Isaiah 25

King James Version

Full text for Isaiah Chapter 25

1¶ O LORD, thou [art] my God; I will exalt thee, I will praise thy name; for thou hast done wonderful [things; thy] counsels of old [are] faithfulness [and] truth.

2For thou hast made of a city an heap; [of] a defenced city a ruin: a palace of strangers to be no city; it shall never be built.

3Therefore shall the strong people glorify thee, the city of the terrible nations shall fear thee.

4For thou hast been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat, when the blast of the terrible ones [is] as a storm [against] the wall.

5Thou shalt bring down the noise of strangers, as the heat in a dry place; [even] the heat with the shadow of a cloud: the branch of the terrible ones shall be brought low.

6¶ And in this mountain shall the LORD of hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees well refined.

7And he will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering cast over all people, and the vail that is spread over all nations.

8He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken [it].

9¶ And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this [is] our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this [is] the LORD; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.

10For in this mountain shall the hand of the LORD rest, and Moab shall be trodden down under him, even as straw is trodden down for the dunghill.

11And he shall spread forth his hands in the midst of them, as he that swimmeth spreadeth forth [his hands] to swim: and he shall bring down their pride together with the spoils of their hands.

12And the fortress of the high fort of thy walls shall he bring down, lay low, [and] bring to the ground, [even] to the dust.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

The prophet praises the LORD for His faithfulness and mighty deeds, particularly His judgment upon strong cities and His protection of the poor. A future feast is foretold on God's holy mountain, where death will be swallowed up in victory, and all tears will be wiped away. The chapter concludes with the joyful anticipation of God's salvation and the humiliation of Moab.

Medium Summary

Isaiah begins by exalting the LORD for His wonderful works and faithful counsels, acknowledging His power in bringing down fortified cities to ruin. God is celebrated as a strength and refuge for the poor and needy against the blast of terrible nations. The prophecy then shifts to a future eschatological vision on Mount Zion, where the LORD of hosts will prepare a lavish feast for all peoples. In this same place, God will remove the spiritual covering and veil from all nations, swallow up death in victory, and wipe away tears from every face. The people will then joyfully declare that the LORD is their God and their salvation. Finally, the chapter foretells the complete subjugation and humiliation of Moab, whose pride and fortresses will be utterly brought low.

Long Summary

The chapter opens with a fervent declaration of praise to the LORD, exalting His name for His wonderful deeds and the faithfulness of His ancient counsels. The prophet acknowledges God's power in transforming mighty, defenced cities and palaces of strangers into heaps of ruin, ensuring they will never be rebuilt. Consequently, strong and terrible nations will glorify and fear Him. The LORD is further lauded as a steadfast strength and refuge for the poor and needy in their distress, providing shelter from the storm and shadow from the heat, even when oppressive forces rage like a tempest. He is depicted as bringing down the noise and power of these terrible ones, just as heat is subdued by a cloud's shadow. A pivotal prophecy then unfolds concerning God's holy mountain, where the LORD of hosts will prepare a magnificent feast of rich provisions and well-refined wines for all peoples. In this same sacred place, God will destroy the 'face of the covering' and the 'vail' that has spread over all nations, signifying the removal of spiritual blindness. Most significantly, He will swallow up death in victory, wipe away tears from off all faces, and remove the reproach of His people from the entire earth, for the LORD Himself has spoken it. This future salvation will elicit a joyful declaration from the people, acknowledging God as their long-awaited deliverer. The chapter concludes with a specific judgment against Moab, whose pride and fortresses will be brought low and utterly trodden down, much like straw is trodden for the dunghill, demonstrating God's complete dominion.

Core Concepts

  • Divine Praise and FaithfulnessThe chapter opens with the prophet's exaltation of God for His wonderful works and the truth and faithfulness of His ancient counsels, acknowledging His unchanging character.
  • Judgment of NationsGod's power is demonstrated through His destruction of fortified cities and palaces of strangers, reducing them to ruins and thereby causing strong nations to fear Him.
  • Refuge for the NeedyThe LORD is portrayed as a source of strength, refuge, and protection for the poor and distressed, shielding them from the oppressive forces of the 'terrible ones'.
  • Eschatological FeastOn God's holy mountain, the LORD of hosts will prepare a lavish feast of rich foods and fine wines for all peoples, symbolizing a time of abundant blessing and fellowship.
  • Victory Over Death and SorrowA profound promise is given that God will swallow up death in victory, wipe away tears from all faces, and remove the reproach of His people, signifying ultimate triumph over suffering.
  • Salvation and RejoicingThe people will joyfully declare their recognition of God as their long-awaited deliverer, expressing gladness and rejoicing in His salvation.
  • Humiliation of MoabThe chapter concludes with a specific prophecy of judgment against Moab, whose pride and strong fortresses will be utterly brought low and trodden down by the hand of the LORD.