Isaiah 42:11
“Let the wilderness and the cities thereof lift up their voice, the villages that Kedar doth inhabit: let the inhabitants of the rock sing, let them shout from the top of the mountains.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Even the wilderness and those who dwell in rocky, barren places will sing and shout from the mountaintops. No corner of creation is too remote for God's redemptive joy.
Context
The invitation to praise is extended to the most remote and unlikely inhabitants of the earth.
What Does Isaiah 42:11 Mean?
The call expands to include the most unlikely places. The wilderness, the barren lands, and the villages of Kedar (a region east of Israel in the Arabian desert, known for its remoteness and hardship) are invited to lift up their voices. Even the inhabitants of the rock, those who dwell in rocky, inhospitable terrain, will sing. And they will shout from the mountaintops. The image suggests that even the most remote, harsh, and seemingly forgotten places on earth will participate in the celebration. There is no corner of creation, no matter how far from the centers of power or prosperity, that is excluded from God's salvation.
This speaks to the heart of God's purpose: to reach every nation, every people, every corner of the earth. It also speaks to us personally. If you feel isolated, barren, or far from God's attention, this verse says otherwise. The wilderness dweller is as much invited to sing as the city resident. The isolated mountaintop is no barrier to hearing and responding to God's call. No one is too far away, too rough, or too seemingly unimportant to be included in God's redemptive joy.
Application
If you feel remote from God's presence or unworthy of his attention, know that you are not outside the reach of his love. He calls the wilderness to sing, the barren to rejoice, the isolated to shout from the mountaintops. Your remoteness does not disqualify you. Begin to sing.