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Isaiah 40

World English Bible

WEB

1“Comfort, comfort my people,” says your God. 2“Speak comfortably to Jerusalem, and call out to her that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned, that she has received of Yahweh’s hand double for all her sins.” 3The voice of one who calls out, “Prepare the way of Yahweh in the wilderness! Make a level highway in the desert for our God. 4Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low. The uneven shall be made level, and the rough places a plain. 5Yahweh’s glory shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together; for the mouth of Yahweh has spoken it.” 6The voice of one saying, “Cry out!” One said, “What shall I cry?” “All flesh is like grass, and all its glory is like the flower of the field. 7The grass withers, the flower fades, because Yahweh’s breath blows on it. Surely the people are like grass. 8The grass withers, the flower fades; but the word of our God stands forever.” 9You who tell good news to Zion, go up on a high mountain. You who tell good news to Jerusalem, lift up your voice with strength! Lift it up! Don’t be afraid! Say to the cities of Judah, “Behold, your God!” 10Behold, the Lord Yahweh will come as a mighty one, and his arm will rule for him. Behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him. 11He will feed his flock like a shepherd. He will gather the lambs in his arm, and carry them in his bosom. He will gently lead those who have their young. 12Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and marked off the sky with his span, and calculated the dust of the earth in a measuring basket, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance? 13Who has directed Yahweh’s Spirit, or has taught him as his counselor? 14Who did he take counsel with, and who instructed him, and taught him in the path of justice, and taught him knowledge, and showed him the way of understanding? 15Behold, the nations are like a drop in a bucket, and are regarded as a speck of dust on a balance. Behold, he lifts up the islands like a very little thing. 16Lebanon is not sufficient to burn, nor its animals sufficient for a burnt offering. 17All the nations are like nothing before him. They are regarded by him as less than nothing, and vanity. 18To whom then will you liken God? Or what likeness will you compare to him? 19A workman has cast an image, and the goldsmith overlays it with gold, and casts silver chains for it. 20He who is too impoverished for such an offering chooses a tree that will not rot. He seeks a skillful workman to set up a carved image for him that will not be moved. 21Haven’t you known? Haven’t you heard? Haven’t you been told from the beginning? Haven’t you understood from the foundations of the earth? 22It is he who sits above the circle of the earth, and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers; who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them out like a tent to dwell in, 23who brings princes to nothing, who makes the judges of the earth meaningless. 24They are planted scarcely. They are sown scarcely. Their stock has scarcely taken root in the ground. He merely blows on them, and they wither, and the whirlwind takes them away as stubble. 25“To whom then will you liken me? Who is my equal?” says the Holy One. 26Lift up your eyes on high, and see who has created these, who brings out their army by number. He calls them all by name. By the greatness of his might, and because he is strong in power, not one is lacking. 27Why do you say, Jacob, and speak, Israel, “My way is hidden from Yahweh, and the justice due me is disregarded by my God”? 28Haven’t you known? Haven’t you heard? The everlasting God, Yahweh, the Creator of the ends of the earth, doesn’t faint. He isn’t weary. His understanding is unsearchable. 29He gives power to the weak. He increases the strength of him who has no might. 30Even the youths faint and get weary, and the young men utterly fall; 31but those who wait for Yahweh will renew their strength. They will mount up with wings like eagles. They will run, and not be weary. They will walk, and not faint.

World English Bible, 2020 stable text edition. Public domain; “World English Bible” is a trademark of eBible.org. eBible.org

Overview

Isaiah Chapter 40 serves as a powerful message of comfort and hope for the people of Israel during a time of distress and exile. The chapter opens with a divine command to comfort God’s people, emphasizing the need to speak tenderly to #Jerusalem and proclaim that her warfare is ended and her iniquity is pardoned (Isaiah 40:1-2). This sets the tone for a message of restoration, highlighting God's desire to bring peace and forgiveness to His people. The chapter also introduces the concept of preparing the way for the Lord, as it calls for the valleys to be lifted and the mountains to be made low, symbolizing the coming of God’s glory (Isaiah 40:3-5). This imagery points to the ultimate revelation of God’s presence among His people, which is fulfilled in the New Testament through the ministry of #JohnTheBaptist and the coming of Jesus Christ.

The chapter continues to emphasize the greatness of God, contrasting His eternal nature with the fleeting nature of humanity. Verses 6-8 remind us that all flesh is like grass, and the glory of man is like the flower of the field, but the word of the Lord stands forever (Isaiah 40:6-8). This serves as a reminder of God’s sovereignty and the assurance that His promises will endure. The chapter concludes with a powerful declaration of God’s strength and care for His people, portraying Him as a shepherd who gathers the lambs in His arms (Isaiah 40:10-11). This imagery reassures believers of God’s intimate involvement in their lives, encouraging them to trust in His power and provision. Overall, Isaiah 40 is a profound declaration of hope, emphasizing God’s faithfulness and the promise of redemption for His people.
#Isaiah #Comfort #Hope #GodsGlory

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Referenced by

  1. Genesis 21:33v28Genesis 21:33 refers to Abraham calling on the name of the Lord, the Everlasting God, which is a theme echoed in Isaiah 40:28, where God is described as the everlasting Creator who does not grow weary.
  2. Judges 8:4v29Judges 8:4 describes Gideon and his men as 'faint, yet pursuing,' which parallels Isaiah 40:29-31 where God gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak, encouraging perseverance.
  3. Job 9:8v22Job 9:8 describes God as stretching out the heavens and treading on the waves of the sea, similar to Isaiah 40:22, which speaks of God stretching out the heavens like a curtain.
  4. Job 11:7v28Job 11:7 questions whether humans can fathom the mysteries of God, similar to Isaiah 40:28, which declares that God's understanding is unsearchable.
  5. Job 21:22v13Job 21:22 questions who can teach God knowledge, resonating with Isaiah 40:13-14 which emphasizes God's omniscience and the futility of human counsel.
  6. Job 22:12v22Job 22:12 speaks of God being in the height of heaven, which is echoed in Isaiah 40:22, where God is described as sitting above the circle of the earth. Both passages highlight God's transcendence and sovereignty over creation.
  7. Job 25:5v26Job 25:5 speaks of the purity of celestial bodies compared to humans, while Isaiah 40:26 highlights God's creation and control over the stars, underscoring His majesty and the relative insignificance of human beings.
  8. Job 26:7v22Job 26:7 describes God stretching out the north over empty space and hanging the earth on nothing, which parallels Isaiah 40:22 where God is depicted as sitting above the circle of the earth, emphasizing His sovereignty and the majesty of His creation.
  9. Job 36:22v13Job 36:22 speaks of God's exalted power and His role as a teacher, which is paralleled in Isaiah 40:13-14, where God's wisdom and understanding are unmatched.
  10. Job 37:23v28Job 37:23 declares that God is beyond our understanding and great in power, which is echoed in Isaiah 40:28 where God is described as everlasting, the Creator who does not grow weary, and whose understanding is unsearchable.
  11. Job 39:26v31Job 39:26 highlights the instinctive flight of the hawk, which is attributed to God's wisdom. Isaiah 40:31 speaks of those who wait on the Lord renewing their strength and soaring like eagles, drawing a parallel between divine empowerment and natural instinct.
  12. Psalms 23:3v31Psalm 23:3 speaks of God restoring the soul, which is echoed in Isaiah 40:31 where those who wait on the Lord renew their strength, highlighting spiritual renewal.
  13. Psalms 27:14v31Psalm 27:14 encourages waiting for the Lord, which is echoed in Isaiah 40:31 where those who wait on the Lord renew their strength.
  14. Psalms 33:20v31Psalm 33:20 expresses waiting for the Lord as our help and shield, which resonates with Isaiah 40:31 where those who wait on the Lord renew their strength, highlighting the theme of reliance on God.
  15. Psalms 119:89v8Psalm 119:89 declares the eternal nature of God's word, a theme also found in Isaiah 40:8, which states that the word of God stands forever.
  16. Psalms 130:5v31Psalm 130:5 emphasizes waiting for the Lord, similar to Isaiah 40:31, which promises renewed strength to those who wait upon the Lord.
  17. Psalms 145:3v28Psalm 145:3 speaks of the greatness of the Lord, whose greatness is unsearchable. Isaiah 40:28 echoes this by declaring that the Lord is everlasting and His understanding is unsearchable.
  18. Psalms 147:4v26Psalm 147:4 describes God determining the number of stars and calling them by name, which parallels Isaiah 40:26 where God is depicted as the Creator who brings out the starry host by number, emphasizing His omnipotence and intimate knowledge of creation.
  19. Isaiah 35:8v3Isaiah 35:8 speaks of a highway of holiness, which is further elaborated in Isaiah 40:3 as the way prepared for the Lord, a theme picked up in the New Testament regarding John the Baptist.
  20. Jeremiah 36:27-28v8Jeremiah 36:27-28 shows God's command to rewrite the burned scroll, affirming the enduring nature of His word, as echoed in Isaiah 40:8, which declares that the word of God stands forever.
  21. Lamentations 4:22v2Lamentations 4:22 speaks of the end of punishment for Zion, similar to Isaiah 40:2 which proclaims that Jerusalem's warfare is ended and her iniquity is pardoned.
  22. Zechariah 1:16v1Zechariah 1:16 speaks of God's return to Jerusalem with mercy and the rebuilding of the temple. Isaiah 40:1-2 also speaks of comfort and the end of Jerusalem's warfare, indicating a time of restoration.
  23. Zechariah 4:7v4Zechariah 4:7 speaks of the great mountain becoming a plain before Zerubbabel, symbolizing obstacles being removed by God's power. Isaiah 40:4 similarly describes valleys being lifted and mountains made low, preparing the way for the Lord, emphasizing God's ability to overcome barriers.
  24. Matthew 3:3v3Matthew 3:3 cites Isaiah 40:3, identifying John the Baptist as the voice crying in the wilderness, preparing the way for the Lord, thus fulfilling the prophecy.
  25. Mark 1:2-3v3Mark 1:2-3 quotes Isaiah 40:3, identifying John the Baptist as the voice crying in the wilderness, preparing the way for the Lord, thus linking the prophecy to its fulfillment in the New Testament.
  26. Mark 13:31v8Mark 13:31 and Isaiah 40:8 both affirm the enduring nature of God's word, contrasting it with the transient nature of the world.
  27. Luke 3:4-6v3Luke 3:4-6 quotes Isaiah 40:3-5, identifying John the Baptist as the voice crying in the wilderness, preparing the way for the Lord, which emphasizes the fulfillment of prophecy regarding the coming of the Messiah.
  28. Luke 21:33v8Both passages affirm the enduring nature of God's word, contrasting it with the fleeting nature of the world, emphasizing the reliability and eternal truth of Scripture.
  29. John 1:23v3John 1:23 quotes Isaiah 40:3, identifying John the Baptist as the voice crying in the wilderness, preparing the way for the Lord.
  30. 1 Corinthians 2:16v131 Corinthians 2:16 references Isaiah 40:13, questioning who has known the mind of the Lord, but affirms that believers have the mind of Christ, indicating a profound spiritual insight granted to them.
  31. 2 Corinthians 4:16v312 Corinthians 4:16 speaks of the inner self being renewed day by day, despite outward decay. Isaiah 40:31 promises that those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength, drawing a parallel in the theme of spiritual renewal and perseverance.

Topics in this chapter

Related chapters

  • Matthew 3Prepare the WayVoice in the WildernessJohn the Baptist
  • Luke 3HeraldVoice in the WildernessJohn the Baptist
  • Mark 1John the BaptistGood NewsPreparation
  • Isaiah 35Glory of GodAdventIsaiah
  • Psalms 103Human FrailtyGod's NatureGod's Character
  • Malachi 3John the BaptistGod's NatureMessengers in the Bible
  • John 1John the BaptistWord of GodAdvent
  • 1 Peter 1God's NatureEternalWord of God
  • 2 Corinthians 1Divine ConsolationComfortGod's Character
  • Psalms 90GrassHuman FrailtyTransience
  • Psalms 147Hoping in GodCreatorOmnipotence
  • Psalms 102Human FrailtyGod's NatureEternal

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