Sharon shall become a pasture for flocks, and the Valley of Achor a place for herds to lie down, for my people who have sought me.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse highlights that even places associated with past sorrow, like the Valley of Achor (meaning "trouble"), will become places of peace and rest for God's people. This transformation isn't random; it's a direct consequence of their seeking Him, revealing God's power to redeem and restore even the most difficult circumstances.
Sharon shall become a pasture for flocks, and the Valley of Achor a place for herds to lie down, for my people who have sought me.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The prophet Isaiah is painting a picture of future restoration and blessing for God's people. Following pronouncements of judgment against those who have turned away from God, this passage shifts to describe the transformed land and joyful inheritance awaiting those who remain faithful. It speaks of a lush and peaceful environment, a stark contrast to the desolation that sin can bring, reserved for those who actively seek God's presence and guidance.
What if the places most associated with our failures and pain could become symbols of God's new beginnings for us?
Isaiah highlights two specific locations: the Plain of Sharon and the Valley of Achor.
The Blessing of Sharon
Sharon was renowned for its beauty and fertility, a place of lush pastures. After periods of desolation, God promises it will once again be a thriving pasture for flocks.
The Hope of Achor
The Valley of Achor carries a heavy history. It's named after Achan, who was put to death there for his sin, bringing trouble and affliction to Israel (Joshua 7). This valley, a symbol of past disgrace and pain, is promised to become a place of rest for herds.
God is not just restoring a land; He's transforming places that represent past brokenness into symbols of future peace and provision for His people.
Who gets to experience this transformation? It's not based on merit, but on a specific kind of seeking.
The promise isn't for everyone; it's specifically for 'my people who have sought me.' This emphasizes a key aspect of God's relationship with humanity:
Active Pursuit
'Seeking' implies an active, intentional pursuit. It's not passive waiting, but a deliberate turning towards God, asking questions, and desiring to know Him.
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Grace and Response
While God initiates this restoration and transformation, the condition for experiencing it is our response. Those who have diligently sought Him, even amidst past failures or desolation, are the ones who will inherit these promises of renewal.
This highlights that while salvation is a gift of grace, it is received through faith and a genuine desire to connect with the One who offers it.
Understand the original words
darash · Hebrew Verb
To look for, inquire of, or pursue God's presence and will. It denotes a heart posture of earnest reliance and a desire to be found in relationship with Him.
The verse paints a picture of profound restoration, transforming places once associated with shame (Valley of Achor) and desolation (Sharon during exile) into symbols of peace and abundance for God's people who have sought Him.
c. 1400 BC
Achan's Sin and the Naming of Achor
During the conquest of Canaan, Achan sinned by taking forbidden plunder, leading to Israel's defeat. His subsequent execution and the naming of the Valley of Achor ('trouble') marked this place with disgrace and divine judgment.
c. 6th Century BC
Babylonian Exile
The people of Judah were exiled to Babylon, a period of desolation and spiritual barrenness for the land and its inhabitants. This marked a low point, yet it was also a time of reflection and seeking God for many.
538 BC— this verse
Return from Exile
Cyrus the Great permits the Jewish exiles to return to Judah. This marked the beginning of rebuilding the land and the Temple, though the returnees faced many challenges.
Post-Exilic Period
Rebuilding and Restoration
Following the return from exile, the land of Judah, including areas like Sharon and the approaches to Jericho (near the Valley of Achor), began to be re-inhabited and cultivated, slowly regaining its former fertility.
This passage directly links the Valley of Achor with hope and a 'door of hope,' mirroring Isaiah's promise of turning a place of trouble into a place of rest and security for God's people.
Jeremiah 33:12-13Similar to Isaiah, Jeremiah prophesies a future restoration where the land will become abundant with pastures for shepherds and flocks, emphasizing peace and security for Judah.
Zechariah 3:10This verse echoes the theme of restoration and peace by promising that in that day, each one will invite their neighbor to rest under their vine and fig tree, a picture of settled, prosperous life.
Isaiah 11:6-9This passage provides a broader picture of the messianic age that Isaiah 65:10 anticipates, describing a renewed creation where even wild animals live peacefully, signifying a complete restoration of harmony for God's people.
barnesIsaiah 65:10: "And Sharon shall be a fold of flocks, and the valley of Achor a place for the herds to lie down in, for my people that have sought me."
And Sharon - Sharon was properly a district south of Mount Carmel, along the coast of the Mediterranean, and extending from. Caesarea to Joppa. In the Scripture, this is almost a proverbial name to denote extraordinary beauty and fertility (see the notes at Isaiah 30:9 ; Isaiah 32:5 ). Shall be a fold of flocks - At the time contemplated here by…
clarkeIsaiah 65:10: "And Sharon shall be a fold of flocks, and the valley of Achor a place for the herds to lie down in, for my people that have sought me."
Sharon - and the valley of Achor - Two of the most fertile parts of Judea; famous for their rich pastures; the former to the west, not far from Joppa; the latter north of Jericho, near Gilgal.
The verse highlights that even places associated with past sorrow, like the Valley of Achor (meaning "trouble"), will become places of peace and rest for God's people. This transformation isn't random; it's a direct consequence of their seeking Him, revealing God's power to redeem and restore even the most difficult circumstances.
The prophet Isaiah is painting a picture of future restoration and blessing for God's people. Following pronouncements of judgment against those who have turned away from God, this passage shifts to describe the transformed land and joyful inheritance awaiting those who remain faithful. It speaks of a lush and peaceful environment, a stark contrast to the desolation that sin can bring, reserved for those who actively seek God's presence and guidance.
The prophet Isaiah is painting a picture of future restoration and blessing for God's people. Following pronouncements of judgment against those who have turned away from God, this passage shifts to describe the transformed land and joyful inheritance awaiting those who remain faithful. It speaks of a lush and peaceful environment, a stark contrast to the desolation that sin can bring, reserved for those who actively seek God's presence and guidance.
"Sharon shall become a pasture for flocks, and the Valley of Achor a place for herds to lie down, for my people who have sought me." — The verse highlights that even places associated with past sorrow, like the Valley of Achor (meaning "trouble"), will become places of peace and rest for God's people. This transformation isn't rando…
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Last reviewed October 2026