Isaiah 40 9

Isaiah 40:9 kjv

O Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God!

Isaiah 40:9 nkjv

O Zion, You who bring good tidings, Get up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, You who bring good tidings, Lift up your voice with strength, Lift it up, be not afraid; Say to the cities of Judah, "Behold your God!"

Isaiah 40:9 niv

You who bring good news to Zion, go up on a high mountain. You who bring good news to Jerusalem, lift up your voice with a shout, lift it up, do not be afraid; say to the towns of Judah, "Here is your God!"

Isaiah 40:9 esv

Go on up to a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good news; lift up your voice with strength, O Jerusalem, herald of good news; lift it up, fear not; say to the cities of Judah, "Behold your God!"

Isaiah 40:9 nlt

O Zion, messenger of good news,
shout from the mountaintops!
Shout it louder, O Jerusalem.
Shout, and do not be afraid.
Tell the towns of Judah,
"Your God is coming!"

Isaiah 40 verses

Isaiah 40 9 Meaning

Isaiah 40:9 is a clarion call, addressing Zion/Jerusalem as a feminine "herald of good news," instructing her to ascend a high mountain and courageously proclaim, without fear, to all the cities of Judah that their God is arriving. This verse is an urgent directive to announce the comforting news of God's imminent return and sovereign presence, ushering in an era of comfort and restoration after the period of exile and hardship.

Isaiah 40 9 Context

Isaiah 40:9 stands at the beginning of what scholars refer to as "The Book of Comfort" (Isaiah 40-66). Chapter 40 immediately follows the announcement of Jerusalem's destruction and Judah's exile (Isa 39), pivoting sharply to a message of hope, restoration, and divine comfort for a disheartened people. The chapter opens with God's command to "Comfort, comfort my people" (Isa 40:1). The immediate context details God preparing a way for the exiles' return (Isa 40:3-5), highlighting the transience of human life compared to the eternal Word of God (Isa 40:6-8). Verse 9, then, transitions from God speaking about comfort to an active command for Jerusalem, personified as a female messenger, to proclaim this comfort and the imminent arrival of God himself to a weary and disbelieving populace. It addresses a specific moment in Israel's history – the end of the Babylonian exile – while also carrying broader prophetic significance of God's ongoing commitment to His people and ultimate salvation.

Isaiah 40 9 Word analysis

• O Zion, herald of good news (צִיּוֹן מְבַשֶׂרֶת tsîyôwn məḇassereṯ):
  • Zion/Jerusalem: Not merely a geographical location but also representing the people of God, often personified as a female in prophetic literature (daughter of Zion). It signifies the covenant community.
  • herald of good news (מְבַשֶׂרֶת məḇassereṯ): A feminine singular participle from the root בָּשַׂר (basar), meaning "to announce, to bring good tidings." This is significant because the messenger of good news is not an external prophet but Zion herself. She is actively participating in proclaiming her own redemption and joy, signifying a shift in her status from suffering to an active agent of God's message.
• go up on a high mountain (עַל־הַר גָּבֹהַ עֲלִי ʿal-har gāḇōhaʿ ʿălî):
  • high mountain: Symbolic for visibility, authority, and prominence. It's a strategic vantage point to ensure the message is heard far and wide. This indicates the public and unmistakable nature of the announcement.
  • go up (עֲלִי ʿălî): An imperative, command for action.
• O Jerusalem, herald of good news (יְרוּשָׁלַיִם מְבַשֶׂרֶת yərušālaim məḇassereṯ):
  • Jerusalem: Parallel to Zion, reinforcing the identity of the proclaimer. The repetition emphasizes the message's origin and significance for the capital city.
• lift up your voice with might (ק֤וֹלֵךְ בַּכֹּחַ הָרִ֑ימִי qôléḵ bakkōaḥ hārîmî):
  • lift up your voice (הָרִ֑ימִי hārîmî): Another imperative, demanding a strong, audible proclamation, not a whisper.
  • with might (בַּכֹּחַ bakkōaḥ): Emphasizes the forceful, unreserved, and powerful delivery of the message.
• Lift it up, do not fear (תִּירָֽאִי לֹ֣א הָרִ֑ימִי tîrāʾî lô hārîmî):
  • do not fear (תִּירָֽאִי לֹא tîrāʾî lô): A crucial command given the historical context of Judah's fear, despair, and potential intimidation. It underlines the divine authority behind the message and reassures the messenger of protection. Fear is often countered by God's presence.
• say to the cities of Judah (לְעָרֵי יְהוּדָה אִמְרִי ləʿārê yəhûḏâ ʾimrî):
  • cities of Judah: The scope of the message is widespread, encompassing all the peripheral communities, not just the capital. The comfort and the presence of God are for the entire nation.
  • say (אִמְרִי ʾimrî): A direct imperative, stating the precise content of the proclamation.
• Here is your God! (הִנֵּה אֱלֹהֵיכֶֽם hinneh ʾĕlōhêḵem):
  • Here is (הִנֵּה hinneh): An exclamation drawing immediate attention to what follows. It signifies presence and imminence.
  • your God: The ultimate message. Not just a god, but their covenant God, actively present, faithful, and ready to act on their behalf. This contrasts with the absent or silent deities of other nations.

Words-group analysis:

• "O Zion, herald of good news / O Jerusalem, herald of good news": This poetic parallelism intensifies the identity of the chosen messenger, personifying the entire holy city and its inhabitants. The feminine 'mebasseret' signifies a joyful announcement from a nurturing source, deeply involved in the welfare of her own children/people.
• "go up on a high mountain / lift up your voice with might": These commands underscore the imperative for visible, audible, and forceful proclamation. The 'high mountain' symbolizes overcoming barriers of despair and making the message universally accessible, while 'lifting the voice with might' means doing so with conviction and unreserved passion.
• "Lift it up, do not fear": This phrase addresses the emotional state of the messenger and audience. It’s an encouragement against past fears stemming from exile, national disgrace, and potential future obstacles. God's instruction to "not fear" assures divine backing and the ultimate success of the mission.
• "say to the cities of Judah, 'Here is your God!'": This encapsulates the audience and the profound, core message. The breadth ("cities of Judah") highlights the universal application within the covenant community, and the declaration "Here is your God!" points to the divine advent—God's direct intervention and tangible presence bringing salvation, hope, and sovereignty.

Isaiah 40 9 Bonus section

The term מְבַשֶׂרֶת (mebasseret) being a feminine participle is particularly rich. In a society where public messengers were predominantly male, this feminine form personifying Zion herself as the "bearer of good news" adds a layer of tenderness, intimacy, and perhaps even defiance. It's not a general male herald, but the very "Mother City", grieving but now comforted, who is to proclaim. This could symbolize a mother calling her children back, reinforcing the theme of comfort and reunion for the dispersed "cities of Judah." Some interpret this figure prophetically as the Church or individual believers today who, empowered by the Spirit, are called to share the good news of Christ’s coming. Furthermore, the act of "going up on a high mountain" isn't merely about elevation; in biblical typology, mountains are often places of divine encounter, revelation, and proclamation of God's will and presence, elevating the announcement beyond mere human tidings.

Isaiah 40 9 Commentary

Isaiah 40:9 serves as an impassioned directive to a redeemed people to become heralds of God's arrival and comfort. Having experienced the despair of exile, Zion is commanded to courageously climb the metaphorical "high mountain" of clear visibility and proclaim a message of profound hope – "Here is your God!" The feminine portrayal of Zion as the 'herald' is crucial; it depicts a deep, internal transformation from passive recipient of suffering to active participant in spreading good tidings to her own. This message counters fear with the assured reality of God's active presence and power. It is a divine invitation to participate in proclaiming salvation, moving beyond merely hearing the good news to becoming its enthusiastic and bold messenger, thereby demonstrating God's faithfulness and ability to restore His people. Practically, this verse encourages believers today to courageously share the Gospel, trusting in God's presence, rather than succumbing to fear or despair, proclaiming that Jesus is Lord.