The Meaning of Isaiah 65:22 Explained

Isaiah 65:22

KJV: 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.

YLT: They do not build, and another inhabit, They do not plant, and another eat, For as the days of a tree are the days of My people, And the work of their hands wear out do My chosen ones.

Darby: they shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree shall be the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands.

ASV: They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree shall be the days of my people, and my chosen shall long enjoy the work of their hands.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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. 

What does Isaiah 65:22 Mean?

Context Summary

Isaiah 65:13-25 - A New Earth For God's Servants
Notice the wide difference that religion makes to the soul. The children of God are secured against the evils which visit all others. They eat; they drink; they rejoice; they sing; they are called by another name, Isaiah 65:13-15.
Behold a new creation, Isaiah 65:17-25! The present dispensation is ended. Jerusalem, restored to her former glory, sings for very joy; and her rejoicing sends a thrill of joy through the nature of God. Long years of life and security of tenure are granted again to man. The red rapine of the forest is ended, for creation is emancipated from its bondage and participates in the glorious liberty of the sons of God. Peace shall reign in the forest glades, never again to abdicate her throne, Isaiah 65:25. But, best of all, there shall be such unity between man and God that prayer will be anticipated, and the pleading soul shall be conscious of the listening ear of God. Hasten, O day of days, for which creation groans, and the saints groan with inexpressible desire! [source]

Chapter Summary: Isaiah 65

1  The calling of the Gentiles,
2  and the rejection of the Jews, for their incredulity, idolatry, and hypocrisy
8  A remnant shall be saved
11  Judgments on the wicked, and blessings on the godly
17  The blessed state of the new Jerusalem

What do the individual words in Isaiah 65:22 mean?

Not they shall build and another inhabit they shall plant eat for as the days of a tree [so shall be] the days of My people and the work of their hands shall long enjoy My chosen
לֹ֤א יִבְנוּ֙ וְאַחֵ֣ר יֵשֵׁ֔ב יִטְּע֖וּ יֹאכֵ֑ל כִּֽי־ כִימֵ֤י הָעֵץ֙ יְמֵ֣י עַמִּ֔י וּמַעֲשֵׂ֥ה יְדֵיהֶ֖ם יְבַלּ֥וּ בְחִירָֽי

יִבְנוּ֙  they  shall  build 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: בָּנָה  
Sense: to build, rebuild, establish, cause to continue.
וְאַחֵ֣ר  and  another 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adjective, masculine singular
Root: אַחֵר  
Sense: another, other, following.
יֵשֵׁ֔ב  inhabit 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יָשַׁב 
Sense: to dwell, remain, sit, abide.
יִטְּע֖וּ  they  shall  plant 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: נָטַע  
Sense: to plant, fasten, fix, establish.
יֹאכֵ֑ל  eat 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָכַל  
Sense: to eat, devour, burn up, feed.
כִימֵ֤י  as  the  days 
Parse: Preposition-k, Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: יׄום 
Sense: day, time, year.
הָעֵץ֙  of  a  tree 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: עֵץ  
Sense: tree, wood, timber, stock, plank, stalk, stick, gallows.
יְמֵ֣י  [so  shall  be]  the  days 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: יׄום 
Sense: day, time, year.
עַמִּ֔י  of  My  people 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: עַם 
Sense: nation, people.
וּמַעֲשֵׂ֥ה  and  the  work 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: מַעֲשֶׂה  
Sense: deed, work.
יְדֵיהֶ֖ם  of  their  hands 
Parse: Noun, fdc, third person masculine plural
Root: יָד  
Sense: hand.
יְבַלּ֥וּ  shall  long  enjoy 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: בָּלָה  
Sense: to wear out, become old.
בְחִירָֽי  My  chosen 
Parse: Adjective, masculine plural construct, first person common singular
Root: בָּחִיר  
Sense: chosen, choice one, chosen one, elect (of God).