Isaiah 65:22-23
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The promise here isn't just about security, but about a deep, abiding ownership. "Enjoy" doesn't just mean "use"; the original Hebrew suggests "wearing out" the work of their hands, implying a life so long and peaceful they'll see their creations last and be fully consumed by them. This highlights the incredible stability and generational fulfillment God intends for His people.
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. They shall not labor in vain or bear children for calamity, for they shall be the offspring of the blessed of the LORD, and their descendants with them.
English Standard Version (ESV)
In these verses, God promises a complete reversal of curses, assuring his people that their labor will finally yield lasting enjoyment and security, not vulnerability to others taking what they've built or planted. This future restoration, described as lives as long and fruitful as trees, signifies a profound and enduring blessing, unlike the fleeting hardships of their past. The passage culminates in a vision of peace and abundance, where God's chosen will fully reap the rewards of their efforts.
Ever felt like you worked hard for something, only for someone else to reap the benefits? Or that your labor was for nothing?
This verse speaks a powerful word of reversal!
Building and Planting, Not for Another
In the ancient world, and even today, it was (and is) a harsh reality for people to build homes or plant crops only to have them taken by invaders, oppressive rulers, or natural disaster. The curse described in Deuteronomy 28:30-33 painted a grim picture: 'You shall build a house, but not live in it; you shall plant a vineyard, but not enjoy its fruit.'
Isaiah 65:22 flips this entirely. God's people won't experience this bitter loss. Their labor will yield its intended result – enjoyment and security. What you build, you will inhabit. What you plant, you will eat.
The Security of God's Promise
This isn't just about a good harvest; it's about security and the assurance that God's blessing will remain on the work of your hands. It’s a guarantee that the fruit of your labor will be yours to enjoy, not taken by others.
What does the lifespan of a tree have to do with your future?
The verse offers a beautiful image to capture the enduring blessing God promises: '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.'
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The Stability of Trees
Trees are symbols of longevity, stability, and deep roots. Unlike the fleeting nature of leaves that fall seasonally, trees themselves endure for generations, some for centuries or even millennia. When Isaiah compares the days of his people to the days of a tree, he's painting a picture of immense duration and sustained well-being.
Enjoying the Fruit of Your Labor
This longevity is directly linked to enjoying the 'work of their hands.' It's not just about living long; it's about living long enough to savor the results of your efforts. You’ll see your children, and your grandchildren, enjoy the homes you built and the crops you planted. The Hebrew word translated 'enjoy' can also mean 'wear out' or 'use up,' implying a full, complete, and lasting consumption of the good things provided.
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.
behalah · Hebrew Noun
A state of distress, disaster, or extreme misfortune. In biblical usage, it often refers to divine judgment or the consequences of covenant disobedience.
tse'etsa'im · Hebrew Noun
Those who inherit a promise or lineage; literally 'that which comes out' of someone. It refers to children, grandchildren, and future generations, often signifying the continuation of a covenant blessing.
barak · Hebrew Adjective/Participle
Endowed with divine favor and grace. It denotes a person or group who is the object of God's supernatural grace and protection.
YHWH · Hebrew Proper Noun
The covenant name of the God of Israel, indicating His self-existence, eternal nature, and faithfulness to His people. It is the name revealed to Moses at the burning bush.
This passage contrasts the insecurity and dispossession experienced during and after the Babylonian exile with the ultimate security and lasting enjoyment promised in God's renewed creation, where his people will fully possess and benefit from their labor.
c. 586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem and Temple
The Babylonians under Nebuchadnezzar II conquer Judah, destroy Jerusalem and its temple, and deport many of its inhabitants. This marked a period of profound loss and displacement for the people of Judah.
539 BC
Cyrus the Great Conquers Babylon
The Persian king Cyrus the Great overthrows the Babylonian Empire, allowing exiled peoples, including the Jews, to return to their homelands and rebuild their temples.
538 BC
Edict of Cyrus
Cyrus issues a decree permitting the Jews to return to Jerusalem and rebuild their Temple. This marked the beginning of the Second Temple period.
515 BC
Completion of the Second Temple
The Second Temple in Jerusalem is completed and dedicated, a significant milestone in the restoration of Jewish religious and national life after the Babylonian exile.
c. 440-400 BC
Ezra and Nehemiah's Reforms
Ezra the scribe and Nehemiah the governor lead efforts to reform Jewish religious and social life in post-exilic Jerusalem, strengthening the community and its adherence to the Law.
Late 8th century BC— this verse
Isaiah's Prophecies of Restoration
Isaiah delivers prophecies of judgment and future restoration to the people of Judah, speaking of a coming messianic age characterized by peace, justice, and abundant life.
This passage describes a curse where one builds and does not inhabit, or plants and does not eat, directly contrasting the blessing promised in Isaiah 65:22.
Leviticus 26:10This verse from the Law promises that if God's people obey, they will eat the old store and bring out the old because of the new, a concept related to enjoying the fruits of their labor, echoing Isaiah 65:22's theme of long-term enjoyment.
Psalm 92:12This psalm compares the righteous to a flourishing tree that grows tall and strong, aligning with the imagery of longevity and enduring fruitfulness found in Isaiah 65:22.
Isaiah 61:3This earlier passage in Isaiah speaks of granting a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, and a garment of praise instead of a faint spirit, so that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, a direct parallel to the enduring nature and fruitful work mentioned in Isaiah 65:22.
Matthew 21:43Jesus speaks of the kingdom of God being taken from the current stewards and given to a nation that produces its fruits, connecting the idea of fruitful labor and inheritance with God's people, as seen in Isaiah 65:22.
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 security, but about a deep, abiding ownership. "Enjoy" doesn't just mean "use"; the original Hebrew suggests "wearing out" the work of their hands, implying a life so long and peaceful they'll see their creations last and be fully consumed by them. This highlights the incredible stability and generational fulfillment God intends for His people.
In these verses, God promises a complete reversal of curses, assuring his people that their labor will finally yield lasting enjoyment and security, not vulnerability to others taking what they've built or planted. This future restoration, described as lives as long and fruitful as trees, signifies a profound and enduring blessing, unlike the fleeting hardships of their past. The passage culminates in a vision of peace and abundance, where God's chosen will fully reap the rewards of their efforts.
In these verses, God promises a complete reversal of curses, assuring his people that their labor will finally yield lasting enjoyment and security, not vulnerability to others taking what they've built or planted. This future restoration, described as lives as long and fruitful as trees, signifies a profound and enduring blessing, unlike the fleeting hardships of their past. The passage culminates in a vision of peace and abundance, where God's chosen will fully reap the rewards 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. They shall not labor in…" — The promise here isn't just about security, but about a deep, abiding ownership. "Enjoy" doesn't just mean "use"; the original Hebrew suggests "wearing out" the work of their hands, implying a life s…
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Last reviewed October 2026
