The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent's meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the LORD.
ISAIAH 65:25KJVWhat does Isaiah 65:25 mean?
Isaiah 65:25 describes a future time of peace and harmony in God’s creation, where natural enemies like the wolf and the lamb will live together safely, and even the lion will eat straw like cattle. The verse promises that nothing harmful or destructive will happen on God’s holy mountain, according to the LORD.
This verse comes near the end of the book of Isaiah, where God is speaking through the prophet to describe a renewed world for His people. The language uses vivid images of animals that are usually predators and prey, showing a complete reversal of violence and fear. The “holy mountain” refers to God’s special place of presence and blessing, often understood as Jerusalem or the center of God’s rule.
The Hebrew behind Isaiah 65:25
- "feed" (רָעָה, ra‘ah): This word means to graze or pasture, suggesting peaceful coexistence rather than hunting or violence.
- "hurt" (רָעַע, ra‘a‘) and "destroy" (שָׁחַת, shachath): Both words emphasize causing harm or ruin, highlighting that in this promised future, such actions will be completely absent.
- "holy" (קָדוֹשׁ, qadosh) and "mountain" (הַר, har): Together, these words focus attention on the place set apart for God, reinforcing that this peace is tied to God’s presence and authority.
Why Isaiah 65:25 matters
- Isaiah 65:25 clears up the idea that God’s future promises are only spiritual or abstract; the verse uses concrete, physical images to show real, tangible peace.
- The verse emphasizes that God’s restoration is not just for people but for all creation, including animals and the natural world.
- Isaiah 65:25 connects to earlier promises in Isaiah (like Isaiah 11:6–9), showing a consistent vision of God’s ultimate plan to remove violence and fear from His world.