Isaiah 40 10

Isaiah 40:10 kjv

Behold, the Lord GOD will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him: behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him.

Isaiah 40:10 nkjv

Behold, the Lord GOD shall come with a strong hand, And His arm shall rule for Him; Behold, His reward is with Him, And His work before Him.

Isaiah 40:10 niv

See, the Sovereign LORD comes with power, and he rules with a mighty arm. See, his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him.

Isaiah 40:10 esv

Behold, the Lord GOD comes with might, and his arm rules for him; behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him.

Isaiah 40:10 nlt

Yes, the Sovereign LORD is coming in power.
He will rule with a powerful arm.
See, he brings his reward with him as he comes.

Isaiah 40 verses

Isaiah 40 10 Meaning

Isaiah 40:10 declares the imminent and powerful arrival of the Sovereign Lord. He comes not in weakness, but with decisive might, personally establishing His unrivaled dominion. His approach signifies a moment of ultimate reckoning and restoration, where He brings forth the just consequences and rewards for all actions, held ready to be dispensed immediately and directly by His own hand.

Isaiah 40 10 Context

Isaiah chapter 40 marks a significant thematic shift in the book of Isaiah, moving from prophecies of judgment against Judah and surrounding nations (chapters 1-39) to messages of comfort, hope, and future restoration for God's exiled people. The preceding chapters outlined the consequences of Israel's disobedience, culminating in the Babylonian captivity. Chapter 40 opens with the imperative "Comfort, comfort my people," establishing the tone of divine solace and the promise of a glorious future.

Verse 10 is central to this comfort. It emphasizes the character of God's intervention – not as a weak or distant observer, but as the active, all-powerful Sovereign. Historically, the immediate audience was a people likely feeling abandoned and oppressed in exile. The prophecy serves as an assurance that God has not forgotten them but is actively preparing to deliver them and establish His righteous reign. Literarily, it sets the stage for God's self-declaration as the incomparable, all-knowing, and omnipotent Creator who controls history (verses 12-31), powerfully refuting the impotence of the idols and false gods of Babylon. It also indirectly points towards the future work of the Messiah who would embody this very strong hand and righteous rule.

Isaiah 40 10 Word analysis

• Behold (הִנֵּה hinnēh): This emphatic interjection calls for immediate and serious attention. It introduces a solemn and significant declaration, signaling that something monumental and certain is about to be revealed or occur. Its repetition within the verse further intensifies the certainty and importance of the pronouncement.

• the Lord God (אֲדֹנָי יְהוָה ’ăḏōnāy Yəhōvāh): This pairing of divine names underscores God's absolute sovereignty and covenant faithfulness.

  • Lord (אֲדֹנָי ’ăḏōnāy): Means "Master" or "Sovereign." It speaks of God's ownership and authority.
  • God (יְהוָה Yəhōvāh): The covenant name of God (often transliterated as Yahweh), revealing His self-existent, unchanging nature and His intimate relationship with Israel. The combination assures His personal intervention is from the all-powerful and faithful covenant Lord.

• will come (יָבוֹא yāḇô’): This verb indicates an active, deliberate, and certain arrival. It signifies not merely a presence, but an intervention, a dynamic entry into human affairs to effect change.

• with strong hand (בְּחָזָק יָד bəḥāzāq yāḏ): This phrase describes the manner of His coming, emphasizing irresistible might.

  • strong (חָזָק chāzāq): Denotes firmness, might, and vigor, often implying power that holds or seizes firmly.
  • hand (יָד yāḏ): A common biblical anthropomorphism representing power, agency, action, and authority. "Strong hand" implies forceful, authoritative, and irresistible power, particularly in deliverance or judgment.

• and His arm (וּזְרֹעוֹ ûzəro‘ô): The arm (zeroa') is another powerful anthropomorphic metaphor for strength, specifically implying exerted power, such as in lifting, striking, or reaching out to save or conquer. It often suggests military might or acts of powerful deliverance.

• shall rule (תִּמְשָׁל timšal): This verb means to govern, to have dominion, or to reign as a king. It highlights the sovereign authority and absolute control God will exercise upon His arrival.

• for Him (לוֹ lô): This pronoun emphasizes that His rule is for His own purposes, self-sufficient, unchallenged, and dictated by no other power. He rules on His own behalf, demonstrating His absolute independence and supreme authority.

• Behold (הִנֵּה hinnēh): Repeated for emphasis, reiterating the urgency and certainty of what follows.

• His reward (שְׂכָרוֹ śəḵārô): Sekar refers to wages, recompense, or payment. In this context, it encompasses both the just retribution for the wicked and the blessed deliverance and vindication for the faithful. It signifies the consequences of actions, whether good or evil, delivered by God.

• is with Him (אִתּוֹ ’ittô): Implies immediate proximity and readiness. God's recompense is not something distant or yet to be gathered; it is already present with Him, ready to be dispensed at His command.

• and His recompense (וּפְעֻלָּתוֹ ûfə‘ullāṯô): Pe‘ullah is a near-synonym to "reward," emphasizing the outcome, wages, or deserts of one's actions or work. It reinforces the theme of just and precise payment.

• before Him (לְפָנָיו ləfānāw): This phrase further underscores the immediacy and directness of God's judgment and reward. It is open, visible, and directly administered by God Himself.

Words-group analysis:

• "Behold, the Lord God will come with strong hand, and His arm shall rule for Him": This segment powerfully portrays God's decisive and personal intervention. It declares a change of era brought about by His supreme, undisputed might, where He takes active control and reigns as absolute sovereign, operating by His own power and for His own divine will. It counters any perception of God's passivity or weakness.
• "Behold, His reward is with Him, and His recompense before Him": This second segment assures the accompanying justice of God's arrival. It means that His coming is inextricably linked with a just settling of accounts. Everything that is due, both positive for His faithful and negative for His adversaries, is ready, personal, and will be meted out immediately and conspicuously by God Himself.

Isaiah 40 10 Bonus section

• The dual declaration of "Behold" signifies the absolute certainty and profound importance of the event, echoing a prophetic tradition of divine announcements.
• This verse directly sets the stage for the glorious description of God's incomparability and cosmic authority in the subsequent verses (Isa 40:12ff), challenging any notions of rival deities or forces that might contend with His might.
• While primarily providing comfort to exiled Israel, its universal language about "His arm" ruling and "His recompense" points to an ultimate, cosmic fulfillment that encompasses all nations and all time, resonating with the final establishment of God's Kingdom through Christ.

Isaiah 40 10 Commentary

Isaiah 40:10 serves as a pivotal declaration of hope and sovereign certainty for a disheartened people. It announces that the period of comfort, introduced in verse 1, is founded upon the active, powerful return of the Lord God Himself. He will not merely observe; He will personally intervene. The imagery of a "strong hand" and "arm" paints a vivid picture of unparalleled strength and active, dynamic authority, far exceeding any human or false divine power. His rule is absolute and for His own divine purposes, signaling a decisive end to the subjugation or perceived abandonment of His people.

Crucially, His arrival is coupled with "His reward" and "recompense," which signifies justice for all. For Israel, this promises ultimate vindication, salvation, and the restoration of their fortunes as a covenant people. For the nations and oppressors, it portends judgment. This recompense is not theoretical or deferred, but "with Him" and "before Him," indicating immediate readiness and direct personal administration. This verse sets a theological standard: God is both omnipotent and utterly just, ensuring that every act, whether righteous or wicked, will meet its fitting divine consequence. It is a powerful affirmation of God's control over history and His unwavering commitment to His people, fulfilling His promises through majestic power.