Isaiah 35:2 Meaning: The Wilderness Sees God's Glory
It will blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing. Lebanon’s glory will be given to it, the excellence of Carmel and Sharon. They will see Yahweh’s glory, the excellence of our God.
It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing: the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon, they shall see the glory of the Lord, and the excellency of our God.
It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing; the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon: they shall see the glory of Jehovah, the excellency of our God.
Flourishing it doth flourish, and rejoice, Yea, with joy and singing, The honour of Lebanon hath been given to it, The beauty of Carmel and Sharon, They--they see the honour of Jehovah, The majesty of our God.
It shall blossom abundantly and rejoice even with joy and shouting: the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon. They shall see the glory of Jehovah, the excellency of our God.
Meaning in one sentence
Isaiah 35:2 promises the desert will blossom and see God's glory. This verse points to the joy of salvation when God comes to save His people.
Context
Isaiah 35 comes right after a chapter of fierce judgment against Edom. The landscape there was turned to ruin. But now the prophet turns around and shows what happens when God comes to save. The wilderness itself bursts into flower. Dry land that produced nothing suddenly overflows with life. This whole chapter is about a highway for the redeemed, the blind seeing, the lame leaping. And at the center of it all is a promise: the people will see the glory of the Lord. That vision is the reason for the joy.
Key Words
The first verb is doubled in the Hebrew: paroach tifrach, “flourishing it shall flourish.” Calvin noted this repetition shows the blossom is not a passing thing. It keeps coming, year after year, because the One who makes it grow never stops. Then three different words crowd together for joy: gil (rejoice), gilah (gladness), and ranen (shouting for joy). These are not quiet feelings. They are public celebration, the kind that spills out of you when you see something you thought you had lost for good.
The words for “glory” and “splendor” also matter. Kavod carries the sense of weight, of something substantial and worthy of honour. Hadar adds beauty and majesty. The wilderness is not just made productive; it is clothed with the very presence of God. And the verb ra’ah, “they will see,” means more than casual looking. It means perceiving, recognizing, taking in with wonder. The gift is not just a better landscape. It is a God who lets Himself be seen.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians have long read this verse as pointing to the Messiah. Matthew Henry tied it to the spread of the gospel among the Gentiles, who were once like a wilderness. Barnes and Calvin saw the blessings of Christ’s reign described here. Jerome applied it to John the Baptist preaching in the wilderness near the Jordan, following a Greek reading that mentioned the “deserts of Jordan.” Other readers, like Keil and Delitzsch, connected it to the return of the redeemed from Babylon, a pattern of God coming to save that would reach its fullest meaning in Jesus. Across all these readings, the common thread is that the desert’s transformation leads to one thing: seeing the glory of God.
A common misunderstanding
A common misreading is to treat this verse as only a promise of material abundance or environmental renewal. In fact, the blooming desert is not the main point. The climax comes at the end: “They will see Yahweh’s glory, the excellence of our God.” The transformation is the stage, not the show. The real hope is that God makes Himself visible in the places that seemed farthest from Him.
Living This Out
Maybe your life feels like the desert right now. A dry stretch at work, a lonely season in your family, a prayer that seems to go nowhere. This verse does not say the desert will disappear overnight. It says the desert will burst into blossom when God comes. And it says that you will see His glory there. This week, you could ask for one small sign of that coming. A moment of unexpected peace. A kindness you did not earn. A glimpse of God’s goodness in a place you had given up on. Watch for it. The desert is not the whole story.
Main takeaway: When God comes to save, He turns our driest places into ground where His glory is seen.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
Imagine a hot, dusty desert with no flowers and no water. Then God comes, and suddenly it is full of bright flowers and happy singing. That is what God does when He comes to help His people.
For ages 9, 12
The places in your life that feel empty or boring, like a desert, are not forgotten. God promises to fill them with life and beauty. And the best part is not just that things get better. It is that you will see God’s glory there. You will know He is real and good, even in the hard times. That is why the whole desert rejoices.
Questions People Ask
What does it mean that the desert will 'see the glory of the Lord'?
The glory of the Lord refers to His manifest presence and majesty. In this context, it likely means the people dwelling in the wilderness will witness God's saving intervention. The following verse says 'God will come and save you,' connecting the seeing of glory to His coming. Whether that is a physical appearance or a deep spiritual perception, the promise is that God will make Himself known.
Who are 'they' in 'they will see Yahweh's glory'?
The Hebrew pronoun refers to the wilderness itself, personified, or to the people within it. The preceding line mentions the glory of Lebanon, Carmel, and Sharon being given to the wilderness. So 'they' points to everyone who dwells in that transformed land. Ultimately, it is the redeemed people of God who see His glory.
Does this verse predict the first coming of Christ or the second?
Christians have interpreted it both ways. Early commentators like Jerome and Calvin saw it as fulfilled in Christ's first coming and the spread of the gospel. Others, such as some modern readers, look to a future fulfillment in the new creation. Both readings are present in Christian tradition, and both affirm that God's coming brings transformation and joy.
What is the significance of Lebanon, Carmel, and Sharon?
These were regions famous for their beauty and fertility. Lebanon was known for its tall cedars, Carmel for its vineyards and flowers, and Sharon for its lush pastures. The promise is that the wilderness will receive the same glory and excellence these places had. It is an image of abundant blessing, as if the most beautiful parts of the land were transplanted into the desert.
Is this verse about literal plants blooming or something spiritual?
The language is poetic, but it describes real transformation. Christians have read it as both a literal hope for the land of Israel and a spiritual picture of what happens when God saves His people. The barrenness of the wilderness represents spiritual deadness, and the blossoming represents new life in Christ. Both readings are faithful to the text.
For pastors & researchers
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