The Bible — World English Bible

Isaiah 25

In brief

Isaiah 25 is a song of praise: God has faithfully carried out his purposes, and he is a refuge for the poor and the needy. Then the text rises to an immense promise: on his mountain, Yahweh prepares a feast for all peoples, removes the veil that covers the nations, swallows up death forever and wipes away the tears from all faces. The chapter invites us to wait for this salvation with joy.

The chapter in 3 parts

  1. v. 1-5Praise to God, faithful and a refuge for the weak
  2. v. 6-8The feast on the mountain: death swallowed up, tears wiped away
  3. v. 9-12The joy of salvation and the fall of pride

1Yahweh, you are my God. I will exalt you! I will praise your name, for you have done wonderful things, things planned long ago, in complete faithfulness and truth.

2For you have made a city into a heap, a fortified city into a ruin, a palace of strangers to be no city. It will never be built.

3Therefore a strong people will glorify you. A city of awesome nations will fear you.

4For you have been a stronghold to the poor, a stronghold to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shade from the heat, when the blast of the dreaded ones is like a storm against the wall.

5As the heat in a dry place you will bring down the noise of strangers; as the heat by the shade of a cloud, the song of the dreaded ones will be brought low.

6In this mountain, Yahweh of Armies will make all peoples a feast of choice meat, a feast of choice wines, of choice meat full of marrow, of well refined choice wines.

7He will destroy in this mountain the surface of the covering that covers all peoples, and the veil that is spread over all nations.

8He has swallowed up death forever! The Lord Yahweh will wipe away tears from off all faces. He will take the reproach of his people away from off all the earth, for Yahweh has spoken it.

9It shall be said in that day, “Behold, this is our God! We have waited for him, and he will save us! This is Yahweh! We have waited for him. We will be glad and rejoice in his salvation!”

10For Yahweh’s hand will rest in this mountain. Moab will be trodden down in his place, even like straw is trodden down in the water of the dunghill.

11He will spread out his hands in the middle of it, like one who swims spreads out hands to swim, but his pride will be humbled together with the craft of his hands.

12He has brought the high fortress of your walls down, laid low, and brought to the ground, even to the dust.

Key verses

Verse 1
Yahweh, you are my God. I will exalt you! I will praise your name, for you have done wonderful things, things planned long ago, in complete faithfulness and truth.

The prophet praises God for his faithfulness: what he had decided long ago, he has carried out. Trust is born from this constancy.

Verse 4
For you have been a stronghold to the poor, a stronghold to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shade from the heat, when the blast of the dreaded ones is like a storm against the wall.

God is a refuge for the poor and the needy in distress, a shelter from the storm. The image shows a God who protects those the powerful crush.

Verse 6
In this mountain, Yahweh of Armies will make all peoples a feast of choice meat, a feast of choice wines, of choice meat full of marrow, of well refined choice wines.

The feast offered to all peoples announces a salvation that goes beyond Israel. God's table is open to the nations, and the meal is a symbol of joy and fellowship.

Verse 8
He has swallowed up death forever! The Lord Yahweh will wipe away tears from off all faces. He will take the reproach of his people away from off all the earth, for Yahweh has spoken it.

One of the most beautiful promises of the Bible: death is swallowed up forever and God wipes away the tears. Revelation takes it up to describe the end of all things.

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Frequently asked questions about Isaiah 25

What does Isaiah 25:8 mean?

The verse announces that God swallows up death forever, wipes away the tears from all faces and takes away the disgrace of his people. It is a promise of total salvation, not limited to a temporary deliverance. Revelation takes up its words to describe the new creation.

What is the feast on the mountain in Isaiah 25?

It is the great meal that God prepares for all peoples on his mountain. It symbolizes joy, abundance and fellowship with God. Many see in it an image of the kingdom of God, and Jesus takes up the theme in his parables of the banquet.

What is the main message of Isaiah 25?

God is faithful, he protects the weak, he judges pride and he prepares a complete salvation for all peoples. The chapter invites praise and confident waiting: one day people will say that he is the one, and that they rejoiced in his salvation.

Articles quoting Isaiah 25

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World English Bible translation — public domain.