“those who wait for Yahweh”
To “wait” is to hope in and depend on God expectantly, not passively. The promise is tied to this trusting reliance.
What Does Isaiah 40:31 Mean?
“but those who wait for Yahweh will renew their strength. They will mount up with wings like eagles. They will run, and not be weary. They will walk, and not faint.” , Isaiah 40:31 (WEB)
Meaning in short
Isaiah 40:31 means that those who wait on and hope in God will be given fresh strength to endure, rising, running, and walking without giving out. It promises that reliance on God, rather than our own limited energy, is what sustains us through the long haul.
Verse-by-verse breakdown
“will renew their strength”
God exchanges our spent strength for his. The renewal is ongoing, fresh strength supplied as needed.
“They will mount up with wings like eagles”
A picture of being lifted above exhaustion, soaring rather than struggling.
“They will run, and not be weary. They will walk, and not faint”
From soaring to running to walking, the everyday, unglamorous endurance. God's strength carries us even in the plodding seasons.
Context
Isaiah 40 speaks comfort to people worn down and facing exile, who felt their “way is hidden from Yahweh.” The chapter lifts their eyes to the everlasting, never-tiring God (verse 28). Verse 31 is the climax: the God who never grows weary shares his strength with those who wait on him. It answers exhaustion with hope in God.
What it means for you
When you are running on empty, Isaiah 40:31 points away from gritting your teeth and toward waiting on God, hoping in him for strength you don't have on your own. Notice the order ends with walking: God's strength is not just for dramatic “soaring” moments but for the slow, faithful, daily steps.
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Open Explain a PassageFrequently asked questions
What does it mean to “wait on the Lord” in Isaiah 40:31?
It means to hope in and depend on God expectantly, trusting him rather than relying on your own strength. It is an active, trusting reliance, and the verse promises that those who do so will have their strength renewed.
Why does Isaiah 40:31 mention eagles, running, and walking?
It moves from soaring (mounting up like eagles) to running to walking, picturing God's strength for every pace of life, from the dramatic heights to the ordinary, weary, day-to-day steps where we most need not to faint.
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