Isaiah 65:17

new heavens and a new earth i.e. a new universe, Hebrew having no single word for the Cosmos (cf. ch. Isaiah 66:22; 2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 21:1). The phrase sums up a whole aspect of the prophetic theology. The idea of a transformation of nature so as to be in harmony with a renewed humanity has met us several times in the earlier part of the book (ch. Isaiah 11:6-9; Isaiah 29:17; Isaiah 30:23 ff., Isaiah 32:15, &c.), and is a frequent theme of prophecy, but the thought of a new creation is nowhere expressed so absolutely as here. It may have been suggested to the prophet by ch. Isaiah 51:6, where it is said that the present universe shall be dissolved, although it is doubtful if that verse contains more than a metaphorical expression of the transitoriness of the material in contrast with the spiritual. Here there can be no doubt that the words are to be interpreted literally. At the same time the new creation preserves as it were the form of the old, for the next verse shews that a new Jerusalem is the centre of the renovated earth.

the former R.V. the former things. The reference may be specifically to the "former troubles" of Isaiah 65:16, or generally to the old state of things which shall have vanished for ever.

nor come into mind Lit. "come up on the heart," as Jeremiah 3:16; Jeremiah 7:31, &c.