Isaiah 57 14

Isaiah 57:14 kjv

And shall say, Cast ye up, cast ye up, prepare the way, take up the stumblingblock out of the way of my people.

Isaiah 57:14 nkjv

And one shall say, "Heap it up! Heap it up! Prepare the way, Take the stumbling block out of the way of My people."

Isaiah 57:14 niv

And it will be said: "Build up, build up, prepare the road! Remove the obstacles out of the way of my people."

Isaiah 57:14 esv

And it shall be said, "Build up, build up, prepare the way, remove every obstruction from my people's way."

Isaiah 57:14 nlt

God says, "Rebuild the road!
Clear away the rocks and stones
so my people can return from captivity."

Isaiah 57 verses

Isaiah 57 14 meaning

Isaiah 57:14 is a divine command, declared either directly by God or through a prophet, calling for the urgent removal of all obstacles to prepare a clear and elevated path for "My people." This preparation is twofold: a literal making straight of physical paths for their return from exile and a spiritual removal of hindrances that impede their walk with God. It signifies God's active involvement in facilitating the restoration, healing, and unhindered access for His chosen people.

Isaiah 57 14 Context

Isaiah 57:14 falls within a larger section (chapters 56-66) that deals with the restoration of Israel after the exile, highlighting both judgment for the wicked and comfort for the righteous. Chapter 57, in particular, begins with a strong condemnation of the pervasive idolatry, spiritual apostasy, and wickedness of God's people (Isa 57:3-13). It describes how the righteous suffer and are taken away, while the unrighteous continue their illicit practices, often associated with Canaanite fertility cults, seeking comfort in idols rather than in the living God.

However, the tone shifts dramatically from verse 13b, where God promises that those who trust in Him will inherit the land and His holy mountain. Verse 14 then serves as a direct, imperative divine declaration of intervention, signalling the immediate preparatory action needed for the redemption and return of His people. It acts as a divine interjection into the dire spiritual state of the people, expressing God's proactive mercy toward the humble and contrite heart (Isa 57:15). This "preparation of the way" is a crucial step for the promised healing, comfort, and restoration of those who turn to God, creating a passage for them to return both physically from exile and spiritually to covenant faithfulness. Historically, it points to the post-exilic return from Babylon, and prophetically, it points to the spiritual clearing necessary for the coming of the Messiah and the establishment of His kingdom.

Isaiah 57 14 Word analysis

• וְאָמַר (v'amar) – "And he shall say" / "One will say": The verb is amar (אָמַר), meaning "to say, speak, declare." The vav prefixed means "and." It is an impersonal Qal imperfect form, often rendered as an impersonal "one will say," but in context, it conveys a divine utterance or a command given on divine authority, perhaps through an angel or prophet. It highlights the authoritative source of the directive.
• סֹלּוּ סֹלּוּ (solu solu) – "Cast up, cast up!": This is a Piel imperative verb, salal (סָלַל), meaning "to heap up, make a highway, build a causeway, exalt." The doubling of the imperative adds intense emphasis and urgency to the command, signifying a massive undertaking to create a raised, clear, and elevated road or path, much like preparing a royal highway for an important procession.
• פַּנּוּ דָרֶךְ (pannenū derekh) – "Prepare the way": This phrase uses the Piel imperative of panah (פָּנָה), meaning "to turn, face, prepare, clear," combined with derekh (דֶּרֶךְ), meaning "way, road, path, journey." It signifies clearing away existing obstacles and making a path smooth and accessible. It often refers to clearing a path for a sovereign or dignitary.
• הָרִימוּ מִכְשׁוֹל (harīmū mikhshōl) – "Take up the stumbling block": Harimu is the Hiphil imperative of rum (רוּם), meaning "to raise, lift up, remove." Mikhshol (מִכְשׁוֹל) means "stumbling block, obstruction, ruin, an occasion for falling." This command is specific: actively identify and remove anything that could cause someone to stumble or fall, whether a physical object, a moral temptation, or an idol.
• מִדֶּרֶךְ עַמִּי (mi-derekh 'ammi) – "Out of the way of my people": Mi-derekh combines min (מִן), "from/out of," with derekh (דֶּרֶךְ), "way." 'Ammi (עַמִּי) consists of 'am (עַם), "people," with the first person singular pronominal suffix "my." This emphasizes God's proprietary and covenantal relationship with Israel. The efforts of path clearing and obstacle removal are exclusively for the benefit of "My people," highlighting His care and intention for their unhindered journey and restoration.

Words-group analysis:

• "And he shall say, Cast up, cast up!": This strong opening declares a powerful and urgent command from an authoritative source. The doubling of "cast up" underlines the significant effort and the scale of the task—it's not a small correction but a major highway construction.
• "prepare the way": This phrase functions in parallel to the preceding one, emphasizing the clear intention behind the building up—to make a direct, unimpeded route. It moves from general construction (cast up) to specific purpose (prepare the way).
• "take up the stumblingblock out of the way of my people": This section specifies the what and the for whom. It's about removing specific hindrances (stumbling blocks) and doing so explicitly for the chosen, covenantal community of God. It brings into focus God's personal concern for their unhindered progress, both physically (return from exile) and spiritually (repentance and faithfulness).

Isaiah 57 14 Bonus section

The Hebrew verbs used for "cast up" (salal) and "prepare" (panah) are both in the Piel stem (or a derivative of it in the case of panah), which often indicates an intensive, repeated, or causative action. This grammatical nuance reinforces the sense of a grand, deliberate, and vigorous effort commanded by God. The doubling of solu further amplifies this, similar to how repetition in prophetic speech often signifies certainty, urgency, and intensity. This verse highlights the tension between human responsibility to remove hindrances (though often divinely prompted and empowered) and God's ultimate plan to clear a path for His people. It encapsulates the broader theme in Isaiah of God orchestrating the return from exile, ensuring that His redeemed people have a smooth and glorious path to Him and their inheritance.

Isaiah 57 14 Commentary

Isaiah 57:14 represents a pivotal divine command for restoration and clear passage, emerging amidst strong condemnation of Israel's spiritual unfaithfulness. The authoritative declaration, "And he shall say," underscores its divine origin, ensuring the command's power and necessity. The repeated "Cast up, cast up!" emphasizes the urgency and significant effort required—not merely smoothing a path, but building a raised, cleared highway fit for a sovereign's procession, indicative of God's desire for an exalted journey for His people. This preparation involves not just general road-building, but specifically to "prepare the way," ensuring the path is open and direct. The crucial instruction to "take up the stumblingblock" denotes a deliberate, precise removal of anything that causes spiritual or physical impediment. These "stumbling blocks" can be literal debris in a physical journey, but also idolatry, sin, or any moral failing that hinders access to God. Crucially, all these actions are "out of the way of my people," highlighting God's enduring covenant love and personal investment in their well-being, despite their apostasy. This verse beautifully foreshadows the New Testament's call to "prepare the way of the Lord" through John the Baptist, symbolizing the removal of spiritual obstacles (repentance) before Christ's coming to save His people. It’s a promise of grace and removal of barriers for the humbled and repentant.