Isaiah 42:11
New International Version
Let the wilderness and its towns raise their voices; let the settlements where Kedar lives rejoice. Let the people of Sela sing for joy; let them shout from the mountaintops.

New Living Translation
Join in the chorus, you desert towns; let the villages of Kedar rejoice! Let the people of Sela sing for joy; shout praises from the mountaintops!

English Standard Version
Let the desert and its cities lift up their voice, the villages that Kedar inhabits; let the habitants of Sela sing for joy, let them shout from the top of the mountains.

Berean Standard Bible
Let the desert and its cities raise their voices; let the villages of Kedar cry aloud. Let the people of Sela sing for joy; let them cry out from the mountaintops.

King James Bible
Let the wilderness and the cities thereof lift up their voice, the villages that Kedar doth inhabit: let the inhabitants of the rock sing, let them shout from the top of the mountains.

New King James Version
Let the wilderness and its cities lift up their voice, The villages that Kedar inhabits. Let the inhabitants of Sela sing, Let them shout from the top of the mountains.

New American Standard Bible
Let the wilderness and its cities raise their voices, The settlements which Kedar inhabits. Let the inhabitants of Sela sing aloud, Let them shout for joy from the tops of the mountains.

NASB 1995
Let the wilderness and its cities lift up their voices, The settlements where Kedar inhabits. Let the inhabitants of Sela sing aloud, Let them shout for joy from the tops of the mountains.

NASB 1977
Let the wilderness and its cities lift up their voices, The settlements where Kedar inhabits. Let the inhabitants of Sela sing aloud, Let them shout for joy from the tops of the mountains.

Legacy Standard Bible
Let the wilderness and its cities lift up their voices, The villages where Kedar inhabits. Let the inhabitants of Sela sing aloud, Let them shout for joy from the tops of the mountains.

Amplified Bible
Let the wilderness and its cities lift up their voices, The villages where Kedar lives. Let the inhabitants of Sela shout for joy, Let them shout joyfully from the tops of the mountains.

Christian Standard Bible
Let the desert and its cities shout, the settlements where Kedar dwells cry aloud. Let the inhabitants of Sela sing for joy; let them cry out from the mountaintops.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Let the desert and its cities shout, the settlements where Kedar dwells cry aloud. Let the inhabitants of Sela sing for joy; let them cry out from the mountaintops.

American Standard Version
Let the wilderness and the cities thereof lift up their voice, the villages that Kedar doth inhabit; let the inhabitants of Sela sing, let them shout from the top of the mountains.

Contemporary English Version
Tell the tribes of the desert and everyone in the mountains to celebrate and sing.

English Revised Version
Let the wilderness and the cities thereof lift up their voice, the villages that Kedar doth inhabit; let the inhabitants of Sela sing, let them shout from the top of the mountains.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Let those who live in the desert and its cities raise their voices. Let those who live in the settlements of Kedar praise him. Let those who live in Sela sing for joy. Let them shout from the tops of the mountains.

Good News Translation
Let the desert and its towns praise God; let the people of Kedar praise him! Let those who live in the city of Sela shout for joy from the tops of the mountains!

International Standard Version
Let the desert cry out, its towns and the villages where Kedar lives; and let those who live in Sela sing for joy. Let them shout aloud from the mountaintops.

Majority Standard Bible
Let the desert and its cities raise their voices; let the villages of Kedar cry aloud. Let the people of Sela sing for joy; let them cry out from the mountaintops.

NET Bible
Let the desert and its cities shout out, the towns where the nomads of Kedar live! Let the residents of Sela shout joyfully; let them shout loudly from the mountaintops.

New Heart English Bible
Let the desert and its cities cry out, with the villages that Kedar inhabits. Let the inhabitants of Sela sing. Let them shout from the top of the mountains.

Webster's Bible Translation
Let the wilderness and its cities lift up their voice, the villages that Kedar doth inhabit: let the inhabitants of the rock sing, let them shout from the top of the mountains.

World English Bible
Let the wilderness and its cities raise their voices, with the villages that Kedar inhabits. Let the inhabitants of Sela sing. Let them shout from the top of the mountains!
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
The wilderness and its cities lift up [their voice], "" Kedar inhabits the villages, "" The inhabitants of Sela sing, "" They cry from the top of mountains.

Young's Literal Translation
The wilderness and its cities do lift up the voice, The villages Kedar doth inhabit, Sing do the inhabitants of Sela, From the top of mountains they cry.

Smith's Literal Translation
The desert and its cities shall lift up, the enclosures shall Kedar inhabit: they inhabiting the rock shall shout for joy, from the head of the mountains they shall shout for joy.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Let the desert and the cities thereof be exalted: Cedar shall dwell in houses: ye inhabitants of Petra, give praise, they shall cry from the top of the mountains.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Let the desert and its cities be lifted up. Kedar will dwell in houses. O inhabitants of the rock, give praise! They will cry out from the top of the mountains.

New American Bible
Let the wilderness and its cities cry out, the villages where Kedar dwells; Let the inhabitants of Sela exult, and shout from the top of the mountains.

New Revised Standard Version
Let the desert and its towns lift up their voice, the villages that Kedar inhabits; let the inhabitants of Sela sing for joy, let them shout from the tops of the mountains.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Let the wilderness and its towns rejoice; let Kedar be meadows; let the inhabitants of the steep rocks sing, let them shout from the top of the mountains.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
The wilderness shall rejoice and its towns and meadows will be Qedar, and the dwellers of the cliffs shall sing, and from the tops of the mountains they shall cry out
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Let the wilderness and the cities thereof lift up their voice, The villages that Kedar doth inhabit; Let the inhabitants of Sela exult, Let them shout from the top of the mountains.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Rejoice, thou wilderness, and the villages thereof, the hamlets, and the dwellers in Kedar: the inhabitants of the rock shall rejoice, they shall shout from the top of the mountains.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
A New Song of Praise
10Sing to the LORD a new song—His praise from the ends of the earth—you who go down to the sea, and all that is in it, you islands, and all who dwell in them. 11Let the desert and its cities raise their voices; let the villages of Kedar cry aloud. Let the people of Sela sing for joy; let them cry out from the mountaintops. 12Let them give glory to the LORD and declare His praise in the islands.…

Cross References
Psalm 72:9
May the nomads bow before him, and his enemies lick the dust.

Isaiah 60:6
Caravans of camels will cover your land, young camels of Midian and Ephah, and all from Sheba will come, bearing gold and frankincense and proclaiming the praises of the LORD.

Isaiah 35:1-2
The wilderness and the dry land will be glad; the desert will rejoice and blossom like a rose. / It will bloom profusely and rejoice with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon will be given to it, the splendor of Carmel and Sharon. They will see the glory of the LORD, the splendor of our God.

Isaiah 41:18-19
I will open rivers on the barren heights, and fountains in the middle of the valleys. I will turn the desert into a pool of water, and the dry land into flowing springs. / I will plant cedars in the wilderness, acacias, myrtles, and olive trees. I will set cypresses in the desert, elms and boxwood together,

Isaiah 43:19-20
Behold, I am about to do something new; even now it is coming. Do you not see it? Indeed, I will make a way in the wilderness and streams in the desert. / The beasts of the field will honor Me, the jackals and the ostriches, because I provide water in the wilderness and rivers in the desert, to give drink to My chosen people.

Isaiah 49:13
Shout for joy, O heavens; rejoice, O earth; break forth in song, O mountains! For the LORD has comforted His people, and He will have compassion on His afflicted ones.

Isaiah 51:3
For the LORD will comfort Zion and will look with compassion on all her ruins; He will make her wilderness like Eden and her desert like the garden of the LORD. Joy and gladness will be found in her, thanksgiving and melodious song.

Isaiah 55:12-13
You will indeed go out with joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. / Instead of the thornbush, the cypress will grow, and instead of the brier, the myrtle will spring up; this will make a name for the LORD, an everlasting sign, never to be destroyed.”

Isaiah 61:1-3
The Spirit of the Lord GOD is on Me, because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and freedom to the prisoners, / to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor and the day of our God’s vengeance, to comfort all who mourn, / to console the mourners in Zion—to give them a crown of beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, and a garment of praise for a spirit of despair. So they will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.

Isaiah 65:10
Sharon will become a pasture for flocks, and the Valley of Achor a resting place for herds, for My people who seek Me.

Isaiah 66:10-14
Be glad for Jerusalem and rejoice over her, all who love her. Rejoice greatly with her, all who mourn over her, / so that you may nurse and be satisfied at her comforting breasts; you may drink deeply and delight yourselves in her glorious abundance. / For this is what the LORD says: “I will extend peace to her like a river, and the wealth of nations like a flowing stream; you will nurse and be carried on her arm, and bounced upon her knees. ...

Matthew 3:1-3
In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea / and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.” / This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for Him.’”

Matthew 4:15-16
“Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles— / the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death, a light has dawned.”

Matthew 12:18-21
“Here is My Servant, whom I have chosen, My beloved, in whom My soul delights. I will put My Spirit on Him, and He will proclaim justice to the nations. / He will not quarrel or cry out; no one will hear His voice in the streets. / A bruised reed He will not break, and a smoldering wick He will not extinguish, till He leads justice to victory. ...

Luke 3:4-6
as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet: “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for Him. / Every valley shall be filled in, and every mountain and hill made low. The crooked ways shall be made straight, and the rough ways smooth. / And all humanity will see God’s salvation.’”


Treasury of Scripture

Let the wilderness and the cities thereof lift up their voice, the villages that Kedar does inhabit: let the inhabitants of the rock sing, let them shout from the top of the mountains.

let the wilderness

Isaiah 32:16
Then judgment shall dwell in the wilderness, and righteousness remain in the fruitful field.

Isaiah 35:1,6
The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose…

Isaiah 40:3
The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

Kedar

Isaiah 60:7
All the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered together unto thee, the rams of Nebaioth shall minister unto thee: they shall come up with acceptance on mine altar, and I will glorify the house of my glory.

Genesis 25:23
And the LORD said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger.

Psalm 120:5
Woe is me, that I sojourn in Mesech, that I dwell in the tents of Kedar!

let the inhabitants

Jeremiah 21:13
Behold, I am against thee, O inhabitant of the valley, and rock of the plain, saith the LORD; which say, Who shall come down against us? or who shall enter into our habitations?

Jeremiah 48:28
O ye that dwell in Moab, leave the cities, and dwell in the rock, and be like the dove that maketh her nest in the sides of the hole's mouth.

Jeremiah 49:16
Thy terribleness hath deceived thee, and the pride of thine heart, O thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock, that holdest the height of the hill: though thou shouldest make thy nest as high as the eagle, I will bring thee down from thence, saith the LORD.

Jump to Previous
Aloud Cities Cry Desert Exult Flocks Glad Inhabit Inhabitants Inhabits Joy Kedar Lift Mountains Raise Rejoice Rock Sela Settlements Shout Sing Sound Tent-Circles Thereof Top Tops Towns Villages Voice Voices Waste Wilderness
Jump to Next
Aloud Cities Cry Desert Exult Flocks Glad Inhabit Inhabitants Inhabits Joy Kedar Lift Mountains Raise Rejoice Rock Sela Settlements Shout Sing Sound Tent-Circles Thereof Top Tops Towns Villages Voice Voices Waste Wilderness
Isaiah 42
1. The office of Christ, graced with meekness and constancy.
5. God's promise unto him.
10. An exhortation to praise God for his Gospel
13. God will manifest himself, and check idolatry
18. He reproves the people of incredulity.














Let the desert and its cities raise their voices
The word "desert" in Hebrew is "midbar," which often refers to a wilderness or uninhabited land. In the biblical context, the desert is a place of testing and revelation, as seen in the Israelites' journey through the wilderness. Here, the desert and its cities are called to "raise their voices," symbolizing a transformation from desolation to a place of praise. This imagery suggests that even the most barren places can become vibrant with the proclamation of God's glory. Historically, deserts were seen as places of isolation, but this verse envisions them as active participants in worship, highlighting God's power to bring life and purpose to the desolate.

the villages of Kedar inhabit
"Kedar" refers to a nomadic tribe descended from Ishmael, known for their tent-dwelling lifestyle in the Arabian Peninsula. The mention of Kedar signifies the inclusion of Gentile nations in the worship of Yahweh, a theme that runs throughout Isaiah. The villages of Kedar, traditionally seen as distant from the God of Israel, are now called to inhabit a place of praise. This reflects the prophetic vision of God's salvation extending beyond Israel to all nations, emphasizing the universal scope of God's redemptive plan.

Let the dwellers of Sela sing for joy
"Sela" is often identified with Petra, a city known for its rock-cut architecture and strategic location in Edom. The term "dwellers" suggests a settled community, and their call to "sing for joy" indicates a response to God's mighty acts. In the historical context, Sela was a place of refuge and strength, and its inhabitants are now invited to express joy, symbolizing the security and salvation found in God. This phrase underscores the theme of joy as a natural response to divine intervention and deliverance.

let them shout from the mountaintops
Mountaintops in Scripture are frequently associated with divine encounters and revelations, such as Moses receiving the Law on Mount Sinai. The call to "shout" from these heights signifies a public and unrestrained declaration of God's greatness. In ancient times, mountaintops were seen as places closer to the divine, and shouting from them implies a proclamation that reaches far and wide. This imagery conveys the idea that the message of God's salvation is not to be hidden but boldly announced to all, reinforcing the call for all creation to participate in the worship of the one true God.

Verse 11. - The wilderness and the cities thereof. The desert had its cities, built on some more or less fertile oases, where at any rate water was procurable. Instances of such cities are Tudmor, Petra, Kadesh (Numbers 20:1). Its villages were probably collections of tents, which were moved from time to time, since the Beni-Kedar were nomads (ch. 21:16; Psalm 120:5). The call is upon both the stationary and the wandering inhabitants of the Syro-Arabian desert to join in the song of praise. The inhabitants of the rock; rather, the iahabitants of Sela, or Petra, the rock-city, which was the capital of Idumaea, or Edom (see the comment on ch. 16. l). It is assumed that the return of the Israelites to their land ought to be a subject of rejoicing to all their neighbours.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Let the desert
מִדְבָּר֙ (miḏ·bār)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4057: A pasture, a desert, speech

and its cities
וְעָרָ֔יו (wə·‘ā·rāw)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5892: Excitement

raise their voices;
יִשְׂא֤וּ (yiś·’ū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 5375: To lift, carry, take

[let] the villages
חֲצֵרִ֖ים (ḥă·ṣê·rîm)
Noun - common plural
Strong's 2691: A yard, a hamlet

of Kedar [cry aloud].
קֵדָ֑ר (qê·ḏār)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 6938: Kedar -- perhaps 'swarthy', a son of Ishmael, also his desc

Let the people
יֹ֣שְׁבֵי (yō·šə·ḇê)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct
Strong's 3427: To sit down, to dwell, to remain, to settle, to marry

of Sela
סֶ֔לַע (se·la‘)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 5554: Sela -- a city in Edom

sing for joy;
יָרֹ֙נּוּ֙ (yā·rōn·nū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 7442: To give a ringing cry

let them cry out
יִצְוָֽחוּ׃ (yiṣ·wā·ḥū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 6681: To cry aloud

from the mountaintops.
מֵרֹ֥אשׁ (mê·rōš)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 7218: The head


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OT Prophets: Isaiah 42:11 Let the wilderness and its cities raise (Isa Isi Is)
Isaiah 42:10
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