destroyed.

Good News Translation
Cypress trees will grow where now there are briers; myrtle trees will come up in place of thorns. This will be a sign that will last forever, a reminder of what I, the LORD, have done."

International Standard Version
Instead of thornbushes, pine trees will grow, and instead of briers, myrtles will grow; and they will be a sign for the LORD, and an everlasting name that will not be cut off."

Majority Standard Bible
Instead of the thornbush, the cypress will grow, and instead of the brier, the myrtle will spring up; this will make a name for the LORD, an everlasting sign, never to be destroyed.?

NET Bible
Evergreens will grow in place of thorn bushes, firs will grow in place of nettles; they will be a monument to the LORD, a permanent reminder that will remain.

New Heart English Bible
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."

Webster's Bible Translation
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.

World English Bible
Instead of the thorn the cypress tree will come up; and instead of the brier the myrtle tree will come up. It will make a name for Yahweh, for an everlasting sign that will not be cut off.”

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
Instead of the thorn comes up fir, "" Instead of the brier comes up myrtle, "" And it has been to YHWH for a name, "" For a perpetual sign—it is not cut off!”

Young's Literal Translation
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!

Smith's Literal Translation
Instead of the thorn-hedge shall come up the cypress; of the briar shall come up the myrtle: and it was to Jehovah for a name for an eternal sigh; it shall not be cut off.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
Instead of the shrub, shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the nettle, shall come up the myrtle tree: and the Lord shall be named for an everlasting sign, that shall not be taken away.

Catholic Public Domain Version
In place of the shrub, the pine tree will arise, and in place of the nettle, the myrtle tree will grow. And the Lord will be named with an eternal sign, which will not be taken away.

New American Bible
In place of the thornbush, the cypress shall grow, instead of nettles, the myrtle. This shall be to the LORD’s renown, as an everlasting sign that shall not fail.

New Revised Standard Version
Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress; instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle; and it shall be to the LORD for a memorial, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.

Translations from Aramaic

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

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
In place of the thorn the cypress will sprout, and in place of wild thyme the myrtle shall sprout, and it shall be to LORD JEHOVAH for a name and for an eternal sign that does not end

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress, And instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle; And it shall be to the LORD for a memorial, For an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And instead of the bramble shall come up the cypress, and instead of the nettle shall come up the myrtle: and the Lord shall be for a name, and for an everlasting sign, and shall not fail.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

Invitation to the Needy
…12You will indeed go out with joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. 13Instead of the thornbush, a cypress will grow, and instead of the brier, a myrtle will spring up; they will make a name for the LORD, an everlasting sign, never to be destroyed.”

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Romans 8:19-21
The creation waits in eager expectation for the revelation of the sons of God. / For the creation was subjected to futility, not by its own will, but because of the One who subjected it, in hope / that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.

Revelation 22:2
down the middle of the main street of the city. On either side of the river stood a tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit and yielding a fresh crop for each month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.

Ezekiel 34:29
And I will raise up for them a garden of renown, and they will no longer be victims of famine in the land or bear the scorn of the nations.

Isaiah 41:19-20
I will plant cedars in the wilderness, acacias, myrtles, and olive trees. I will set cypresses in the desert, elms and boxwood together, / 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.”

Isaiah 35:1-2
The wilderness and the dry land will be glad; the desert will rejoice and blossom like a rose. / It will bloom profusely and rejoice with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon will be given to it, the splendor of Carmel and Sharon. They will see the glory of the LORD, the splendor of our God.

Hosea 14:8
O Ephraim, what have I to do anymore with idols? It is I who answer and watch over him. I am like a flourishing cypress; your fruit comes from Me.

Matthew 13:31-32
He put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a man took and planted in his field. / Although it is the smallest of all seeds, yet it grows into the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches.”

Isaiah 60:13
The glory of Lebanon will come to you—its cypress, elm, and boxwood together—to adorn the place of My sanctuary, and I will glorify the place of My feet.

2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away. Behold, the new has come!

Isaiah 61:3
to console the mourners in Zion—to give them a crown of beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, and a garment of praise for a spirit of despair. So they will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.

Revelation 21:1
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.

Isaiah 32:15
until the Spirit is poured out upon us from on high. Then the desert will be an orchard, and the orchard will seem like a forest.

Psalm 96:12
Let the fields exult, and all that is in them. Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy

Isaiah 44:23
Sing for joy, O heavens, for the LORD has done this; shout aloud, O depths of the earth. Break forth in song, O mountains, you forests and all your trees. For the LORD has redeemed Jacob, and revealed His glory in Israel.

Isaiah 11:6-9
The wolf will live with the lamb, and the leopard will lie down with the goat; the calf and young lion and fatling will be together, and a little child will lead them. / The cow will graze with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox. / The infant will play by the cobra’s den, and the toddler will reach into the viper’s nest. ...

Treasury of Scripture

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.

of the thorn

Isaiah 11:6-9
The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them…

Isaiah 41:19
I will plant in the wilderness the cedar, the shittah tree, and the myrtle, and the oil tree; I will set in the desert the fir tree, and the pine, and the box tree together:

Isaiah 60:13,21
The glory of Lebanon shall come unto thee, the fir tree, the pine tree, and the box together, to beautify the place of my sanctuary; and I will make the place of my feet glorious…

for a

Isaiah 43:21
This people have I formed for myself; they shall shew forth my praise.

Jeremiah 13:11
For as the girdle cleaveth to the loins of a man, so have I caused to cleave unto me the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah, saith the LORD; that they might be unto me for a people, and for a name, and for a praise, and for a glory: but they would not hear.

Jeremiah 33:9
And it shall be to me a name of joy, a praise and an honour before all the nations of the earth, which shall hear all the good that I do unto them: and they shall fear and tremble for all the goodness and for all the prosperity that I procure unto it.

an everlasting

Isaiah 54:10
For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the LORD that hath mercy on thee.

Jeremiah 50:5
They shall ask the way to Zion with their faces thitherward, saying, Come, and let us join ourselves to the LORD in a perpetual covenant that shall not be forgotten.

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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

Berean Study Bible

Instead of the thornbush
The word "thornbush" in Hebrew is "siyach," which often refers to a type of plant that is associated with desolation and curse. In the ancient Near Eastern context, thornbushes were common in arid, unproductive lands. Theologically, thornbushes symbolize the consequences of sin and the fall, as seen in Genesis 3:18, where thorns and thistles are part of the curse upon the ground. This imagery sets the stage for a transformation from curse to blessing, a theme central to the redemptive message of Isaiah.

will grow the cypress
The "cypress" tree, or "berosh" in Hebrew, is a symbol of strength, durability, and prosperity. In ancient Israel, cypress wood was highly valued for construction and artistic purposes due to its resilience and pleasant aroma. The transformation from thornbush to cypress signifies a divine reversal of fortunes, where God replaces the curse with blessing, desolation with beauty, and barrenness with fruitfulness. This reflects the restorative power of God's covenant promises.

and instead of the brier
"Brier" translates from the Hebrew "sirpad," another plant associated with wasteland and hardship. Like the thornbush, briers are emblematic of a life lived under the weight of sin and separation from God. They are obstacles and nuisances, often causing pain and hindrance. The mention of briers reinforces the imagery of a world marred by sin, awaiting divine intervention for renewal.

will come up the myrtle
The "myrtle," or "hadas" in Hebrew, is a fragrant and evergreen shrub, symbolizing peace, joy, and divine favor. In Jewish tradition, the myrtle is used during the Feast of Tabernacles, representing God's provision and protection. The replacement of briers with myrtle signifies the ushering in of a new era of peace and divine presence, where God's people will experience His favor and blessing.

This will be for the LORD’s renown
The phrase "for the LORD’s renown" emphasizes that the transformation is ultimately for God's glory. The Hebrew word "shem" (name or renown) indicates reputation and fame. The miraculous change from desolation to beauty serves as a testament to God's power and faithfulness, drawing attention to His sovereignty and grace. It underscores the idea that God's redemptive acts are not only for the benefit of His people but also to reveal His character to the world.

for an everlasting sign
The term "everlasting sign" in Hebrew is "owth olam," suggesting a perpetual and unchanging testament to God's covenant faithfulness. This transformation is not temporary but serves as a continual reminder of God's promises and His ability to bring about change. It points to the eternal nature of God's kingdom, where His purposes are fulfilled, and His glory is manifest forever.

that will not be cut off
The assurance "will not be cut off" speaks to the permanence and security of God's promises. In a world where human endeavors often fail and fade, God's work endures. The Hebrew word "karath" (cut off) is often used in covenantal contexts, where breaking a covenant results in separation. Here, it assures believers of the unbreakable nature of God's covenant, providing hope and confidence in His eternal plan.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 13. - Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree. "Briars and thorns" were to overgrow the unfruitful vineyard, according to Isaiah 5:6; and to cover the land of God's people, according to Isaiah 32:13. This would be literally the case to a large extent, while the land was allowed to lie waste. The literal meaning is not, however, the whole meaning, or even the main meaning, here. "Briars and thorns" represent a general state of wretchedness and sin. The "fir" and "myrtle" represent a happy external condition of life, in which men "do righteously." It shall be to the Lord for a name. This "regenerated creation" will show forth the glory of God to mankind at large, and "get him a name" among them (comp. Isaiah 63:12; Jeremiah 13:11). For an everlasting sign. It will also he to God himself an enduring sign of the covenant of peace which he has made with his people, not to hide his face from them any more, but to have mercy on them "with everlasting kindness" (Isaiah 54:7-10).

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

Instead of
תַּ֤חַת (ta·ḥaṯ)
Preposition
Strong's 8478: The bottom, below, in lieu of

the thornbush,
הַֽנַּעֲצוּץ֙ (han·na·‘ă·ṣūṣ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5285: A brier, a thicket of thorny bushes

a cypress
בְר֔וֹשׁ (ḇə·rō·wōš)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1265: A cypress, tree, a lance, a musical instrument

will grow,
יַעֲלֶ֣ה (ya·‘ă·leh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5927: To ascend, in, actively

and instead of
וְתַ֥חַת (wə·ṯa·ḥaṯ)
Conjunctive waw | Preposition
Strong's 8478: The bottom, below, in lieu of

the brier,
הַסִּרְפַּ֖ד (has·sir·paḏ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5636: Nettle (a desert plant)

a myrtle
הֲדַ֑ס (hă·ḏas)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1918: Myrtle (tree)

will spring up;
יַעֲלֶ֣ה (ya·‘ă·leh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5927: To ascend, in, actively

they will make
וְהָיָ֤ה (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 name
לְשֵׁ֔ם (lə·šêm)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 8034: A name

for the LORD
לַֽיהוָה֙ (Yah·weh)
Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

as an everlasting
עוֹלָ֖ם (‘ō·w·lām)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5769: Concealed, eternity, frequentatively, always

sign,
לְא֥וֹת (lə·’ō·wṯ)
Preposition-l | Noun - common singular construct
Strong's 226: A signal, as a, flag, beacon, monument, omen, prodigy, evidence

never
לֹ֥א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

to be destroyed.”
יִכָּרֵֽת׃ (yik·kā·rêṯ)
Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3772: To cut, to destroy, consume, to covenant

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OT Prophets: Isaiah 55:13 Instead of the thorn shall come up (Isa Isi Is)