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 65:25KJV
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Isaiah 65:25 (KJV)

What 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.

Where else these words appear

“lamb” Hebrew H2924 · used in 2 verses

  • 1 Samuel 7:9 And Samuel took a sucking lamb, and offered it for a burnt offering wholly unto the LORD: and Samuel cried unto the LORD for Israel; and the LORD heard him.

“wolf” Hebrew H2061 · used in 7 verses

  • Genesis 49:27 Benjamin shall ravin as a wolf: in the morning he shall devour the prey, and at night he shall divide the spoil.
  • Jeremiah 5:6 Wherefore a lion out of the forest shall slay them, and a wolf of the evenings shall spoil them, a leopard shall watch over their cities: every one that goeth out thence shall be torn in pieces: because their transgressions are many, and their backslidings are increased.
  • Habakkuk 1:8 Their horses also are swifter than the leopards, and are more fierce than the evening wolves: and their horsemen shall spread themselves, and their horsemen shall come from far; they shall fly as the eagle that hasteth to eat.

“straw” Hebrew H8401 · used in 16 verses

  • Genesis 24:25 She said moreover unto him, We have both straw and provender enough, and room to lodge in.
  • Exodus 5:12 So the people were scattered abroad throughout all the land of Egypt to gather stubble instead of straw.
  • 1 Kings 4:28 Barley also and straw for the horses and dromedaries brought they unto the place where the officers were, every man according to his charge.

“serpent's” Hebrew H5175 · used in 28 verses

  • Genesis 3:1 Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?
  • Numbers 21:7 Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD, and against thee; pray unto the LORD, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people.
  • Ecclesiastes 10:8 He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh an hedge, a serpent shall bite him.