Isaiah 65:22

No longer will they build houses for others to inhabit, nor plant for others to eat. For as is the lifetime of a tree, so will be the days of My people, and My chosen ones will fully enjoy the work of their hands.

Berean Standard Bible

Follow its threads on the canvas →

Study note

Setting — God addresses His people and chosen ones, contrasting their future secure possession with the futility of former generations. The prophecy outlines the conditions of their restored dwelling and labor.

The words — The text uses לֹא (lo') = not and יִבְנוּ (yiv.Nu) = they will build to establish a permanent boundary against dispossession.

The thread — This theme of secure inheritance and longevity appears in Psalms 91:16, 92:12, and 21:4, which parallel God’s promise to satisfy the righteous with long life and flourishing.

Why it lands — The passage requires a reader to accept that divine blessing guarantees personal ownership and generational stability. It demands trust in God’s provision rather than reliance on human exploitation or uncertain labor.

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

לֹ֤אlo'not יִבְנוּ֙yiv.Nuthey will build וְאַחֵ֣רve./'a.Cherand/ another יֵשֵׁ֔בye.Shevhe will dwell לֹ֥אlo'not יִטְּע֖וּyi.te.'Uthey will plant וְאַחֵ֣רve./'a.Cherand/ another יֹאכֵ֑לyo.Khelhe will eat כִּֽי־ki-for כִימֵ֤יkhi./Mei[will be] like/ [the] days of הָעֵץ֙ha./'Etz<the>/ tree יְמֵ֣יye.Mei[the] days of עַמִּ֔י'a.M/ipeople/ my וּמַעֲשֵׂ֥הu./ma.'a.Sehand/ [the] work of יְדֵיהֶ֖םye.dei./Hemhands/ their יְבַלּ֥וּye.va.Luthey will use to [the] full בְחִירָֽי׃ve.chi.Ra/ichosen ones/ my

King James Version

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.

Cross-references

Psalms 92:12 The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, and grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
Psalms 91:16 With long life I will satisfy him and show him My salvation.”
Psalms 21:4 He asked You for life, and You granted it—length of days, forever and ever.
Isaiah 65:15 You will leave behind your name as a curse for My chosen ones, and the Lord GOD will slay you; but to His servants He will give another name.
Isaiah 65:9 And I will bring forth descendants from Jacob, and heirs from Judah; My elect will possess My mountains, and My servants will dwell there.
Genesis 5:5 So Adam lived a total of 930 years, and then he died.
Genesis 5:27 So Methuselah lived a total of 969 years, and then he died.
Leviticus 26:16 then this is what I will do to you: I will bring upon you sudden terror, wasting disease, and fever that will destroy your sight and drain your life. You will sow your seed in vain, because your enemies will eat it.
Revelation 20:3 And he threw him into the Abyss, shut it, and sealed it over him, so that he could not deceive the nations until the thousand years were complete. After that, he must be released for a brief period of time.