Isaiah 40:4
Isaiah 40:4 in Multiple Translations
Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill made low; the uneven ground will become smooth, and the rugged land a plain.
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:
Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low; and the uneven shall be made level, and the rough places a plain:
Let every valley be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low, and let the rough places become level, and the hilltops become a valley,
Fill in all the valleys; level all the mountains and hills; smooth out the uneven ground; make the rough places flat.
Euery valley shall be exalted, and euery mountaine and hill shall be made lowe: and the crooked shalbe streight, and the rough places plaine.
Every valley is raised up, And every mountain and hill become low, And the crooked place hath become a plain, And the entangled places a valley.
Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low. The uneven shall be made level, and the rough places a plain.
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.
Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall become straight, and the rough ways plain.
Fill in the valleys; flatten every hill and every mountain. Make the uneven ground smooth, and make the rough places smooth.
Berean Amplified Bible — Isaiah 40:4
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Isaiah 40:4 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
כָּל
גֶּיא֙
יִנָּשֵׂ֔א
וְ/כָל
הַ֥ר
וְ/גִבְעָ֖ה
יִשְׁפָּ֑לוּ
וְ/הָיָ֤ה
הֶֽ/עָקֹב֙
לְ/מִישׁ֔וֹר
וְ/הָ/רְכָסִ֖ים
לְ/בִקְעָֽה
כָּל
kôl
H3605
all
N-ms
גֶּיא֙
gayʼ
H1516
Valley
N-cs
יִנָּשֵׂ֔א
nâsâʼ
H5375
to lift
V-Niphal-Imperf-3ms
וְ/כָל
kôl
H3605
all
Conj | N-ms
הַ֥ר
har
H2022
mountain
N-ms
וְ/גִבְעָ֖ה
gibʻâh
H1389
Gibeat
Conj | N-fs
יִשְׁפָּ֑לוּ
shâphêl
H8213
to abase
V-Qal-Imperf-3mp
וְ/הָיָ֤ה
hâyâh
H1961
to be
Conj | V-Qal-3ms
הֶֽ/עָקֹב֙
ʻâqôb
H6121
insidious
Art | N-ms
לְ/מִישׁ֔וֹר
mîyshôwr
H4334
plain
Prep | N-ms
וְ/הָ/רְכָסִ֖ים
rekeç
H7406
roughness
Conj | Art | N-mp
לְ/בִקְעָֽה
biqʻâh
H1237
valley
Prep | N-fs
Hebrew Word Study
Select any word above to explore its original meaning, root, and usage across Scripture.
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Hebrew Word Reference — Isaiah 40:4
כָּל
kôl
H3605
"all"
N-ms
The Hebrew word for 'all' or 'everything' is used throughout the Bible, like in Genesis 1:31, where God sees all He has made as very good. It encompasses the entirety of something, whether people, things, or situations.
Definition: 1) all, the whole 1a) all, the whole of 1b) any, each, every, anything 1c) totality, everything Aramaic equivalent: kol (כֹּל "all" H3606)
Usage: Occurs in 4242 OT verses. KJV: (in) all (manner, (ye)), altogether, any (manner), enough, every (one, place, thing), howsoever, as many as, (no-) thing, ought, whatsoever, (the) whole, whoso(-ever). See also: Genesis 1:21; Genesis 17:10; Genesis 41:40.
גֶּיא֙
gayʼ
H1516
"Valley"
N-cs
In the Bible, this Hebrew word refers to a deep, narrow valley or gorge. It is also another name for Topheth, a place of child sacrifice in the Valley of Hinnom. The word describes a steep and dramatic landscape.
Definition: valley, a steep valley, narrow gorge Another name of to.phet (תֹּ֫פֶת "Topheth" H8612)
Usage: Occurs in 54 OT verses. KJV: valley. See also: Numbers 21:20; Nehemiah 11:30; Psalms 23:4.
יִנָּשֵׂ֔א
nâsâʼ
H5375
"to lift"
V-Niphal-Imperf-3ms
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means to lift or raise something, and it's used in many ways, like lifting a burden or raising someone's status. It appears in books like Genesis and Isaiah, often talking about God lifting people up. It's about supporting or carrying something or someone.
Definition: : raise/take_up 1) to lift, bear up, carry, take 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to lift, lift up 1a2) to bear, carry, support, sustain, endure 1a3) to take, take away, carry off, forgive 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be lifted up, be exalted 1b2) to lift oneself up, rise up 1b3) to be borne, be carried 1b4) to be taken away, be carried off, be swept away 1c) (Piel) 1c1) to lift up, exalt, support, aid, assist 1c2) to desire, long (fig.) 1c3) to carry, bear continuously 1c4) to take, take away 1d) (Hithpael) to lift oneself up, exalt oneself 1e) (Hiphil) 1e1) to cause one to bear (iniquity) 1e2) to cause to bring, have brought
Usage: Occurs in 609 OT verses. KJV: accept, advance, arise, (able to, (armor), suffer to) bear(-er, up), bring (forth), burn, carry (away), cast, contain, desire, ease, exact, exalt (self), extol, fetch, forgive, furnish, further, give, go on, help, high, hold up, honorable ([phrase] man), lade, lay, lift (self) up, lofty, marry, magnify, [idiom] needs, obtain, pardon, raise (up), receive, regard, respect, set (up), spare, stir up, [phrase] swear, take (away, up), [idiom] utterly, wear, yield. See also: Genesis 4:13; Numbers 4:2; 1 Samuel 14:3.
וְ/כָל
kôl
H3605
"all"
Conj | N-ms
The Hebrew word for 'all' or 'everything' is used throughout the Bible, like in Genesis 1:31, where God sees all He has made as very good. It encompasses the entirety of something, whether people, things, or situations.
Definition: 1) all, the whole 1a) all, the whole of 1b) any, each, every, anything 1c) totality, everything Aramaic equivalent: kol (כֹּל "all" H3606)
Usage: Occurs in 4242 OT verses. KJV: (in) all (manner, (ye)), altogether, any (manner), enough, every (one, place, thing), howsoever, as many as, (no-) thing, ought, whatsoever, (the) whole, whoso(-ever). See also: Genesis 1:21; Genesis 17:10; Genesis 41:40.
הַ֥ר
har
H2022
"mountain"
N-ms
A mountain or hill, sometimes used to describe a spiritual high point. In the Bible, it can refer to a real mountain or a figurative one. The word is often translated as hill or mount.
Definition: : mount/hill hill, mountain, hill country, mount
Usage: Occurs in 486 OT verses. KJV: hill (country), mount(-ain), [idiom] promotion. See also: Genesis 7:19; Deuteronomy 3:12; Judges 18:13.
וְ/גִבְעָ֖ה
gibʻâh
H1389
"Gibeat"
Conj | N-fs
Gibeat refers to a small hill, with the name meaning hill, and is another spelling of Gibeah. It appears in various KJV translations as hill or little hill.
Definition: This name means hill Another spelling of giv.ah (גִּבְעָה "Gibeah" H1390H)
Usage: Occurs in 71 OT verses. KJV: hill, little hill. See also: Genesis 49:26; Isaiah 30:17; Psalms 65:13.
יִשְׁפָּ֑לוּ
shâphêl
H8213
"to abase"
V-Qal-Imperf-3mp
To humble or abase oneself, to lower one's expectations or pride. In the Bible, it can mean to bring someone or something down, like in Proverbs 29:23, where a person's pride is humbled.
Definition: 1) to be or become low, sink, be humbled, be abased 1a) (Qal) to be or become low 1b) (Hiphil) 1b1) to lay or bring low, humiliate 1b2) to set in a lower place, show abasement 1b3) to make low, sit down
Usage: Occurs in 27 OT verses. KJV: abase, bring (cast, put) down, debase, humble (self), be (bring, lay, make, put) low(-er). See also: 1 Samuel 2:7; Isaiah 2:17; Psalms 18:28.
וְ/הָיָ֤ה
hâyâh
H1961
"to be"
Conj | V-Qal-3ms
The Hebrew word for to be means to exist or come into being. It is used to describe something that happens or comes to pass, like in Genesis where God creates the world.
Definition: 1) to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out 1a) (Qal) 1a1) --- 1a1a) to happen, fall out, occur, take place, come about, come to pass 1a1b) to come about, come to pass 1a2) to come into being, become 1a2a) to arise, appear, come 1a2b) to become 1a2b1) to become 1a2b2) to become like 1a2b3) to be instituted, be established 1a3) to be 1a3a) to exist, be in existence 1a3b) to abide, remain, continue (with word of place or time) 1a3c) to stand, lie, be in, be at, be situated (with word of locality) 1a3d) to accompany, be with 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to occur, come to pass, be done, be brought about 1b2) to be done, be finished, be gone
Usage: Occurs in 3131 OT verses. KJV: beacon, [idiom] altogether, be(-come), accomplished, committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), do, faint, fall, [phrase] follow, happen, [idiom] have, last, pertain, quit (one-) self, require, [idiom] use. See also: Genesis 1:2; Genesis 17:4; Genesis 36:11.
הֶֽ/עָקֹב֙
ʻâqôb
H6121
"insidious"
Art | N-ms
In the Bible, this word means something is not straight or honest, like a crooked path or a deceitful action, often used to describe unfair or polluted things. It appears in various books, including the prophets. This concept is important in understanding God's desire for integrity.
Definition: 1) deceitful, sly, insidious 1a) deceitful, sly, insidious, slippery 1b) foot-tracked
Usage: Occurs in 3 OT verses. KJV: crooked, deceitful, polluted. See also: Isaiah 40:4; Jeremiah 17:9; Hosea 6:8.
לְ/מִישׁ֔וֹר
mîyshôwr
H4334
"plain"
Prep | N-ms
This word refers to a level or plain area, often used to describe a geographical region. It can also mean uprightness or justice, and is sometimes used to describe a place of equity or fairness. In the Bible, it appears in various translations, including plain and straight.
Definition: 1) level place, uprightness 1a) level country, table-land, plain 1b) level place 1c) uprightness
Usage: Occurs in 23 OT verses. KJV: equity, even place, plain, right(-eously), (made) straight, uprightness. See also: Deuteronomy 3:10; Psalms 27:11; Psalms 26:12.
וְ/הָ/רְכָסִ֖ים
rekeç
H7406
"roughness"
Conj | Art | N-mp
Roughness or a rough place refers to a difficult or hard area, like a mountain ridge. This term is used to describe a challenging location. It can be a barrier or obstacle.
Definition: 1) roughness or bound up, impeded, the impassable or mountain chain, rough place 1a) meaning uncertain
Usage: Occurs in 1 OT verses. KJV: rough place. See also: Isaiah 40:4.
לְ/בִקְעָֽה
biqʻâh
H1237
"valley"
Prep | N-fs
A valley is a low area of land between hills or mountains, and in the Bible, it can also mean a plain or level area, as seen in Ezekiel 3:22-23.
Definition: 1) valley 2) plain, level valley Aramaic equivalent: biq.a (בִּקְעָא "plain" H1236)
Usage: Occurs in 20 OT verses. KJV: plain, valley. See also: Genesis 11:2; Isaiah 40:4; Psalms 104:8.
Study Notes — Isaiah 40:4
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Isaiah 40:4 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Isaiah 40:4
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Isaiah 40:4
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Isaiah 40:4
- Trapp's Commentary on Isaiah 40:4
- Ellicott's Commentary on Isaiah 40:4
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Isaiah 40:4
- Cambridge Bible on Isaiah 40:4
- Barnes' Notes on Isaiah 40:4
- Whedon's Commentary on Isaiah 40:4
- Sermons on Isaiah 40:4
Context — Prepare the Way for the LORD
2“Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her forced labor has been completed; her iniquity has been pardoned. For she has received from the hand of the LORD double for all her sins.”
3A voice of one calling: “Prepare the way for the LORD in the wilderness; make a straight highway for our God in the desert.
4Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill made low; the uneven ground will become smooth, and the rugged land a plain.
5And the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all humanity together will see it.” For the mouth of the LORD has spoken. 6A voice says, “Cry out!” And I asked, “What should I cry out?” “All flesh is like grass, and all its glory like the flowers of the field.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Luke 3:5 | Every valley shall be filled in, and every mountain and hill made low. The crooked ways shall be made straight, and the rough ways smooth. |
| 2 | Ezekiel 21:26 | This is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Remove the turban, and take off the crown. Things will not remain as they are: Exalt the lowly and bring low the exalted. |
| 3 | Luke 18:14 | I tell you, this man, rather than the Pharisee, went home justified. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” |
| 4 | Isaiah 42:15–16 | I will lay waste the mountains and hills and dry up all their vegetation. I will turn the rivers into dry land and drain the marshes. I will lead the blind by a way they did not know; I will guide them on unfamiliar paths. I will turn darkness into light before them and rough places into level ground. These things I will do for them, and I will not forsake them. |
| 5 | Isaiah 45:2 | “I will go before you and level the mountains; I will break down the gates of bronze and cut through the bars of iron. |
| 6 | Ezekiel 17:24 | Then all the trees of the field will know that I am the LORD. I bring the tall tree down and make the low tree tall. I dry up the green tree and make the withered tree flourish. I, the LORD, have spoken, and I have done it.’” |
| 7 | Job 40:11–13 | Unleash the fury of your wrath; look on every proud man and bring him low. Look on every proud man and humble him; trample the wicked where they stand. Bury them together in the dust; imprison them in the grave. |
| 8 | Psalms 113:7–8 | He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the dump to seat them with nobles, with the princes of His people. |
| 9 | Isaiah 2:12–15 | For the Day of the LORD of Hosts will come against all the proud and lofty, against all that is exalted— it will be humbled— against all the cedars of Lebanon, lofty and lifted up, against all the oaks of Bashan, against all the tall mountains, against all the high hills, against every high tower, against every fortified wall, |
| 10 | 1 Samuel 2:8 | He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap. He seats them among princes and bestows on them a throne of honor. For the foundations of the earth are the LORD’s, and upon them He has set the world. |
Isaiah 40:4 Summary
[This verse is saying that God wants to make a way for us to come to Him that is easy and straightforward, without any obstacles or challenges getting in the way. He wants to take away the things that make it hard for us to follow Him and to be with Him, like our pride and stubbornness, as mentioned in Proverbs 16:18 and James 4:10. By making the 'mountains' low and the 'valleys' high, God is creating a level path for us to walk on, one that is filled with His glory and presence, as seen in Isaiah 35:8-10. As we trust in Him and surrender our lives to His will, we can experience the joy and peace of walking on this 'straight highway' with God.]
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean for every valley to be lifted up and every mountain to be made low?
This verse is using geographic imagery to describe a spiritual leveling, where the proud are humbled and the humble are exalted, as seen in Luke 3:5 and Matthew 23:12. It's a call to recognize God's sovereignty and our place before Him.
Is this verse talking about a physical change in the earth's landscape?
While the language is poetic and descriptive of the natural world, the primary focus is on the spiritual preparation of the heart for the coming of the Lord, as proclaimed in Isaiah 40:3 and echoed in Malachi 3:1. The physical world is used to illustrate the profound spiritual transformation that occurs when God's presence is revealed.
How does this verse relate to the concept of repentance and forgiveness?
The leveling of mountains and valleys is a picture of the removal of obstacles that prevent us from drawing near to God, much like the removal of sin through repentance and forgiveness, as taught in Isaiah 1:18 and Psalm 51:7. It's an invitation to come to God with a humble and contrite heart.
What is the significance of the uneven ground becoming smooth and the rugged land a plain?
This imagery suggests that the difficulties and challenges of life will be made easier to navigate when we submit to God's will and allow Him to work in our lives, as promised in Isaiah 26:7 and Jeremiah 31:9. It's a declaration of God's power to transform even the most troubled of landscapes into a place of peace and tranquility.
Reflection Questions
- What are the 'mountains' and 'valleys' in my life that need to be made low and lifted up, respectively, so I can draw closer to God?
- How can I practically apply the principle of humility, as described in this verse, to my daily interactions and relationships?
- In what ways can I 'prepare the way for the Lord' in my own heart and life, as called for in Isaiah 40:3, so that I might experience the glory of the Lord revealed in my life?
- What are some areas where I feel like I'm walking on 'uneven ground' or through 'rugged land', and how can I trust God to make those paths smooth and plain?
Gill's Exposition on Isaiah 40:4
Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low,.... Which is not to be understood literally, but, as Kimchi says, parabolically and mystically: the meaning is, that in
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Isaiah 40:4
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: Every valley shall be exalted ... Eastern monarchs
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Isaiah 40:4
This is only a more particular explication of that which was generally expressed . The sense is, All obstructions shall be removed, and the way made in all respects convenient and easy for the passenger.
Trapp's Commentary on Isaiah 40:4
Isaiah 40:4 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:Ver. 4. Every valley shall be exalted.] Terms taken from the custom of princes coming into a place - viz., to have their way cleared, and passages facilitated. See on Matthew 3:3.
Ellicott's Commentary on Isaiah 40:4
(4) Every valley shall be exalted.—The figure is drawn from the titanic engineering operations of the kingly road-makers of the East, but the parable is hardly veiled. The meek exalted, the proud brought low, wrong ways set right, rough natures smoothed: that is the true preparation for the coming of the Lord, and therefore the true work of every follower of the Baptist in preparing the way. (Comp. Matthew 3:5-7; Luke 3:3-9.)
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Isaiah 40:4
Verse 4. Crooked] The word עקב akob is very generally rendered crooked: but this sense of the word seems not to be supported by any good authority. Ludolphus, Comment. ad Hist. AEthiop. p. 206, says "that in the Ethiopia language it signifies clivus, locus editus:" and so the Syriac Version renders it in this place, ערמא arama: Hebrew, ערמה aramah, tumulus, acervus. Thus the parallelism would be more perfect: "the hilly country shall be made level, and the precipices a smooth plain."
Cambridge Bible on Isaiah 40:4
4. and the crooked … plain] More literally: and the uneven shall become a plain, and the rugged places a valley. rough places is a word of somewhat uncertain sense, which does not occur elsewhere. straight and plain are nouns in the original.
Barnes' Notes on Isaiah 40:4
Every valley shall be exalted - That is, every valley, or low piece of ground, shall be filled up so as to make a level highway, as was done in order to facilitate the march of armies.
Whedon's Commentary on Isaiah 40:4
3-5. The voice of him that crieth — Rather, A voice crieth, though the Septuagint and the Vulgate translate as in our version. It is rhetorically suitable to read, “Hark! a crier.” So Delitzsch.
Sermons on Isaiah 40:4
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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Washed With Fire by Leonard Ravenhill | In this sermon, the preacher shares a story about a woman who worked in Africa and lived in a humble bamboo house. Despite facing potential dangers in the jungle, she had faith and |
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The Fire of God by Leonard Ravenhill | In this sermon, the preacher discusses the story of Elijah and the prophets of Baal. He highlights the contrast between the prophets of Baal and Elijah, who was a man of God. The p |
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God's Kindness and Severity by Erlo Stegen | In this sermon, the preacher discusses the concept of the kindness and severity of God. He shares a personal story about an American preacher who asked whether people emphasize the |
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(Youth Bible School 2007) the Wayside Hearer by Mose Stoltzfus | In this sermon, the speaker discusses the parable of the sower from Matthew chapter 13. He explains that the different conditions of the soil in the parable represent the different |
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The Valley Exalted, and the Mountain Laid Low by J.C. Philpot | J.C. Philpot preaches on the prophecy from Isaiah 40:4-5, emphasizing the figurative language of obstacles being removed for the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. He delves into the |
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Letter 20 by James Bourne | James Bourne emphasizes the power of God to overcome obstacles and transform lives, urging his cousin to seek God earnestly through prayer and the Word. He acknowledges the struggl |
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Wait on God's Time by Charles E. Cowman | Charles E. Cowman preaches about the importance of waiting on God's set times, using the story of Abraham and Sarah as an example of God fulfilling His promises at the appointed mo |