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Isaiah 58:11

Old Testament Major Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Isaiah 58:11 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “and Jehovah will guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in dry places, and make strong thy bones; and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

and Jehovah will guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in dry places, and make strong thy bones; and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.
Isaiah 58:11 — American Standard Version

Context — Isaiah 58

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
8Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thy healing shall spring forth speedily; and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of Jehovah shall by thy rearward.
9Then shalt thou call, and Jehovah will answer; thou shalt cry, and he will say, Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking wickedly;
10and if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul: then shall thy light rise in darkness, and thine obscurity be as the noonday;
11and Jehovah will guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in dry places, and make strong thy bones; and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.
12And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places; thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in.
13If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, [and] the holy of Jehovah honorable; and shalt honor it, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking [thine own] words:
14then shalt thou delight thyself in Jehovah; and I will make thee to ride upon the high places of the earth; and I will feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of Jehovah hath spoken it.
← Isaiah 58:10Isaiah 58:12 →
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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
“And the Lord shall guide thee continually, &c.] With his counsel, by his word, and by his Spirit, and that night and day; as he guided the Israelites through the wilderness with the pillar of cloud by day, and the pillar of fire by night: or, “cause thee to rest”f1148; from adversity, from persecution; to have spiritual rest in Christ now, and eternal rest hereafter: and satisfy thy soul in drought; or, “in drynesses”f1149; in an exceeding dry time; when in a dry and thirsty land; when thirsting after Christ and his grace, Christ and his righteousness; after more knowledge of him, communion with him, and conformity unto him; after the word and ordinances; after the presence of God in them;…”
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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
“satisfy . . . in drought-- (Isa 41:17-18). Literally, "drought," that is, parched places [MAURER]. make fat--rather, "strengthen" [NOYES]. "Give thee the free use of thy bones" [JEROME], or, "of thy strength" [HORSLEY]. watered garden--an Oriental picture of happiness. fail not--Hebrew, "deceive not"; as streams that disappoint the caravan which had expected to find water, as formerly, but find it dried up (Job 6:15-17).”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“And the Lord shall guide thee continually - Yahweh will go before you and will lead you always. And satisfy thy soul in drought - (See the notes at Isaiah 41:17-18). The word rendered ‘drought’ (Margin, ‘droughts;’ Hebrew, צחצחות tsachetsâchôth) means “dry places” - places exposed to the intense heat of a burning sun and parched up for the want of moisture. The idea is, that God would provide for them as if in such places copious rains were to fall, or refreshing fountains to burst forth. And make fat thy bones - Lowth, ‘Shall renew thy strength.’ Noyes, ‘Strengthen thy bones.’ Jerome renders it, ‘Shall liberate thy bones.’ The Septuagint ‘Thy bones shall be made fat.’ The idea is…”
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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
“Guide thee - Like a shepherd. And he adds continually to shew that his conduct and blessing shall not be momentary, or of a short continuance, but all along as it was to Israel in the wilderness. Satisfy - Thou shalt have plenty, when others are in scarcity. Make fat - This may be spoken in opposition to the sad effects of famine, whereby the flesh is consumed away, that it cannot be seen, and the bones that were not seen, stick out. A garden - If thou relieve the poor, thou shalt never be poor, but as a well - watered garden, always flourishing. Fail not - Heb. deceive not, a metaphor which farther notes also the continuance of this flourishing state, which will not be like a land - flood,…”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“the Lord: Isa 49:10; Psa 25:9, Psa 32:8, Psa 48:14, Psa 73:24; Joh 16:13; Th1 3:11 and satisfy: Isa 33:16; Job 5:20; Psa 33:19, Psa 34:9, Psa 34:10, Psa 37:19; Jer 17:8; Hos 13:5 drought: Heb. droughts make fat: Psa 92:14; Pro 3:8, Pro 11:25, Pro 13:4, Pro 28:25 be like: Isa 61:11; Sol 4:15; Jer 31:12; Eze 36:35 fail: Heb. lie, or deceive, Job 6:15-20 Isaiah 58:12”
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Related study paths

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Sources and verification