Devine Scripture

Isaiah 40:30

What does Isaiah 40:30 mean?

A plain-English look at Isaiah 40:30 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Isaiah 40:30 means

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.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:

KJV

King James Version · 1611

Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

Even the young men will become feeble and tired, and the best of them will come to the end of his strength;

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

Even youths are wearied and fatigued, And young men utterly stumble,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

You shall faint, and labour, and young men shall fall by infirmity.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

Even the youths shall faint and shall tire, and the young men shall stumble and fall;

Context

This 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.29He giveth power to the faint; and to him that hath no might he increaseth strength.

v.30This passage

v.31but 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.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Isaiah 9:17

    Therefore the Lord will not rejoice over their young men, neither will he have compassion on their fatherless and widows; for every one is profane and an evil-doer, and every mouth speaketh folly. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.

  • Amos 2:14

    And flight shall perish from the swift; and the strong shall not strengthen his force; neither shall the mighty deliver himself;

  • Isaiah 13:18

    Andtheirbows shall dash the young men in pieces; and they shall have no pity on the fruit of the womb; their eye shall not spare children.

  • Ecclesiastes 9:11

    I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favor to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.

  • Psalms 33:16

    There is no king saved by the multitude of a host: A mighty man is not delivered by great strength.

  • Psalms 34:10

    The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger; But they that seek Jehovah shall not want any good thing.

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