Isaiah 40:4

Translations

Modern

Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill made low; the uneven ground will become smooth, and the rugged land a plain.

Traditional

Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain:

Literal

Every valley will be lifted up, and every mountain and hill brought low; and the crooked will become straight, and the rugged a plain;

Latin

Omnis vallis exaltabitur, et omnis mons et collis humiliabitur, et erunt prava in directa, et aspera in vias planas:

Original

Hebrew

English

Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill made low; the uneven ground will become smooth, and the rugged land a plain.

Notes

Isaiah 40:3–5

There is now a shift from announcing the good news to expecting God's arrival. The good news (Isaiah 40:1–2) is based on God himself.

Isaiah described the Lord as coming on a highway through the desert (see Isaiah 35). However, the imagery is reversed here: In Isaiah 35, the people traveled to Zion, toward the Lord. Here, the Lord is coming toward his people (see also Isaiah 52:8, where both images are combined).

Isaiah 40:1–55:13

This section shares the good news of God's coming salvation. The Lord will support his people and judge His enemies. Salvation will occur through the arrival, suffering, and exaltation of the Lord's servant, the Messiah, Jesus Christ.

Isaiah 40:1–31

This chapter introduces chapters 40–66. In this section, comfort means the result of God's merciful actions toward people in the future. It includes encouragement, strength, and acceptance.

God wants to rescue his people (Isaiah 40:1–11) and is fully capable of doing so (40:12–26). The exiles needed to trust God's promises and wait for their rescue (Isaiah 40:27–31; see also 30:15–18).

Theme notes and profiles

Isaiah God’s Faithfulness to His People God’s Servant Salvation in Isaiah

Events

Prophecies of Isaiahc. 759 BC

Related verses

Luke 3:5
Every valley shall be filled in, and every mountain and hill made low. The crooked ways shall be made straight, and the rough ways smooth.
Ezekiel 21:26
This is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Remove the turban, and take off the crown. Things will not remain as they are: Exalt the lowly and bring low the exalted.
Luke 18:14
I tell you, this man, rather than the Pharisee, went home justified. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Isaiah 42:15–16
I will lay waste the mountains and hills and dry up all their vegetation. I will turn the rivers into dry land and drain the marshes.
Isaiah 45:2
“I will go before you and level the mountains; I will break down the gates of bronze and cut through the bars of iron.
Ezekiel 17:24
Then all the trees of the field will know that I am the LORD. I bring the tall tree down and make the low tree tall. I dry up the green tree and make the withered tree flourish. I, the LORD, have spoken, and I have done it.’”
Job 40:11–13
Unleash the fury of your wrath; look on every proud man and bring him low.
Isaiah 2:12–15
For the Day of the LORD of Hosts will come against all the proud and lofty, against all that is exalted—it will be humbled—
Luke 1:52–53
He has brought down rulers from their thrones, but has exalted the humble.
Psalm 113:7–8
He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the dump
Isaiah 42:11
Let the desert and its cities raise their voices; let the villages of Kedar cry aloud. Let the people of Sela sing for joy; let them cry out from the mountaintops.
1 Samuel 2:8
He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap. He seats them among princes and bestows on them a throne of honor. For the foundations of the earth are the LORD’s, and upon them He has set the world.

Isaiah 40:4

Translations?

Original?

Notes?

Events?

Related verses?

Parallels?

Glossary?

Topics?

Translations

Original

Notes

Events

Related verses

Parallels

Glossary

Topics