Isaiah 35:6

6 Those who can't walk will leap like a deer. And those who can't speak will shout with joy. Water will pour out in dry places. Streams will flow in the desert.

Isaiah 35:6 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 35:6

Then shall the lame [man] leap as an hart.
&c.] As the lame man did healed by Peter, ( Acts 3:1 Acts 3:8 ) there were many instances of such persons cured by Christ when here on earth, ( Matthew 15:30 Matthew 15:31 ) ( 21:14 ) ( John 5:7-9 ) and in a spiritual sense this was verified in many who were impotent to that which is good; had neither will nor power to go to Christ for life and salvation, nor to walk by faith in him, nor to walk in his ways; who yet, by the mighty power of the Spirit and grace of God, became able and willing to go to him, and venture their souls on him; walked on in him as they had received him; and not only walked in his ways, but ran in the ways of his commandments, and leaped for joy for what they saw and heard of him, and received from him; and innumerable will be the instances of such mighty grace at the spiritual coming and reign of Christ: and the tongue of the dumb shall sing;
this had its accomplishment, in a literal sense, at the first coming of Christ, ( Matthew 9:32 Matthew 9:33 ) ( Matthew 12:22 ) ( Matthew 15:30 Matthew 15:31 ) and, in a spiritual sense, in many who before had nothing to say to God in prayer, nor in praise; nothing to say of Christ, or for him; or of the blessed Spirit, and his divine operations; but now, by divine grace, are made to speak unto God, both in a petitionary way, and in a way of thankfulness; and of Christ, and of the blessed Spirit; and of the great things each have done for them; and even to sing for joy, because of the wondrous blessings of grace they were made partakers of; and many more such there will be in the latter day, when the Spirit is poured down from on high. Kimchi interprets all this of the Israelites, who were in captivity as blind, deaf, lame, and dumb. So the Targum of this and the preceding verse ( Isaiah 35:5 ) ,

``then shall the eyes of the house of Israel be opened, who were as blind men as to the law; and the ears of them that are as deaf men, to attend to the words of the prophets shall hear; then when they shall see the captives of Israel gathered to go up to their own land as the swift harts, and not tarry,'' &c.;

but it may be better applied to their present state, and to their case when they shall be turned to the Lord in the latter day: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the
desert;
not literally, but mystically; and may be understood both of the doctrines of the Gospel breaking out in the ministry of them, in such places as were like unto the wilderness and desert, quite barren, and destitute of the knowledge, grace, and fear of God; see ( Joel 3:18 ) ( Zechariah 14:8 ) and of the abundance of grace, and the efficacy of it, making the word effectual to the conversion and fruitfulness of multitudes of souls, bringing along with it a vast variety of spiritual blessings; see ( John 7:37 John 7:38 ) to both which, the one as the means, and the other as the cause, all the above wonderful things are owing.

Isaiah 35:6 In-Context

4 Say to those whose hearts are afraid, "Be strong. Do not fear. Your God will come. He will pay your enemies back. He will come to save you."

5 Then the eyes of those who are blind will be opened. The ears of those who can't hear will be unplugged.

6 Those who can't walk will leap like a deer. And those who can't speak will shout with joy. Water will pour out in dry places. Streams will flow in the desert.

7 The burning sand will become a pool of water. The thirsty ground will become bubbling springs. In the places where wild dogs once lay down, tall grass and papyrus will grow.

8 A wide road will go through the land. It will be called The Way of Holiness. Only those who are pure and clean can travel on it. Only those who lead a holy life can use it. Evil and foolish people can't walk on it.