Agrarian Hope in Isaiah 40–55

Abstract

It is widely recognized that hope is a central theme in Deutero-Isaiah (Isa 40–55). With the help of interdisciplinary work in ecological criticism and moral philosophy, this article analyzes the theme of hope in the text and argues that the renewal of the natural environment is central to its vision for the future. Using insights drawn from agrarian approaches to biblical texts, the article shows how this renewal is understood as mutually beneficial for both humans and the land, strongly linking the flourishing of Zion with the Judean hinterland. This is demonstrated through a survey of language in the text referring to the natural landscape and readings of specific texts relating to the theme of ecological restoration (41:17–20; 43:16–21; 44:23; 45:8; 51:1–8; 55:1–13). As Deutero-Isaiah’s message of hope responds to the experience of cultural disaster in the sixth century BCE, it resembles the “radical hope” identified by Jonathan Lear. This hope stands apart from the traditional institutional forms of monarchy and Temple, and instead looks toward a vision of human flourishing deeply connected to the landscape.