Isaiah 32:16

16 Then justice will dwell in the wilderness, and righteousness will live in the fruitful field.

Isaiah 32:16 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 32:16

Then judgment shall dwell in the wilderness
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, ( 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 time, ( Isaiah 60:21 ) not only by profession, but in truth and reality; at least the far greater part; so the Targum interprets it of those that do judgment and do righteousness.

Isaiah 32:16 In-Context

14 For [the] palace will be forsaken, [the] {crowded city} deserted; [the] hill and [the] watchtower will become a cave forever, [the] joy of wild asses, a pasture {for} flocks.

15 Until a spirit is poured out on us from on high, and [the] wilderness becomes [a] fruitful field, and [the] fruitful field is reckoned as the forest.

16 Then justice will dwell in the wilderness, and righteousness will live in the fruitful field.

17 And the work of righteousness will be peace, and the work of righteousness, quietness and security forever.

18 And my people will dwell in a settlement of peace and in a dwelling place of security and in undisturbed resting places.

Footnotes

• [a]. Or "And"