Isaiah 40

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 40:3

The voice of him that crieth - Lowth and Noyes render this, ‘A voice crieth,’ and annex the phrase ‘in the wilderness’ to the latter part of the sentence:A voice crieth, ‘In the wilderness prepare ye the way of Yahweh.’The Hebrew (קורא קול qôl qôrē') will bear this construction, though the Vulgate and the Septuagint render it as in our common version. The sense is not essentially different, though the parallelism seems to require the translation proposed by Lowth. The design is to state the... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 40:4

Every valley shall be exalted - That is, every valley, or low piece of ground, shall be filled up so as to make a level highway, as was done in order to facilitate the march of armies. This verse is evidently designed to explain what is intended in Isaiah 40:3, by preparing the way for Yahweh. Applied to the return of the Jews from Babylon, it means simply that the impassable valleys were to be filled up so as to make a level road for their journey. If applied to the work of John, the... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 40:5

And the glory of the Lord - The phrase here means evidently the majesty, power, or honor of Yahweh. He would display his power, and show himself to be a covenant-keeping God, by delivering his people from their bondage, and reconducting them to their own land. This glory and faithfulness would be shown in his delivering them from their captivity in Babylon; and it would be still more illustriously shown in his sending the Messiah to accomplish the deliverance of his people in later days.And all... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 40:6

The voice said - Or rather ‘a voice.’ Isaiah represents himself here again as hearing a voice. The word ‘the’ introduced in our translation, mars the sense, inasmuch as it leads to the supposition that it was the voice of the same person or crier referred to in Isaiah 40:3. But it is different. That was the voice of a crier or herald, proclaiming that a way was to be open in the desert. This is introduced for a different purpose. It is to proclaim distinctly that while everything else was... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 40:7

The grass withereth - Soon withers. Its beauty is soon gone.The flower fadeth - Soon fades; or fades when the wind of Yahweh passes over it. So is also with man. He loses his vigor, and dies at once when Yahweh takes away his strength and beauty.Because the spirit of the Lord bloweth upon it - This should be rendered, undoubtedly, ‘When the wind of Yahweh bloweth upon it.’ The word ‘spirit’ here does not suit the connection, and does not express the idea of the prophet. The word רוח rûach... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 40:8

The grass withereth ... - This is repeated from the former verse for the sake of emphasis, or strong confirmation.But the word of our God - The phrase ‘word of our God,’ refers either to his promise to be the protector and deliverer of his people in their captivity, or, in general, means that all his promises shall be firm and unchanging.Shall stand for ever - Amidst all revolutions among men, his promise shall be firm. It shall not only live amidst the changes of dynasties, and the revolutions... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 40:9

O Zion, that bringest good tidings - This is evidently the continuance of what the ‘voice’ said, or of the annunciation which was to give joy to an afflicted and oppressed people. There has been, however, much diversity of opinion in regard to the meaning of the passage. The margin renders it, ‘Thou that tellest good tidings to Zion,’ making Zion the receiver, and not the publisher of the message that was to convey joy. The Vulgate, in a similar way, renders it, ‘Ascend a high mountain, thou... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 40:10

Behold, the Lord God will come - (See the note at Isaiah 40:3) Applied to the condition of the Jews in exile, this means that God would come to deliver them. Applied to the times of the Messiah, it means that God would manifest himself in a powerful manner as mighty to save.With strong hand - (בחזק bechâzâq). Margin, ‘Against the strong.’ So Vitringa and others understand it; and regard it as referring to the mighty enemies of the people of God, or, as Vitringa particularly supposes, to the... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 40:11

He shall feed his flock - In the previous verse, the fact had been asserted that God would come to subdue his foes, and to reward his people. In this verse, the mild and gentle character of his government over his people is predicted. It would not be that of a conqueror over vanquished subjects; but it would be mild and tender, like that of a shepherd who carries the lambs, which are unable to walk, in his own arms, and gently leads along the feeble and the delicate. The verb translated “to... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 40:12

Who hath measured - The object in this and the following verses to Isaiah 40:26, is to show the greatness, power, and majesty of God, by strong contrast with his creatures, and more especially with idols. Perhaps the prophet designed to meet and answer an implied objection: that the work of deliverance was so great that it could not be accomplished. The answer was, that God had made all things; that he was infinitely great; that he had entire control over all the nations; and that he could,... read more

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 40:3

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 40:4

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 40:5

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 40:6

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 40:7

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 40:8

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 40:9

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 40:10

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 40:11

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 40:12

Verse of the Day

Daily Devotional

Group of Brands