Isaiah 65:23

Old Testament Major Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Isaiah 65:23 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “They shall not labor in vain, nor bring forth for calamity; for they are the seed of the blessed of Jehovah, and their offspring with them.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

They shall not labor in vain, nor bring forth for calamity; for they are the seed of the blessed of Jehovah, and their offspring with them.
Isaiah 65:23 — American Standard Version

Context — Isaiah 65

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
23They shall not labor in vain, nor bring forth for calamity; for they are the seed of the blessed of Jehovah, and their offspring with them.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“They shall not labour in vain, &c.] As they do, who build houses, and enemies come and turn them out of them, and dwell in them themselves; or who plant vineyards, and sow their fields, and strangers come and devour them; or they are smitten with blasting and mildew: nor bring forth for trouble; for death, as the Targum; or for a curse, as the Septuagint: the tense is, they shall not beget and bring forth children, that shall immediately die by some distemper or another, or be taken off by famine, sword, or pestilence, to the great grief and trouble of their parents; but these shall live, and outlive their parents, so that their death will never be a trouble to them: for they are the seed of…”
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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
“bring forth for trouble--literally, "for terror," that is, "They shall not bring forth children for a sudden death" (Lev 26:16; Jer 15:8). seed . . . blessed-- (Isa 61:9). offspring with them-- (Hos 9:12). "Their offspring shall be with themselves" [MAURER]; not "brought forth" only to be cut off by "sudden death" (see the parallel clause).”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“They shall not labor in vain - That is, either because their land shall be unfruitful, or because others shall plunder them. Nor bring forth for trouble - Lowth renders this, ‘Neither shall they generate a short-lived race.’ Noyes, ‘Nor bring forth children for an early death.’ The Septuagint renders it, Οὐδὲ τεκνοποιήσουσιν εἰς κατάραν Oude teknopoiēsousin eis kataran - ‘Nor shall they bring forth children for a curse.’ The Chaldee, ‘Nor shall they nourish them for death.’ There can be no doubt that this refers to their posterity, and that the sense is, that they should not be the parents of children who would be subject to an early death or to a curse. The word rendered here ‘bring…”
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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
“With them - Is blessed with them. Isaiah 65:24”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“shall: Isa 49:4, Isa 55:2, Isa 61:9; Lev 26:3-10, Lev 26:20, Lev 26:22, Lev 26:29; Deu 28:3-12, Deu 28:38-42; Hos 9:11-14; Hag 1:6, Hag 2:19; Mal 3:10; Co1 15:58 for: Isa 61:9; Gen 12:2, Gen 17:7; Psa 115:14, Psa 115:15; Jer 32:38, Jer 32:39; Zac 10:8, Zac 10:9; Act 2:39, Act 3:25, Act 3:26; Rom 4:16, Rom 9:7, Rom 9:8; Gal 3:29 Isaiah 65:24”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification