Isaiah 54:10

Though the mountains may be removed and the hills may be shaken, My loving devotion will not depart from you, and My covenant of peace will not be broken,” says the LORD, who has compassion on you.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The LORD addresses Jerusalem, personified as a barren woman, in a promise of restoration framed by the Noahic oath (v. 9) and the rebuilding with precious stones (v. 11).

The words — חֶסֶד (chesed) is rendered "loving devotion" but denotes covenant loyalty: a binding obligation, not a feeling. The prepositional phrase מֵאִתְּךָ (me'ittekha) is literally "from with you," i.e., "depart from you," making the negation absolute.

The thread — The same chesed-not-withdrawn formula appears in Psalms 89:33; the image of mountains removed echoes Psalms 46:2; the underlying "rich in mercy" language resurfaces in Ephesians 2:4.

Why it lands — The verse removes the reader's security from the stability of circumstances and places it in a sworn covenant, asking them to stop testing God's faithfulness by the shake of the ground beneath them.

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

כִּ֤יkithat הֶֽהָרִים֙he./ha.Rimthe/ mountains יָמ֔וּשׁוּya.Mu.shuthey will be removed וְהַגְּבָע֖וֹתve./ha./ge.va.'otand/ the/ hills תְּמוּטֶ֑נָהte.mu.Te.nahthey will shake וְחַסְדִּ֞יve./chas.D/iand/ covenant loyalty/ my מֵאִתֵּ֣ךְme./'i.Te/khfrom/ with <the>/ you לֹֽא־lo'-not יָמ֗וּשׁya.Mushit will be removed וּבְרִ֤יתu./ve.Ritand/ [the] covenant of שְׁלוֹמִי֙she.lo.M/ipeace/ my לֹ֣אlo'not תָמ֔וּטta.Mutit will shake אָמַ֥ר'a.Marhe says מְרַחֲמֵ֖ךְme.ra.cha.Me/kh[one who] has compassion on/ you יְהוָֽה׃ סYah.wehYahweh

King James Version

For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee.

Cross-references

Psalms 89:33 But I will not withdraw My loving devotion from him, nor ever betray My faithfulness.
Psalms 46:2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth is transformed and the mountains are toppled into the depths of the seas,
Ephesians 2:4 But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,
Matthew 24:35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away.
Romans 11:29 For God’s gifts and His call are irrevocable.
Isaiah 51:6 Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look at the earth below; for the heavens will vanish like smoke, the earth will wear out like a garment, and its people will die like gnats. But My salvation will last forever, and My righteousness will never fail.
Isaiah 55:3 Incline your ear and come to Me; listen, so that your soul may live. I will make with you an everlasting covenant—My loving devotion promised to David.
Isaiah 54:8 In a surge of anger I hid My face from you for a moment, but with everlasting kindness I will have compassion on you,” says the LORD your Redeemer.
Malachi 2:5 “My covenant with him was one of life and peace, which I gave to him; it called for reverence, and he revered Me and stood in awe of My name.
Hebrews 13:20 Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep,