Isaiah 65:25 Meaning and Explanation
“The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent's meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the LORD.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →In the age to come, even the predatory nature of animals will be transformed, the wolf peacefully grazing alongside the lamb, a vision of universal peace that extends to all creation.
The Context of Isaiah 65:25
God completes the vision of the new creation with a picture of animal harmony, echoing Isaiah 11:6-9, and silencing the serpent as the agent of harm.
What Does Isaiah 65:25 Mean?
From the human sphere of work and blessing and answered prayer, Isaiah's vision now expands to encompass all creation. The wolf and lamb feed together, animals that in nature are predator and prey locked in a hunger that requires the death of one for the life of the other. In the new creation, this enmity is healed. The lion, king of beasts and symbol of strength, eats straw like the ox, content with simple herbage. The serpent, the image of cunning and rebellion since Genesis, is silenced, reduced to eating dust as it was cursed to do in the Garden. What strikes us is that the transformation is not one of death or annihilation of the predatory animals, but of the complete reordering of their nature, their desires, their place in creation. The fierce appetite is gentled; the danger is removed; all things dwell together in shalom.
This final image holds profound meaning for those who long for peace. We live in a world of tension, competition for resources, predatory relationships. Even within families and communities, we see the play of power and dominance. But Isaiah promises a cosmos where that fundamental dynamic has been healed, where the strong no longer devour the weak, where the fierce predator lies peacefully at rest. This is not sentimental but revolutionary: all of creation will be gathered into God's 'holy mountain,' his presence, where harm simply does not occur because the nature of all that is has been remade in righteousness and love. The prophecy invites us to see beyond what currently is toward what the God of creation intends and will accomplish.
Isaiah 65:25 in the Original Language
shalom (שלום), implicit in 'shall not hurt nor destroy' -- peace, wholeness, the absence of harm and the presence of right relationship
How to Apply Isaiah 65:25 Today
We live in a broken creation where harm is woven into the fabric of survival. Yet we serve the God who will remake all things, who will not leave creation under the curse, but will restore it to harmony and peace. This hope does not paralyze us from working for justice now, but grounds that work in the confidence that God's intention is restoration, not abandonment.
Frequently Asked Questions About Isaiah 65:25
What does Isaiah 65:25 mean?
In the age to come, even the predatory nature of animals will be transformed, the wolf peacefully grazing alongside the lamb, a vision of universal peace that extends to all creation.
What is the context of Isaiah 65:25?
God completes the vision of the new creation with a picture of animal harmony, echoing Isaiah 11:6-9, and silencing the serpent as the agent of harm.
How can I apply Isaiah 65:25 today?
We live in a broken creation where harm is woven into the fabric of survival. Yet we serve the God who will remake all things, who will not leave creation under the curse, but will restore it to harmony and peace. This hope does not paralyze us from working for justice now, but grounds that work in the confidence that God's intention is restoration, not abandonment.