Isaiah 44:23

23 Sing for joy, you heavens, for the LORD has done this; shout aloud, you earth beneath. Burst into song, you mountains, you forests and all your trees, for the LORD has redeemed Jacob, he displays his glory in Israel.

Isaiah 44:23 in Other Translations

King James Version (KJV)
23 Sing, O ye heavens; for the LORD hath done it: shout, ye lower parts of the earth: break forth into singing, ye mountains, O forest, and every tree therein: for the LORD hath redeemed Jacob, and glorified himself in Israel.
English Standard Version (ESV)
23 Sing, O heavens, for the LORD has done it; shout, O depths of the earth; break forth into singing, O mountains, O forest, and every tree in it! For the LORD has redeemed Jacob, and will be glorified in Israel.
New Living Translation (NLT)
23 Sing, O heavens, for the LORD has done this wondrous thing. Shout for joy, O depths of the earth! Break into song, O mountains and forests and every tree! For the LORD has redeemed Jacob and is glorified in Israel.
The Message Bible (MSG)
23 High heavens, sing! God has done it. Deep earth, shout! And you mountains, sing! A forest choir of oaks and pines and cedars! God has redeemed Jacob. God's glory is on display in Israel.
American Standard Version (ASV)
23 Sing, O ye heavens, for Jehovah hath done it; shout, ye lower parts of the earth; break forth into singing, ye mountains, O forest, and every tree therein: for Jehovah hath redeemed Jacob, and will glorify himself in Israel.
GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)
23 Sing with joy, you heavens, because the LORD has done this. Rejoice, you deep places of the earth. Break into shouts of joy, you mountains, you forests and every tree in them. The LORD has reclaimed Jacob. He will display his glory in Israel.
Holman Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
23 Rejoice, heavens, for the Lord has acted; shout, depths of the earth. Break out into singing, mountains, forest, and every tree in it. For the Lord has redeemed Jacob, and glorifies Himself through Israel.
New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
23 Sing with joy, you heavens! The LORD does wonderful things. Shout out loud, you earth! Burst into song, you mountains! Sing, you forests and all of your trees! The LORD sets the family of Jacob free. He shows his glory in Israel.

Isaiah 44:23 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 44:23

Sing, O ye heavens, for the Lord hath done it
Done what he promised, the forgiveness of the sins of his people, and the redemption of them. So the Targum,

``because the Lord hath wrought redemption for his people.''
The Vulgate Latin version adds, "mercy" F15; and so the Septuagint version, "because God hath had mercy on Israel" F16; and therefore the heavens are called upon to sing on this occasion, as the angels of heaven did when the Redeemer was born, and who rejoice at the salvation of God's elect, ( Luke 2:13 Luke 2:14 ) ( 15:10 ) : shout, ye lower parts of the earth;
the earth, which is low in comparison of the heavens; the inhabitants of it, especially the Gentiles, which dwelt in the lower parts of the world, in comparison of Judea, which lay high: break forth into singing, ye mountains;
kings and great men of the earth, like the strong and lofty mountains: O forest, and every tree therein;
the multitude of the common people; see ( Isaiah 10:18 Isaiah 10:19 ) these are called upon to express their joy, for the following reason: for the Lord hath redeemed Jacob, and glorified himself in Israel;
which is to be understood not merely of their redemption from the Babylonish captivity, but of the redemption by Christ, which the former was a type of, and in which all God's people in all nations are concerned, and therefore have reason to rejoice; and in which all the divine perfections are glorified, not only the wisdom, power, goodness, grace, and mercy of God, but his holiness and justice; and saints not only have reason to rejoice, because they are redeemed from sin and Satan, and the law, and death and hell, and all spiritual enemies, but because the glory of God is great in their salvation.
FOOTNOTES:

F15 "Quia fecit misericordiam", V. L.
F16 (oti hlehsen o yeov ton israhl) , Sept.

Isaiah 44:23 In-Context

21 “Remember these things, Jacob, for you, Israel, are my servant. I have made you, you are my servant; Israel, I will not forget you.
22 I have swept away your offenses like a cloud, your sins like the morning mist. Return to me, for I have redeemed you.”
23 Sing for joy, you heavens, for the LORD has done this; shout aloud, you earth beneath. Burst into song, you mountains, you forests and all your trees, for the LORD has redeemed Jacob, he displays his glory in Israel.
24 “This is what the LORD says— your Redeemer, who formed you in the womb: I am the LORD, the Maker of all things, who stretches out the heavens, who spreads out the earth by myself,
25 who foils the signs of false prophets and makes fools of diviners, who overthrows the learning of the wise and turns it into nonsense,

Cross References 6

  • 1. S Psalms 98:4; S Isaiah 12:6; Isaiah 42:10
  • 2. S 1 Chronicles 16:31; Psalms 148:7
  • 3. S Psalms 98:8
  • 4. S Psalms 65:13
  • 5. S Exodus 6:6; Isaiah 51:11; Isaiah 62:12
  • 6. S Exodus 16:7; S Leviticus 10:3; S Isaiah 4:2; Isaiah 43:7; Isaiah 46:13; Isaiah 49:3; Isaiah 52:1; Isaiah 55:5; Isaiah 60:9,21; Isaiah 61:3; Jeremiah 30:19
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