Isaiah 43:20
New International Version
The wild animals honor me, the jackals and the owls, because I provide water in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland, to give drink to my people, my chosen,

New Living Translation
The wild animals in the fields will thank me, the jackals and owls, too, for giving them water in the desert. Yes, I will make rivers in the dry wasteland so my chosen people can be refreshed.

English Standard Version
The wild beasts will honor me, the jackals and the ostriches, for I give water in the wilderness, rivers in the desert, to give drink to my chosen people,

Berean Standard Bible
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.

King James Bible
The beast of the field shall honour me, the dragons and the owls: because I give waters in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people, my chosen.

New King James Version
The beast of the field will honor Me, The jackals and the ostriches, Because I give waters in the wilderness And rivers in the desert, To give drink to My people, My chosen.

New American Standard Bible
“The animals of the field will glorify Me, The jackals and the ostriches, Because I have given waters in the wilderness And rivers in the desert, To give drink to My chosen people.

NASB 1995
“The beasts of the field will glorify Me, The jackals and the ostriches, Because I have given waters in the wilderness And rivers in the desert, To give drink to My chosen people.

NASB 1977
“The beasts of the field will glorify Me; The jackals and the ostriches; Because I have given waters in the wilderness And rivers in the desert, To give drink to My chosen people.

Legacy Standard Bible
The beasts of the field will glorify Me, The jackals and the ostriches, Because I have given waters in the wilderness And rivers in the wasteland, To give drink to My chosen people.

Amplified Bible
“The beasts of the field will honor Me, Jackals and ostriches, Because I have given waters in the wilderness And rivers in the desert, To give drink to My people, My chosen.

Christian Standard Bible
Wild animals — jackals and ostriches—will honor me, because I provide water in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert, to give drink to my chosen people.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The animals of the field will honor Me, jackals and ostriches, because I provide water in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert, to give drink to My chosen people.

American Standard Version
The beasts of the field shall honor me, the jackals and the ostriches; because I give waters in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people, my chosen,

Contemporary English Version
Every wild animal honors me, even jackals and owls. I provide water in deserts--streams in thirsty lands for my chosen people.

English Revised Version
The beasts of the field shall honour me, the jackals and the ostriches: because I give waters in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people, my chosen:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Wild animals, jackals, and ostriches will honor me. I will provide water in the desert. I will make rivers on the dry land for my chosen people to drink.

Good News Translation
Even the wild animals will honor me; jackals and ostriches will praise me when I make rivers flow in the desert to give water to my chosen people.

International Standard Version
Wild animals, jackals, and owls will honor me because I provide water in the desert and streams in the wilderness to give drink to my people, my chosen ones,

Majority Standard Bible
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.

NET Bible
The wild animals of the desert honor me, the jackals and ostriches, because I put water in the desert and streams in the wilderness, to quench the thirst of my chosen people,

New Heart English Bible
The animals of the field shall honor me, the jackals and the ostriches; because I give water in the wilderness and rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people, my chosen,

Webster's Bible Translation
The beast of the field shall honor me, the dragons and the owls: because I give waters in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people, my chosen.

World English Bible
The animals of the field, the jackals and the ostriches, shall honor me, because I give water in the wilderness and rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people, my chosen,
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
The beast of the field honors Me, "" Dragons and daughters of an ostrich, "" For I have given waters in a wilderness, "" Floods in a desolate place, "" To give drink to My people—My chosen.

Young's Literal Translation
Honour me doth the beast of the field, Dragons and daughters of an ostrich, For I have given in a wilderness waters, Floods in a desolate place, To give drink to My people -- My chosen.

Smith's Literal Translation
The beast of the field shall know me, the sea monster and the daughters of the ostrich: for I gave waters in the desert, rivers in the waste to give drink to my people, my chosen.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
The beast of the field shall glorify me, the dragons and the ostriches: because I have given waters in the wilderness, rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people, to my chosen.

Catholic Public Domain Version
The wild beasts of the field will glorify me, with the serpents and the ostriches. For I have brought waters to the desert, rivers to inaccessible places, in order to give drink to my people, to my elect.

New American Bible
Wild beasts honor me, jackals and ostriches, For I put water in the wilderness and rivers in the wasteland for my chosen people to drink,

New Revised Standard Version
The wild animals will honor me, the jackals and the ostriches; for I give water in the wilderness, rivers in the desert, to give drink to my chosen people,
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
The beasts of the field shall glorify me, the jackals and the ostriches, because I give waters in the wilderness and rivers in the desert to provide drink to my people, my chosen.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
The animals of the wilderness shall glorify me, the jackals and the daughters of ostriches, because I have given waters in the wilderness and rivers in the deserts, that my choice people would drink
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
The beasts of the field shall honour Me, The jackals and the ostriches; Because I give waters in the wilderness, And rivers in the desert, To give drink to My people, Mine elect;

Brenton Septuagint Translation
the beasts of the field shall bless me, the owls and young ostriches; for I have given water in the wilderness, and rivers in the dry land, to give drink to my chosen race,

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
God's Mercy
19Behold, 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. 20The 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. 21The people I formed for Myself will declare My praise.…

Cross References
Isaiah 35:6-7
Then the lame will leap like a deer and the mute tongue will shout for joy. For waters will gush forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert. / The parched ground will become a pool, the thirsty land springs of water. In the haunt where jackals once lay, there will be grass and reeds and papyrus.

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 48:21
They did not thirst when He led them through the deserts; He made water flow for them from the rock; He split the rock, and water gushed out.

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 30:25
And from every high mountain and every raised hill, streams of water will flow in the day of great slaughter, when the towers fall.

Isaiah 44:3-4
For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and currents on the dry ground. I will pour out My Spirit on your descendants, and My blessing on your offspring. / They will sprout among the grass like willows by flowing streams.

Isaiah 49:10
They will not hunger or thirst, nor will scorching heat or sun beat down on them. For He who has compassion on them will guide them and lead them beside springs of water.

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 65:13-14
Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: “My servants will eat, but you will go hungry; My servants will drink, but you will go thirsty; My servants will rejoice, but you will be put to shame. / My servants will shout for joy with a glad heart, but you will cry out with a heavy heart and wail with a broken spirit.

Isaiah 66:12
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.

Exodus 17:6
Behold, I will stand there before you by the rock at Horeb. And when you strike the rock, water will come out of it for the people to drink.” So Moses did this in the sight of the elders of Israel.

Numbers 20:8-11
“Take the staff and assemble the congregation. You and your brother Aaron are to speak to the rock while they watch, and it will pour out its water. You will bring out water from the rock and provide drink for the congregation and their livestock.” / So Moses took the staff from the LORD’s presence, just as he had been commanded. / Then Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly in front of the rock, and Moses said to them, “Listen now, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?” ...

Psalm 78:15-16
He split the rocks in the wilderness and gave them drink as abundant as the seas. / He brought streams from the stone and made water flow down like rivers.

Psalm 105:41
He opened a rock, and water gushed out; it flowed like a river in the desert.

Psalm 107:35
He turns a desert into pools of water and a dry land into flowing springs.


Treasury of Scripture

The beast of the field shall honor me, the dragons and the owls: because I give waters in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people, my chosen.

beast

Isaiah 11:6-10
The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them…

Psalm 104:21
The young lions roar after their prey, and seek their meat from God.

Psalm 148:10
Beasts, and all cattle; creeping things, and flying fowl:

owls.

Isaiah 43:19
Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.

Isaiah 41:17
When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I the LORD will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them.

Isaiah 48:21
And they thirsted not when he led them through the deserts: he caused the waters to flow out of the rock for them: he clave the rock also, and the waters gushed out.

my chosen

Isaiah 65:15
And ye shall leave your name for a curse unto my chosen: for the Lord GOD shall slay thee, and call his servants by another name:

1 Chronicles 16:13
O ye seed of Israel his servant, ye children of Jacob, his chosen ones.

Psalm 33:12
Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.

Jump to Previous
Animals Beast Beasts Chosen Country Daughters Desert Dragons Drink Dry Elect Field Floods Glorify Honor Honour Jackals Ostrich Ostriches Owls Provide Rivers Streams Waste Water Waters Wilderness
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Animals Beast Beasts Chosen Country Daughters Desert Dragons Drink Dry Elect Field Floods Glorify Honor Honour Jackals Ostrich Ostriches Owls Provide Rivers Streams Waste Water Waters Wilderness
Isaiah 43
1. The Lord comforts the church with his promises.
8. He appeals to the people for witness of his omnipotence
14. He foretells them the destruction of Babylon
18. And his wonderful deliverance of his people
22. He reproves the people as inexcusable














The beasts of the field
This phrase refers to the wild animals that inhabit the natural world. In the Hebrew context, "beasts" (חַיַּת, chayyat) often symbolize the untamed and chaotic aspects of creation. The inclusion of these creatures in the prophecy underscores God's sovereignty over all creation. Even the wild animals, which are typically indifferent to human affairs, will recognize and honor God's providence. This highlights the universal acknowledgment of God's power and care, extending beyond humanity to all living things.

will honor Me
The Hebrew word for "honor" (כָּבֵד, kaved) implies giving weight or significance. In a biblical sense, to honor God is to recognize His supreme authority and majesty. The prophecy suggests that even the natural world will respond to God's acts of provision with reverence. This serves as a reminder to believers of the importance of acknowledging God's hand in all aspects of life, encouraging a posture of worship and gratitude.

the jackals and the owls
These specific animals are often associated with desolation and wilderness in biblical literature. Jackals (תַּנִּים, tannim) and owls (בְּנוֹת יַעֲנָה, benot ya'anah) are creatures that thrive in deserted places. Their mention here emphasizes the transformation that God's provision brings to barren and lifeless areas. It symbolizes hope and renewal, illustrating that God's blessings can turn desolation into abundance, a powerful message of restoration for His people.

because I provide water in the wilderness
Water is a symbol of life and sustenance in the Bible. The Hebrew word for "provide" (נָתַן, natan) means to give or bestow. In the arid and harsh environment of the wilderness, water is a precious and life-giving resource. God's provision of water signifies His ability to meet the needs of His people in the most challenging circumstances. This act of provision is a metaphor for spiritual nourishment and the sustaining power of God's presence in the lives of believers.

and rivers in the desert
The imagery of rivers in the desert is a powerful symbol of transformation and divine intervention. Deserts are typically dry and inhospitable, yet God promises to create rivers, which are sources of life and fertility. This miraculous provision points to God's ability to bring about change and renewal in seemingly hopeless situations. It serves as an assurance to believers that God can and will provide abundantly, even in the most unlikely of circumstances.

to give drink to My chosen people
The phrase "My chosen people" (עַמִּי בְּחִירִי, ammi bechiri) refers to the Israelites, whom God selected as His special possession. This designation underscores the covenant relationship between God and His people. The provision of drink is not just a physical necessity but also a spiritual metaphor for the sustenance and care God provides to those He has called. It reassures believers of their identity as God's chosen and the faithfulness of His promises to sustain and nurture them throughout their journey.

Verse 20. - The beast of the field shall honour me. The animal creation shall, participate in the benefits of the "new thing" introduced by the restoration of Israel, and in their dumb way shall show their gratitude. The dragons and the owls. The recent mention of the desert causes animals of the desert (Isaiah 13:21, 22) to be taken as examples. (On the animals intended, see the comment on Isaiah 34:13.) If even the beasts of the desert honoured God, much more would the rest of the animal creation (comp. Isaiah 11:6-8).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
The animals
חַיַּ֣ת (ḥay·yaṯ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 2416: Alive, raw, fresh, strong, life

of the field
הַשָּׂדֶ֔ה (haś·śā·ḏeh)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7704: Field, land

will honor Me,
תְּכַבְּדֵ֙נִי֙ (tə·ḵab·bə·ḏê·nî)
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person feminine singular | first person common singular
Strong's 3513: To be heavy, weighty, or burdensome

the jackals
תַּנִּ֖ים (tan·nîm)
Noun - common plural
Strong's 8577: A marine, land monster, sea-serpent, jackal

and the owls,
וּבְנ֣וֹת (ū·ḇə·nō·wṯ)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine plural construct
Strong's 1323: A daughter

because
כִּֽי־ (kî-)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

I provide
נָתַ֨תִּי (nā·ṯat·tî)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 5414: To give, put, set

water
מַ֗יִם (ma·yim)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 4325: Water, juice, urine, semen

in the wilderness,
בַמִּדְבָּ֜ר (ḇam·miḏ·bār)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4057: A pasture, a desert, speech

[and] rivers
נְהָרוֹת֙ (nə·hā·rō·wṯ)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 5104: A stream, prosperity

in the desert,
בִּֽישִׁימֹ֔ן (bî·šî·mōn)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3452: Waste, wilderness

to give drink
לְהַשְׁק֖וֹת (lə·haš·qō·wṯ)
Preposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct
Strong's 8248: To quaff, to irrigate, furnish a, potion to

to My chosen
בְחִירִֽי׃ (ḇə·ḥî·rî)
Adjective - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 972: Select

people.
עַמִּ֥י (‘am·mî)
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock


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OT Prophets: Isaiah 43:20 The animals of the field shall honor (Isa Isi Is)
Isaiah 43:19
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