Isaiah 65:20
No more shall there be in it an infant who lives but a few days, or an old man who does not fill out his days, for the young man shall die a hundred years old, and the sinner a hundred years old shall be accursed.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The verse promises that even a hundred-year-old sinner will be considered young and thus "accursed" by God, highlighting that in this future age, reaching a century won't necessarily signify a life well-lived or blessed by God if it's still steeped in sin. This emphasizes that true fulfillment and God's favor aren't measured simply by lifespan, but by one's relationship with Him.
This passage is part of Isaiah's vision of a renewed creation, following his description of a new heaven and earth. It contrasts the blessings of this future era with the calamities of the past, emphasizing a restored, long, and secure life for God's people. The surrounding verses describe the joy and abundance that will characterize this new reality, where former suffering will be forgotten.
Imagine a world where the sting of premature death is gone, and even the elderly live with full vitality. But does this promise mean no one ever dies?
Isaiah paints a picture of a future age of incredible longevity and health. The verse states there will be 'no more... an infant who lives but a few days, or an old man who does not fill out his days.' This suggests a radical shift from our current experience of life's fragility.
A Normal of Long Life
Instead of babies dying young, even a child who dies at a hundred years old is described as 'dying young.' This isn't about eradicating death entirely, but about establishing an extraordinary norm of long, healthy life. It’s a return to the extended lifespans seen in the early days of humanity, a symbol of God's favor and a prosperous existence.
The Contrast Remains
However, this isn't a utopia free from consequences. The verse sharply contrasts this longevity with the fate of the sinner. While a righteous person might live a full century and be considered young, a sinner reaching the same age is still 'accursed.' This highlights that while earthly blessings will be abundant, the ultimate destiny is still determined by one's relationship with God.
What does it truly mean for a sinner to reach a great age, and how does God view it?
Isaiah 65:20 presents a striking contrast: longevity for the righteous versus a cursed existence for the unrighteous, even if they live long lives.
Longevity as a Blessing, Not a Guarantee
For the faithful, reaching the age of one hundred is likened to dying young, signifying a life lived fully and under God's blessing. This is a picture of flourishing and prosperity, a tangible sign of God's favor in the restored creation.
The Sinner's Cursed Century
But the verse doesn't allow for complacency. It sternly declares, 'the sinner a hundred years old shall be accursed.' This means that even a long life lived in rebellion against God offers no true blessing. It merely extends the period of deserving God's judgment. The length of life for the unrighteous does not alter their eternal standing; it simply means they reach an old age still under condemnation.
Understand the original words
chata' · Hebrew Noun
One who misses the mark of God's moral standard; a person characterized by rebellion or failure to live in accordance with God's law. In this context, it highlights that even in a renewed age, moral accountability remains.
arar · Hebrew Adjective/Participle
Under the judgment or condemnation of God. It signifies being cut off from the benefits of God’s covenant and life, facing the consequences of divine displeasure.
This prophecy paints a picture of a future, perfected age where the ravages of premature death and sin's curse are dramatically reversed, echoing the long lifespans of early humanity but with a focus on restored wholeness under God's reign.
c. 2000-1400 BC
Patriarchal Age Longevity
The early generations of humanity, as described in Genesis, lived for extraordinarily long lifespans, with figures like Methuselah reaching 969 years.
c. 1400-586 BC
Mosaic Law Period
Life expectancy in Israel varied, but was generally much shorter than the patriarchal age, with the Law promising long life as a blessing for obedience.
c. 740 BC— this verse
Isaiah's Prophetic Ministry
Isaiah delivers prophecies concerning judgment and future restoration to the Southern Kingdom of Judah during a time of Assyrian and Babylonian threats.
586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem and Temple
Babylonian forces conquer Jerusalem, destroying the Temple and exiling many of the population, marking a period of immense suffering and truncated lives.
This passage describes Enoch, who 'walked with God and was not, for God took him,' suggesting a life of such righteousness that death was not a typical end. This mirrors the ideal longevity presented in Isaiah, where premature death is absent.
Psalm 90:10This Psalm laments the brevity of human life, stating the days are seventy years, or eighty for extraordinary strength. Isaiah 65:20 presents a future where a hundred years is considered young, a dramatic contrast highlighting the profound change in life's duration.
Zechariah 8:4This verse also speaks of a future day when 'old men and old women shall again sit in the streets of Jerusalem, each one with his staff in his hand for very old age.' This aligns with Isaiah's vision of extended lifespans and a peaceful, enduring society.
Revelation 21:4This passage describes the new heavens and new earth where 'death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore.' Isaiah 65:20, while still mentioning death and even accursed sinners, points towards a future where such things are drastically diminished, foreshadowing the ultimate state described in Revelation.
barnesIsaiah 65:20: "There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days: for the child shall die an hundred years old; but the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed."
There shall be no more thence - The Septuagint, the Syriac, and the Vulgate, read this, 'There shall not be there.' The change requires the omission of a single letter in the present Hebrew text, and the sense seems to demand it. The design of the prophet here is, to describe the…
gillIsaiah 65:20: "There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days: for the child shall die an hundred years old; but the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed."
There shall be no more thence an infant of days,.... That is, there shall no more be carried out from thence, from Jerusalem, or any other place where the church of God is, to the grave, in order to be interred, an infant that has lived but a few days, a very common thing now; but…
The verse promises that even a hundred-year-old sinner will be considered young and thus "accursed" by God, highlighting that in this future age, reaching a century won't necessarily signify a life well-lived or blessed by God if it's still steeped in sin. This emphasizes that true fulfillment and God's favor aren't measured simply by lifespan, but by one's relationship with Him.
This passage is part of Isaiah's vision of a renewed creation, following his description of a new heaven and earth. It contrasts the blessings of this future era with the calamities of the past, emphasizing a restored, long, and secure life for God's people. The surrounding verses describe the joy and abundance that will characterize this new reality, where former suffering will be forgotten.
This passage is part of Isaiah's vision of a renewed creation, following his description of a new heaven and earth. It contrasts the blessings of this future era with the calamities of the past, emphasizing a restored, long, and secure life for God's people. The surrounding verses describe the joy and abundance that will characterize this new reality, where former suffering will be forgotten.
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Divine Judgment is Absolute
This passage confronts us with the sobering reality that God's final verdict is not based on the length of one's earthly life, but on the state of one's heart and relationship with Him. A hundred years of life is not inherently good if it's lived apart from God; it is merely a longer duration under His just condemnation.
c. 538 BC
Return from Exile
Cyrus the Great allows exiled Jews to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the Temple, initiating a period of restoration, though still marked by hardship.
c. 4 BC - AD 30/33
Jesus' Ministry and Crucifixion
The coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, inaugurates a new covenant and a spiritual kingdom, seen by many as the ultimate fulfillment of prophetic promises.
c. AD 70
Destruction of Second Temple
Roman armies destroy Jerusalem and its Temple, leading to further exile and hardship for the Jewish people.
"No more shall there be in it an infant who lives but a few days, or an old man who does not fill out his days, for the young man shall die a hundred years old, and the sinner a hundred years old shall be accurse…" — The verse promises that even a hundred-year-old sinner will be considered young and thus "accursed" by God, highlighting that in this future age, reaching a century won't necessarily signify a life w…
