Isaiah 40:1-5·~1 min

Prepare the Way for the LORD

God commands that His people be comforted and that Jerusalem hear a tender declaration that her hard service is complete, her guilt has been answered, and her suffering has reached its appointed end. That word of pardon immediately becomes a call to prepare in the wilderness a straight path for the LORD Himself, leveling every obstacle so that His glory may be unveiled before all humanity.

“¹Comfort, comfort My people,” ²“Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, ³A voice of one calling: ⁴Every valley shall be lifted up, ⁵And the glory of the LORD will be revealed,

Verse 1God commands that His people be comforted, and then repeats the command for emphasis.

This verse opens the chapter with authoritative consolation.

Verse 2Jerusalem is to be told tenderly that her warfare is ended, her iniquity is pardoned, and she has received full measure for her sins.

This verse grounds comfort in the reality of completed judgment and forgiven guilt.

Verse 3A voice calls for a way to be prepared in the wilderness and a highway to be made straight for the LORD.

This verse turns comfort into expectation of God's arrival.

Verse 4Every valley is to be lifted, every mountain brought low, and rough places made level.

This verse portrays creation itself being reordered for the coming King.

Verse 5The glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all flesh together will see it because God has spoken.

This verse completes the section with universal revelation guaranteed by divine speech.

Passage shape

A quiet block diagram: each row is one authored paragraph movement, with verse numbers kept visible for scanning and deeper work.

vv. 1-5
God commands that His people be comforted and that Jerusalem hear a tender declaration that her hard service is complete, her guilt has been answered, and her suffering has reached its appointed end. That word of pardon immediately becomes a call to prepare in the wilderness a straight path for the LORD Himself, leveling every obstacle so that His glory may be unveiled before all humanity.
This paragraph joins forgiveness, preparation, and revelation into the first movement of hope.
1 2 3 4 5

Section summaryThe chapter begins with a command to comfort God's people and to speak tenderly to Jerusalem that her warfare is ended and her iniquity has been dealt with. A voice then announces the preparation of a royal highway in the wilderness, and the section closes with the promise that the glory of the LORD will be revealed so openly that all flesh together will see it.

Role in the chapterThis opening section establishes consolation as something grounded in divine coming rather than mere sentiment.