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:
What does Isaiah 40:4 mean?
All human life is a warfare; the Christian life is the most so; but the struggle will not last always. Troubles are removed in love, when sin is pardoned.
Key themes
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Keep this verse inside Isaiah 40:3-5 and alongside a few nearby related passages.
Commentary 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 - 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. This verse is evidently designed to explain what is intended in Isaiah 40:3 , by preparing the way for Yahweh. Applied to the return of the Jews from Babylon, it means simply that the impassable valleys were to be filled up so as to make a level road for their journey.
Context in Isaiah 40
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Isaiah 40 belongs to the middle movement of the book, especially the section often described as comfort and the servant songs. Isaiah is one of Scripture’s grandest prophetic books, moving from holy judgment to consolation, servant imagery, and new-creation hope. Read this chapter with the wider themes of holiness, judgment, and remnant in view so the individual verses keep their proper weight.
Related topics
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Who quoted Isaiah 40:4?
Find out who used Isaiah 40:4 in their speeches and writings. Which famous people quoted Isaiah 40:4?
Martin Luther King Jr. used Isaiah 40:4 in I Have a Dream.
Quotes found on Wikiquote (match for «every valley shall be exalted»):
Alabama · August 28 · Georgia (U.S. state) · Isaiah · Karl Barth · Martin Luther King Jr. · Mississippi · Preparation · Southern United States · Tanakh