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)
The most striking thing here is that God Himself expresses joy. It's not just that Jerusalem and His people will be happy; the Creator of the universe finds delight in His redeemed people, a reciprocal joy that underscores the depth of His love and satisfaction in them.
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)
This passage speaks of a glorious future where God transforms creation, ushering in an era of perfect joy and peace. It follows God's rejection of the disobedient people who clung to their own ways, highlighting His intention to create a new people and a new spiritual reality. This future state promises an end to suffering, a deep, shared delight between God and His people, and a complete reversal of sorrow into gladness.
We often think of God's joy as something distant or abstract. But this verse reveals something incredibly intimate about God's own heart.
A God Who Rejoices
Isaiah 65:19 says, 'I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people.' This isn't just a statement about the state of Jerusalem and its people; it's about God's personal response to them.
Imagine a world where tears and cries are banished forever. This verse paints a picture of ultimate redemption, touching on the deepest human longings.
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No More Tears
The second half of Isaiah 65:19 offers a powerful promise: '...and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in it, nor the voice of crying.' This points to a future reality free from the pain and distress that characterize our current existence.
Understand the original words
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 prophecy looks beyond the immediate historical exiles and destructions of Jerusalem to a future, perfect restoration where God Himself rejoices with His people in a new creation, free from all sorrow.
c. 740 BC
Isaiah's Prophetic Ministry
Isaiah delivers prophecies concerning Judah and Jerusalem, including visions of future judgment and restoration.
586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem and Temple
Babylon conquers Judah, destroys Jerusalem and the Temple, and exiles a significant portion of the population, marking a period of great weeping and distress.
c. 539 BC
Persian Conquest and Return from Exile
Cyrus the Great conquers Babylon, allowing some Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem and begin rebuilding the Temple. This marks the beginning of a partial restoration, though hardship remains.
c. 167-164 BC
Maccabean Revolt
A period of intense conflict and oppression under Seleucid rule, marked by significant suffering and a desperate cry for divine intervention and restoration.
c. AD 30-33
Jesus' Ministry, Crucifixion, and Resurrection
The pivotal events of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection, initiating the new covenant and offering ultimate redemption from sin and suffering.
c. AD 70
Destruction of the Second Temple
The Roman army destroys Jerusalem and the Second Temple, fulfilling prophecies of judgment and causing immense sorrow, yet also paving the way for a new spiritual reality.
Future Messianic Age— this verse
The Ultimate Restoration
The culmination of God's redemptive plan, when Jerusalem is fully restored, and God's people experience unbroken joy and peace, with all weeping and crying forever absent.
This passage echoes Isaiah's promise of a future where 'death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore,' directly connecting to the cessation of weeping in Jerusalem.
Isaiah 25:8This verse provides a parallel to Isaiah 65:19, stating that God 'will swallow up death forever; the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the reproach of his people he will take away from off all the earth.' This highlights the comprehensive nature of God's comfort.
Jeremiah 31:12Jeremiah also speaks of a future restoration where God promises, 'They shall come and sing for the height of Zion, and they shall be radiant over the goodness of the LORD—over the grain, and the new wine, and the oil, and over the young of the flock and of the herd. Their life shall be like a watered garden, and they shall never again be diminished.' This paints a picture of abundant joy and security, directly contrasting with weeping and crying.
Zephaniah 3:17This passage describes God's joyful presence with His people, saying, 'The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighyt one who will save; he will rejoice over you, with gladness he will quiet you, he will exult over you with loud singing.' This resonates with the idea of God's personal rejoicing in Jerusalem and His people, leading to an absence of distress.
barnesIsaiah 65:19: "And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying."
And I will rejoice in Jerusalem - (See the notes at Isaiah 62:5 ). And the voice of weeping shall no more be heard - (See the notes at Isaiah 25:7-8).
gillIsaiah 65:19: "And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying."
And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people,.... God himself rejoices in his people, as they are considered in Christ; so he did from all eternity, and so he does at the conversion of them; which is the day of their espousals, and when he manifests his love to them, and rejoices over them to do them good, and continues to do so; and he…
The most striking thing here is that God Himself expresses joy. It's not just that Jerusalem and His people will be happy; the Creator of the universe finds delight in His redeemed people, a reciprocal joy that underscores the depth of His love and satisfaction in them.
This passage speaks of a glorious future where God transforms creation, ushering in an era of perfect joy and peace. It follows God's rejection of the disobedient people who clung to their own ways, highlighting His intention to create a new people and a new spiritual reality. This future state promises an end to suffering, a deep, shared delight between God and His people, and a complete reversal of sorrow into gladness.
This passage speaks of a glorious future where God transforms creation, ushering in an era of perfect joy and peace. It follows God's rejection of the disobedient people who clung to their own ways, highlighting His intention to create a new people and a new spiritual reality. This future state promises an end to suffering, a deep, shared delight between God and His people, and a complete reversal of sorrow into 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." — The most striking thing here is that God Himself expresses joy. It's not just that Jerusalem and His people will be happy; the Creator of the universe finds delight in His redeemed people, a reciproc…
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Last reviewed October 2026