Isaiah 51:3

KJV1611 – Modern English

For the LORD will comfort Zion: he will comfort all her waste places; and he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the LORD; joy and gladness will be found in it, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

כִּֽי־נִחַ֨ם יְהוָ֜ה צִיּ֗וֹן נִחַם֙ כָּל־חָרְבֹתֶ֔יהָ וַיָּ֤שֶׂם מִדְבָּרָהּ֙ כְּעֵ֔דֶן וְעַרְבָתָ֖הּ כְּגַן־יְהוָ֑ה שָׂשׂ֤וֹן וְשִׂמְחָה֙ יִמָּ֣צֵא בָ֔הּ תּוֹדָ֖ה וְק֥וֹל זִמְרָֽה

Transliteration

kî-niḥam YHWH ṣiyyôn niḥam kol-ḥorbōtêhā wayyāśem midbārāh kə'ēden wə'arbātāh kəgan-YHWH śāśôn wəśimḥâ yimmāṣē' bāh tôdâ wəqôl zimrâ

Grammar Details

• *kî*: conjunction - for/because
• *niḥam*: Piel perfect, 3rd person masculine singular - he comforted/consoled
• YHWH: proper noun - divine name
• *ṣiyyôn*: proper noun, feminine - Zion
• *kol-ḥorbōtêhā*: noun construct + noun feminine plural with 3rd person feminine singular suffix - all her ruins/waste places
• *wayyāśem*: waw consecutive + Qal imperfect, 3rd person masculine singular - and he made/placed
• *midbārāh*: common noun, masculine singular with 3rd person feminine singular suffix - her wilderness/desert
• *kə'ēden*: preposition + proper noun - like Eden
• *wə'arbātāh*: conjunction + common noun, feminine singular with 3rd person feminine singular suffix - and her desert plain
• *kəgan-YHWH*: preposition + common noun construct + divine name - like garden of YHWH
• *śāśôn*: common noun, masculine singular - joy/gladness
• *wəśimḥâ*: conjunction + common noun, feminine singular - and happiness/rejoicing
• *yimmāṣē'*: Niphal imperfect, 3rd person masculine singular - will be found
• *bāh*: preposition with 3rd person feminine singular suffix - in her
• *tôdâ*: common noun, feminine singular - thanksgiving/praise
• *wəqôl*: conjunction + common noun, masculine singular - and voice/sound
• *zimrâ*: common noun, feminine singular - melody/song

Word Meanings

• *niḥam*: comforted/consoled/had compassion on
• *ḥorbōtêhā*: ruins/waste places/desolations
• *midbārāh*: wilderness/desert/uninhabited land
• *'arbātāh*: desert plain/wilderness/steppe
• *śāśôn*: joy/gladness/delight
• *śimḥâ*: happiness/rejoicing/pleasure
• *tôdâ*: thanksgiving/praise/confession
• *zimrâ*: melody/song/praise-music

Other Translations

• Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

  For the Lord comforts Zion; He comforts all her ruins. He will make her wilderness like Eden, her desert like the garden of the Lord. Joy and gladness will be found in her, thanksgiving and the sound of singing.

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  For the LORD shall comfort Zion: he will comfort all her waste places; and he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the LORD; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  For Jehovah{H3068} hath comforted{H5162} Zion;{H6726} he hath comforted{H5162} all her waste places,{H2723} and hath made{H7760} her wilderness{H4057} like Eden,{H5731} and her desert{H6160} like the garden{H1588} of Jehovah;{H3068} joy{H8342} and gladness{H8057} shall be found{H4672} therein, thanksgiving,{H8426} and the voice{H6963} of melody.{H2172}

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  For the LORD{H3068} shall comfort{H5162}{(H8765)} Zion{H6726}: he will comfort{H5162}{(H8765)} all her waste places{H2723}; and he will make{H7760}{(H8799)} her wilderness{H4057} like Eden{H5731}, and her desert{H6160} like the garden{H1588} of the LORD{H3068}; joy{H8342} and gladness{H8057} shall be found{H4672}{(H8735)} therein, thanksgiving{H8426}, and the voice{H6963} of melody{H2172}.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  how the LORDE conforted Sio, and repayred all hir decaye: makinge hir deserte as a Paradise, and hir wildernesse as the garden of the LORDE. Myrth and ioye was there, thankesgeuynge and ye voyce of prayse.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  Surely the Lord shall comfort Zion: he shal comfort all her desolations, and he shall make her desert like Eden, and her wildernes like the garden of the Lord: ioy and gladnesse shalbe founde therein: praise, and the voyce of singing.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  Therfore shall the Lorde comfort Sion, and repayre all her decay, makyng her desert as a paradise, and her wildernesse as the garden of the Lorde: Mirth and ioy shalbe founde there, thankesgeuyng and the voyce of prayse.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  For the LORD shall comfort Zion: he will comfort all her waste places; and he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the LORD; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody.

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  For Yahweh has comforted Zion; he has comforted all her waste places, and has made her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of Yahweh; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody.

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  For Jehovah hath comforted Zion, He hath comforted all her wastes, And He setteth her wilderness as Eden, And her desert as a garden of Jehovah, Joy, yea, gladness is found in her, Confession, and the voice of song.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  For Jehovah hath comforted Zion; he hath comforted all her waste places, and hath made her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of Jehovah; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  For Jehovah hath comforted Zion; he hath comforted all her waste places, and hath made her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of Jehovah; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  For the Lord has given comfort to Zion: he has made glad all her broken walls; making her waste places like Eden, and changing her dry land into the garden of the Lord; joy and delight will be there, praise and the sound of melody.

• World English Bible (2000)

  For Yahweh has comforted Zion; he has comforted all her waste places, and has made her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of Yahweh; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody.

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  Certainly the LORD will console Zion; he will console all her ruins. He will make her wilderness like Eden, her arid rift valley like the Garden of the LORD. Happiness and joy will be restored to her, thanksgiving and the sound of music.

Referenced Verses

• Isa 52:9 : 9 Break forth into joy, sing together, you waste places of Jerusalem: for the LORD has comforted his people, he has redeemed Jerusalem.
• Gen 13:10 : 10 And Lot lifted up his eyes, and saw all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as you come to Zoar.
• Joel 2:3 : 3 A fire devours before them, and behind them a flame burns; the land is like the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; yes, and nothing shall escape them.
• Isa 49:13 : 13 Sing, O heavens; and be joyful, O earth; and break forth into singing, O mountains: for the LORD has comforted his people, and will have mercy upon his afflicted.
• Isa 51:12 : 12 I, even I, am he who comforts you: who are you, that you should be afraid of a man who will die, and of the son of man who will be made like grass;
• Gen 2:8-9 : 8 And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden, and there He put the man whom He had formed. 9 And out of the ground the LORD God made to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the middle of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.
• Zeph 3:14-20 : 14 Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel; be glad and rejoice with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem. 15 The LORD has taken away your judgments, he has cast out your enemy: the king of Israel, even the LORD, is in the midst of you: you shall see evil no more. 16 In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, Fear not: and to Zion, Let not your hands be weak. 17 The LORD your God in the midst of you is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over you with joy; he will rest in his love, he will rejoice over you with singing. 18 I will gather those who are sorrowful for the solemn assembly, who are of you, to whom the reproach of it was a burden. 19 Behold, at that time I will undo all that afflict you: and I will save her who is lame, and gather her who was driven out; and I will get them praise and fame in every land where they have been put to shame. 20 At that time I will bring you again, even in the time that I gather you: for I will make you a name and a praise among all people of the earth, when I turn back your captivity before your eyes, says the LORD.
• 2 Cor 1:3-4 : 3 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; 4 Who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, by the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
• 1 Pet 1:8 : 8 Whom having not seen you love; in whom, though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,
• Rev 19:1-7 : 1 And after these things I heard a great voice of a multitude in heaven, saying, Hallelujah; Salvation, and glory, and honor, and power, to the Lord our God: 2 For true and righteous are His judgments: for He has judged the great prostitute, who corrupted the earth with her immorality, and has avenged the blood of His servants at her hand. 3 And again they said, Hallelujah. And her smoke rose up forever and ever. 4 And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Hallelujah. 5 And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all you His servants, and you that fear Him, both small and great. 6 And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Hallelujah: for the Lord God omnipotent reigns. 7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to Him: for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.
• Ps 85:8 : 8 I will hear what God the LORD will speak, for He will speak peace unto His people and to His saints, but let them not turn again to folly.
• Ps 102:13-14 : 13 You shall arise and have mercy upon Zion, for the time to favor her, yes, the set time, has come. 14 For your servants take pleasure in her stones and favor the dust thereof.
• Isa 12:1 : 1 And in that day you shall say, O LORD, I will praise you: though you were angry with me, your anger is turned away, and you comforted me.
• Isa 25:9 : 9 And it will be said in that day, Behold, this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He will save us: this is the LORD; we have waited for Him, we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation.
• Isa 35:1-2 : 1 The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice and blossom like the rose. 2 It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing: the glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, the excellence of Carmel and Sharon, they shall see the glory of the LORD, and the majesty of our God.
• Isa 35:7-9 : 7 And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water; in the habitation of jackals, where each lay, shall be grass with reeds and rushes. 8 And a highway shall be there, and a road, and it shall be called The Way of Holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it, but it shall be for others: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein. 9 No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up on it, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there: 10 And the ransomed of the LORD shall return and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads; they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
• Isa 40:1-2 : 1 Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. 2 Speak kindly to Jerusalem and cry out to her that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned, for she has received from the LORD's hand double for all her sins.
• Isa 41:18-19 : 18 I will open rivers in high places, and fountains in the midst of the valleys: I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water. 19 I will plant in the wilderness the cedar, the shittah tree, and the myrtle, and the oil tree; I will set in the desert the fir tree, and the pine, and the box tree together:
• Isa 44:26 : 26 Who confirms the word of his servant, and performs the counsel of his messengers; who says to Jerusalem, You shall be inhabited; and to the cities of Judah, You shall be built, and I will raise up the decayed places thereof:
• Isa 49:8 : 8 Thus says the LORD, In an acceptable time I have heard you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you: and I will preserve you, and give you for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages;
• Isa 54:6-8 : 6 For the LORD has called you as a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, and a wife of youth, when you were refused, says your God. 7 For a small moment have I forsaken you; but with great mercies will I gather you. 8 In a little wrath I hid my face from you for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on you, says the LORD your Redeemer.
• Isa 61:1-4 : 1 The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good tidings to the meek; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; 2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; 3 To appoint to those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He might be glorified. 4 And they shall build the old ruins, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations.
• Isa 66:10-14 : 10 Rejoice with Jerusalem, and be glad with her, all you that love her: rejoice with joy with her, all you that mourn for her: 11 That you may nurse and be satisfied with the breasts of her consolations; that you may drink deeply, and be delighted with the abundance of her glory. 12 For thus says the LORD, Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream: then shall you nurse, you shall be carried on her sides, and be dandled on her knees. 13 As one whom his mother comforts, so will I comfort you; and you shall be comforted in Jerusalem. 14 And when you see this, your heart shall rejoice, and your bones shall flourish like an herb: and the hand of the LORD shall be known toward his servants, and his indignation toward his enemies.
• Jer 31:12-14 : 12 Therefore they shall come and sing in the height of Zion, and shall flow together to the goodness of the LORD, for wheat, for wine, and for oil, and for the young of the flock and the herd: and their soul shall be as a watered garden, and they shall not sorrow anymore at all. 13 Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance, both young men and old together: for I will turn their mourning into joy, and will comfort them, and make them rejoice from their sorrow. 14 And I will satisfy the soul of the priests with abundance, and my people shall be satisfied with my goodness, says the LORD.
• Jer 31:25 : 25 For I have satiated the weary soul, and I have replenished every sorrowful soul.
• Jer 33:11-13 : 11 The voice of joy and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the voice of those who shall say, Praise the LORD of hosts: for the LORD is good; for His mercy endures forever: and of those who shall bring the sacrifice of praise into the house of the LORD. For I will cause the captivity of the land to return, as at the first, says the LORD. 12 Thus says the LORD of hosts: Again in this place, which is desolate without man and without beast, and in all its cities, there shall be a habitation for shepherds causing their flocks to lie down. 13 In the cities of the mountains, in the cities of the valley, and in the cities of the south, and in the land of Benjamin, and in the places around Jerusalem, and in the cities of Judah, flocks shall again pass under the hands of him who counts them, says the LORD.
• Ezek 31:8-9 : 8 The cedars in the garden of God could not hide it; the fir trees were not like its boughs, and the chestnut trees were not like its branches; nor any tree in the garden of God was like it in beauty. 9 I made it beautiful by the multitude of its branches, so that all the trees of Eden, that were in the garden of God, envied it. 10 Therefore thus says the Lord GOD; Because you have lifted yourself up in height, and it has set its top among the thick boughs, and its heart is lifted up in its height;