This verse envisions a future of extraordinary longevity and blessing under God’s reign.
Isaiah, a prophet who ministered from around 740 to 681 BC, envisions a time of great blessing for God’s people. He proclaims, “No longer will there be in it an infant who lives but a few days, Or an old man who does not live out his days; For the youth will die at the age of one hundred And the one who does not reach the age of one hundred Will be thought accursed” (Isaiah 65:20). In this life-giving scene, Isaiah describes a dramatic reversal: the sorrow of premature death will end, and the unjust circumstances that cut life short will no longer trouble humanity. Such a picture offers a foretaste of a renewed reality in which God protects the vulnerable and upholds righteous living among His people.
When Isaiah writes, “No longer will there be in it an infant who lives but a few days” (Isaiah 65:20), he depicts a world free from heartbreak and tragedy. The term “infant” underscores the most fragile stage of life, showing God’s care over the marginalized beginning at birth. Meanwhile, the statement, “Or an old man who does not live out his days” (Isaiah 65:20), speaks of a future where growing old is accompanied by dignity and continued purpose. The reference to a youth living to be one hundred signifies unimaginable longevity in that ancient context, a direct contrast to the brief and uncertain lifespan that often plagued ancient communities.
In the wider biblical narrative, these promises point to the ultimate fulfillment of God’s redemptive plan. Just as Isaiah promises the security of long life, the New Testament reinforces God’s plan to wipe away every tear (Revelation 21:4). The curse of death, introduced at humanity’s fall, is reversed by the victory purchased by Jesus, whose resurrection opens the way to eternal life (1 Corinthians 15:54). Isaiah’s picture of an idealized world in which death no longer intrudes foreshadows this final redemption and highlights God’s mercy toward all generations.
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Isaiah 65:20 meaning
Isaiah, a prophet who ministered from around 740 to 681 BC, envisions a time of great blessing for God’s people. He proclaims, “No longer will there be in it an infant who lives but a few days, Or an old man who does not live out his days; For the youth will die at the age of one hundred And the one who does not reach the age of one hundred Will be thought accursed” (Isaiah 65:20). In this life-giving scene, Isaiah describes a dramatic reversal: the sorrow of premature death will end, and the unjust circumstances that cut life short will no longer trouble humanity. Such a picture offers a foretaste of a renewed reality in which God protects the vulnerable and upholds righteous living among His people.
When Isaiah writes, “No longer will there be in it an infant who lives but a few days” (Isaiah 65:20), he depicts a world free from heartbreak and tragedy. The term “infant” underscores the most fragile stage of life, showing God’s care over the marginalized beginning at birth. Meanwhile, the statement, “Or an old man who does not live out his days” (Isaiah 65:20), speaks of a future where growing old is accompanied by dignity and continued purpose. The reference to a youth living to be one hundred signifies unimaginable longevity in that ancient context, a direct contrast to the brief and uncertain lifespan that often plagued ancient communities.
In the wider biblical narrative, these promises point to the ultimate fulfillment of God’s redemptive plan. Just as Isaiah promises the security of long life, the New Testament reinforces God’s plan to wipe away every tear (Revelation 21:4). The curse of death, introduced at humanity’s fall, is reversed by the victory purchased by Jesus, whose resurrection opens the way to eternal life (1 Corinthians 15:54). Isaiah’s picture of an idealized world in which death no longer intrudes foreshadows this final redemption and highlights God’s mercy toward all generations.