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Isaiah 35:1 — Word Study

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WLCיְשֻׂשׂ֥וּם מִדְבָּ֖ר וְצִיָּ֑ה וְתָגֵ֧ל עֲרָבָ֛ה וְתִפְרַ֖ח כַּחֲבַצָּֽלֶת׃

BSAThe wildernessmidbâr [desert, dry land] and the dry landtsîyâh [plain, open field] will be gladsûws [rejoice, celebrate] the desertʻărâbâh [wilderness, solitary place] will rejoicegîyl [be joyful, feel cheerful] and blossompârach [sprout, flourish] like a rosechăbatstseleth [crocus, lily]

Word
Listen & take awayIsaiah 35
English ↓ Download MP3 The Berean Standard Bible chapter audio already hosted for the site's Bible section — verse 1 opens the chapter.
Hebrew ↓ Download MP3 The Masoretic text of this chapter, read aloud. Read by Abraham Shmuelof, courtesy of Audio Scriptures International. Chapter divisions by the Academy of Ancient Languages..
Say the word Each Hebrew word carries its transliteration (ka.cha.va.Tza.let) — no per-word recordings of the Hebrew exist to link to.
Take it away
Isaiah 35:1quick helps
In a sentenceThe wilderness and the land will rejoice, as the dry region blossoms like a flower.
Who is speakingThe prophet Isaiah, conveying a message of hope.
Where we areA prophetic declaration about the transformation of desolate places.
The hard wordיְשֻׂשׂ֥וּם
Take awayEven the barren land will be filled with joy and beauty.
8 commentators on this verse Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them › clause subjectעֲרָבָה The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
How rare are these words?in the Old Testament

Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.

Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.

Deep Study — Isaiah 35:1

Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.

Context — The Transformation of the Wildernessgenerated

1The wilderness and the land will be glad; the desert will rejoice and blossom like a rose.
2It will bloom profusely and rejoice with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon will be given to it, the splendor of Carmel and Sharon. They will see the glory of the LORD, the splendor of our God.
3Strengthen the limp hands and steady the feeble knees!
4Say to those with anxious hearts: “Be strong, do not fear! Behold, your God will come with vengeance. With divine retribution He will come to save you.”

Isaiah 35:1 presents a vision of joy and renewal in the wilderness and dry land. The prophet Isaiah speaks of a time when these desolate areas will be filled with gladness and beauty, symbolizing hope for the people of Israel. This transformation reflects God's promise of restoration and abundance, as seen in the surrounding verses, where the glory of the Lord is revealed in the midst of desolation.


Cross References

ReferenceText (BSB)
1Isaiah 29:17In a very short time, will not Lebanon become an orchard, and the orchard seem like a forest?
2Isaiah 32:15–16until the Spirit is poured out upon us from on high. Then the desert will be an orchard, and the orchard will seem like a forest.
3Isaiah 40:3A voice of one calling: “Prepare the way for the LORD in the wilderness; make a straight highway for our God in the desert.
4Isaiah 51:3For the LORD will comfort Zion and will look with compassion on all her ruins; He will make her wilderness like Eden and her desert like the garden of the LORD. Joy and gladness will be found in her, thanksgiving and melodious song.
5Isaiah 52:9–10Break forth in joy, sing together, O ruins of Jerusalem, for the LORD has comforted His people; He has redeemed Jerusalem.

The Key Word יְשֻׂשׂ֥וּם, ye.su.Sumgenerated

The verb שׂוּשׂ (suws) means to rejoice or exult. It conveys a sense of brightness and cheerfulness, often associated with celebrations. The parsing indicates it is a verb in the qal stem, imperfect aspect, third person masculine plural, suggesting a continuous action of rejoicing.

This word appears frequently in contexts of joy and celebration, emphasizing the emotional response of the wilderness and the land as they experience renewal. The use of the suffix indicates that the subject is plural, referring to multiple entities rejoicing together.


How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated

This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.


Sentence Structuregenerated

The main verb יְשֻׂשׂ֥וּם governs the entire verse, indicating the action of rejoicing. This is followed by a series of phrases that describe what will rejoice and how they will flourish.

The structure emphasizes the transformation of the wilderness and dry land, with the verb at the forefront, highlighting the central theme of joy in desolation.


Septuagint Backgroundgenerated

The Septuagint translates יְשֻׂשׂ֥וּם as εὐφράνθητι, which conveys a similar sense of joy and gladness. This choice reflects a consistent interpretation of the Hebrew term, focusing on the emotional response of the land and wilderness.

The Greek word εὐφράνθητι suggests a celebration or rejoicing, aligning with the theme of renewal and joy found in the Hebrew text.


In plain words — the whole versegenerated

Isaiah 35:1 tells us that the wilderness and the dry land will be glad and rejoice, blooming like a flower. This imagery illustrates a transformation from desolation to beauty, symbolizing hope and renewal for the people of Israel.


Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated

What does it mean for the wilderness to rejoice?

The wilderness rejoicing symbolizes a profound transformation, indicating that desolate and barren places will experience renewal and joy, reflecting God's restoration.

How does this verse connect to God's promises?

This verse connects to God's promises of restoration and abundance, showing that even the most desolate areas can be transformed by His power.

What imagery is used to describe the transformation?

The imagery of the wilderness blossoming like a rose highlights the beauty and joy that will emerge from desolation, emphasizing hope for the future.

Why is joy emphasized in this verse?

Joy is emphasized as a response to God's intervention and restoration, illustrating the emotional impact of His promises on creation.


Reflection Questionsgenerated

  1. In what areas of my life do I need to seek renewal and transformation, as the wilderness does in this verse?
  2. How can I express joy and gratitude for the blessings I have received, even in difficult circumstances?
  3. What does this passage teach me about God's ability to bring beauty from desolation?
  4. How can I share the message of hope and renewal found in this verse with others?

The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it

Early Church Fathers referenced this verse to highlight God's promise of salvation and transformation, illustrating how it was fulfilled in Christ's ministry.

Eusebius of CaesareaPROOF OF THE GOSPEL 9:6 c. 260–340
This, too, was fulfilled, was clearly fulfilled, by our Savior’s miraculous works after John’s preaching. Notice therefore how he bears good tidings to the desert,
Early Church Fathers on Isaiah 35 →
Eusebius of CaesareaPROOF OF THE GOSPEL 6:21 c. 260–340
Here also the coming of God for salvation, bringing many blessings, is precisely foretold. The prophet says that there will be a cure for the deaf, sight for the blind, yes, even healing for the lame and tongue-tied,
Early Church Fathers on Isaiah 35 →
Eusebius of CaesareaPROOF OF THE GOSPEL 9:6 c. 260–340
Moreover, it is said in this prophecy that the glory of Lebanon and the honor of Carmel shall be given to this wilderness.
Early Church Fathers on Isaiah 35 →

Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse

Each of these wrote on Isaiah 35:1 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.

John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

The wilderness, and the solitary place, shall be glad for them,.... Either for the wild beasts, satyrs, owls, and vultures, that shall inhabit Edom or Rome, and because it shall be an habitation for

Read John Gill on Isaiah 35 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's Commentary

The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose. The solitary place - literally, a dry place, tsiyaah (H6723), without springs of water.

Read Robert Jamieson on Isaiah 35 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Bible

ISAIAH CHAPTER 35 The joyful flourishing of Christ’ s kingdom, ,2. The weak he strengthens and comforts, ,4. His miracles, ,6. The prosperity and peace of his people, . And as the land of God’ s enemies, which was exceeding fruitful, shall be turned into a desolate wilderness, as was declared in the foregoing chapter; so, on the contrary, Emmanuel’ s land, or the seat of God’ s church and people, which formerly was deserted and despised like a wilderness, and which the rage and malice of their enemies had brought to desolation, shall flourish exceedingly. For them; for the wilderness and solitary place; or, for these things, which were prophesied in the foregoing destruction, concerning the…

Read Matthew Poole on Isaiah 35 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Isaiah 35:1 The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose.Ver. 1. The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them.] The Edomites, and other enemies, have had their part. It hath been sufficiently said, "Woe unto the wicked, it shall be ill with him; for the reward of his hands shall be given him." And now the prophet is bidden to say to the righteous, to tell him so from the Lord, that it "shall be well with him; for the reward of his hands shall be given him." The "wilderness" and the "desert," that is, the poor people of God that have been oppressed and slighted in this world, shall be restored into a happy…

Read John Trapp on Isaiah 35 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

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…

Read Charles John Ellicott on Isaiah 35 →
AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible

CHAPTER XXXV Flourishing state of the Church of God consequent to the awful judgments predicted in the preceding chapter. The images employed in the description are so very consolatory and sublime as to oblige us to extend their fulfilment to that period of the Gospel dispensation when Messiah shall take unto himself his great power and reign. The fifth and sixth verses were literally accomplished by our Saviour and his apostles: but that the miracles wrought in the first century were not the only import of the language used by the prophet, is sufficiently plain from the context. They, therefore, have a farther application; and are contemporary with, or rather a consequence of, the…

Read AdamClarke on Isaiah 35 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

1, 2. Joy in the desert, now transformed into a fertile and luxuriant plain. Cf. ch. Isaiah 41:18 f.

Read Cambridge on Isaiah 35 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The wilderness and the solitary place - This is evidently figurative language, such as is often employed by the prophets.

Read Albert Barnes on Isaiah 35 →

The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company

Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.

Modern formal

BSBBerean Standard Bible2020

The wilderness and the land will be glad; the desert will rejoice and blossom like a rose.

WEBWorld English Bible2000

The wilderness and the dry land will be glad. The desert will rejoice and blossom like a rose.

MSBMajority Standard Bible2022

The wilderness and the dry land will be glad; the desert will rejoice and blossom like a rose.

NETBNew English Translation2006

Let the desert and dry region be happy; let the wilderness rejoice and bloom like a lily!

Tyndale line

KJVKing James Version1611

The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose.

ASVAmerican Standard Version1901

The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose.

RVARevised Version, American1894

The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose.

NWBWebster's Bible1833

The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose.

GNVGeneva Bible1599

The desert and the wildernes shall reioyce: and the waste ground shalbe glad and florish as the rose.

Strictly literal

DBYDarby Translation1890

The wilderness and the dry land shall be gladdened; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose.

YLTYoung's Literal Translation1862

They joy from the wilderness and dry place, And rejoice doth the desert, and flourish as the rose,

LSVLiteral Standard Version2020

They rejoice from the wilderness and dry place, || And the desert rejoices, || And flourishes as the rose,

ILTInterlinear Literal Translation2000

The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad thereat; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the lily.

ULBUnlocked Literal Bible2017

The wilderness and the Arabah will be glad; and the desert will rejoice and blossom. Like the rose,

From the Latin

DRADouay-Rheims (Challoner)1899

The land that was desolate and impassable shall be glad, and the wilderness shall rejoice, and shall flourish like the lily.

Simplified

FBVFree Bible Version2020

The wilderness and dry land will celebrate; the desert will blossom like the crocus.

BBEBible in Basic English1949

The waste land and the dry places will be glad; the lowland will have joy and be full of flowers.

Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.


The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank

This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.

clauseverbיְשֻׂשׂ֥וּtheyadverbialםwill.rejoicenoun phrase · subjectמִדְבָּ֖ר[the].wildernessוְand.[the]צִיָּ֑הdry.regionוְandclauseverbתָגֵ֧לlet.it.be.gladsubjectעֲרָבָ֛ה[the].desert.plainוְandclauseverbתִפְרַ֖חit.will.budprepositional phrase · prepositionalכַּlikeחֲבַצָּֽלֶתa.crocus

Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.


The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran

The Masoretic Text and the Dead Sea Scrolls both preserve the same wording for this verse, indicating a strong textual consistency. The Septuagint also matches the Hebrew closely, confirming the translation choices made by the Greek translators.

Masoretic TextLeningrad Codex, c. AD 1008 — the text this page is built on

יְשֻׂשׂ֥וּם מִדְבָּ֖ר וְצִיָּ֑ה וְתָגֵ֧ל עֲרָבָ֛ה וְתִפְרַ֖ח כַּחֲבַצָּֽלֶת׃

Septuagintthe Greek the translators chose, word by word
יְשֻׂשׂ֥וּםεὐφράνθητιמִדְבָּ֖רἔρημοςוְצִיָּ֑הδιψῶσαוְתָגֵ֧לἀγαλλιάσθωעֲרָבָ֛הἔρημοςוְתִפְרַ֖חἀνθείτωכַּחֲבַצָּֽלֶת׃κρίνον

7 of the 7 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.

Dead Sea Scrolls — 1Qisaaa copy a thousand years older than the Leningrad Codex

יששו׳ם מדבר וציה ותגל ערבה ותפרח כחבצלת

7 words on the leather.

Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.


The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with

This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.

Isaiah 35:1שׂוּשׂthey will rthey will rejoiשׂוּשׂמִדְבָּר[the] wilde[the] wildernesמִדְבָּרצִיָּהand [the] dand [the] dry rצִיָּהגִּילand let it and let it be gגִּילעֲרָבָה[the] deser[the] desert plעֲרָבָהפָּרַחso it may bso it may budפָּרַחחֲבַצֶּלֶתlike a croclike a crocusחֲבַצֶּלֶתדָבַרto speak: to speak: speakדָבַרעָרַבto grow dato grow darkעָרַבגִּילto rejoiceto rejoiceגִּילחָתָןson-in-lawson-in-lawחָתָןצִןZinZinצִןסִינַיSinaiSinaiסִינַיאֲגַםpoolpoolאֲגַםצָמָאthirstthirstצָמָאשׂוּשׂto rejoiceto rejoiceשׂוּשׂשָׂמַחto rejoiceto rejoiceשָׂמַחיְרִיחוֹJerichoJerichoיְרִיחוֹמוֹאָב(Plains of(Plains of) Moaמוֹאָבצָרַ֫עַתleprosyleprosyצָרַ֫עַת
meets it a little oftener than chancemeets it far oftener than chancebuilt from the same roottwo words of the verse share ita word of this versea related word

Lexicons — every word in Isaiah 35:1

One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.

Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.

they will rejoice ! [the] wilderness and [the] dry region and let it be glad [the] desert plain so it may bud like a crocus
יְשֻׂשׂ֥וּםye.su.Sum they will rejoice ! H7797 Verb qal imperfect third person masculine plural · suffix
27× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to feel joyful or cheerful, like a bright and happy feeling. It appears in the Bible when people are celebrating or giving thanks. In the KJV, it is often translated as 'rejoice' or 'be glad'.
Amplified meaning
rejoice, celebrate
Tyndale gloss
to rejoice
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

שׂוּשׂ (suws) is a Hebrew verb meaning to exult or rejoice. It conveys a sense of brightness and cheerfulness, often associated with displaying joy. The entries consistently emphasize its use in expressing joy and gladness.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

שׂוּשׂ, שִׂישׂ vb. exult, rejoice

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H7797 שׂוּשׂ, שִׂישׂ exult, rejoice

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

7797 suws soos

or siys {sece}; a primitive root; to be bright, i.e.

cheerful:--be glad, X greatly, joy, make mirth, rejoice.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

שׂוּשׂ (su.s) — to rejoice.

1) to exult, rejoice

1a) (Qal) to exult, display joy

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
V-Qal-Imperf-3mp | Suff — Verb qal imperfect third person masculine plural · suffix
HVqi3mp/Sn
they will rejoice ! [the] wilderness and [the] dry region and let it be glad [the] desert plain so it may bud like a crocus
מִדְבָּ֖רmid.Bar [the] wilderness H4057 Noun common · masculine singular absolute
271× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The wilderness refers to a desert or open field, like the one the Israelites wandered in after leaving Egypt. It can also mean a place of solitude or a region without many people. In the Bible, it is often associated with the journey to the Promised Land.
Amplified meaning
desert, dry land
Tyndale gloss
mouth
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

מִדְבָּר (midbar) primarily means 'mouth' in the sense of an organ of speech, but it also refers to 'wilderness' or 'desert.' The word is derived from a root meaning to drive, suggesting open fields for pasturing cattle. It encompasses various forms of uninhabited land and is notably used in contexts related to the wilderness, such as the Wilderness of Sinai.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[מִדְבָּר] n.m. mouth, as organ of speech, Ct 4:3

ref

מִדְבָר 270 n.m. wilderness

tracts of land, used for the pasturage of flocks and herds

uninhabited land

large tracts of such land bearing various names, in certain districts of which there might be towns and cities

fig.

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H4057a מִדְבָּר mouth, as organ of speech H4057b מִדְבָר wilderness

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

4057 midbar mid-bawr'

from 1696 in the sense of driving; a pasture (i.e. open

field, whither cattle are driven); by implication, a desert;

also speech (including its organs):--desert, south, speech,

wilderness.

see HEBREW for 01696

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

מִדְבָּר (mid.bar) — mouth.

1) mouth

1a) mouth (as organ of speech)

מִדְבָּר (mid.bar) — wilderness.

1) wilderness

1a) pasture

1b) uninhabited land, wilderness

1c) large tracts of wilderness (around cities)

1d) wilderness (fig.)

מִדְבָּר (mid.bar) — Wilderness (of Sinai).

This name means wilderness, uninhabited land

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absolute
HNcmsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

wil'-der-nes.

See DESERT; JUDAEA, WILDERNESS OF; WANDERINGS OF ISRAEL.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Wilderness

(1.) Heb. midhbar, denoting not a barren desert but a district or region suitable for pasturing sheep and cattle (Ps. 65:12; Isa. 42:11; Jer. 23:10; Joel 1:19; 2:22); an uncultivated place. This word is used of the wilderness of Beersheba (Gen. 21:14), on the southern border of Palestine; the wilderness of the Red Sea (Ex. 13:18); of Shur (15:22), a portion of the Sinaitic peninsula; of Sin (17:1), Sinai (Lev. 7:38), Moab (Deut. 2:8), Judah (

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

See DESERT.

Nave's Topical Bible

→ Wandering of the Israelites in, see ISRAEL

→ Typical of the sinner' s state De 32:10

→ Jesus' temptation in Mt 4:1; Mr 1:12,13; Lu 4:1

→ See DESERT

they will rejoice ! [the] wilderness and [the] dry region and let it be glad [the] desert plain so it may bud like a crocus
וְצִיָּ֑הve.tzi.Yah and [the] dry region H6723 Conjunction · noun common feminine singular absolute
16× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This word describes a dry and barren place, like a desert or wilderness, often used in the Bible to depict a lack of water or fertility in a land.
Amplified meaning
plain, open field
Tyndale gloss
dryness
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

צִיָּה (tsiyah) refers to dryness or drought, stemming from a root that means to parch. It encompasses concepts of aridity, barren land, and wilderness. The term is used in contexts related to desolate or dry places.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

צִיָּה n.f. dryness, drought

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6723 צִיָּה dryness, drought

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6723 tsiyah tsee-yaw'

from an unused root meaning to parch; aridity; concretely, a

desert:--barren, drought, dry (land, place), solitary place,

wilderness.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

צִיָּה (tsiy.yah) — dryness.

dryness, drought, desert

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | N-fs — Conjunction · noun common feminine singular absolute
HC/Ncfsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

re'-jun: A "district," as in modern English. The word "region" is used by English Versions of the Bible interchangeably with "country," "coasts," etc., for various Hebrew and Greek terms, but "region round about" is usually in the King James Version and invariably in the Revised Version (British and American) the translation of perichoros, "surrounding country." For a possible technical use of "region" in Ac 16:6 and the Revised Version (British and American) 18:23.

See GALATIA.

they will rejoice ! [the] wilderness and [the] dry region and let it be glad [the] desert plain so it may bud like a crocus
וְתָגֵ֧לve.ta.Gel and let it be glad H1523 Conjunction · verb qal jussive third person feminine singular
45× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This Hebrew word means to rejoice or be glad, often expressing strong emotions like joy or fear, as seen in the KJV translations.
Amplified meaning
be joyful, feel cheerful
Tyndale gloss
to rejoice
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

גִּיל (giyl) is a Hebrew verb meaning to rejoice or be glad, often associated with a sense of excitement or levity. It can also imply trembling, particularly from fear. The word is built from a root that conveys the idea of spinning around due to strong emotions, covering both joy and fear.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

[גִּיל] vb. rejoice (go around or about, be excited to levity)

Qal

rejoice

tremble

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H1523 גִּיל rejoice (go around or about, be excited to levity)

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

1523 giyl gheel

or (by permutation) guwl {gool}; a primitive root; properly,

to spin round (under the influence of any violent emotion),

i.e. usually rejoice, or (as cringing) fear:--be glad, joy,

be joyful, rejoice.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

גִּיל (gil) — to rejoice.

1) to rejoice, exult, be glad

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to rejoice

1a2) to tremble (from fear)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Qal-Imperf-3fs — Conjunction · verb qal jussive third person feminine singular
HC/Vqj3fs
they will rejoice ! [the] wilderness and [the] dry region and let it be glad [the] desert plain so it may bud like a crocus
עֲרָבָ֛ה'a.ra.Vah [the] desert plain H6160 Noun common · feminine singular absolute
61× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The Arabah is a desert plain near the Jordan River, stretching to the Red Sea, and is often translated as wilderness or desert in the Bible. It is mentioned in books like Numbers and Deuteronomy.
Amplified meaning
wilderness, solitary place
Tyndale gloss
plain
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

עֲרָבָה (arabah) refers to a desert plain or steppe, often associated with the generally sterile valley of the Jordan and its extension to the Red Sea. It encompasses meanings like wilderness and champaign. The term appears in various contexts, including references to specific locations like the Brook of Arabah and the Plains of Moab.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

עֲרָבָה 61 n.f. desert-plain, steppe

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6160 עֲרָבָה desert-plain, steppe

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6160 `arabah ar-aw-baw'

from 6150 (in the sense of sterility); a desert; especially

(with the article prefix) the (generally) sterile valley of

the Jordan and its continuation to the Red Sea:--Arabah,

champaign, desert, evening, heaven, plain, wilderness. See

also 1026.

see HEBREW for 06150

see HEBREW for 01026

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

עֲרָבָה (a.ra.vah) — Arabah.

§ desert plain, steppe, desert, wilderness

עֲרָבָה (a.ra.vah) — (Brook of) the Arabah.

Combined with na.chal (נַ֫חַל "Brook" H5158K)

§ desert plain, steppe, desert, wilderness

עֲרָבָה (a.ra.vah) — Plains (of Moab).

Combined with mo.av (מוֹאָב " of Moab" H4124I)

§ desert plain, steppe, desert, wilderness

עֲרָבָה (a.ra.vah) — (Beth)-arabah.

desert plain, steppe, desert, wilderness

Another spelling of bet ha.a.ra.vah (בֵּית הָֽעֲרָבָה "Beth-arabah" H1026)

עֲרָבָה (a.ra.vah) — (Sea of) the Arabah.

Another name of me.lach (מֶ֫לַח "Salt( Sea)" H4417G)

עֲרָבָה (a.ra.vah) — plain.

§ desert plain, steppe, desert, wilderness

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
N-fs — Noun common · feminine singular absolute
HNcfsa
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

plan

(1) kikkar, "circle" "talent," or "round loaf";

(2) mishor, from yashar, "to be level"; compare Arabic maisur, "that which is easy";

(3) biqah; compare Arabic baq`at, "a plot of ground" or "a wet meadow";

(4) `arabhah;

(5) shephelah;

(6) topos pedinos (Lu 6:17);

(7) 'elon; compare elah, and 'allon "oak" (Ge 35:4,8, etc.); also 'elah, "Elah" (1Sa 17:2);

(8) 'abhel):

See NATURAL FEATURES.

(1) Kikkar, when meaning "plain" usually refers to the alluvial plain about Jericho near the north end of the Dead Sea: "Plain (the Revised Version margin "circle") of the Jordan" (Ge 13:10,11; 1Ki 7:46;

Plain

(1.) Heb. ‘abel (Judg. 11:33), a “grassy plain” or “meadow.” Instead of “plains of the vineyards,” as in the Authorized Version, the Revised Version has “Abel-cheramim” (q.v.), comp. Judg. 11:22; 2 Chr. 16:4.

(2.) Heb. ‘elon (Gen. 12:6; 13:18; 14:13; 18:1; Deut. 11:30; Judg. 9:6), more correctly “oak,” as in the Revised Version; margin, “terebinth.”

(3.) Heb. bik’ah (Gen. 11:2; Neh. 6:2;

they will rejoice ! [the] wilderness and [the] dry region and let it be glad [the] desert plain so it may bud like a crocus
וְתִפְרַ֖חve.tif.Rach so it may bud H6524 Conjunction · verb qal third person feminine singular
36× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
This verb means to fly or bloom, describing something that spreads out or flourishes. It can also mean to break forth like a bud or to grow abundantly. It's used to picture flourishing or spreading out.
Amplified meaning
sprout, flourish
Tyndale gloss
to sprout
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word פָּרַח (*pa.rach*) is a primitive root that encompasses several meanings, primarily related to growth and emergence. It can mean to bud, sprout, or shoot, as well as to break out in the context of leprosy or similar eruptions. Additionally, it has a sense of flying, particularly in an Aramaic context. The entries highlight its use in various forms, including Qal and Hiphil.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

פָּרַח vb. bud, sprout, shoot

Qal bud, sprout, send out shoots, of vine

Hiph.

cause to bud or sprout

shew buds, sprouts, of tree

base

פָּרַח vb. break out, of leprosy and like eruptions

base

[פָּרַח] vb. fly, Aramaism

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H6524a פָּרַח bud, sprout, shoot H6524b פָּרַח break out, of leprosy and like eruptions H6524c פָּרַח fly, Aramaism

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

6524 parach paw-rakh'

a primitive root; to break forth as a bud, i.e. bloom;

generally, to spread; specifically, to fly (as extending the

wings); figuratively, to flourish:--X abroad, X abundantly,

blossom, break forth (out), bud, flourish, make fly, grow,

spread, spring (up).

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

פָּרַח (pa.rach) — to sprout.

1) to bud, sprout, shoot, bloom

1a) (Qal) to bud, sprout, send out shoots, blossom

1b) (Hiphil)

1b1) to cause to bud or sprout

1b2) to show buds or sprouts

פָּרַח (pa.rach) — to break out.

(Qal) to break out (of leprosy)

פָּרַח (pa.rach) — to fly.

(Qal) to fly (Aramaism)

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Conj | V-Qal-Imperf-3fs — Conjunction · verb qal third person feminine singular
HC/Vqu3fs
Bible dictionarieson the English sense
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

See FLOWERS.

they will rejoice ! [the] wilderness and [the] dry region and let it be glad [the] desert plain so it may bud like a crocus
כַּחֲבַצָּֽלֶת׃ka.cha.va.Tza.let like a crocus H2261 Preposition · noun common feminine singular absolute
2× in the OT scale is logarithmic — the commonest word, אֵת, appears about 11,000×
In plain English
Meaning
The crocus is a type of flower, possibly the meadow-saffron, which is described in the Bible as a rose.
Amplified meaning
crocus, lily
Tyndale gloss
crocus
Hebrew lexiconskeyed to Strong's numbers
Layman’s summary of all Lexicon entries.generated

The Hebrew word חֲבַצֶּלֶת (*chabatstseleth*) refers to a type of flower, specifically the meadow-saffron or crocus. Its derivation is uncertain, but it is associated with the rose in some contexts. The entries consistently identify it as a flowering plant without significant disagreement.

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (full)

חֲבַצֶּלֶת n.f. meadow-saffron or crocus

base

Brown-Driver-Briggs glosses

H2261 חֲבַצֶּלֶת meadow-saffron or crocus

Strong's Hebrew Dictionary

2261 chabatstseleth khab-ats-tseh'-leth

of uncertain derivation; probably meadow-saffron:--rose.

Translators Brief Hebrew Lexicon

חֲבַצֶּלֶת (cha.vats.tse.let) — crocus.

meadow-saffron, crocus, rose

Morphologythe parsing behind the code
Berean parsing
Prep | N-fs — Preposition · noun common feminine singular absolute
HR/Ncfsa
Sources on this page. Lexicons and dictionaries imported from the CrossWire SWORD modules — Abbott-Smith, Strong's, Dodson, the Intermediate Liddell-Scott-Jones, Robinson and Packard, Webster and Cawdrey. Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament (Harper, 1889 — Grimm’s Wilke’s Clavis Novi Testamenti, translated, revised and enlarged by Joseph Henry Thayer) is public domain and is set here from the Internet Archive page scan greekenglishlex00grim; it is uncorrected OCR, marked as such on the entry itself, and the Strong’s numbers — which Thayer’s own edition does not carry — were matched by lemma against the other modules on this page. Trench’s Synonyms of the New Testament (Macmillan, 1880) and Moulton and Milligan’s Vocabulary of the Greek Testament (Hodder & Stoughton, 1930, which entered the United States public domain on 1 January 2026) are set from Internet Archive page scans synonymsofnewtes00treniala and vocabularyofgree00mouluoft, and are likewise uncorrected OCR matched to Strong’s numbers by lemma. Trench treats a group of words at once, so the same essay stands on the page of each word it compares. The Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary is © 1993 and is used here by permission for non-commercial use, www.teknia.com/greek-dictionary. The full Liddell-Scott-Jones and the Hebrew word data (TAHOT) come from STEPBible.org, CC BY 4.0. Brown-Driver-Briggs is the OpenScriptures digitisation, public domain. Syntax analysis is the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (biblicalhumanities.org); the concordance and morphology are built from the tagged Nestle 1904 text. Septuagint occurrences use the Open Scriptures Septuagint lemma index, derived from CCAT (University of Pennsylvania) and the Rahlfs 1935 dataset by Eliran Wong, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 — used here on a non-commercial ministry site. Greek of Josephus and Barnabas from the Perseus Digital Library, CC BY-SA 4.0. Commentaries and the Ante-Nicene Fathers are public-domain texts hosted on this site. Everyday Greek from the Duke Databank of Documentary Papyri, CC BY 3.0, with dates and provenance from the Heidelberger Gesamtverzeichnis. Philo and the Apostolic Fathers from Open Greek and Latin (First1KGreek), CC BY-SA 4.0. The apparatus and the fifth Greek column are the SBL Greek New Testament, © 2010 SBL and Logos Bible Software, CC BY 4.0. The Latin is the Clementine Vulgate (public domain); the Syriac New Testament is the ETCBC edition (MIT licence). The Hebrew behind the Greek is computed here from the Septuagint index and TAHOT, not taken from any aligned edition. The translation spread and the per-word edition marks come from the Translators Amalgamated Greek NT (STEPBible, CC BY 4.0); clause roles from the Nestle 1904 Lowfat treebank (CC BY-SA 4.0); place identifications and their confidence from OpenBible.info Bible Geocoding (CC BY 4.0), with map tiles © OpenStreetMap contributors. Gospel parallels are computed here from shared uncommon vocabulary, not taken from any printed harmony. Cross references are the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and the subject headings are Nave’s Topical Bible, both public domain. Works under Creative Commons licences are used unchanged apart from markup removal.

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