Isaiah 65:21 — Word Study
WLCוּבָנ֥וּ בָתִּ֖ים וְיָשָׁ֑בוּ וְנָטְע֣וּ כְרָמִ֔ים וְאָכְל֖וּ פִּרְיָֽם׃
BSAThey will buildbânâh [establish, construct] housesbayith [dwelling places, homes] and dwell in themyâshab [reside, abide] they will plantnâṭaʻ [establish, cultivate] vineyardskerem [gardens for vines, crops] and eatʼâkal [devour, consume] their fruitpᵉrîy [produce, harvest]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וּבָנ֥וּ | and they will build | Verb, Qal, sequential perfect third person common plural |
| בָתִּ֖ים | houses | Noun common, masculine plural absolute |
| וְיָשָׁ֑בוּ | and they will dwell [in them] | Verb, Qal, sequential perfect third person common plural |
| וְנָטְע֣וּ | and they will plant | Verb, Qal, sequential perfect third person common plural |
| כְרָמִ֔ים | vineyards | Noun common, masculine plural absolute |
| וְאָכְל֖וּ | and they will eat | Verb, Qal, sequential perfect third person common plural |
| פִּרְיָֽם׃ | fruit their | Noun common masculine singular construct, suffix |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | They will build houses and dwell in them; they will plant vineyards and eat their fruit. |
| KJV | And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them. |
| ASV | And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them. |
| YLT | And they have built houses, and inhabited, And planted vineyards, and eaten their fruit. |
| WEB | They will build houses and inhabit them. They will plant vineyards and eat their fruit. |
| BBE | And they will be building houses and living in them; planting vine-gardens and getting the fruit of them. |
Translations agree on the key actions of building and dwelling.
The structure consists of a main action followed by two sets of actions, illustrating a sequence of building, dwelling, planting, and eating.







8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbבָּנָה
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Isaiah 65:21
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — A Vision of Restorationgenerated
Isaiah 65:21 presents a hopeful future where people will build their own homes and enjoy the fruits of their labor. This is part of a larger message of restoration for God's people, emphasizing a time when they will no longer labor for others but will reap the benefits of their own work, as also seen in Isaiah 65:22.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Isaiah 62:8–9 | The LORD has sworn by His right hand and by His mighty arm: “Never again will I give your grain to your enemies for food, nor will foreigners drink the new wine for which you have toiled. |
| 2 | 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. |
| 3 | Deuteronomy 28:30–33 | You will be pledged in marriage to a woman, but another man will violate her. You will build a house but will not live in it. You will plant a vineyard but will not enjoy its fruit. |
| 4 | Judges 6:1–6 | Again the Israelites did evil in the sight of the LORD; so He delivered them into the hand of Midian for seven years, |
| 5 | Jeremiah 31:4–5 | Again I will build you, and you will be rebuilt, O Virgin Israel. Again you will take up your tambourines and go out in joyful dancing. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 6 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — בָּנָה, u.va.Nugenerated
The verb בָּנָה (banah) means to build, establishing something like a home or a family. It conveys the act of constructing or repairing, indicating a sense of permanence and stability.
This form is a sequential perfect, indicating an action that will be completed in the future. The use of בָּנָה here emphasizes the positive outcome of rebuilding and establishing a community.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
In this study, the verse is read in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses build and dwell to convey the actions of the people.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The verse consists of a series of clauses, with the main actions being introduced by the verbs וּבָנ֥וּ (and they will build), וְיָשָׁ֑בוּ (and they will dwell), וְנָטְע֣וּ (and they will plant), and וְאָכְל֖וּ (and they will eat).
Each verb governs its respective object, creating a clear structure that outlines the actions of the people in this future vision.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates בָּנָה as οἰκοδομήσουσιν (they will build), which retains the meaning of constructing homes. This choice reflects a direct correspondence to the Hebrew, emphasizing the act of building.
The Greek term suggests a similar focus on the establishment of physical structures, aligning with the Hebrew intent of permanence and stability.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Isaiah 65:21 speaks of a future where people will build their own houses and live in them, plant vineyards, and enjoy the fruits of their labor. This reflects a time of restoration and blessing for God's people.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
It signifies a return to stability and ownership, where people will have their own homes and live securely.
Planting vineyards symbolizes prosperity and the ability to enjoy the fruits of one's labor, reflecting a time of abundance.
It highlights God's intention to restore His people, allowing them to enjoy the blessings of their labor without fear of loss.
This vision contrasts with the experiences of exile, where people labored for others; now, they will reap the benefits of their own work.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What does it mean to you to have a place to call home?
- How can you cultivate the blessings in your life like planting a vineyard?
- In what ways do you see God's promises fulfilled in your life?
- How can you share the abundance you receive with others?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Jerome comments on this verse, noting the promise of building and inhabiting homes, emphasizing the fulfillment of God's word.
And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them. They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat. LXX likewise.Early Church Fathers on Isaiah 65 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Isaiah 65:21 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleAnd they shall build houses, and inhabit them,.... In Jerusalem, and other parts of Judea: though this need not be limited to the Jews, but be considered as reaching to all the Lord's people, the
Read John Gill on Isaiah 65 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryAnd they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them. They shall build houses, and inhabit them ... - (note, Isaiah 62:8; Amos 9:14 .)
Read Robert Jamieson on Isaiah 65 →
Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleThe quite contrary to what is said of the slothful man, : see .
Read Matthew Poole on Isaiah 65 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsIsaiah 65:21 And they shall build houses, and inhabit [them]; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them.Ver. 21. And they shall build houses and inhabit them.] The contrary whereunto is threatened against the wicked. God’ s people are freed from the curse of the law, from the hurt, if not from the smart of afflictions.
Read John Trapp on Isaiah 65 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(21) They shall build houses . . .—The proverbial type of national security and peace, as the opposite was of national misfortune (Leviticus 26:16; Deuteronomy 28:30).
Read Charles John Ellicott on Isaiah 65 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges17–25. The last sentence of Isa 65:16 inspires the loftiest flight of the prophet’s imagination. The “former troubles shall be forgotten” in the glories of a new creation, in which all things minister to the welfare of Jehovah’s regenerate people.
Read Cambridge on Isaiah 65 →
Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleAnd they shall build houses - (See the notes at Isaiah 62:8-9).
Read Albert Barnes on Isaiah 65 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible21, 22. Not build, and another inhabit — As against Deuteronomy 28:15-68, and Leviticus 26:14-46, (which see,) here is a promise of permanent blessedness in the new order of things.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Isaiah 65 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
They will build houses and dwell in them; they will plant vineyards and eat their fruit.
They will build houses and inhabit them. They will plant vineyards and eat their fruit.
They will build houses and dwell in them; they will plant vineyards and eat their fruit.
They will build houses and live in them; they will plant vineyards and eat their fruit.
Tyndale line
And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them.
And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them.
And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them.
And they shall build houses, and inhabit them ; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them.
And they shall build houses and inhabite them, and they shall plant vineyards, and eate the fruite of them.
Strictly literal
And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit thereof:
And they have built houses, and inhabited, And planted vineyards, and eaten their fruit.
And they have built houses, and inhabited, || And planted vineyards, and eaten their fruit.
And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat their fruit.
They will build houses and inhabit them, and they will plant vineyards and eat their fruit.
From the Latin
And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruits of them.
Simplified
They will build houses and live in them; they will eat the fruit of the vineyards they themselves planted.
And they will be building houses and living in them; planting vine-gardens and getting the fruit of them.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint agree closely, with all seven words matched. The Dead Sea Scrolls also support the MT, showing consistency in the message of restoration and the actions described.
וּבָנ֥וּ בָתִּ֖ים וְיָשָׁ֑בוּ וְנָטְע֣וּ כְרָמִ֔ים וְאָכְל֖וּ פִּרְיָֽם׃
7 of the 7 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
ובנו בתים וישבו ונטעו כרמים ואכלו את פרי׳אם
8 words on the leather.
ובנו בתים וישבו ונטעו כרמים ואכלו פרי׳ם
3 words on the leather — 4 partly restored.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Isaiah 65:21
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
The Hebrew word בָּנָה (banah) means "to build" and encompasses various forms such as rebuilding, establishing, and making permanent. It can refer to physical construction, like building a house or family, as well as metaphorical uses, such as the establishment of restored exiles. The entries indicate that it can also imply being built up, particularly in the context of a childless wife becoming a mother.
בָּנָה 373 vb. build
Qal build
Niph.
be built
be rebuilt
(fig.) of restored exiles, = established
established, made permanent
base
H1129 בָּנָה build .build
.. . be built
. be rebuilt
. . (fig.) of restored exiles, = established
. established, made permanent
1129 banah baw-naw'
a primitive root; to build (literally and
figuratively):--(begin to) build(-er), obtain children, make,
repair, set (up), X surely.
בָּנָה (ba.nah) — to build.
1) to build, rebuild, establish, cause to continue
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to build, rebuild
1a2) to build a house (ie, establish a family)
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be built
1b2) to be rebuilt
1b3) established (of restored exiles) (fig.)
1b4) established (made permanent)
1b5) to be built up (of childless wife becoming the mother of a family through the children of a concubine)
Aramaic equivalent: be.nah (בְּנָה "to build" H1124)
Conj | V-Qal-3cp — Verb · Qal · sequential perfect third person common pluralHc/Vqq3cp
The Hebrew word בַּיִת (*bayith*) means 'house' and encompasses a wide range of meanings, including dwelling, family, and place. It can refer to physical structures, such as homes and temples, as well as metaphorical uses like the body or household affairs. The word is built from the root related to 'between' and appears in various contexts throughout the Old Testament.
בֵּית fem. of בַּיִן, בֵּין prep. between
base
בַּ֫יִת 2034 n.m. house
house
place
receptacle
of house as containing a family
household, family (592 t.)
house, including household affairs
lit. housewards, hence metaph. inwards
מִבַּיִת
adv. on the inside
prep. within
base
H1004a בֵּית fem. of בַּיִן, בֵּין prep. between H1004b בַּ֫יִת house
1004 bayith bah'-yith
probably from 1129 abbreviated; a house (in the greatest
variation of applications, especially family, etc.):--court,
daughter, door, + dungeon, family, + forth of, X great as
would contain, hangings, home(born), (winter)house(-hold),
inside(-ward), palace, place, + prison, + steward, + tablet,
temple, web, + within(-out).
see HEBREW for 01129
בֵּית (bet) — place.
nm
place, origin, between
בַּ֫יִת (ba.yit) — house: home.
: home/temple/building
nm
1) house
1a) house, dwelling habitation
1b) shelter or abode of animals
1c) human bodies (fig.)
1d) of Sheol
1e) of abode of light and darkness
1f) of land of Ephraim
2) place
3) receptacle
4) home, house as containing a family
5) household, family
5a) those belonging to the same household
5b) family of descendants, descendants as organized body
6) household affairs
7) inwards (metaph.)
8) (TWOT) temple
adv
9) on the inside
prep
10) within
בַּ֫יִת (ba.yit) — Beth-(ashbea).
nm
This name is used for a house, habitation
Combined with ash.be.a (אַשְׁבֵּעַ "Ashbea" H0791)
בַּ֫יִת (ba.yit) — Beth (Haggan).
nm
This name is used for a house, habitation
Combined with hag (גַּן "Haggan" H1588)
בַּ֫יִת (ba.yit) — Beth-(togarmah).
nm
This name is used for a house, habitation
N-mp — Noun common · masculine plural absoluteHNcmpa
יָשַׁב (yashab) is a Hebrew verb meaning to sit, remain, or dwell. It encompasses a range of actions from simply sitting down to more complex ideas like establishing a home or causing a place to be inhabited. The entries indicate various forms, including Qal (to sit), Niphal (to be inhabited), and Hiphil (to cause to dwell). There is an Aramaic equivalent, יְתִב (ye.tiv), meaning 'to dwell'.
יָשַׁב 1090 vb. sit, remain, dwell
Qal
sit
sit, sit down
sit down
sit = be set (as a jewel)
remain, stay, tarry
with special emphasis of qualifying phr.
dwell, have one’s abode
of a land or city, sit, abide, seated in its place, fig. for be inhabited
Niph. be inhabited, of land
Pi. and they shall set their encampments in thee
Hiph.
cause to sit
cause to abide
cause to dwell
cause cities to be inhabited
marry (prop. give a dwelling to)
Hoph. and ye be made to dwell alone in the midst of the land
base
H3427 יָשַׁב sit, remain, dwell
3427 yashab yaw-shab'
a primitive root; properly, to sit down (specifically as
judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to
remain; causatively, to settle, to marry:--(make to)
abide(-ing), continue, (cause to, make to) dwell(-ing), ease
self, endure, establish, X fail, habitation, haunt, (make to)
inhabit(-ant), make to keep (house), lurking, X marry(-ing),
(bring again to) place, remain, return, seat, set(- tle),
(down-)sit(-down, still, -ting down, -ting (place) -uate),
take, tarry.
יָשַׁב (ya.shav) — to dwell.
1) to dwell, remain, sit, abide
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to sit, sit down
1a2) to be set
1a3) to remain, stay
1a4) to dwell, have one's abode
1b) (Niphal) to be inhabited
1c) (Piel) to set, place
1d) (Hiphil)
1d1) to cause to sit
1d2) to cause to abide, set
1d3) to cause to dwell
1d4) to cause (cities) to be inhabited
1d5) to marry (give an dwelling to)
1e) (Hophal)
1e1) to be inhabited
1e2) to make to dwell
Aramaic equivalent: ye.tiv (יְתִב "to dwell" H3488)
Conj | V-Qal-3cp — Verb · Qal · sequential perfect third person common pluralHc/Vqq3cp
נָטַע (nata`) is a Hebrew verb meaning to plant or establish. It can refer to planting in a literal sense or establishing something figuratively. The verb appears in both the Qal and Niphal forms, indicating actions of planting and being established, respectively.
נָטַע vb. plant
Qal
plant
plant, fig. = establish
Niph. be planted, fig., = be established.
base
H5193 נָטַע plant
5193 nata` naw-tah'
a primitive root; properly, to strike in, i.e. fix;
specifically, to plant (literally or
figuratively):--fastened, plant(- er).
נָטַע (na.ta) — to plant.
1) to plant, fasten, fix, establish
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to plant
1a2) to plant, establish (fig.)
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be planted
1b2) to be established (fig.)
Conj | V-Qal-3cp — Verb · Qal · sequential perfect third person common pluralHc/Vqq3cp
כֶּרֶם (kerem) means 'vineyard' and is derived from an unused root of uncertain meaning. It covers the concept of a garden or vineyard, including terms like 'vines' and 'vintage.' The word appears in contexts related to agriculture, specifically in the Old Testament.
כֶּרֶם 92 n.m. (f.) vineyard
base
H3754 כֶּרֶם vineyard
3754 kerem keh'-rem
from an unused root of uncertain meaning; a garden or
vineyard:--vines, (increase of the) vineyard(-s), vintage. See
also 1021.
see HEBREW for 01021
כֶּרֶם (ke.rem) — vineyard.
vineyard
N-cp — Noun common · masculine plural absoluteHNcmpa
- Origin and antiquity of
- The design of planting
- Frequently walled or fenced with hedges
אָכַל (akal) means 'to eat' and encompasses a wide range of meanings, including literal consumption by humans and animals, as well as figurative uses like devouring by fire or destruction. It can describe actions such as feeding or causing to eat, and it also appears in contexts of oppression and destruction. The verb has various forms, indicating different subjects and nuances.
אָכַל 806 vb. eat
Qal
eat, human subject
of beasts, birds, etc., eat, devour
fig. of fire, devour, consume
of sword, devour, slay
in genl., devour, consume, destroy
fig. of oppression, devour the poor
Niph.
be eaten by man
be devoured by fire, consumed
be wasted, destroyed, of flesh
Pu. be consumed
Hiph.
cause to eat, feed with
cause to devoure, obj. sword
base
H398 אָכַל eat .. eat, human subject
. of beasts, birds, etc., eat, devour
. fig. of fire, devour, consume
. of sword, devour, slay
. in genl., devour, consume, destroy
. fig. of oppression, devour the poor
. . be eaten by man
. be devoured by fire, consumed
. be wasted, destroyed, of flesh
. be consumed
. . cause to eat, feed with
. cause to devoure, obj. sword
398 'akal aw-kal'
a primitive root; to eat (literally or figuratively):--X at
all, burn up, consume, devour(-er, up), dine, eat(-er, up),
feed (with), food, X freely, X in...wise(-deed, plenty), (lay)
meat, X quite.
אָכַל (a.khal) — to eat.
1) to eat, devour, burn up, feed
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to eat (human subject)
1a2) to eat, devour (of beasts and birds)
1a3) to devour, consume (of fire)
1a4) to devour, slay (of sword)
1a5) to devour, consume, destroy (inanimate subjects - ie, pestilence, drought)
1a6) to devour (of oppression)
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be eaten (by men)
1b2) to be devoured, consumed (of fire)
1b3) to be wasted, destroyed (of flesh)
1c) (Pual)
1c1) to cause to eat, feed with
1c2) to cause to devour
1d) (Hiphil)
1d1) to feed
1d2) to cause to eat
1e) (Piel)
1e1) consume
Aramaic equivalent: a.khal (אֲכַל "to devour" H0399)
Conj | V-Qal-3cp — Verb · Qal · sequential perfect third person common pluralHc/Vqq3cp
פְּרִי (priy) means 'fruit' and encompasses various meanings, including the literal fruit of the ground, offspring or children, and figurative fruit representing the consequences of actions. It is derived from a root that emphasizes the concept of produce or reward.
פְּרִי 119 n.m. fruit
fruit of the ground, of produce in gen.
= offspring, fruit of womb
fig. of fruit of actions, i.e. their consequences
base
H6529 פְּרִי fruit . fruit of the ground, of produce in gen.
. = offspring, fruit of womb
. fig. of fruit of actions, i.e. their consequences
6529 priy per-ee'
from 6509; fruit (literally or figuratively):--bough,
((first-)) fruit((-ful)), reward.
see HEBREW for 06509
פְּרִי (pe.ri) — fruit.
1) fruit
1a) fruit, produce (of the ground)
1b) fruit, offspring, children, progeny (of the womb)
1c) fruit (of actions) (fig.)
N-ms | Suff — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffixHNcmsc/Sp3mp
