They shall not build and another inhabit; they shall not plant and another eat; for like the days of a tree shall the days of my people be, and my chosen shall long enjoy the work of their hands.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The promise here isn't just about avoiding disaster, but about a profound sense of personal fulfillment and lasting security. It highlights that God’s people won't experience the bitterness of laboring for someone else to reap the rewards, but will personally enjoy the fruits of their own efforts, living long enough to see their hard work truly benefit them and their families.
They shall not build and another inhabit; they shall not plant and another eat; for like the days of a tree shall the days of my people be, and my chosen shall long enjoy the work of their hands.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The Lord is painting a picture of a restored people who will finally enjoy the security and fruitfulness that was often denied them in the past. This promise directly contrasts the curses of disobedience, where one builds but another inhabits, or plants but another reaps. In this future reality, God’s people will experience lasting enjoyment of their labor, with lives so long that they will see the full benefit of their efforts.
Ever felt like you worked hard for something, only for someone else to benefit? Or that your efforts were ultimately in vain? This verse offers a profound contrast to that experience.
The first part of Isaiah 65:22 directly addresses a painful reality: the curse of labor lost. It speaks of building only to have another inhabit, planting only to have another eat the fruit. This was a consequence of disobedience, where hard work did not yield personal reward (Deuteronomy 28:30).
In the new creation described here, this curse is lifted. God's people will personally enjoy the results of their own labor. Every seed planted, every house built, will be for their own lasting benefit and enjoyment. It signifies a state of security, permanence, and personal fulfillment in the work God has called them to do.
What does it mean to live 'like the days of a tree'? It's more than just a long life; it speaks to a deep, abiding sustenance and flourishing.
The imagery of 'the days of a tree' is potent. While ancient commentators debated specific tree longevity, the core idea is profound endurance and stability. Unlike the fleeting nature of human life, often compared to leaves that wither, or even the frustration of short-lived endeavors, a tree represents deep roots, consistent growth, and a long, enduring presence.
This metaphor in Isaiah 65:22 signifies not just extended individual lifespans, but a holistic state of enduring well-being and prosperity for God's chosen people. It implies a life rooted in God, marked by stability, fruitfulness, and a lasting connection to the blessings God provides. It's a life lived to its fullest potential, enjoying the fruits of one's faithfulness for a significant duration.
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Imagine a life where your labor yields lasting satisfaction and is truly your own. This verse promises just that for God's elect.
The phrase 'my chosen shall long enjoy the work of their hands' is the culmination of the verse's promise. It connects the lifting of the curse (no one else enjoying your labor) with the blessing of longevity ('days of a tree') to a profound personal enjoyment.
This isn't just about having possession of something you built or planted; it's about the deep satisfaction of 'long enjoying' it. The Hebrew word suggests wearing it out, consuming it through use and enjoyment over time. It speaks of peace, security, and the fulfilling reward of diligent, faithful work. In the context of God's new creation, it means that the 'work of our hands' – our faithful service, our diligent efforts, our creative endeavors done for His glory – will be blessed, lasting, and bring deep personal satisfaction that is preserved and enjoyed.
Understand the original words
bachiyr · Hebrew Noun
A term describing individuals or a group selected by God for a specific purpose, covenant relationship, or salvation. In the Old Testament, it primarily refers to Israel, while in the New, it encompasses all who are in Christ.
This promise contrasts sharply with the dispossessions and instability faced by the people during and after the Babylonian exile, offering a vision of lasting security and fulfillment in God's restored kingdom.
c. 740 BC
Isaiah's Prophetic Ministry
Isaiah delivers prophecies concerning judgment and restoration to the kingdoms of Judah and Israel.
605 BC - 586 BC
Babylonian Exile
The Neo-Babylonian Empire deports large portions of the Jewish population, destroying Jerusalem and its temple, leading to a period of hardship and loss of land and property.
c. 538 BC
Edict of Cyrus and Return from Exile
The Persian Empire allows Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem and begin rebuilding the temple and their lives.
c. 515 BC
Completion of the Second Temple
The rebuilt Temple in Jerusalem is dedicated, marking a significant step in the restoration of Jewish religious life.
c. 444 BC
Rebuilding Jerusalem's Walls
Nehemiah leads the effort to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, symbolizing the restoration of the city's security and stability.
Second Temple Period (c. 515 BC - AD 70)— this verse
Life in Post-Exilic Judah
The Jewish people experience periods of stability and rebuilding, but also face ongoing challenges, foreign rule, and the struggle to maintain their identity and prosperity.
This passage describes the curses for disobedience, including the specific reversal of what Isaiah 65:22 promises: 'You shall build a house, but not dwell in it; you shall plant a vineyard, but not eat its fruit.'
Leviticus 26:10This verse, part of the blessings for obedience, echoes the promise of enjoying the fruits of one's labor, stating, 'You shall eat of what you have sown, and you shall gather in your harvest.'
Psalm 92:12-13This psalm directly compares the righteous to trees, stating they 'will flourish like the palm tree' and 'grow like a cedar in Lebanon,' illustrating the longevity and fruitfulness implied in Isaiah's prophecy.
Isaiah 61:3This passage, which Jesus quotes in Luke 4, speaks of the 'trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he may be glorified,' linking the idea of enduring fruitfulness and God's planting to His chosen people.
Revelation 21:3-4This New Testament passage describes the ultimate fulfillment of God's promises in the new heavens and new earth, where 'He will dwell with them, and they will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore.'
barnesIsaiah 65:22: "They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands."
They shall not build, and another inhabit - Every man shall enjoy the avails of his labor. For as the days I of a tree are the days of my people - That is, in that future time, such shall be the length of the lives of the people (see Isaiah 65:21). The Septuagint renders this, 'The days of…
pulpitIsaiah 65:22: "They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands."
Verse 22. - As the days of a tree are the days of my people. Trees endure for many hundreds, perhaps for thousands of years. The cedars of Lebanon, the oaks of Bashan, were known to have an antiquity of centuries. Isaiah may have had a knowledge of other trees to which attached the traditio…
The promise here isn't just about avoiding disaster, but about a profound sense of personal fulfillment and lasting security. It highlights that God’s people won't experience the bitterness of laboring for someone else to reap the rewards, but will personally enjoy the fruits of their own efforts, living long enough to see their hard work truly benefit them and their families.
The Lord is painting a picture of a restored people who will finally enjoy the security and fruitfulness that was often denied them in the past. This promise directly contrasts the curses of disobedience, where one builds but another inhabits, or plants but another reaps. In this future reality, God’s people will experience lasting enjoyment of their labor, with lives so long that they will see the full benefit of their efforts.
The Lord is painting a picture of a restored people who will finally enjoy the security and fruitfulness that was often denied them in the past. This promise directly contrasts the curses of disobedience, where one builds but another inhabits, or plants but another reaps. In this future reality, God’s people will experience lasting enjoyment of their labor, with lives so long that they will see the full benefit of their efforts.
"They shall not build and another inhabit; they shall not plant and another eat; for like the days of a tree shall the days of my people be, and my chosen shall long enjoy the work of their hands." — The promise here isn't just about avoiding disaster, but about a profound sense of personal fulfillment and lasting security. It highlights that God’s people won't experience the bitterness of labori…
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Last reviewed October 2026