Isaiah 55:13 Meaning: From Thorns to Cypress
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.”
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.
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.
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!
Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress, and instead of the nettle shall come up the myrtle; and it shall be to Jehovah for a name, for an everlasting sign [that] shall not be cut off.
Meaning in one sentence
What does the promise of cypress and myrtle mean? See how God's word transforms barren lives into something lasting and beautiful.
Context
Isaiah 55 is a call to everyone who is thirsty: turn to God and receive his mercy freely. The chapter assures us that God's word, like rain and snow, always accomplishes what he sends it to do. Verses 12 and 13 paint a picture of joy and peace. The redeemed go out with singing, and even nature responds. Then comes this image of thorns replaced by cypress and myrtle. It is the final promise that God's work will leave a lasting mark, something that cannot be erased.
Key Words
Three Hebrew words open up what God is saying here. First, the phrase “instead of” (tachat) carries the force of full replacement. Not a few thorns left among the trees, but a complete exchange. Second, the plants themselves matter. The thorn (na'atsuts) and nettle (sirpad) are desert scrub, rough, useless, sometimes painful. The cypress (berosh) and myrtle (hadas) are beautiful, fragrant, useful trees. The change is total. Third, the resulting sign (ot) is described as everlasting (olam) and not cut off (lo yikaret). In Hebrew, “cut off” often means covenant-breaking or destruction. God says this sign is permanent. The transformation he starts, he finishes.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians have read this verse in complementary ways. Some, like the ancient Chaldee paraphrase that Adam Clarke cites, see it as moral: the wicked become righteous, sinners become those who fear sin. Others, like Barnes, emphasize the gospel transformation, as great as if thorns suddenly became cypress. The Cambridge Bible leans toward a literal renewing of the land, a visible monument to God's power. Both readings agree: God's word accomplishes a profound, irreversible change that cannot be undone.
A common misunderstanding
It is easy to read this verse and imagine God promising to fix our landscaping, or a future paradise with no more weeds. But the immediate context points deeper. In fact, the verse caps a chapter about seeking God and his word accomplishing its purpose. The cypress and myrtle are the visible result of a forgiven, transformed people. A sign that God has done something new in human hearts, not just in the soil.
Living This Out
What kind of thorns are taking up space in your life this week? Old patterns, harsh words, barren routines? This verse does not promise instant removal. But it does promise that God's word is at work, replacing what is fruitless with what will last. You might not see it today. The cypress and myrtle grow because the word is doing what it does. That is worth holding onto.
Main takeaway: God's word replaces what is barren with what is beautiful, creating a lasting sign of his work that nothing can destroy.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
God promised to take away the scratchy bushes and grow pretty, nice-smelling trees instead. That's what happens when God works in our hearts: he makes us kind and beautiful inside.
For ages 9, 12
Imagine a field full of thorny weeds, and then someone plants a garden of beautiful trees. This verse is a promise that God can change us completely. When we let his word into our lives, he replaces our old habits and bad attitudes with things that are good and lasting. It's not just fixing us up; it's making us into something new that points to him.
Questions People Ask
What do the thorn and brier represent in Isaiah 55:13?
Most commentators see them as symbols of the wicked, or of a barren, uncultivated life. In contrast, the cypress and myrtle represent the righteous, or a life made fruitful by God's grace. The verse says God replaces one with the other.
What is the 'everlasting sign' that will not be cut off?
The sign is the transformed people themselves, or the lasting memorial of God's power and mercy. The Hebrew word 'ot can mean a banner, monument, or miraculous sign. This one is permanent because God's work is not undone.
Is Isaiah 55:13 about literal trees or about people?
Christian readings vary. Some see a literal renewal of the land when the exiles return. Many more see it as a poetic picture of moral and spiritual transformation. The context suggests both: God's word changes hearts, and that change leaves a visible, lasting result.
How does this verse connect to the rest of Isaiah 55?
Isaiah 55 opens with an invitation to seek God and receive pardon. It compares God's word to rain that waters the earth and always succeeds. Verse 13 is the final promise: that word will produce a complete, beautiful change that brings glory to God and lasts forever.
For pastors & researchers
Hebrew interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study