Bible Strands
Isaiah 25:3
Therefore, a strong people will honor You. The cities of ruthless nations will revere You.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — God speaks to His people immediately after declaring the destruction of hostile fortifications in Isaiah 25:2 and before promising protection for the oppressed in verse 4. The address targets those witnessing the fall of arrogant powers.
The words — כֵּן (ken) means "therefore," establishing the logical consequence of the preceding judgment. יְכַבְּדוּךָ (yekhaḇḏūḵā) literally means "they will honor you," describing the future posture of the strong and the ruthless.
The thread — The submission of nations to divine authority runs through Psalms 46:10, Isaiah 49:23, and Zechariah 14:9. These passages consistently depict foreign rulers and kingdoms moving from opposition to acknowledgment of God's sovereignty.
Why it lands — The text states that formerly hostile nations will ultimately acknowledge God's authority, then requires readers to abandon reliance on human strength or political power. It demands a practical shift of trust toward the only enduring refuge.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
Therefore shall the strong people glorify thee, the city of the terrible nations shall fear thee.
Cross-references
- Psalms 46:10 “Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted over the earth.”
- Isaiah 49:23 Kings will be your foster fathers, and their queens your nursing mothers. They will bow to you facedown and lick the dust at your feet. Then you will know that I am the LORD; those who hope in Me will never be put to shame.”
- Zechariah 14:9 On that day the LORD will become King over all the earth—the LORD alone, and His name alone.
- Zechariah 14:16 Then all the survivors from the nations that came against Jerusalem will go up year after year to worship the King, the LORD of Hosts, and to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles.
- Psalms 66:3 Say to God, “How awesome are Your deeds! So great is Your power that Your enemies cower before You.
- Psalms 72:8 May he rule from sea to sea, and from the Euphrates to the ends of the earth.
- Isaiah 13:11 I will punish the world for its evil and the wicked for their iniquity. I will end the haughtiness of the arrogant and lay low the pride of the ruthless.
- Isaiah 60:10 Foreigners will rebuild your walls, and their kings will serve you. Although I struck you in anger, yet in favor I will show you mercy.
- Isaiah 66:18 “And I, knowing their deeds and thoughts, am coming to gather all nations and tongues, and they will come and see My glory.
- Ezekiel 38:23 I will magnify and sanctify Myself, and I will reveal Myself in the sight of many nations. Then they will know that I am the LORD.