Isaiah 43:20-21
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
The verse highlights a beautiful, indirect form of worship: even the wild animals will "honor" God not through intentional devotion, but through their experience of His provision. Their presence and joy in the waters God provides in the barren desert demonstrate God's abundant care, extending even to the creatures of the wild for the sake of His chosen people.
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, the people whom I formed for myself that they might declare my praise.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This prophecy is part of a larger section of Isaiah that speaks of comfort and restoration to the exiled Israelites in Babylon. It follows God's declarations of his power and faithfulness in bringing his people out of Egypt and emphasizes his unique relationship with them. The verses immediately preceding this one speak of God's intention to do a "new thing," creating a path in the wilderness and rivers in the desert, signaling a powerful act of salvation and provision for his chosen people.
Even the wild animals in the desolate wilderness will acknowledge God's goodness. How can this be?
Isaiah 43:20 paints a vivid picture: 'The wild beasts will honor me, the jackals and the ostriches, for I give water in the wilderness, rivers in the desert.' This isn't just about the Israelites returning from exile; it's a broader statement about God's overarching care. Even the creatures of the harshest environments will indirectly 'honor' God because His provision for His chosen people will be so abundant it spills over into the natural world.
The abundance of water in the desert is directly linked to God's chosen people. What does this say about their special status?
The verse explicitly states the reason for this widespread provision: 'to give drink to my chosen people.' This highlights the central role of God's chosen people in His plan, and the extent of His commitment to them.
Ask a follow-up
Understand the original words
bachir · Hebrew Adjective/Noun
Individuals or a group set apart and sovereignly selected by God for Himself, for the purpose of relationship, service, and witnessing to His glory.
yatsar · Hebrew Verb
In a biblical context, 'formed' (yatsar) refers to the act of God creating or shaping, often using the imagery of a potter, emphasizing His intentional design and sovereignty over His people.
tehillah · Hebrew Noun
Praise refers to the act of expressing gratitude, honor, and adoration to God, acknowledging His greatness, attributes, and works. It is the fitting response of creatures to their Creator.
c. 701 BC
Assyrian siege of Jerusalem averted
The Assyrian army under Sennacherib besieges Jerusalem but withdraws due to divine intervention, leading to a period of national pride and confidence in God's protection of Zion.
621 BC
Discovery of the Book of the Law
The Book of the Law is found during renovations in the Temple, leading to King Josiah's religious reforms and a period of national covenant renewal.
605 BC
Nebuchadnezzar's victory at Carchemish
Nebuchadnezzar defeats the Egyptians at Carchemish, establishing Babylonian dominance over the region and marking the beginning of Judah's subjugation.
597 BC
First deportation to Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar deports King Jehoiachin and a significant portion of Judah's elite, including the prophet Ezekiel, to Babylon, initiating the Babylonian exile.
587 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and second deportation
Nebuchadnezzar destroys Jerusalem and its Temple, carrying off the remaining population to Babylon, marking the completion of the Babylonian exile.
c. 550 BC
Cyrus the Great rises to power
Cyrus begins his conquests, eventually establishing the Persian Empire and paving the way for the eventual return of the exiles from Babylon.
c. 545-539 BC— this verse
Prophecy delivered during Cyrus' campaigns
Isaiah 43:20 is spoken during the time of Cyrus' military campaigns, before the fall of Babylon, offering comfort and hope of God's provision for His people in their desperate situation, even in the wilderness.
This passage beautifully echoes Isaiah's theme of God providing water in barren lands, highlighting how the natural world praises God through His provision, just as the wild beasts will honor God in Isaiah 43:20.
Jeremiah 50:39This verse describes Babylon becoming a desolate place inhabited by wild animals, contrasting with the life-giving water God provides for His people in Isaiah 43:20 and showing the desolation that follows God's judgment.
Isaiah 35:6-7Isaiah himself prophesied earlier about water in the desert bringing life and joy, setting a precedent for the imagery in chapter 43 and reinforcing the theme of God transforming desolate places for His chosen people.
Ezekiel 47:8-9This vision of life-giving water flowing from God's sanctuary and bringing life to barren lands parallels Isaiah's message and illustrates God's power to make even the most desolate places flourish.
barnesIsaiah 43:20: "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."
The beast of the field shall honor me - The sense of this passage is plain, and the image is highly poetical and beautiful. God would pour such copious floods of waters through the waste sandy deserts to supply his people, that even the wild beasts would be sensible of his abundant goodness, and would break fo…
pulpitIsaiah 43:20: "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."
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 (Isai…
The verse highlights a beautiful, indirect form of worship: even the wild animals will "honor" God not through intentional devotion, but through their experience of His provision. Their presence and joy in the waters God provides in the barren desert demonstrate God's abundant care, extending even to the creatures of the wild for the sake of His chosen people.
This prophecy is part of a larger section of Isaiah that speaks of comfort and restoration to the exiled Israelites in Babylon. It follows God's declarations of his power and faithfulness in bringing his people out of Egypt and emphasizes his unique relationship with them. The verses immediately preceding this one speak of God's intention to do a "new thing," creating a path in the wilderness and rivers in the desert, signaling a powerful act of salvation and provision for his chosen people.
This prophecy is part of a larger section of Isaiah that speaks of comfort and restoration to the exiled Israelites in Babylon. It follows God's declarations of his power and faithfulness in bringing his people out of Egypt and emphasizes his unique relationship with them. The verses immediately preceding this one speak of God's intention to do a "new thing," creating a path in the wilderness and rivers in the desert, signaling a powerful act of salvation and provision for his chosen people.
"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, the people whom I formed for myself that they might decl…" — The verse highlights a beautiful, indirect form of worship: even the wild animals will "honor" God not through intentional devotion, but through their experience of His provision. Their presence and…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026
