Isaiah 44:23

Sing for joy, O heavens, for the LORD has done this; shout aloud, O depths of the earth. Break forth in song, O mountains, you forests and all your trees. For the LORD has redeemed Jacob, and revealed His glory in Israel.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The prophet speaks on behalf of Yahweh to the exiled Israelites, immediately following a declaration of forgiven transgressions and a call to return. The verse functions as a cosmic response to God's act of redeeming Jacob.

The words — רָנּ֨וּ (ra.Nu) commands creation to "shout for joy," while הָרִ֙יעוּ֙ (ha.Ri.'u) urges the earth's depths to "shout in triumph." These imperatives frame the LORD's redemption of Jacob as the direct cause for universal celebration.

The thread — The call for heaven and earth to praise God follows the pattern established in Psalm 69:34 and anticipates the worship scene in Revelation 5:8. Paul later ties this creation-wide response to the purpose of grace given in the Beloved in Ephesians 1:6.

Why it lands — The text demands recognition that God's past redemption of Jacob is the factual basis for creation's rejoicing. A reader must acknowledge that divine action, not human merit, initiates the call to worship.

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

Sing, O ye heavens; for the Lord hath done it: shout, ye lower parts of the earth: break forth into singing, ye mountains, O forest, and every tree therein: for the Lord hath redeemed Jacob, and glorified himself in Israel.

Cross-references

Ephesians 1:6 to the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the Beloved One.
Revelation 5:8 When He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp, and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.
Psalms 69:34 Let heaven and earth praise Him, the seas and everything that moves in them.
Psalms 96:11 Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice; let the sea resound, and all that fills it.
Psalms 98:7 Let the sea resound, and all that fills it, the world, and all who dwell in it.
Isaiah 49:3 He said to Me, “You are My Servant, Israel, in whom I will display My glory.”
Jeremiah 51:48 Then heaven and earth and all that is in them will shout for joy over Babylon because the destroyers from the north will come against her,” declares the LORD.
Revelation 19:1 After this I heard a sound like the roar of a great multitude in heaven, shouting: “Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God!
Isaiah 49:13 Shout for joy, O heavens; rejoice, O earth; break forth in song, O mountains! For the LORD has comforted His people, and He will have compassion on His afflicted ones.
Isaiah 55:12 You will indeed go out with joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.