Isaiah 40:4 kjv
Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain:
Isaiah 40:4 nkjv
Every valley shall be exalted And every mountain and hill brought low; The crooked places shall be made straight And the rough places smooth;
Isaiah 40:4 niv
Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain.
Isaiah 40:4 esv
Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain.
Isaiah 40:4 nlt
Fill in the valleys,
and level the mountains and hills.
Straighten the curves,
and smooth out the rough places.
Isaiah 40 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isaiah 40:3 | A voice is calling: "In the wilderness prepare the way..." | Direct preparation |
| Mark 1:3 | "Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him." | NT fulfillment (John the Baptist) |
| Luke 3:4-6 | As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah... | NT fulfillment (quotation) |
| John 1:23 | John replied, "I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness..." | NT fulfillment (identification) |
| Matthew 3:3 | This is the one referred to by the prophet Isaiah. | NT fulfillment (prophecy) |
| 1 Corinthians 1:27 | God chose the foolish in the world to shame the wise. | Spiritual humbling/leveling |
| Philippians 2:6-7 | though he was in the form of God... made himself nothing... | Christ's humbling |
| James 1:9-11 | the humble may glory in their exaltation. | Exaltation through humbling |
| Psalm 98:6 | with trumpets and the blast of the ram’s horn— | Rejoice before the Lord |
| Psalm 72:3 | The mountains will bring prosperity to the people... | blessing of God's reign |
| Psalm 147:13-14 | He grants peace to your borders... settles you on the land. | divine provision |
| Revelation 21:1 | Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth... | Ultimate restoration |
| Revelation 21:4 | ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes.’ | removal of sorrow |
| Isaiah 11:9 | the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord... | Knowledge of God's glory |
| Isaiah 35:8-10 | a highway will be there... the redeemed will walk on it. | pathway for the redeemed |
| Isaiah 40:5 | And the glory of the LORD will be revealed... | God's visible glory |
| Malachi 4:5-6 | He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children... | forerunner prepares the way |
| Jeremiah 4:11-12 | a hot wind from the barren heights... This is what I will do. | divine judgment/preparation |
| Zechariah 1:15 | I am only a little harsh, but they have brought disaster. | judgment on proud nations |
| Job 40:9-14 | Do you have an arm like God? Can you thunder with a voice like his? | God’s power and sovereignty |
| Nahum 1:5-6 | The mountains quake before him and the hills bow down. | God's awesome power |
Isaiah 40 verses
Isaiah 40 4 Meaning
The mountains and hills are leveled. The rough ground becomes a plain. This signifies the complete and effortless removal of all obstacles. It anticipates a transformative work that prepares the way for God’s glory and presence.
Isaiah 40 4 Context
This verse is part of Isaiah chapter 40, a significant section often called "the Book of Comfort." It comes after pronouncements of judgment on Babylon, introducing a message of hope and restoration for Israel. The chapter anticipates a triumphant return from exile and, more profoundly, a future salvific act of God. The immediate context prepares the way for the coming glory of the Lord. The imagery speaks to a supernatural straightening and leveling of the landscape. Historically, this would have been an impossible feat for human engineering, highlighting God’s omnipotence. It was meant for the original audience to understand that their God is powerful enough to overcome any obstacle, just as He delivered them from Egypt.
Isaiah 40 4 Word Analysis
- וְסָלְלוּ (v'salelu): "And they shall clear the way" or "level it." From the root salal (סָלַל), meaning to pave, build up, or raise. Here it signifies making a path smooth and level.
- וְנִגְבַּ֖הּ (v'nigbah): "and raised up" or "made high." This seems to be an intensifier, suggesting the ground is made perfectly level, perhaps even elevated into a majestic pathway.
- הָרִ֣ים (haRIM): "The mountains." Hebrew for "mountains."
- גְּבָעֹ֖ת (gev'aOTH): "and hills." Hebrew for "hills."
- יִֽשְׁפְּלוּ (yishpelu): "shall be made low." From the root shaphal (שָׁפַל), meaning to be low, humble, or brought down.
- וּבִקְעָ֖ה (u'viqu'ah): "and the valley." Hebrew for "valley" or "plain."
- וְשָׁוָֽה (v'shavah): "and become level" or "be made equal." From the root shavah (שָׁוָה), meaning to be like, equal, or level. The entire phrase describes a complete transformation of rugged terrain into a smooth, even road.
Word Groups Analysis
- "The mountains and hills shall be made low, and the valleys and plains shall be raised." (וְסָלְלוּ הָרִ֣ים גְּבָעֹ֖ת יִֽשְׁפְּלוּ וּבִקְעָ֖ה וְשָׁוָֽה): This entire clause uses hyperbole to depict an absolute preparation. It means all obstructions, whether high (mountains) or low (valleys needing to be filled), are made perfectly level for passage. It emphasizes the totality of God's preparatory work, making the impossible possible.
Isaiah 40 4 Bonus Section
The prophetic imagery here can be understood in a multi-layered prophetic sense. It foretells the return from Babylonian exile but also the coming of the Messiah, who would bring spiritual salvation and peace. The complete leveling of the terrain can symbolize the breaking down of barriers between Jew and Gentile through Christ, as explained in Ephesians 2:11-22, where Christ abolishes the law of commandments and creates one new humanity. It speaks of an internal leveling of the heart as well, a quieting of the proud and lifting of the humble in preparation for the Lord's presence.
Isaiah 40 4 Commentary
This verse vividly illustrates the comprehensive nature of divine intervention in preparing a pathway for God's glory and salvation. It signifies the removal of all hindrances, whether they be external political or physical obstacles, or internal spiritual pride and resistance. The mountains and hills representing obstacles are brought low, while valleys, which might seem inherently difficult or low-lying, are also made level, indicating no part of the path is left unimproved. This transformation is effortless for God, highlighting His supreme power. This preparatory work is mirrored in the New Testament with John the Baptist preparing the way for Jesus, where hearts had to be humbled and sins confessed to make straight the path for Christ’s ministry.