Isaiah 40:29-31
He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
It's easy to read this as simply God giving strength to weak people. But the text subtly highlights that it's precisely our consciousness of weakness that makes us receptive to His power. He doesn't just fill up emptiness; He partners with those who recognize their need, increasing strength where we perceive there is none.
This verse comes in the midst of a powerful section of Isaiah offering comfort to a people feeling abandoned and defeated in exile. After God Himself declares His own eternal power and wisdom, the prophet turns to address the weary hearts of His people, who feel their situation is hidden from Him and their struggles overlooked. The verses immediately following will contrast this divine strength with human frailty, showing that even the strongest will falter without God.
Feeling utterly depleted? Like you have nothing left to give? This verse speaks directly to that feeling.
Isaiah 40:29 assures us that God's power isn't reserved for the already strong. In fact, it's precisely for those who are 'faint' and feel they have 'no might'.
A Divine Paradox
It might seem counterintuitive, but our weakness is often the very condition God uses to pour out His strength. He doesn't expect us to muster up strength on our own. Instead, He meets us in our exhaustion and lack.
Designed for Dependence
This isn't about earning strength through effort. It's about recognizing our need and turning to God. When we're at our lowest, when our own resources are gone, that's when His power can truly be seen.
Ever felt like you're running on empty, with no reserves left? God's promise here offers an incredible alternative.
The verse doesn't just say God gives power; it says He increases strength. This suggests a dynamic, ongoing process, not a one-time fix.
More Than Just Coping
When you feel you have 'no might,' God doesn't just give you a little boost to get by. He actively 'increases strength.' This means He builds you up, making you stronger than you were before, enabling you to overcome and endure.
A Promise for the Weary
This promise is a lifeline for those feeling spiritually, emotionally, or physically drained. It's about God actively intervening to replenish and enhance our capacity, helping us to not just survive, but to thrive in His power.
Understand the original words
ya'eph · Hebrew Adjective
Describes the state of losing strength, becoming weak, or succumbing to the physical and spiritual limitations of human nature.
koach · Hebrew Noun
The inherent capacity, effectiveness, or dynamic capability of God that He imparts to His people to enable them to endure beyond their natural limits.
kashal · Hebrew Verb
A complete state of physical or spiritual depletion; it signifies the end of human self-reliance and the point of utter incapacity.
qavah · Hebrew Verb
In this context, it implies a confident, expectant, and patient trust in God's promises. It is not passive inactivity, but an active, faithful reliance on God's timing and character while enduring circumstances.
This verse speaks directly to the exiles in Babylon, who felt utterly crushed and powerless after the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple. Isaiah assures them that God's power is not diminished, and He can and will restore strength to those who feel they have none left.
c. 597 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
King Jehoiachin and a significant portion of Jerusalem's elite, including priests and artisans, are exiled to Babylon. This event marks the beginning of the Babylonian Captivity, a period of profound national crisis for Judah.
c. 586 BC— this verse
Fall of Jerusalem and Destruction of the Temple
Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, conquers Jerusalem, destroys the Temple, and exiles most of the remaining population. This is a devastating blow to the people's identity, faith, and sense of God's presence.
c. 550 BC
Rise of Cyrus the Great
Cyrus conquers the Median Empire and begins his rise to power, eventually establishing the Persian Empire. His military successes set the stage for the eventual decree allowing the exiles to return.
539 BC
Conquest of Babylon by Persia
Cyrus the Great conquers Babylon, ending the Neo-Babylonian Empire. This shifts the geopolitical landscape and creates the opportunity for Jewish return.
This passage directly echoes Isaiah's promise, highlighting that God's power is made perfect in human weakness, directly correlating to God increasing strength when individuals feel they have none.
Philippians 4:13This verse shows that through Christ, believers can do all things, which aligns with Isaiah's message of God providing strength beyond our natural limitations.
Psalm 103:5The imagery of renewing strength like an eagle's is a powerful parallel to God's ability to refresh and empower the faint, as described in Isaiah.
Matthew 11:28Jesus invites those who are weary and burdened to come to Him, promising rest, which is a New Testament fulfillment of the divine provision of strength for the faint.
bensonIsaiah 40:29: "He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength."
Isaiah 40:29-31 . He giveth power to the faint — He hath strength enough, not only for himself, but for all, even the weakest of his creatures, whom he can easily strengthen to bear all their burdens, and to vanquish all their oppressors. The prophet seems to speak with an especial reference to those among God’s people whose faith and hope were very low, which he would support, even until the ti…
barnesIsaiah 40:29: "He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength."
He giveth power to the faint - To his weak and feeble people. This is one of his attributes; and his people, therefore, should put their trust in him, and look to him for aid (compare 2 Corinthians 12:9 ). The design of this verse is to give consolation to the afflicted and down-trodden people in Babylon, by recalling to their minds the truth that it was one of the characteristics of God that he…
It's easy to read this as simply God giving strength to weak people. But the text subtly highlights that it's precisely our consciousness of weakness that makes us receptive to His power. He doesn't just fill up emptiness; He partners with those who recognize their need, increasing strength where we perceive there is none.
This verse comes in the midst of a powerful section of Isaiah offering comfort to a people feeling abandoned and defeated in exile. After God Himself declares His own eternal power and wisdom, the prophet turns to address the weary hearts of His people, who feel their situation is hidden from Him and their struggles overlooked. The verses immediately following will contrast this divine strength with human frailty, showing that even the strongest will falter without God.
This verse comes in the midst of a powerful section of Isaiah offering comfort to a people feeling abandoned and defeated in exile. After God Himself declares His own eternal power and wisdom, the prophet turns to address the weary hearts of His people, who feel their situation is hidden from Him and their struggles overlooked. The verses immediately following will contrast this divine strength with human frailty, showing that even the strongest will falter without God.
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Ask a follow-up
Ask Sola things like:
Live chat about Isaiah 40:29-31 is available in the Sola app.
Yahweh · Hebrew Noun
Refers to the covenant God of Israel, the self-existent One who is faithful to His people and fulfills His promises. He is the sovereign Creator and Redeemer.
koach · Hebrew Noun
Often used to describe physical or spiritual power and vitality. In the context of divine provision, it represents the vigor and capacity granted by God to endure or accomplish His purpose.
chalaph · Hebrew Verb
To grow or sprout anew; to exchange old for new. In Scripture, it signifies the supernatural restoration of vitality or ability that comes through communion with God.
alah · Hebrew Verb
To ascend or fly upward. In this context, it serves as a metaphor for spiritual elevation and being lifted above the trials and exhaustion of the world.
nesher · Hebrew Noun
In the biblical worldview, the eagle is associated with divine protection, swiftness, and strength. It represents a perspective that rises above earthly obstacles.
yaga · Hebrew Verb
A state of becoming exhausted, depleted, or drained of energy. Biblically, it refers to the loss of both physical endurance and spiritual resolve in the face of ongoing hardship.
ayef · Hebrew Verb
To grow weak, exhausted, or lose heart. It often carries the sense of failing to persist or giving up under the weight of trials.
538 BC
Edict of Cyrus
Cyrus issues a decree permitting exiled peoples, including the Jews, to return to their homelands and rebuild their temples. This marks the beginning of the return from exile.
"He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; th…" — It's easy to read this as simply God giving strength to weak people. But the text subtly highlights that it's precisely our consciousness of weakness that makes us receptive to His power. He doesn'…
