No lion shall be there, nor shall any ravenous beast come up on it; they shall not be found there, but the redeemed shall walk there.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The true power of this verse lies not just in the promise of safety, but in who will walk this path. It's specifically for "the redeemed"—those bought back by God. This isn't a universal highway for everyone, but a secure way created for those who belong to Him, implying a profound intimacy and protection reserved for His people.
No lion shall be there, nor shall any ravenous beast come up on it; they shall not be found there, but the redeemed shall walk there.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This passage comes at the end of a prophecy describing a transformed wilderness, now a highway of holiness. Isaiah has just detailed how this path will be made safe and accessible. The verse emphasizes that this secure way, leading to restoration and joy, will be exclusively for those who have been delivered and freed.
Imagine a journey through a land where lions roam and danger lurks. What would it take to make that path safe and inviting?
The Safety of God's Path
Isaiah 35 paints a picture of transformation, turning a desolate wilderness into a safe and accessible highway. In ancient times, lions and other wild beasts were a real threat, especially in untamed regions. When the prophet speaks of 'No lion shall be there, nor shall any ravenous beast come up on it,' he's not just describing a peaceful landscape. He's assuring his people that the path God prepares is fundamentally secure.
This isn't just about physical safety from predators. It's a powerful metaphor for spiritual security. The 'way' that is made is called 'The way of holiness' (Isaiah 35:8), and it is specifically for the redeemed. This implies that the dangers and 'beasts' that threaten our spiritual walk – like doubt, fear, sin, and spiritual enemies – will not ultimately overcome those who are on God's designated path. God's presence ensures the way is not only passable but protected.
The verse speaks of 'the redeemed.' But who are these people, and what makes them distinct?
The Redeemed: Purchased and Possessed
The term 'redeemed' (Hebrew: geulim) in this context carries a rich meaning. It speaks of those who have been bought back, often referring to a kinsman-redeemer who would restore a family's property or free a relative from debt or slavery. In Isaiah's prophecy, it points to a deeper, spiritual redemption.
These are not just any travelers on this holy way. They are God's chosen, those who have been liberated from a state of bondage—whether it was physical exile or, more profoundly, spiritual captivity to sin. The imagery suggests they belong to God, having been purchased by His costly act. This redemption isn't conditional on their perfection, but on God's sovereign choice and provision. They walk on this safe path because they are and have been reclaimed by His power.
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Understand the original words
ga'ul · Hebrew Adjective/Noun participle
Those who have been purchased back from slavery, debt, or captivity, typically through the payment of a price (a ransom). It describes the spiritual status of God's people whom He has rescued from sin.
This prophecy speaks of a future restoration, promising a safe and secure return for those exiled in Babylon. The presence of wild beasts on the journey was a real fear, and the promise that 'no lion shall be there' offered immense comfort.
c. 701 BC
Assyrian Invasion of Judah
King Sennacherib of Assyria invades Judah, conquering many cities and besieging Jerusalem. This event created widespread fear and displacement.
c. 597 BC
First Babylonian Deportation
King Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon deports King Jehoiachin and a large segment of Jerusalem's elite to Babylon. This marks the beginning of the Babylonian exile.
c. 586 BC— this verse
Destruction of Jerusalem and Temple
Nebuchadnezzar destroys Jerusalem and its Temple, exiling most of the remaining population to Babylon. This was a catastrophic event for the Jewish people.
c. 539 BC
Cyrus the Great conquers Babylon
Cyrus the Great, king of Persia, conquers Babylon. This victory set the stage for the eventual return of the Jewish exiles.
c. 538 BC
Edict of Cyrus
Cyrus issues a decree allowing the Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem and rebuild their Temple. This marked the end of the Babylonian exile.
This passage describes a future time of peace where predators and prey coexist, directly paralleling the idea of wild beasts being absent from the path of the redeemed.
Ezekiel 34:25Ezekiel also prophesies a covenant of peace, stating that dangerous beasts will be removed, reinforcing the theme of security and safety for God's people in a restored land.
Revelation 21:4This New Testament passage echoes Isaiah's promise of a renewed creation, stating that death, mourning, crying, and pain will be no more, aligning with the idea of a place free from danger and sorrow.
1 Peter 3:13-14Peter encourages believers to do good, reminding them that they should not fear those who seek to harm them, which resonates with the prophet's assurance that the redeemed will walk in safety.
barnesIsaiah 35:9: "No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there:"
No lion shall be there - Lions abounded in all the countries adjacent to Palestine. They are, therefore, often referred to by the sacred writers, as objects of dread and alarm. The leading idea in the language of Isaiah in this whole passage, is that of a way constructed from Babylon to Judea, so straight and plain that the most simple of the people…
clarkeIsaiah 35:9: "No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there:"
It shall not be found there "Neither shall he be found there" - Three MSS. read ולא velo, adding the conjunction; and so likewise the Septuagint and Vulgate. And four MSS., one ancient, read ימצא yimmatsa, the verb, as it certainly ought to be, in the masculine form. The redeemed shall walk there - גאולים geulim. Those whose forfeited inheritances…
The true power of this verse lies not just in the promise of safety, but in who will walk this path. It's specifically for "the redeemed"—those bought back by God. This isn't a universal highway for everyone, but a secure way created for those who belong to Him, implying a profound intimacy and protection reserved for His people.
This passage comes at the end of a prophecy describing a transformed wilderness, now a highway of holiness. Isaiah has just detailed how this path will be made safe and accessible. The verse emphasizes that this secure way, leading to restoration and joy, will be exclusively for those who have been delivered and freed.
This passage comes at the end of a prophecy describing a transformed wilderness, now a highway of holiness. Isaiah has just detailed how this path will be made safe and accessible. The verse emphasizes that this secure way, leading to restoration and joy, will be exclusively for those who have been delivered and freed.
"No lion shall be there, nor shall any ravenous beast come up on it; they shall not be found there, but the redeemed shall walk there." — The true power of this verse lies not just in the promise of safety, but in who will walk this path. It's specifically for "the redeemed"—those bought back by God. This isn't a universal highway fo…
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Last reviewed October 2026