Isaiah 40:29–31
What does Isaiah 40:29–31 mean?
A plain-English look at Isaiah 40:29–31 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Isaiah 40:29–31 means
Isaiah 40:29
This verse offers immediate comfort and promises provision for the weary and powerless. It declares that God "giveth power to the faint; and to him that hath no might he increaseth strength." This is a direct response to the human experience of exhaustion and weakness. It reassures that God actively intervenes to empower those who are physically or spiritually depleted, demonstrating His compassionate nature and His ability to sustain His people.
Isaiah 40:30
This verse emphasizes the universal human experience of weakness, even among the strongest and most vibrant. It states that "Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall." This serves to highlight that no amount of natural human strength or youthful vigor can ultimately withstand the pressures and trials of life. It underscores the ultimate futility of relying on human power alone, setting the stage for the divine empowerment offered in the next verse.
Isaiah 40:31
This verse provides the glorious conclusion and promise of hope: "but they that wait for Jehovah shall renew their strength." Those who patiently trust in God will experience a profound revitalization, described with three powerful images: mounting up "with wings as eagles" (soaring above difficulties), running "and not be weary" (persistent progress), and walking "and not faint" (enduring steadfastness). It promises supernatural empowerment for sustained spiritual and physical endurance, providing ultimate reassurance and comfort.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000He giveth power to the faint; and to him that hath no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: but they that wait for Jehovah shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; they shall walk, and not faint.
KJV
King James Version · 1611He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901He giveth power to the faint; and to him that hath no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: but they that wait for Jehovah shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; they shall walk, and not faint.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949He gives power to the feeble, increasing the strength of him who has no force. Even the young men will become feeble and tired, and the best of them will come to the end of his strength; But those who are waiting for the Lord will have new strength; they will get wings like eagles: running, they will not be tired, and walking, they will have no weariness.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862He is giving power to the weary, And to those not strong He increaseth might. Even youths are wearied and fatigued, And young men utterly stumble, But those expecting Jehovah pass <FI>to<Fi> power, They raise up the pinion as eagles, They run and are not fatigued, They go on and do not faint!
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752It is he that giveth strength to the weary, and increaseth force and might to them that are not. You shall faint, and labour, and young men shall fall by infirmity. But they that hope in the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall take wings as eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890He giveth power to the faint; and to him that hath no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and shall tire, and the young men shall stumble and fall; but they that wait upon Jehovah shall renew [their] strength: they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not tire; they shall walk, and not faint.
Context
v.29Building on the declaration of God's unending strength and wisdom, this verse applies those attributes directly to the needs of His people. It transitions from a description of God's nature to a promise of His active provision for the weak. This specific promise of renewed strength sets up a powerful contrast with the limitations of even the strongest humans in the following verse.
v.30This verse further emphasizes the need for divine strength by highlighting the natural limitations of human power. It provides a stark contrast, showing that even the physically strongest humans eventually fail. This sets up the ultimate power and renewal available from God, leading directly into the chapter's concluding promise of strength for those who wait on Him.
v.31This verse serves as the powerful consummation of the entire chapter's message of comfort and strength. It directly contrasts human weakness with divine power, offering the ultimate promise to those who depend on God. This concluding promise synthesizes the themes of God's incomparability and His compassionate care, providing a profound message of hope that motivates the faithful to endure and trust.
v.28Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard? The everlasting God, Jehovah, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary; there is no searching of his understanding.
v.29–31This passage
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Colossians 1:11
strengthened with all power, according to the might of his glory, unto all patience and longsuffering with joy;
- Isaiah 41:10
fear thou not, for I am with thee; be not dismayed, for I am thy God; I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
- Psalms 29:11
Jehovah will give strength unto his people; Jehovah will bless his people with peace.
- Genesis 49:24
But his bow abode in strength, And the arms of his hands were made strong, By the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob (From thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel),
- Isaiah 50:4
The Lord Jehovah hath given me the tongue of them that are taught, that I may know how to sustain with words him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as they that are taught.
- Philippians 4:13
I can do all things in him that strengtheneth me.
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