Messianic · The voice in the wilderness; the Shepherd-God

Isaiah 40:1-11

Isaiah · ~700 BC · Status: Fulfilled · Confidence: 65% · Payne §Isa 90
“Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the LORD'S hand double for all her sins.”
King James Version · the opening — all 11 verses are below
More of Isaiah 40 on this siteIsaiah 40:3 · Isaiah 40:12-31

The opening of Isaiah's Book of Comfort — the herald's voice preparing the way of the LORD, the revelation of God's glory, and the Shepherd-God coming to His people.

Read the whole passage — all 11 verses (KJV)

40:1Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God.

40:2Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the LORD’S hand double for all her sins.

40:3The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

40:4Every 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:

40:5And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.

40:6The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field:

40:7The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the LORD bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass.

40:8The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.

40:9O Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God!

40:10Behold, the Lord GOD will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him: behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him.

40:11He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.

Fulfillment References

Mark 1:1-3 Matthew 3:3 Luke 3:4-6 John 1:23

How Traditions Read This Prophecy

Apostolic (Oneness) PentecostalThe 'voice' prepares 'the way of the LORD' (YHWH), and the Gospels make that the way of Jesus (Mark 1:3) — 'Behold your God' revealed in the face of Christ; the one God come as Shepherd (John 10:11).
JewishWords of comfort to exiled Israel — the LORD returning to Zion to shepherd His people; the 'voice' heralding the return from Babylon.
CatholicFulfilled when John the Baptist prepares the way of the LORD for Christ's coming (Mark 1:3); 'Behold your God' realized in the incarnation.
ProtestantAll four Gospels apply the 'voice in the wilderness' to John the Baptist preparing the way for Jesus — and 'the way of the LORD' is the way of Jesus.
OrthodoxThe herald preparing the way of the incarnate Lord, the Shepherd come to His flock.
DispensationalFulfilled in John the Baptist's preparation, with the full revelation of God's glory awaiting the kingdom.
AcademicCritical scholars assign Isaiah 40 to 'Second Isaiah' (exilic); the 'voice in the wilderness' originally heralds the return from Babylon, reread by the Gospels of John the Baptist.
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Bible Prophecy Explorer · based on J. Barton Payne’s Encyclopedia of Biblical Prophecy catalogue · an openly Apostolic (Oneness) Pentecostal study resource — all traditions presented fairly. Pastor: C. Myles Young, D.Min. · Bishop: Nathaniel J. Wilson, Ed.D.