Isaiah 40:31

But those who wait upon the LORD will renew their strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Isaiah addresses the exiles in Babylon, immediately after noting that even the young stumble and fall (v. 30). The contrast is the point: human capacity fails, but waiting on Yahweh produces a different outcome.

The words — קוֹיֵה (qoyeh, "one who waits") comes from a root meaning to pin or fasten one's hope on something, not to idle. יַחֲלִיפוּ (yachalifpu, "they will exchange") uses a root for swapping or changing, suggesting the strength is replaced rather than merely restored.

The thread — Lamentations 3:25 pairs waiting with seeking, and 2 Corinthians 4:16 echoes the renewal of the inner self while the outer wastes. Psalms 27:13 grounds the expectation in the land of the living.

Why it lands — It forces the reader to identify which category they occupy: the young man stumbling, or the one who has pinned their hope on Yahweh. The verse offers no third option and no vague comfort.

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

וְקוֹיֵ֤ve./ko.Yeand/ [those who] wait for יְהוָה֙Yah.weh<of> Yahweh יַחֲלִ֣יפוּya.cha.Li.futhey will renew כֹ֔חַKho.achstrength יַעֲל֥וּya.'a.Luthey will go up אֵ֖בֶר'E.verwing[s]כַּנְּשָׁרִ֑יםka./ne.sha.Rimlike <the>/ eagles יָר֙וּצוּ֙ya.Ru.tzuthey will run וְלֹ֣אve./Lo'and/ not יִיגָ֔עוּyi.Ga.'uthey will become weary יֵלְכ֖וּye.le.Khuthey will walk וְלֹ֥אve./Lo'and/ not יִיעָֽפוּ׃ פyi.'A.futhey will grow weary

King James Version

But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

Cross-references

Lamentations 3:25 The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him.
2 Corinthians 4:16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, yet our inner self is being renewed day by day.
Psalms 27:13 Still I am certain to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.
Psalms 103:5 who satisfies you with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
2 Corinthians 12:9 But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me.
Hebrews 12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off every encumbrance and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with endurance the race set out for us.
Galatians 6:9 Let us not grow weary in well-doing, for in due time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
Romans 8:25 But if we hope for what we do not yet see, we wait for it patiently.
Isaiah 30:18 Therefore the LORD longs to be gracious to you; therefore He rises to show you compassion, for the LORD is a just God. Blessed are all who wait for Him.
Psalms 84:7 They go from strength to strength, until each appears before God in Zion.