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Isaiah 32:16

Old Testament Major Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Isaiah 32:16 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Then justice shall dwell in the wilderness; and righteousness shall abide in the fruitful field.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Then justice shall dwell in the wilderness; and righteousness shall abide in the fruitful field.
Isaiah 32:16 — American Standard Version

Context — Isaiah 32

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
13Upon the land of my people shall come up thorns and briers; yea, upon all the houses of joy in the joyous city.
14For the palace shall be forsaken; the populous city shall be deserted; the hill and the watch-tower shall be for dens for ever, a joy of wild asses, a pasture of flocks;
15until the Spirit be poured upon us from on high, and the wilderness become a fruitful field, and the fruitful field be esteemed as a forest.
16Then justice shall dwell in the wilderness; and righteousness shall abide in the fruitful field.
17And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness, quietness and confidence for ever.
18And my people shall abide in a peaceable habitation, and in safe dwellings, and in quiet resting-places.
19But it shall hail in the downfall of the forest; and the city shall be utterly laid low.
← Isaiah 32:15Isaiah 32:17 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Then judgment shall dwell in the wilderness, &c.] In the desert part of the world, inhabited by Pagans, Papists, and Mahometans; where the Scriptures, the rule of judgment, and where the Gospel, sometimes called the judgment of the Lord, (<235104>Isaiah 51:4) had no place, now they shall have one, and an abiding one; and men of judgment in spiritual and evangelical things, and such as do justice and judgment, shall dwell there: and righteousness remain in the fruitful field; both the doctrine and practice of righteousness shall continue in the church of God, which will be the glory of it; the righteous men will be the settled constant inhabitants of it; these will be all righteous at this…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“judgment--justice. wilderness--then reclaimed. fruitful field--then become more fruitful (Isa 32:15); thus "wilderness" and "fruitful field" include the whole land of Judea.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Then judgment shall dwell - Or, justice shall make its appropriate dwelling-place there. In the wilderness - In the place that was a wilderness, but that shall now be turned to a fruitful field. In the fruitful field - In the nation that is like a fruitful field; in Judea restored. return to 'Top of Page'”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Judgment - Just judgment. Righteousness - Justice shall be executed in all the parts of the land. Isaiah 32:17”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Isa 35:8, Isa 42:4, Isa 56:6-8, Isa 60:21; Psa 94:14, Psa 94:15; Hos 3:5; Co1 6:9-11; Tit 2:11, Tit 2:12; Pe1 2:9-12, Pe1 4:1-4 Isaiah 32:17”
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Related study paths

Read Isaiah 32 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification