Bible Strands
Isaiah 43:20
The beasts of the field will honor Me, the jackals and the ostriches, because I provide water in the wilderness and rivers in the desert, to give drink to My chosen people.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The Lord speaks to Israel in Isaiah 43, immediately after declaring He will make a way in the wilderness and streams in the desert. The message addresses His chosen people during a period of journeying through barren, uninhabitable terrain.
The words — The Hebrew verb תְּכַבְּדֵ֙/נִי֙ (te.kha.be.De./ni) translates literally as "it honors me," describing the wild animals' response to divine provision. The phrase חַיַּ֣ת הַ/שָּׂדֶ֔ה (chai.Yat ha./sa.Deh) means "the animal[s] of [the] field," specifying the creatures that will acknowledge God's action.
The thread — This pattern of God supplying water in desolate places appears in Isaiah 41:17, Isaiah 48:21, and Isaiah 49:10. Each reference tracks the same structural movement from human thirst to divine intervention.
Why it lands — The text records wild animals honoring God because He provides water before stating His people will declare His praise. It requires the reader to observe God's provision in barren places and respond with acknowledgment rather than resistance.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
The beast of the field shall honour me, the dragons and the owls: because I give waters in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people, my chosen.
Cross-references
- Isaiah 41:17 The poor and needy seek water, but there is none; their tongues are parched with thirst. I, the LORD, will answer them; I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them.
- Isaiah 48:21 They did not thirst when He led them through the deserts; He made water flow for them from the rock; He split the rock, and water gushed out.
- Isaiah 49:10 They will not hunger or thirst, nor will scorching heat or sun beat down on them. For He who has compassion on them will guide them and lead them beside springs of water.
- Isaiah 13:22 Hyenas will howl in her fortresses and jackals in her luxurious palaces. Babylon’s time is at hand, and her days will not be prolonged.
- John 4:14 But whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a fount of water springing up to eternal life.”
- 1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, to proclaim the virtues of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.
- Revelation 17:14 They will make war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will triumph over them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and He will be accompanied by His called and chosen and faithful ones.”
- 1 Chronicles 16:13 O offspring of His servant Israel, O sons of Jacob, His chosen ones.
- Psalms 33:12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people He has chosen as His inheritance!
- Psalms 104:21 The young lions roar for their prey and seek their food from God.