Isaiah 40:28-31 teaches that the God who created the ends of the earth never grows tired or runs out of understanding, and he gives strength to people who are weak and worn out. The passage promises that those who wait on the LORD will have their strength renewed. It comes from the second major section of the book of Isaiah, written to a people far from home who felt forgotten.
28 Haven’t you known? Haven’t you heard? The everlasting God, the LORD, The Creator of the ends of the earth, doesn’t faint. He isn’t weary. His understanding is unsearchable. 29 He gives power to the weak. He increases the strength of him who has no might. 30 Even the youths faint and get weary, and the young men utterly fall; 31 But those who wait for the LORD 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 40:28-31 (WEB)
Isaiah 40:28-31 Summary
The passage opens with a question that assumes the answer: have you not known and heard that the LORD is the everlasting Creator? From there it moves to two linked truths. First, God does not faint or grow weary, and his understanding cannot be measured. Second, because he is that kind of God, he gives power to those who have none, including the young and strong who still collapse from exhaustion.
The final verse turns the argument into an invitation. Renewed strength belongs to those who wait for the LORD, and the image moves from eagles rising on wings to running and then walking without fainting. The passage begins with a reminder of who God is and ends with a picture of what he gives to people who trust him.
Context of Isaiah 40:28-31
The book of Isaiah is traditionally attributed to the prophet Isaiah, who ministered in Jerusalem in the eighth century BC. Chapters 40 to 55 are often treated as a distinct section, addressing exiles in Babylon who were facing the prospect of return. Many readers see the message as speaking to a people who had lost their homeland and wondered whether God had abandoned them.
The verses just before this passage, from Isaiah 40:25-27, ask to whom God can be compared and then complain that Israel says its way is hidden from the LORD. Verse 28 answers that complaint directly. The surrounding chapter moves from comfort to an argument about God’s greatness, and this passage is the point where the comfort becomes personal.
Isaiah 40:28-31 Verse by Verse
Psalm 46:1
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
(WEB)
This verse describes God as a refuge and strength who is always near in trouble. It echoes the promise of Isaiah 40 that God’s strength meets human need.
Matthew 11:28
“Come to me, all you who labor and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest.
(WEB)
Jesus invites the weary and burdened to come to him for rest. The invitation fits the picture of renewal for those who wait on the LORD.
A Prayer Based on Isaiah 40:28-31
Lord, you do not faint or grow weary, and your understanding is far beyond anything I can measure. I come to you tired, and I admit that my own strength has run low. Give power to me in my weakness and increase my strength where I have none. Teach me to wait on you with patient trust rather than striving in my own power.
When I feel like I cannot take another step, remind me that you are the Creator of the ends of the earth and that you care for the weary. Renew me in the days ahead, so that I can walk and keep going without giving up. Amen.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main message of Isaiah 40:28-31?
The passage teaches that God is everlasting and never grows weary, and that he gives strength to people who are weak. It promises that those who wait on the LORD will have their strength renewed. The message is one of hope for anyone who feels exhausted.
Who was the original audience of Isaiah 40:28-31?
The original audience was most likely the Israelite exiles, who felt that God had forgotten them. The prophet speaks to their doubts and reminds them of God’s power and faithfulness. Readers across the centuries have also found the message applicable to their own situations.
What does it mean to wait on the LORD?
Waiting on the LORD means trusting him with expectation and patience rather than relying only on one’s own strength. It involves prayer, dependence, and staying faithful while help has not yet arrived. The passage links this kind of waiting with renewed strength.
