The wilderness and the dry land will be glad;This phrase speaks to a transformation of desolate areas, symbolizing spiritual renewal and restoration. In biblical context, the wilderness often represents a place of testing or desolation, as seen in Israel's 40 years of wandering (
Numbers 14:33). The promise of gladness suggests a reversal of fortune, aligning with themes of redemption found throughout Scripture. This transformation can be seen as a type of the coming Kingdom of God, where all creation is restored (
Romans 8:19-21).
the desert will rejoice
Deserts in the Bible are typically barren and lifeless, such as the Negev or the Sinai. The idea of a desert rejoicing is a powerful image of life and abundance emerging from barrenness. This can be connected to the joy of salvation and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, as seen in the prophecy ofJoel 2:28-29. It also prefigures the joy of the redeemed in the presence of God, as described inRevelation 21:4.
and blossom like a rose.
The rose, or more accurately, a crocus or similar flowering plant, symbolizes beauty and new life. This imagery points to the flourishing of God's people and the beauty of holiness (Psalm 96:9). It also foreshadows the Messianic age, where the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord (Isaiah 11:9). The blossoming can be seen as a type of Christ, who brings life and beauty to a fallen world (John 10:10).
Persons / Places / Events
1.
Wilderness and DesertThese represent barren and desolate places, both physically and spiritually. In the context of Isaiah, they symbolize the transformation and renewal that God promises to His people.
2.
IsaiahThe prophet who conveyed God's messages to the people of Israel. His prophecies often included themes of judgment and hope.
3.
IsraelThe primary audience of Isaiah's prophecy, representing God's chosen people who were experiencing exile and hardship.
4.
Messianic HopeThe event of the coming Messiah, which is often foreshadowed in Isaiah's prophecies, bringing restoration and joy.
5.
RestorationA key event in the prophetic vision, where God promises to restore and renew His creation and His people.
Teaching Points
Transformation through God’s PowerGod has the power to transform the most desolate areas of our lives into places of beauty and joy. Just as the desert can blossom, so can our hearts and circumstances when we trust in Him.
Hope in Times of DesolationEven in the wilderness seasons of life, we can hold onto the hope that God will bring renewal and joy. This hope is rooted in His promises and faithfulness.
Spiritual RenewalThe blossoming desert is a metaphor for spiritual renewal. We are called to seek God’s presence and allow Him to renew our hearts and minds.
Joy in God’s PromisesThe rejoicing of the desert symbolizes the joy that comes from trusting in God’s promises. We are encouraged to find joy in His Word and His faithfulness.
Preparation for the MessiahIsaiah’s prophecy points to the coming of the Messiah, who brings ultimate restoration. We are called to prepare our hearts for His coming and live in anticipation of His return.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1.What is the meaning of Isaiah 35:1?
2.How does Isaiah 35:1 inspire hope in God's restoration of creation?
3.What does "wilderness and dry land" symbolize in Isaiah 35:1?
4.How can we apply the joy of Isaiah 35:1 in daily life?
5.Which New Testament passages echo themes found in Isaiah 35:1?
6.How does Isaiah 35:1 encourage faith during personal spiritual deserts?
7.How does Isaiah 35:1 symbolize hope and restoration in a barren world?
8.What historical context influenced the imagery in Isaiah 35:1?
9.How does Isaiah 35:1 relate to the prophecy of the Messiah?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Isaiah 35?
11.In Isaiah 35:1–2, how can the desert “blossom abundantly” given current scientific understanding of arid climates?
12.Do the promises of restoration in Isaiah 35 conflict with other biblical prophecies about judgment and desolation of the land?
13.Given the severe desert conditions of the Levant, is there any record of water springs appearing as described in Isaiah 35:7?
14.What defines spiritual dryness?What Does Isaiah 35:1 Mean
The wilderness and the dry landIsaiah begins with an image every listener could picture: bleak stretches of ground scorched and lifeless. He is speaking of literal geography—Judah’s desolate places after judgment—but also of the whole earth groaning under the curse (Genesis 3:17-18;Romans 8:22). God’s promise is concrete: He will address the land itself.
•Isaiah 41:18-19 echoes this pledge: “I will open rivers on the barren heights… I will make the wilderness a pool of water.”
•Psalm 107:35 shows the same pattern: “He turns a desert into pools of water.”
Because Scripture is accurate and unified, each reference confirms the certainty of a coming, tangible renewal.
will be gladThe phrase shifts from place to emotion. Creation will experience delight when the Lord intervenes. The gladness is not merely figurative; it is the natural result of freedom from the curse.
•Psalm 96:11-12 personifies nature: “Let the heavens be glad… let the field exult, and all that is in it.”
•Romans 8:21 promises creation “will be set free from its bondage to decay.”
The wording assures us that God’s redemption plan extends beyond souls to soil, and that every part of His handiwork will share in the joy.
the desertIsaiah singles out the harshest landscape. In Scripture, deserts often mark testing (Exodus 16:1), exile (Jeremiah 2:6), or futility (Job 39:6). Mentioning it twice underlines the scope of God’s restoration: even the most hopeless terrain is not beyond His reach.
•Isaiah 51:3 links Zion’s future with Eden-like abundance: “The LORD will comfort Zion… He will make her deserts like Eden.”
Here we glimpse a reversal ofGenesis 3; what was lost in Eden will be regained.
will rejoiceCreation’s gladness becomes active celebration. The desert “will rejoice,” a direct promise that dry stretches will burst with life.
•Isaiah 32:15 describes the catalyst: “Until the Spirit is poured out upon us from on high, and the wilderness becomes a fertile field.”
•Luke 19:40 shows even stones might cry out when Messiah is present; likewise, deserted ground will praise when He reigns.
God’s future kingdom turns mourning into music—not only for people (Isaiah 35:10) but for terrain beneath their feet.
and blossom like a roseThe Hebrew picture is of luxuriant flowers—color, fragrance, vibrancy. The translates “rose,” capturing beauty and delicacy replacing barrenness. Literal blossoms signal:
• Life—Isaiah 35:2 continues, “It will bloom abundantly and even rejoice with joy and singing.”
• Provision—Joel 2:24 promises “the threshing floors will be full of grain” after the land is renewed.
• Witness—Ezekiel 36:35 records nations saying, “This land that was desolate has become like the garden of Eden.”
The earth itself testifies to God’s faithfulness, reinforcing that His covenant with Israel and His rule over creation stand secure.
summaryIsaiah 35:1 declares a literal, global transformation anchored in God’s faithfulness. Every word marks progression: wilderness → glad, desert → rejoice, barren ground → blooming rose. Cross-references show the promise repeated and expanded: God will reverse the curse, restore Israel’s land, and renew the whole earth under Messiah’s reign. The verse therefore comforts believers: no place and no heart is too dry for the Lord to fill with life, joy, and beauty.
XXXV.
(1)The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them . . .--The desolation of the chief enemy of Israel is contrasted with the renewed beauty of Israel's own inheritance. The two last words are better omitted. The three nouns express varying degrees of the absence of culture, the wild pasture-land, the bare moor, the sandy steppe.
Shall . . . blossom as the rose.--Better,as the narcissus,but the primrose and the crocus (Colchicum autumnale) have also been suggested. The words paint the beauty of the chosen land flourishing once more as "the garden of Jehovah" (Genesis 13:10), and therefore a fit type of that which is in a yet higher sense the "Paradise of God" (Revelation 2:7).
Verses 1-10. - THE GLORY OF THE LAST TIMES. On the punishment of God's enemies will follow the peace, prosperity, and glory of his Church. Previously, the Church is in affliction, waste, and desolate. Its enemies once removed, destroyed, swept out of the way, it rises instantly in all its beauty to a condition which words are poor to paint. The highest resources of the poetic art are called in to give some idea of the glory and happiness of the final Church of the redeemed.
Verse 1. -
The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; rather, the
wilderness,
and the dry place,
shall be glad. The Church, that has been long wasted and kept under by the wicked, shall, at their destruction, feel a sense of relief, and so of joy.
The desert shall rejoice, and blossom. The first result of the joy shall be a putting forth of lovely products. Blossoms, beautiful as the rose or the
narcissus (Kay), shall spring up all over the parched ground, and make it a parterre of flowers. The blossoms are either graces unknown in the time of affliction, or saintly characters of a new and high type.
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew
The wildernessמִדְבָּ֖ר(miḏ·bār)Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4057:A pasture, a desert, speechand the landוְצִיָּ֑ה(wə·ṣî·yāh)Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 6723:Aridity, a desertwill be glad;יְשֻׂשׂ֥וּם(yə·śu·śūm)Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural | Paragogic nun
Strong's 7797:To be bright, cheerfulthe desertעֲרָבָ֛ה(‘ă·rā·ḇāh)Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 6160:Arabah -- a steppe or desert plain, also a desert valley running south from the Sea of Galileewill rejoiceוְתָגֵ֧ל(wə·ṯā·ḡêl)Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect Jussive - third person feminine singular
Strong's 1523:To spin round, rejoice, fearand blossomוְתִפְרַ֖ח(wə·ṯip̄·raḥ)Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 6524:To break forth as a, bud, bloom, to spread, to fly, to flourishlike a rose.כַּחֲבַצָּֽלֶת׃(ka·ḥă·ḇaṣ·ṣā·leṯ)Preposition-k, Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 2261:Meadow saffron or crocus
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OT Prophets: Isaiah 35:1 The wilderness and the dry land will (Isa Isi Is) 
