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)
The verse doesn't just speak of soaring like eagles; it paints a picture of sustained energy that allows for the impossible: running without tiring, and walking without faltering. This isn't about a single, grand leap, but a deep wellspring of strength that fuels every pace of life, whether it's a sprint or a slow journey.
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 passage comes at the end of a powerful chapter where God is correcting the people's doubts and reminding them of His unmatched power and sovereignty. After revealing Himself as the Creator who never tires and whose understanding is unsearchable, God now turns to offer immense hope and strength to His weary people, who are feeling forgotten and abandoned in their suffering.
Waiting can feel like doing nothing, but the Bible describes it as an active, hopeful posture. What does it really mean to 'wait for the LORD'?
The Hebrew word for 'wait' (qavah) in this verse isn't about passive idleness. It’s a vibrant image of gathering yourself, of clinging and holding on with expectation. Think of it like a sailor looking to the horizon, adjusting the sails, ready for the wind.
Trust and Action
Waiting on God means entrusting our situation to Him while actively trusting in His help. It's not about sitting back and expecting miracles without any personal effort. Instead, it's about knowing our strength is insufficient and looking to God for His power to act, as we engage in the means He has provided.
A Covenant Promise
This promise is deeply rooted in God's covenant relationship with His people. When we 'wait for the LORD,' we are activating our faith within that relationship, believing He will fulfill His promises to empower us.
The promise of renewed strength and soaring like eagles sounds almost superhuman. How does this transformation happen?
The promise isn't just about getting a little boost; it's about a fundamental renewal of strength. The original word carries a sense of 'exchanging' or 'replacing.' When we wait on the Lord, He doesn't just patch us up; He gives us a new kind of strength, a divine capacity to overcome.
The Eagle's Ascent
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The imagery of mounting up with wings like eagles is powerful. It speaks of rising above circumstances, of incredible power and perspective. While some ancient interpretations debated if this referred to eagles renewing their feathers, the core message is clear: God's people, empowered by Him, will experience a soaring, unhindered strength.
Endurance for the Journey
This renewed strength isn't just for dramatic flights. It enables us to 'run and not be weary' and 'walk and not faint.' This covers the entire spectrum of life's challenges – the sprints of intense effort and the long, steady marathons of endurance. God's strength equips us for every pace.
Understand the original words
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.
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.
Written during the Babylonian exile, Isaiah's prophecy offers a powerful message of hope and endurance. It assures God's people that even in their deepest despair and displacement, their trust in the Lord will lead to renewal and ultimate triumph, enabling them to soar above their circumstances like eagles.
722 BC
Assyrian Exile of Northern Kingdom
The powerful Assyrian Empire conquers the northern kingdom of Israel, deporting many of its citizens. This event serves as a stark warning to the southern kingdom of Judah about the consequences of disobedience.
605 BC
First Babylonian Deportation
Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonian Empire conquer Judah, initiating the first wave of exiles to Babylon. This includes prominent figures and treasures from Jerusalem, marking the beginning of Judah's decline.
597 BC
Second Babylonian Deportation
Babylon deports more of Judah's population, including King Jehoiachin and the prophet Ezekiel, intensifying the Babylonian exile and further devastating the kingdom.
586 BC— this verse
Destruction of Jerusalem and Temple
Nebuchadnezzar utterly destroys Jerusalem and its sacred Temple, marking the end of the Davidic monarchy and scattering the remaining Jewish population into exile in Babylon.
c. 550 BC
Rise of the Persian Empire
Cyrus the Great unites the Medes and Persians, forming a new superpower that will soon challenge Babylonian dominance.
539 BC
Babylon Falls to Persia
Cyrus the Great conquers Babylon, ushering in the Persian Empire and creating a new political landscape for the exiled Israelites.
538 BC
Edict of Cyrus
Cyrus issues a decree allowing the Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem and rebuild their Temple, marking the end of the Babylonian exile and the beginning of the return.
This psalm directly parallels the imagery of renewal found in Isaiah, stating 'who satisfies you with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's,' linking divine provision to restored strength and vigor.
Galatians 6:9Paul encourages perseverance in doing good, promising that 'we shall not grow weary, but in due time we shall reap, if we do not give up,' echoing Isaiah's assurance that those who wait on the Lord will not faint.
Hebrews 12:1-3This passage calls believers to 'run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus,' directly connecting the act of running without weariness to fixing our gaze on Christ, the ultimate object of our waiting.
Philippians 4:13Paul's declaration that 'I can do all things through him who strengthens me' resonates with Isaiah's promise of renewed strength, highlighting that true power to overcome comes not from ourselves but from God.
Romans 8:28The certainty that 'all things work together for good' for those who love God reinforces the underlying trust and hope that characterizes those who 'wait for the LORD,' assuring them that even difficult circumstances contribute to their ultimate renewal and strength.
cambridgeIsaiah 40:31: "But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint."
31 . they that wait upon the Lord (shall) renew (lit. “exchange” cf. ch. Isaiah 9:10 ) their strength . mount up with wings ] although an excellent sense, is doubtful grammatically. The authorities are divided between the Targ. on the one hand, and LXX. and Vulg. on the other. The former has “lift up (their)…
barnesIsaiah 40:31: "But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint."
But they that wait upon the Lord - The word rendered 'wait upon' here (from קוה qâvâh), denotes properly to wait, in the sense of expecting. The phrase, 'to wait on Yahweh,' means to wait for his help; that is, to trust in him, to put our hope or confidence in him. It is applicable to those who are in circ…
The verse doesn't just speak of soaring like eagles; it paints a picture of sustained energy that allows for the impossible: running without tiring, and walking without faltering. This isn't about a single, grand leap, but a deep wellspring of strength that fuels every pace of life, whether it's a sprint or a slow journey.
This passage comes at the end of a powerful chapter where God is correcting the people's doubts and reminding them of His unmatched power and sovereignty. After revealing Himself as the Creator who never tires and whose understanding is unsearchable, God now turns to offer immense hope and strength to His weary people, who are feeling forgotten and abandoned in their suffering.
This passage comes at the end of a powerful chapter where God is correcting the people's doubts and reminding them of His unmatched power and sovereignty. After revealing Himself as the Creator who never tires and whose understanding is unsearchable, God now turns to offer immense hope and strength to His weary people, who are feeling forgotten and abandoned in their suffering.
"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." — The verse doesn't just speak of soaring like eagles; it paints a picture of sustained energy that allows for the impossible: running without tiring, and walking without faltering. This isn't about a…
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Last reviewed October 2026