the burning sand shall become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water; in the haunt of jackals, where they lie down, the grass shall become reeds and rushes.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The original Hebrew word for "parched ground" doesn't just mean dry land; it refers to the "mirage," that deceptive shimmer in the desert that looks like water but isn't. So, this verse isn't just about the land becoming wet, but about illusion being replaced by reality, pointing to a future where God's promises are solid and true, unlike the fleeting deceptions of the world.
the burning sand shall become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water; in the haunt of jackals, where they lie down, the grass shall become reeds and rushes.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This passage is part of a larger prophecy in Isaiah describing a radical restoration and transformation, painting a picture of a renewed earth after judgment. It follows vivid descriptions of desolation and divine judgment in the preceding chapters, and sets the stage for the establishment of a holy highway leading to Zion. The verse itself offers a stark contrast between the barrenness of the current reality and the abundant life that will characterize God's future kingdom.
Imagine trekking through a scorching desert, your throat parched, when you see it – a shimmering lake in the distance! But as you get closer, it vanishes. Isaiah uses this heartbreaking illusion to describe a divine promise.
The Hebrew word Isaiah uses, often translated as 'parched ground,' likely refers to the 'mirage' (sharab). This optical illusion in the desert creates a false appearance of water, cruelly mocking thirsty travelers.
A Deceptive Illusion
God's True Promise
Wild jackals haunt the driest, most desolate places. What could possibly grow there? Isaiah paints a picture of transformation that defies all natural expectations.
Isaiah moves from the general landscape to a specific, desolate habitat: 'the haunt of jackals.' These creatures represent wildness, danger, and barrenness.
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From Barrenness to Abundance
A Symbolic Renewal
The imagery of the parched ground becoming a pool speaks powerfully to a people who had experienced prolonged drought, exile, and desolation, offering a vision of hope and renewal when their land and lives felt utterly barren.
Late 8th Century BC
Assyrian Dominance and Threat
The Assyrian Empire exerts significant influence and power over the region, creating an atmosphere of fear and instability for Judah and other surrounding nations.
c. 701 BC
Sennacherib's Invasion of Judah
The Assyrian king Sennacherib invades Judah, capturing many fortified cities and besieging Jerusalem. This event would have brought immense devastation and despair.
c. 605 BC
Babylonian Dominance Begins
The Neo-Babylonian Empire rises to power after defeating the Assyrians and Egyptians, marking a new era of foreign domination for Judah.
586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem and Temple
The Babylonians under Nebuchadnezzar II conquer Jerusalem, destroy the First Temple, and exile a significant portion of the population to Babylon.
c. 540 BC
Persian Empire Rises
Cyrus the Great of Persia conquers the Babylonian Empire, ushering in a new political reality for the exiled Judeans.
c. 538 BC
Return from Exile
Cyrus issues a decree allowing the Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem and rebuild their Temple, marking the beginning of their restoration.
Isaiah 35:7— this verse
Promise of Wilderness Transformation
This verse vividly depicts a future transformation of desolate lands into lush, water-rich environments, symbolizing God's redemptive power and restoration.
This passage also speaks of God turning barren land into a fruitful pool and springs of water, mirroring the transformation described in Isaiah.
Isaiah 41:18This verse offers a direct parallel, stating God will open rivers in desolate heights and fountains in the midst of the valleys, directly linking divine action to transforming arid landscapes.
John 4:14Jesus speaks of offering 'living water' that becomes a spring within the believer, connecting the physical refreshment of water to the spiritual renewal promised in Isaiah's prophecy.
Revelation 21:1This passage describes a new heaven and a new earth, where there is no more sea, suggesting a complete and perfect renewal of creation, which echoes the radical transformation of the landscape in Isaiah 35.
Jeremiah 2:13This verse speaks of Israel forsaking 'the spring of living water' for 'broken cisterns that can hold no water,' highlighting the theme of thirst and the dangerous deception of false sustenance, contrasting with the true sustenance Isaiah promises.
cambridgeIsaiah 35:7: "And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water: in the habitation of dragons, where each lay, shall be grass with reeds and rushes."
7 . the parched ground ] The Hebr. word ( shârâb , only again in Isaiah 49:10 ) is generally thought to be identical with Serâb , the Arabic name for the mirage (so R.V. marg.). Allusions to this remarkable optical phenomenon, by which even experienced travellers are often deceived, are, as might be expected, common…
clarkeIsaiah 35:7: "And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water: in the habitation of dragons, where each lay, shall be grass with reeds and rushes."
The parched ground "The glowing sand" - שרב sharab; this word is Arabic, as well as Hebrew, expressing in both languages the same thing, the glowing sandy plain, which in the hot countries at a distance has the appearance of water. It occurs in the Koran, chap. 24: "But as to the unbelievers, their works are like a…
The original Hebrew word for "parched ground" doesn't just mean dry land; it refers to the "mirage," that deceptive shimmer in the desert that looks like water but isn't. So, this verse isn't just about the land becoming wet, but about illusion being replaced by reality, pointing to a future where God's promises are solid and true, unlike the fleeting deceptions of the world.
This passage is part of a larger prophecy in Isaiah describing a radical restoration and transformation, painting a picture of a renewed earth after judgment. It follows vivid descriptions of desolation and divine judgment in the preceding chapters, and sets the stage for the establishment of a holy highway leading to Zion. The verse itself offers a stark contrast between the barrenness of the current reality and the abundant life that will characterize God's future kingdom.
This passage is part of a larger prophecy in Isaiah describing a radical restoration and transformation, painting a picture of a renewed earth after judgment. It follows vivid descriptions of desolation and divine judgment in the preceding chapters, and sets the stage for the establishment of a holy highway leading to Zion. The verse itself offers a stark contrast between the barrenness of the current reality and the abundant life that will characterize God's future kingdom.
"the burning sand shall become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water; in the haunt of jackals, where they lie down, the grass shall become reeds and rushes." — The original Hebrew word for "parched ground" doesn't just mean dry land; it refers to the "mirage," that deceptive shimmer in the desert that looks like water but isn't. So, this verse isn't just…
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Last reviewed October 2026