Isaiah 40:3-4
A voice cries: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The text doesn't just announce a voice, it implies a sense of urgency and perhaps even surprise: "A voice cries" suggests an unexpected announcement, like a sudden cry in a vast silence, immediately demanding attention in the desolate wilderness. This isn't just a general announcement; it's a specific call to action to prepare for God's arrival, making a direct, clear path for Him.
This chapter begins with God's comfort for His people, who have endured a long period of punishment. The prophet hears a voice calling out in the wilderness, announcing that God's highway is being prepared for a triumphant return, much like ancient kings would clear paths for their journeys. While this initially points to the Israelites' return from Babylonian exile, it also foreshadows a greater redemption to come.
Imagine a grand procession, not of a king, but of God himself! What does it take to clear the path for such a divine journey?
This verse paints a picture of an ancient Near Eastern monarch preparing for a journey. When kings traveled, especially through rough or unpopulated terrain, they sent ahead heralds and laborers to flatten roads, fill in valleys, and remove any obstacles. This wasn't just about convenience; it was a profound statement of the king's power and presence.
Here, Isaiah uses this imagery to declare that the Lord himself is coming. The 'voice crying in the wilderness' is like a royal herald announcing the imminent arrival of a great King. The 'wilderness' and 'desert' are places unprepared, wild, and difficult to traverse. The command is to transform these chaotic spaces into a 'highway' – a clear, level, and direct path. This isn't just a physical road; it's a metaphor for clearing the way, both externally and internally, for God's powerful presence and salvation.
Why is the messenger anonymous? What does this deliberate obscurity tell us about the message itself?
The text doesn't name the 'voice crying.' This anonymity is significant. It emphasizes that the focus is not on the messenger, but on the One who is coming – the LORD. The messenger is a 'voice,' a conduit, an instrument through which the divine message is proclaimed.
This is a powerful reminder that God often uses ordinary means and people to accomplish His extraordinary purposes. Whether it was the exiles returning from Babylon or John the Baptist preparing the way for Messiah, the individuals were less important than the divine plan they served. Their role was to point beyond themselves, to prepare people's hearts and lives for God's intervention.
The 'wilderness' and 'desert' weren't just geographical locations. What deeper spiritual reality do they represent?
While the prophecy certainly points to literal journeys through deserts (like the return from Babylon), the 'wilderness' and 'desert' also serve as powerful metaphors for a spiritual condition. They represent places that are desolate, unfruitful, and lacking in life – much like hearts that are far from God.
Understand the original words
midbar · Hebrew Noun
An uncultivated, desolate place; in Scripture, it is often a place of testing, transformation, and a setting where God manifests His presence away from the distractions of civilization.
The image of preparing a royal highway through the wilderness powerfully connects the exiles' physical return from Babylon to the spiritual preparation needed for the coming of the Messiah, highlighting God's redemptive power across historical epochs.
c. 701 BC
Sennacherib's Assyrian Invasion
The Assyrian king Sennacherib invades Judah, capturing many cities and besieging Jerusalem. This event highlights the vulnerability of Judah and sets the stage for later prophecies of judgment and restoration.
605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Under King Jehoiakim, Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon begins deporting Judeans, including Daniel and his companions, to Babylon. This marks the start of the Babylonian exile.
597 BC
Second Deportation to Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar deports King Jehoiachin and many prominent citizens to Babylon, further weakening Judah.
586 BC— this verse
Fall of Jerusalem and Third Deportation
Nebuchadnezzar destroys Jerusalem and the Temple, exiling the remaining population to Babylon. This devastating event leaves Judah in ruins and its people scattered.
This passage directly quotes Isaiah 40:3 and applies it to John the Baptist, showing the immediate New Testament fulfillment as a forerunner to Jesus.
Mark 1:1-3Similar to Matthew, Mark also quotes Isaiah 40:3 to introduce John the Baptist, highlighting his role as the one preparing the way for the Lord in the wilderness.
Luke 3:4-6Luke's Gospel quotes Isaiah 40:3, emphasizing that the wilderness preparation is for the salvation of all people, broadening the scope of God's redemptive work.
John 1:23John the Baptist himself acknowledges the prophecy of Isaiah 40:3 when asked about his identity, confirming his role as the 'voice crying in the wilderness'.
Isaiah 35:8-10This earlier passage in Isaiah describes a 'highway of holiness' in a desert setting, providing the conceptual backdrop for the 'highway' mentioned in 40:3 and linking it to God's redemption and restoration.
bensonIsaiah 40:3: "The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God."
Isaiah 40:3-4 . The voice of him that crieth — Or, as the Hebrew may be properly rendered, A voice crieth; an abrupt and imperfect speech, implying, “Methinks I hear a voice;” or, “A voice shall be heard;” in the wilderness — Which word signifies the place, either where the cry was made, or where the way was to be prepared, as it is expressed in the f…
clarkeIsaiah 40:3: "The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God."
The voice of him that crieth to the wilderness "A voice crieth, In the wilderness" - The idea is taken from the practice of eastern monarchs, who, whenever they entered upon an expedition or took a journey, especially through desert and unpractised countries, sent harbingers before them to prepare all things for their passage, and pioneers to open the…
The text doesn't just announce a voice, it implies a sense of urgency and perhaps even surprise: "A voice cries" suggests an unexpected announcement, like a sudden cry in a vast silence, immediately demanding attention in the desolate wilderness. This isn't just a general announcement; it's a specific call to action to prepare for God's arrival, making a direct, clear path for Him.
This chapter begins with God's comfort for His people, who have endured a long period of punishment. The prophet hears a voice calling out in the wilderness, announcing that God's highway is being prepared for a triumphant return, much like ancient kings would clear paths for their journeys. While this initially points to the Israelites' return from Babylonian exile, it also foreshadows a greater redemption to come.
This chapter begins with God's comfort for His people, who have endured a long period of punishment. The prophet hears a voice calling out in the wilderness, announcing that God's highway is being prepared for a triumphant return, much like ancient kings would clear paths for their journeys. While this initially points to the Israelites' return from Babylonian exile, it also foreshadows a greater redemption to come.
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When John the Baptist preached repentance in the Judean wilderness, he was calling a spiritually barren people to prepare. Their religious practices might have been present, but true devotion and works of righteousness were lacking. The 'highway' to be made straight wasn't just a physical path, but the leveling of pride, the filling of spiritual emptiness, and the removal of obstinate resistance in people's hearts, making them receptive to God's coming presence in Messiah.
c. 540 BC
Cyrus the Great's Rise
Cyrus the Great unites the Medes and Persians, preparing to conquer Babylon. His ascent signals a potential shift in power and the possibility of Jewish return.
539 BC
Conquest of Babylon
Cyrus the Great conquers Babylon, fulfilling the prophecies of its downfall. This event opens the door for the exiled Jews to return to their homeland.
c. 538 BC
Edict of Cyrus and Jewish Return
Cyrus issues a decree allowing the Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the Temple. This marks the beginning of the return from exile.
"A voice cries: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall bec…" — The text doesn't just announce a voice, it implies a sense of urgency and perhaps even surprise: "A voice cries" suggests an unexpected announcement, like a sudden cry in a vast silence, immediately…
