Read & explore together
A New Heaven and a New Earth
Isaiah 65:17–25 is prophecy and teaching about what Yahweh says he will create. The passage moves from a new heaven and earth to joy in Jerusalem, secure life for God’s people, a warning about the sinner, and peace on God’s holy mountain.
Understanding the passage
The setting of this message
Within this passage, Yahweh repeatedly speaks in the first person about what he will create and do. The focus stays on Jerusalem, God’s people, their tears, lifespan, homes, crops, children, prayers, and the closing picture of animals living without hurt or destruction in God’s holy mountain.
Isaiah 65:17–25Main takeaway
This passage teaches that Yahweh promises a future he creates with joy, lasting security, and peace, while also including a sober warning that “the sinner being one hundred years old will be accursed.”
Explore the message
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01Yahweh creates a new beginningThe passage opens with Yahweh’s declaration, “I create new heavens and a new earth.” The “former things” will not be remembered or come to mind.
Explanation
The passage opens with Yahweh’s declaration, “I create new heavens and a new earth.” The “former things” will not be remembered or come to mind. Then he calls for gladness and rejoicing because what he creates includes Jerusalem as “a delight” and her people as “a joy.”
02Jerusalem without weepingYahweh not only changes the place, but also speaks of his own response: “I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and delight in my people.”
Explanation
Yahweh not only changes the place, but also speaks of his own response: “I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and delight in my people.” Because of that, weeping and crying are no longer heard there. In this passage, joy is not merely human feeling but part of what God says he brings.
03Long days, full lives, and a warningVerse 20 gives careful details. An infant will no longer live only a few days, and an old man will fill out his days.
Explanation
Verse 20 gives careful details. An infant will no longer live only a few days, and an old man will fill out his days. Yet the verse also says, “the child will die one hundred years old,” and “the sinner being one hundred years old will be accursed.” The passage joins blessing with this warning.
04Secure work, heard prayer, and peacePeople will build houses and live in them, plant vineyards and eat their fruit, and long enjoy their own work rather than lose it to others.
Explanation
People will build houses and live in them, plant vineyards and eat their fruit, and long enjoy their own work rather than lose it to others. Their labour and children are not for calamity. Yahweh says he will hear quickly. The closing image includes wolf and lamb together, a lion eating straw, the serpent eating dust, and no hurt or destruction.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01Which parts of the passage show that this future comes from Yahweh’s action?
Notice where Yahweh says “I create”, “I will rejoice”, and “I will answer”, showing that the future described depends on what he does.
02What exact details does verse 20 give about lifespan and the sinner?
Read the verse slowly and list each statement: the infant, the old man, the child at one hundred years old, and the sinner at one hundred years old.
03How does the final verse picture peace without leaving out any image?
Include all the details named in the verse, including the wolf and lamb, the lion eating straw, the serpent’s food, and the statement about no hurt or destruction.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Isaiah 65:17–25
17“For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former things will not be remembered, nor come into mind.
18But be glad and rejoice forever in that which I create; for, behold, I create Jerusalem to be a delight, and her people a joy.
19I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and delight in my people; and the voice of weeping and the voice of crying will be heard in her no more.
20“No more will there be an infant who only lives a few days, nor an old man who has not filled his days; for the child will die one hundred years old, and the sinner being one hundred years old will be accursed.
21They will build houses and inhabit them. They will plant vineyards and eat their fruit.
22They will not build and another inhabit. They will not plant and another eat; for the days of my people will be like the days of a tree, and my chosen will long enjoy the work of their hands.
23They will not labor in vain nor give birth for calamity; for they are the offspring of Yahweh’s blessed and their descendants with them.
24It will happen that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.
25The wolf and the lamb will feed together. The lion will eat straw like the ox. Dust will be the serpent’s food. They will not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain,” says Yahweh.