Isaiah 65:17-19
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This isn't just about a fresh coat of paint on the old world; it's about a complete creation. The Hebrew word used here carries the same weight as "create" in Genesis 1, signifying an act that brings entirely new reality into being, not merely reforming the old. This means the future glory promised will be so profound that the past, even its deepest sorrows, will be not just forgotten, but utterly eclipsed.
“For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in that which I create; for behold, I create Jerusalem to be a joy, and her people to be a gladness. I will rejoice in Jerusalem and be glad in my people; no more shall be heard in it the sound of weeping and the cry of distress.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Following a powerful denunciation of Israel's persistent idolatry and disobedience, God promises a radical restoration and transformation. This isn't just about returning from exile, but about a complete renewal of creation where the former troubles and sins will be so overshadowed by God's new work that they'll be forgotten. This sets the stage for the glorious picture of a new heaven and earth, a concept that echoes throughout Scripture and points toward ultimate redemption.
The Bible often speaks of God's power to fix and restore. But here, Isaiah declares something even grander. What does it mean that God creates a new reality?
The verse uses the powerful verb "create," the same word used in Genesis 1. This isn't about patching up the old or making minor adjustments. It signifies a complete, radical new beginning, a fresh start from nothing.
Imagine a pain so intense that you wish you could erase it from your memory forever. Isaiah 65:17 speaks of a future where past troubles are not just forgotten, but cease to even come to mind.
The promise that "the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind" is a profound statement about the completeness of God's restoration.
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Understand the original words
shamayim / erets · Hebrew Noun
Refers to the totality of the created order. In prophecy, the "new heavens and new earth" represent the complete restoration and renewal of creation, free from the corruption of the fall.
Yeruushalayim · Hebrew Proper Noun
The holy city, the site of the Temple, and the symbolic center of God's dwelling with His people. It represents the redeemed community and the place where God’s presence and rule are fully manifest.
gil / sus · Hebrew Noun/Verb
An outward expression of intense spiritual delight and exultation, often rooted in the contemplation of God’s redemptive works and presence.
beki / ze'aqah · Hebrew Noun
A state of profound suffering, often associated with judgment, separation from God, or the consequences of sin. Its removal signifies the end of the curse.
This vision of new heavens and a new earth arises from the ashes of exile and devastation. It speaks to a people who have lost almost everything, offering a profound hope that transcends their current suffering, pointing toward a future transformation so complete that the pain of the past will fade into insignificance.
c. 605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
King Nebuchadnezzar deports a portion of Judah's elite, including Daniel, to Babylon. This marks the beginning of the Babylonian exile, a period of profound crisis and spiritual questioning for the Judean people.
587/586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem and Temple
The Babylonians, under Nebuchadnezzar II, destroy Jerusalem and its Temple, exiling most of the remaining population. This event is a devastating blow, seen by many as God's abandonment.
c. 539 BC
Cyrus the Great's Conquest of Babylon
Cyrus conquers the Babylonian Empire, allowing the Judean exiles to return to their homeland and rebuild the Temple.
516 BC
Dedication of the Second Temple
The Second Temple is completed and dedicated in Jerusalem, symbolizing a return of hope and a renewed, though humbled, worship.
c. 458 BC
Ezra's Return to Jerusalem
The priest and scribe Ezra leads another group of exiles back to Jerusalem to re-establish religious law and order.
c. 445 BC
Nehemiah Rebuilds Jerusalem's Walls
Nehemiah, cupbearer to the Persian king, returns to Jerusalem to oversee the rebuilding of the city walls, facing significant opposition.
c. 6th-5th Century BC— this verse
Prophetic Consolidation and Vision
During and after the exile, prophets like Isaiah (traditionally, Second and Third Isaiah), Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi offer messages of judgment, hope, and future restoration, including visions of a new covenant and a renewed creation.
This passage directly echoes Isaiah's vision, speaking of 'new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness is at home,' linking the prophetic promise to the ultimate fulfillment in God's eternal kingdom.
Revelation 21:1This New Testament vision of a new heaven and new earth is a clear fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy, describing a state where God's presence is with His people and sorrow is no more.
Isaiah 11:6-9This earlier passage from Isaiah beautifully describes the peace and harmony that will characterize the Messianic kingdom, foreshadowing the transformed creation that will be fully realized when 'the former things shall not be remembered'.
Romans 8:19-22The Apostle Paul speaks of the creation groaning and awaiting its own liberation, a concept that powerfully aligns with Isaiah's promise of a renewed earth, highlighting the pervasive impact of redemption.
barnesIsaiah 65:17: "For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind."
For behold - The idea in this verse is, that there should be a state of glory as great as if a new heaven and a new earth were to be made. I create new heavens - Calamity and punishment in the Bible are often represented by the heavens growing dark, and being rolled up like as a scroll, or passing away (see the notes at Isaiah 13:10; Isaiah 34:4). On the contrary, prosp…
clarkeIsaiah 65:17: "For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind."
I create new heavens and a new earth - This has been variously understood. Some Jews and some Christians understand it literally. God shall change the state of the atmosphere, and render the earth more fruitful. Some refer it to what they call the Millennium; others, to a glorious state of religion; others, to the re-creation of the earth after it shall have been destro…
This isn't just about a fresh coat of paint on the old world; it's about a complete creation. The Hebrew word used here carries the same weight as "create" in Genesis 1, signifying an act that brings entirely new reality into being, not merely reforming the old. This means the future glory promised will be so profound that the past, even its deepest sorrows, will be not just forgotten, but utterly eclipsed.
Following a powerful denunciation of Israel's persistent idolatry and disobedience, God promises a radical restoration and transformation. This isn't just about returning from exile, but about a complete renewal of creation where the former troubles and sins will be so overshadowed by God's new work that they'll be forgotten. This sets the stage for the glorious picture of a new heaven and earth, a concept that echoes throughout Scripture and points toward ultimate redemption.
Following a powerful denunciation of Israel's persistent idolatry and disobedience, God promises a radical restoration and transformation. This isn't just about returning from exile, but about a complete renewal of creation where the former troubles and sins will be so overshadowed by God's new work that they'll be forgotten. This sets the stage for the glorious picture of a new heaven and earth, a concept that echoes throughout Scripture and points toward ultimate redemption.
"“For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in that which I create; for behold, I create Jerusalem to b…" — This isn't just about a fresh coat of paint on the old world; it's about a complete creation. The Hebrew word used here carries the same weight as "create" in Genesis 1, signifying an act that brin…
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Last reviewed October 2026
