Isaiah 40:24 kjv
Yea, they shall not be planted; yea, they shall not be sown: yea, their stock shall not take root in the earth: and he shall also blow upon them, and they shall wither, and the whirlwind shall take them away as stubble.
Isaiah 40:24 nkjv
Scarcely shall they be planted, Scarcely shall they be sown, Scarcely shall their stock take root in the earth, When He will also blow on them, And they will wither, And the whirlwind will take them away like stubble.
Isaiah 40:24 niv
No sooner are they planted, no sooner are they sown, no sooner do they take root in the ground, than he blows on them and they wither, and a whirlwind sweeps them away like chaff.
Isaiah 40:24 esv
Scarcely are they planted, scarcely sown, scarcely has their stem taken root in the earth, when he blows on them, and they wither, and the tempest carries them off like stubble.
Isaiah 40:24 nlt
They hardly get started, barely taking root,
when he blows on them and they wither.
The wind carries them off like chaff.
Isaiah 40 24 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ps 2:4-5 | He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord scoffs at them. Then he will speak to them in his wrath... | God mocks human rulers' efforts |
| Ps 37:2 | For they will soon fade like the grass and wither like the green herb. | Wicked are like perishing plants |
| Ps 90:5-6 | You sweep them away as with a flood; they are like a dream, like grass that is renewed in the morning; in the morning it flourishes and is renewed... | Human life's fleeting nature, God's swift action |
| Ps 103:15-16 | As for man, his days are like grass; he flourishes like a flower of the field; for the wind passes over it, and it is gone... | Man's fragility before a breeze |
| Job 8:12 | While it is yet in flower and not cut down, it withers before any other plant. | Unrooted plant perishes quickly |
| Jer 1:10 | See, I have set you this day over nations and over kingdoms, to pluck up and to break down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant. | God's authority to plant and uproot nations |
| Dan 4:17 | The Most High rules the kingdom of mankind and gives it to whom he will and sets over it the humblest of men. | God's absolute sovereignty over earthly kingdoms |
| Matt 6:30 | But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you... | Grass as metaphor for temporary, dependent life |
| 1 Pet 1:24 | For "All flesh is like grass, all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls." | Humanity's transient glory like withering grass |
| Ps 1:4 | The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. | Wicked are unstable, dispersed like chaff |
| Job 21:18 | How often are they like straw before the wind, and like chaff that the storm carries away? | Ungodly like windblown straw |
| Isa 5:24 | Therefore, as the tongue of fire devours the stubble, and as dry grass sinks in the flame, so their root will be as rottenness... | Wicked lacking true root, perishing to dust |
| Isa 17:13 | ...Like rolling tumbleweed before the storm, like chaff before the wind. | Enemies swept away like chaff by a strong wind |
| Nah 1:10 | For while their thorns are entwined, they are consumed like stubble fully dry. | Enemies are fuel for fiery judgment |
| Mal 4:1 | ...And the day that comes shall set them ablaze, says the LORD of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch. | Wicked utterly consumed like stubble |
| Ex 15:10 | You blew with your wind; the sea covered them; they sank as lead in the mighty waters. | God's breath (wind) brings overwhelming judgment |
| Ps 18:15 | Then the channels of the sea were seen, and the foundations of the world were laid bare at your rebuke, O LORD, at the blast of the breath of your nostrils. | God's powerful breath revealing foundations |
| Isa 11:4 | ...And with the breath of his lips he will kill the wicked. | Christ's powerful breath bringing judgment |
| 2 Thess 2:8 | And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance... | Christ will destroy the wicked with His breath |
| John 15:6 | If anyone does not abide in me, he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and people gather them and throw them into the fire... | Spiritual withering for those disconnected |
| Job 12:23 | He makes nations great, and he destroys them; he enlarges nations, and leads them away. | God determines the fate of nations |
| Jer 18:7 | If at any time I declare concerning a nation or a kingdom, that I will pluck up and break down and destroy it. | God's absolute power to establish or destroy |
| Ps 75:6-7 | Exaltation comes neither from the east nor from the west nor from the south, but it is God who judges: he brings one down, he exalts another. | God exalts and abases; ultimate source of power |
| 1 Sam 2:7-8 | The LORD makes poor and makes rich; he brings low and he exalts. He raises up the poor from the dust... | God's sovereignty over all human fortunes and power |
Isaiah 40 verses
Isaiah 40 24 Meaning
Isaiah 40:24 powerfully declares the ultimate futility and transience of human authority and the nations when confronted by God's sovereign power. Earthly rulers and their kingdoms, despite their attempts at self-establishment and perceived stability, are ultimately devoid of any true foundation. God, with a mere breath, can cause them to wither and be swept away completely, demonstrating their worthlessness and temporary existence.
Isaiah 40 24 Context
Isaiah chapter 40 marks a significant shift in the book of Isaiah, moving from prophecies of judgment (chapters 1-39) to messages of comfort and hope for Israel (chapters 40-66). This chapter begins with a promise of Jerusalem's comfort and forgiveness (v. 1-2). It then immediately sets the stage for proclaiming God's incomparable glory and eternal nature against the transient and weak nature of humanity and all created things, including powerful rulers (v. 6-8). The prophet prepares the people, likely during their Babylonian exile, to understand that God, their redeemer, is vastly superior to the false gods and powerful empires that surround them. Verses 21-23 preceding 24 establish God's eternal knowledge and the insignificance of earthly potentates. Therefore, verse 24 continues to demonstrate God's absolute control over all human systems, illustrating that what appears mighty to humans is nothing more than fleeting dust to God. This passage served as a polemic against the perceived strength of Babylon and a profound source of hope for Judah in their oppressed state.
Isaiah 40 24 Word analysis
Scarcely: Representing the Hebrew "lo" (לֹא) and "aph-lo" (אַף־לֹא), which translates to "not," "no," and "moreover not" or "scarcely/nevertheless not." It emphasizes a profound absence or the impossibility of genuine, self-sustaining establishment for earthly rulers from God's perspective. It highlights the ease with which God can thwart human endeavors, rendering them futile.
shall they be planted: From the Hebrew "nittau" (נִטָּעוּ), meaning "to be planted" (Piel passive). This refers to the human effort to establish stability, grow, and settle, similar to starting an agricultural endeavor. It signifies the attempts of rulers to secure their position and dynasty.
scarcely shall they be sown: From the Hebrew "zora'u" (זֹרָעוּ), meaning "to be sown" (passive). Complementary to "planted," it speaks of the foundational beginnings, the careful initiation of a kingdom or reign. The repetition reinforces the total lack of true groundwork.
scarcely shall their stock take root: The Hebrew "shoresh ba'aretz giz'am" (שֹׁרֵשׁ בָּאָרֶץ גִּזְעָם).
- "shoresh" (שֹׁרֵשׁ) means "root" or "to take root." It signifies deep establishment, stability, and nourishment from the ground, essential for longevity.
- "ba'aretz" (בָּאָרֶץ) means "in the earth." Emphasizes a supposed foundation or base of power.
- "giz'am" (גִּזְעָם) means "their stock" or "their stump/trunk." This is the foundational part of a tree, from which new growth can come. The entire phrase implies that even their very essence, their ability to grow or regrow, cannot truly take hold.
and he shall even blow upon them: From the Hebrew "wegam-nashaph bahem" (וְגַם־נָשַׁף בָּהֶם).
- "nashaph" (נָשַׁף) means "to blow," often referring to God's breath or spirit. It suggests an action requiring minimal effort, contrasting starkly with the perceived strength of earthly powers. It's a whisper from God, not a roar.
- This act symbolizes divine judgment, executed with effortless ease.
and they shall wither: From the Hebrew "wayyibashu" (וַיִּבָשׁוּ), meaning "they shall dry up" or "become dry/wither." This is an immediate, devastating, and irreversible consequence of God's action, portraying the total cessation of their life force and power.
and the whirlwind shall take them away: From the Hebrew "wesá'arah tissâ'ēm" (וְסַעֲרָה תִּשָּׂאֵם).
- "sa'arah" (סַעֲרָה) means "whirlwind" or "storm." This is a powerful, uncontrollable force of nature, often a metaphor for divine judgment and complete destruction.
- "tissâ'ēm" (תִּשָּׂאֵם) means "shall carry them off/take them away." It signifies complete removal and dispersal, leaving no trace behind.
as stubble: From the Hebrew "kakqash" (כַּקַּשׁ).
- "ka-" is a prefix meaning "as" or "like."
- "qash" (קַשׁ) refers to "stubble" or "chaff" – the dry, worthless stalks left after harvest, or the light husks separated from grain. It symbolizes utter worthlessness, uselessness, and extreme vulnerability to even the slightest wind, ensuring their complete disappearance.
Scarcely shall they be planted, scarcely shall they be sown, scarcely shall their stock take root in the earth: This triple negative emphasis highlights the complete lack of true, lasting foundation for worldly powers. The imagery of agricultural processes – planting, sowing, rooting – conveys human attempts to establish and nurture kingdoms. But these efforts are shown as superficial and ultimately futile because God is not the one planting them. The word "stock" (giz'am) referring to the stump or trunk suggests even if they did get a start, their core essence lacks true life and depth to secure them.
and he shall even blow upon them, and they shall wither: This vividly contrasts God's effortless power with humanity's strenuous efforts. The "blow" signifies divine power without strain or visible effort, perhaps akin to God's breath (ruach). The result is immediate "withering," signifying a loss of life, strength, and vitality, bringing to nothing all their carefully laid plans for establishment. It’s an immediate spiritual and existential death for their reign.
and the whirlwind shall take them away as stubble: This concluding phrase describes the ultimate, complete, and unrecoverable end of these human powers. The "whirlwind" symbolizes a powerful, unstoppable divine force that utterly sweeps them away. "Stubble" signifies worthlessness, something easily scattered and utterly dispersed, leaving no trace. This imagery guarantees their complete and permanent disappearance from the stage of meaningful existence in God's eternal plan.
Isaiah 40 24 Bonus section
The ease with which God disposes of powerful earthly figures—"he shall even blow upon them"—is a crucial theological point. It indicates that God does not exert Himself to dismantle empires or depose kings; it is an effortless act for the One who spoke the universe into existence. This 'blowing' can be interpreted as a divine decree, a whisper of His will, or even His Spirit, emphasizing that His power is intrinsic and not dependent on grand, visible exertion. This same breath of God that gives life can also, without any apparent struggle, snuff out the vitality of nations. The stark contrast between humanity's attempts to establish themselves with strenuous effort ("planted," "sown," "take root") and God's effortless destruction ("blow," "whirlwind") highlights His divine transcendence and omnipotence. This truth undergirds the call to "prepare the way of the LORD" (Isa 40:3) and reassures Israel of their ultimate vindication and God's coming triumph over all opposing forces.
Isaiah 40 24 Commentary
Isaiah 40:24 is a profound declaration of God's absolute sovereignty over all earthly rulers and kingdoms. It assures the exiles of Judah that their oppressors, like Babylon, are but fleeting shadows before the Almighty. The verse uses vivid agricultural metaphors—planting, sowing, rooting—to depict the aspirations of human powers to establish themselves permanently. However, the emphatic repetition of "scarcely" reveals that, in God's estimation, these powers have no true foundation or enduring root. Their existence is superficial and tenuous. With an act of astonishing ease—"he shall even blow upon them"—God can render them completely powerless, causing them to "wither" like cut plants deprived of water. The final image of a "whirlwind" carrying them away "as stubble" seals their fate: total, effortless destruction and eradication, leaving nothing of worth behind. This passage comforts God's people by revealing the temporal and insubstantial nature of their human adversaries, contrasting them with the eternal, unshakable power of God, who alone holds the destinies of all nations in His hand.
- When facing seemingly overwhelming human powers or systems, remember their impermanence in light of God's sovereignty.
- Place trust not in worldly authorities or their perceived strength but in the enduring, effortless power of God.
- Be encouraged that God will ultimately judge all unrighteous power and bring forth His justice, turning the mightiest into nothing.