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Isaiah 65 Bible study: New heavens and a new earth

Paul gives 65:1-2 in Romans 10:20-21, and Peter, without naming Isaiah, looks for "new heavens and a new earth" "according to his promise" (2 Peter 3:13). The LORD's "See me, see me" (65:1) is the word of "Here I am" in 58:9. And "when I called, you didn’t answer" (65:12) turns around: "before they call, I will answer" (65:24).

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“For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former things will not be remembered, nor come into mind.”
Isaiah 65:17 · World English Bible

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“In Isaiah 65:24 the LORD says, "before they call, I will answer."”

Is that in Isaiah 65, or not? Make your call.

What's really going on

Found by those who didn't seek

In the text

The chapter opens with the LORD speaking: "I am inquired of by those who didn’t ask. I am found by those who didn’t seek me" (65:1) (tap inquired, found). In Hebrew inquired of is darash and found is matsa', the two verbs of "Seek the LORD while he may be found" (Isaiah 55:6). Then: "I said, ‘See me, see me,’ to a nation that was not called by my name" (65:1). And: "I have spread out my hands all day to a rebellious people, who walk in a way that is not good, after their own thoughts" (65:2) (tap rebellious, thoughts). Paul gives both verses in Romans 10:20-21 (see Go deeper). These notes say what the verses say, and apply them to no people today.

Where it leads to Jesus

A promise kept

In the text

Isaiah 65:17leads to2 Peter 3:13

The LORD says, "For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former things will not be remembered, nor come into mind" (Isaiah 65:17). Peter (2 Peter 1:1) writes of "the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 1:16), and asks his readers to "remember the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets" (2 Peter 3:2). After "the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night" (2 Peter 3:10), he writes, "But, according to his promise, we look for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells" (2 Peter 3:13). Peter doesn't name Isaiah; new heavens and a new earth are the WEB's words in both, and Isaiah 66:22 has "the new heavens and the new earth". Peter calls it "his promise" (2 Peter 3:13), still looked for: "seeing that you look for these things" (2 Peter 3:14).

Honest questions

Questions people ask about Isaiah 65

That was a taste

The rest of Isaiah 65 is waiting in Favor

  • "Don’t destroy it"
  • My servants, and you
  • "I create new heavens and a new earth"
  • Paul gives 65:1-2
  • "Dust will be the serpent’s food"
  • The valley of Achor
  • 14 questions as you read
  • 12 more Hebrew words
  • A short check at the end
  • Your notes, saved as you go
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The Hebrew word behind it

בָּרָאbara'say ba-RAH

Brown-Driver-Briggs: "shape, create". Strong's: "(absolutely) to create". "For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth" (65:17), and "But be glad and rejoice forever in that which I create; for, behold, I create Jerusalem to be a delight" (65:18): three times in two verses, each time bore, I create, the form of "I create the fruit of the lips" (Isaiah 57:19). These are the last of Isaiah's 21. It is the verb of "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth" (Genesis 1:1), and the chapters on Genesis 1 and Isaiah 57 study it.

For your group

Isaiah 65 Bible study questions

  1. 1"I said, ‘See me, see me,’ to a nation that was not called by my name" (65:1). What does it tell you about God that he speaks first, to those who didn't ask?
  2. 2"before they call, I will answer" (65:24) turns around "when I called, you didn’t answer" (65:12). What do the two verses, side by side, show you about God?
  3. 3"But be glad and rejoice forever in that which I create" (65:18). What in this chapter's picture of what God will make do you most look forward to, and why?

Leading a group? In Favor, everyone reads Isaiah 65 during the week and answers these questions privately. Answers stay sealed until you meet, then appear together, and you can print the week's sheet.

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Questions

What is Favor?

Favor is a Bible study app that explains every chapter as you read: the Hebrew and Greek behind the words, the details most readers miss, and how each part of the Bible leads to Jesus. Read on your own, or start a Bible study with friends, family or your church.

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The World English Bible, a modern, readable translation in the public domain. God's name appears as "the LORD", as in most English Bibles.

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Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Hebrew and Greek words are checked against the original-language texts and public-domain lexicons. What we believe · Favor home