Isaiah 40
Isaiah 40 opens the 'Book of Comfort' — comfort for an exiled people, the greatness of God, and the promise that those who wait on the Lord will renew their strength and mount up with wings as eagles.
The Book of Isaiah · Old Testament · chapter 40 of 66.
Where this chapter sits
The book turns sharply at this point: chapters before this one address Judah and surrounding nations ahead of exile, warning of coming judgment, while this chapter and those following speak as if the exile has already happened, addressing a people already carried off to Babylon with comfort rather than warning. A voice cries out before God himself is named as the one speaking.
Key verses (KJV)
“But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles.” — Isaiah 40:31 (KJV)
What to notice as you read
An opening command comes doubled, comfort ye, comfort ye, a pattern of emphasis repeated through the chapter. A contrast builds between what fades, grass, flowers, nations weighed as dust, and what does not, God's word, before that same contrast turns toward the weary who wait.
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Frequently asked questions
Where does Isaiah 40 come in Isaiah?
It is chapter 40 of 66 in Isaiah, a book of Major Prophet in the Old Testament. The other widely-read chapters of Isaiah are linked further down this page.
Where can I read Isaiah 40?
Read the full text of Isaiah 40 — and the whole Bible, offline, in your preferred translation — free in the Quiethaven app for iPhone.