New International Reader s Version - NIrV - 1996
Isaiah 40
1
"Comfort my people," says your God. "Comfort them.
Reference
Parallel theme
Isaiah 51:12
Isaiah 51:3
1 Thessalonians 4:18
Zechariah 1:13
Isaiah 12:1
Zechariah 9:9
Isaiah 52:9
Isaiah 41:27
References God
2 Corinthians 1:4
Isaiah 50:10
2
Speak tenderly to the people of Jerusalem. Announce to them that their hard service has been completed. Tell them that their sin has been paid for. Tell them I have punished them enough for all of their sins."
Reference
Parallel theme
Zechariah 9:12
Hosea 2:14
Isaiah 61:7
Revelation 18:6
Habakkuk 2:3
Isaiah 35:4
References Lord
Isaiah 12:1
Sin
Isaiah 44:22
Jeremiah 16:18
Isaiah 43:25
3
A messenger is calling out, "In the desert prepare the way for the Lord. Make a straight road through it for our God.
Reference
Parallel theme
Isaiah 57:14
Isaiah 43:19
Isaiah 35:8
Isaiah 49:11
References God
Psalm 68:4
References Lord
Malachi 3:1
John 1:23
4
Every valley will be filled in. Every mountain and hill will be made level. The rough ground will be smoothed out. The rocky places will be made flat.
Reference
5
Then the glory of the Lord will appear. And everyone will see it. The Lord has spoken."
Reference
Glory
Habakkuk 2:14
Isaiah 60:1
2 Corinthians 4:6
Isaiah 6:3
Psalm 72:19
Parallel theme
Joel 2:28
Luke 3:6
References Lord
Isaiah 52:10
Isaiah 11:9
Isaiah 58:14
6
Another messenger says, "Cry out." And I said, "What should I cry?" "Cry out, 'All people are like grass. They don't last any longer than flowers in the field.
Reference
7
The grass dries up. The flowers fall to the ground. That happens when the Lord makes his wind blow on them. So people are just like grass.
8
The grass dries up. The flowers fall to the ground. But what our God says will stand forever.' "
Reference
9
Zion, you are bringing good news to your people. Go up on a high mountain and announce it. Jerusalem, you are bringing good news to them. Shout the message loudly. Shout it out loud. Don't be afraid. Say to the towns of Judah, "Your God is coming!"
Reference
Good
Isaiah 61:1
Isaiah 41:27
Parallel theme
Ephesians 6:19
Isaiah 51:12
Isaiah 51:7
Isaiah 58:4
Acts 4:29
Acts 4:13
References God
Isaiah 12:2
Isaiah 25:9
10
The Lord and King is coming with power. His powerful arm will rule for him. He has set his people free. He is bringing them back as his reward. He has won the battle over their enemies.
Reference
Parallel theme
Revelation 22:12
Matthew 28:18
Psalm 110:6
John 12:15
References God
Isaiah 49:4
1 John 3:8
References Lord
Isaiah 62:11
Revelation 17:14
11
He takes care of his flock like a shepherd. He gathers the lambs in his arms. He carries them close to his heart. He gently leads those that have little ones.
Reference
12
Who has measured the oceans by using the palm of his hand? Who has used the width of his hand to mark off the sky? Who has measured out the dust of the earth in a basket? Who has weighed the mountains on scales? Who has weighed the hills in a balance?
Reference
14
Did the Lord have to ask anyone to help him understand? Did he have to ask someone to teach him the right way? Who taught him what he knows? Who showed him how to understand?
Reference
15
The nations are only a drop in a bucket to him. He considers them as nothing but dust on the scales. He weighs the islands as if they were only fine dust.
Reference
16
Lebanon doesn't have enough trees to keep his altar fires burning. It doesn't have enough animals to sacrifice as burnt offerings to him.
Reference
Sacrifice
Psalm 40:6
17
To him, all of the nations don't amount to anything. He considers them to be worthless. In fact, they are less than nothing in his sight.
Reference
18
So who will you compare God to? Is there any other god like him?
Reference
Parallel theme
Isaiah 46:5
Isaiah 40:25
Psalm 89:6
Jeremiah 10:6
References God
1 Samuel 2:2
Exodus 15:11
Acts 17:29
Job 40:9
Psalm 89:8
Exodus 8:10
19
Will you compare him to a statue of a god? Any skilled worker can make a statue. Then another worker covers it with gold and makes silver chains for it.
Reference
20
But someone who is too poor to bring that kind of offering will choose some wood that won't rot. Then he looks for a skilled worker. He pays the worker to make a statue of a god that won't fall over.
Reference
21
Don't you know who made everything? Haven't you heard about him? Hasn't it been told to you from the beginning? Haven't you understood it ever since the earth was made?
22
God sits on his throne high above the earth. Its people look like grasshoppers to him. He spreads the heavens out like a cover. He sets it up like a tent to live in.
Reference
23
He takes the power of princes away from them. He reduces the rulers of this world to nothing.
Reference
24
They are planted. They are scattered like seeds. They put down roots in the ground. But as soon as that happens, God blows on them and they dry up. Then a windstorm sweeps them away like straw.
Reference
26
Look up toward the sky. Who created everything you see? The Lord causes the stars to come out at night one by one. He gives each one of them a name. His power and strength are great. So none of the stars is missing.
Reference
Creation
Isaiah 45:7
Isaiah 42:5
Parallel theme
Isaiah 51:6
Isaiah 48:13
Isaiah 44:24
Isaiah 34:16
Psalm 19:1
Deuteronomy 4:19
27
Family of Jacob, why do you say, "The Lord doesn't notice our condition"? People of Israel, why do you say, "Our God doesn't pay any attention to our rightful claims"?
Reference
28
Don't you know who made everything? Haven't you heard about him? The Lord is the God who lives forever. He created everything on earth. He won't become worn out or get tired. No one will ever know how great his understanding is.
Reference
Eternal Life
1 Timothy 1:17
Genesis 21:33
Hebrews 9:14
Parallel theme
Philippians 1:6
Isaiah 40:21
John 14:9
Luke 24:25
Jeremiah 4:22
References Lord
Psalm 147:5
1 Corinthians 2:16
31
But those who trust in the Lord will receive new strength. They will fly as high as eagles. They will run and not get tired. They will walk and not grow weak.
Reference
Parallel theme
2 Corinthians 4:16
Psalm 103:5
Hebrews 12:1
Galatians 6:9
Romans 8:25
Psalm 84:7
Luke 18:1
References Lord
Isaiah 30:18
Psalm 37:34
Isaiah 25:9
Chapter Summary
Isaiah 40 marks a major change in tone, moving from earlier warnings of judgment toward a powerful message of comfort, restoration, and hope.
Jerusalem's suffering will not continue forever, and God promises that His people will again experience His presence and salvation.
The chapter uses the image of a highway through the wilderness, with valleys raised and mountains lowered, portraying the removal of every obstacle standing between God and His people.
Isaiah then contrasts the temporary nature of human life with the permanence of God's word.
People are like grass and flowers that quickly fade, but God's word remains forever.
The chapter also presents God as both mighty King and gentle Shepherd.
He possesses unlimited power over creation, yet He gathers lambs in His arms and gently leads those caring for them.
Isaiah then emphasizes God's greatness by comparing Him with the nations, rulers, mountains, oceans, stars, and human wisdom.
Even the greatest empires are insignificant compared with Him.
This would have been especially meaningful during the period surrounding the Babylonian Exile, when Judah had experienced the apparent triumph of foreign political powers.
Isaiah also attacks the idea that God can be represented by an idol.
Human beings make idols from wood and metal, but the true God is the Creator of everything, including the stars themselves.
The chapter therefore moves from the greatness of creation to the greatness of its Creator.
Finally, Isaiah addresses people who may feel forgotten by God.
Israel may wonder whether God has overlooked their suffering, but Isaiah answers that the everlasting Creator neither becomes tired nor loses understanding.
Instead, He gives strength to the weak.
The chapter ends with one of Isaiah's strongest promises: those who wait for the Lord will receive renewed strength, rise like eagles, run without becoming exhausted, and walk without becoming weary.
The central message is that human strength, political power, wealth, and even entire empires are temporary, but God is eternal and faithful; therefore His people should not conclude that He has forgotten them during times of suffering, because the Creator who controls the nations and stars is also the Shepherd who gently cares for His people and gives renewed strength to those who continue to trust Him.
Jerusalem's suffering will not continue forever, and God promises that His people will again experience His presence and salvation.
The chapter uses the image of a highway through the wilderness, with valleys raised and mountains lowered, portraying the removal of every obstacle standing between God and His people.
Isaiah then contrasts the temporary nature of human life with the permanence of God's word.
People are like grass and flowers that quickly fade, but God's word remains forever.
The chapter also presents God as both mighty King and gentle Shepherd.
He possesses unlimited power over creation, yet He gathers lambs in His arms and gently leads those caring for them.
Isaiah then emphasizes God's greatness by comparing Him with the nations, rulers, mountains, oceans, stars, and human wisdom.
Even the greatest empires are insignificant compared with Him.
This would have been especially meaningful during the period surrounding the Babylonian Exile, when Judah had experienced the apparent triumph of foreign political powers.
Isaiah also attacks the idea that God can be represented by an idol.
Human beings make idols from wood and metal, but the true God is the Creator of everything, including the stars themselves.
The chapter therefore moves from the greatness of creation to the greatness of its Creator.
Finally, Isaiah addresses people who may feel forgotten by God.
Israel may wonder whether God has overlooked their suffering, but Isaiah answers that the everlasting Creator neither becomes tired nor loses understanding.
Instead, He gives strength to the weak.
The chapter ends with one of Isaiah's strongest promises: those who wait for the Lord will receive renewed strength, rise like eagles, run without becoming exhausted, and walk without becoming weary.
The central message is that human strength, political power, wealth, and even entire empires are temporary, but God is eternal and faithful; therefore His people should not conclude that He has forgotten them during times of suffering, because the Creator who controls the nations and stars is also the Shepherd who gently cares for His people and gives renewed strength to those who continue to trust Him.