And they shall spring up as among the grass, as willows by the water courses.

ISAIAH 44:4KJV
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Isaiah 44:4 (KJV)

What does Isaiah 44:4 mean?

Isaiah 44:4 pictures the descendants of God’s people growing and flourishing. God compares them to plants springing up among grass and to willows growing beside flowing water. The image gives a visible picture of the blessing promised to those descendants.

The verse continues God’s words to Jacob, also called Israel. After the promise to pour water on thirsty ground and God’s spirit on their descendants in verse 3, Isaiah 44:4 shows the result through the image of fresh growth.

The Hebrew behind Isaiah 44:4

  • “spring up” — צָמַח (tsamach): The Hebrew word means to sprout or grow. It is often used for plants emerging from the ground, making the comparison with grass and willows especially close.
  • “courses” — יֶבֶל (yevel): The Hebrew word can refer to a stream or watercourse. The willows are pictured beside channels that supply water, rather than beside a single falling shower.

Why Isaiah 44:4 matters

  • The people pictured in verse 4 are the descendants named just before it. The word “they” carries forward the promise to Jacob’s “seed” and “offspring” in verse 3.
  • The growth belongs to a wider picture of people identifying themselves with Israel. In verse 5, people say, “I am the Lord’s,” and call themselves by the name of Jacob.

Where else these words appear

“courses” Hebrew H2988 · used in 2 verses

  • Isaiah 30:25 And there shall be upon every high mountain, and upon every high hill, rivers and streams of waters in the day of the great slaughter, when the towers fall.

“willows” Hebrew H6155 · used in 5 verses

  • Leviticus 23:40 And ye shall take you on the first day the boughs of goodly trees, branches of palm trees, and the boughs of thick trees, and willows of the brook; and ye shall rejoice before the LORD your God seven days.
  • Job 40:22 The shady trees cover him with their shadow; the willows of the brook compass him about.
  • Psalms 137:2 We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof.

“grass” Hebrew H2682 · used in 20 verses

  • Numbers 11:5 We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlick:
  • Psalms 90:5 Thou carriest them away as with a flood; they are as a sleep: in the morning they are like grass which groweth up.
  • Isaiah 15:6 For the waters of Nimrim shall be desolate: for the hay is withered away, the grass faileth, there is no green thing.

“among” Hebrew H996 · used in 23 verses

  • Genesis 1:4 And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.
  • Exodus 12:6 And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening.
  • 2 Chronicles 14:11 And Asa cried unto the LORD his God, and said, LORD, it is nothing with thee to help, whether with many, or with them that have no power: help us, O LORD our God; for we rest on thee, and in thy name we go against this multitude. O LORD, thou art our God; let not man prevail against thee.