Isaiah 40:9-10
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The verse commands Zion and Jerusalem to "lift up your voice with strength" and "say to the cities of Judah, 'Behold your God!'" This isn't just about shouting good news; it emphasizes an urgent, powerful, and unafraid proclamation of God's presence, especially to those scattered throughout Judah. It highlights that God's people are meant to be bold messengers, fearlessly announcing His reality to every corner of His land.
Go on up to a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good news; lift up your voice with strength, O Jerusalem, herald of good news; lift it up, fear not; say to the cities of Judah, “Behold your God!” Behold, the Lord GOD comes with might, and his arm rules for him; behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This passage shifts from the call for preparation in the wilderness to a direct address to Zion and Jerusalem. The prophet commands these beloved cities, personified as heralds, to ascend high places and boldly announce a momentous message. This proclamation is intended for all the cities of Judah, urging them to witness the return and presence of their God.
Is Zion a messenger, or a recipient of incredible news? This verse sparks a fascinating debate!
The phrase translated as 'O Zion, that bringest good tidings' has seen much discussion among scholars. Some see Zion as the one receiving the good news, while others believe Zion is the source of the message.
Ultimately, the focus is on the message itself and its urgent proclamation.
Why the command to go up to a high mountain and lift your voice with strength?
The imagery here is powerful and conveys a sense of urgency and importance.
Ask a follow-up
This isn't just about conveying information; it's about announcing a reality-shattering truth that demands attention and courage.
What is the ultimate message that causes such a dramatic call for proclamation?
The climax of this announcement is profound: 'Behold your God!' This isn't just about a political or military victory; it's about the presence and power of God Himself.
Understand the original words
ṣiyyôn · Hebrew Noun
A poetic title for the people of God, often symbolizing the place of God's presence, the site of the temple, and the spiritual center of God's covenant kingdom.
bāśar · Hebrew Verb/Noun
Refers to the proclamation of a message that brings joy, salvation, or a decisive victory, particularly the announcement of God's intervention for His people.
rā'āh · Hebrew Verb/Interjection
An imperative command to look, see, or pay close attention. It is used to draw focus to a significant event, a divine manifestation, or a crucial truth being revealed.
'ădōnāy Yhwh · Hebrew Noun/Title
Refers to the absolute, supreme Sovereign, the Creator who possesses all authority and is the rightful ruler over heaven and earth.
zĕrôaʿ · Hebrew Noun
Symbolizes God's active power, strength, and intervention in human history. It represents the means by which He accomplishes salvation for His people and judgment against His enemies.
śākār · Hebrew Noun
Refers to what God bestows upon those who serve Him, representing His justice and grace in fulfilling His promises and acknowledging the faithfulness of His people.
This verse speaks into the profound experience of exile and the subsequent hope of return. The command to ascend a high mountain and call out to the cities of Judah, 'Behold your God!' comes at a time when God's presence felt distant, but the promise is that He is about to reveal Himself in powerful acts of restoration.
c. 586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Temple Destruction
The Babylonians under Nebuchadnezzar conquer Jerusalem, destroy the First Temple, and deport many Judeans, marking the beginning of the Babylonian Exile. This event devastates the people and leaves Jerusalem in ruins.
c. 539 BC
Cyrus the Great Conquers Babylon
The Persian king Cyrus the Great overthrows the Babylonian Empire. This conquest sets the stage for the eventual return of the Jewish exiles from Babylon.
538 BC
Cyrus' Decree for Return
Cyrus issues a decree allowing the Jewish exiles to return to Judah and rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem. This marks the end of the Babylonian Exile.
c. 520-516 BC
Rebuilding of the Second Temple
Under the leadership of figures like Zerubbabel and Joshua the high priest, the Jewish people return and rebuild the Second Temple in Jerusalem, symbolizing a restored hope and continuity of worship.
c. 445 BC
Nehemiah Rebuilds Jerusalem's Walls
Nehemiah, cupbearer to the Persian king, receives permission to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the city walls, further restoring its physical presence and security after the exile.
c. 400 BC— this verse
Post-Exilic Period and Prophetic Voice
Following the return from exile, the community in Judah and Jerusalem works to re-establish its identity. Prophets like Isaiah (writing during and after the exile) offer messages of comfort, restoration, and future hope, addressing a people in transition.
This New Testament passage echoes Isaiah's command by linking repentance and forgiveness to being proclaimed 'to all nations,' starting from Jerusalem, highlighting the theme of spreading good news.
Matthew 28:19Jesus' Great Commission directly mirrors the directive to go and make disciples of all nations, expanding the scope of the 'good news' far beyond Judah and fulfilling the prophetic command in Isaiah.
John 1:14The proclamation 'Behold your God!' finds profound fulfillment in the incarnation, where God Himself tabernacles among humanity, making Him visible and knowable in a way never before possible.
Acts 13:32-33This passage explicitly connects the preaching of the gospel from Jerusalem to the fulfillment of God's promise to the fathers, showing how the good news declared in Isaiah was realized through Jesus Christ.
Isaiah 52:7This closely related verse reinforces the theme of announcing glad tidings and the arrival of God's salvation, showing a consistent prophetic message about the divine intervention and its proclamation.
barnesIsaiah 40:9: "O Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God!"
O Zion, that bringest good tidings - This is evidently the continuance of what the 'voice' said, or of the annunciation which was to give joy to an afflicted and oppressed people. There has been, however, much diversity of opinion in regard to the meaning of the p…
cambridgeIsaiah 40:9: "O Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God!"
9–11 . The prophet announces the triumphal approach of Jehovah to Zion. O Zion … tidings ] R.V. has O thou that tellest good tidings to Zion . Either translation is grammatically admissible; but the second is to be preferred, (1) because of the analogous passages…
The verse commands Zion and Jerusalem to "lift up your voice with strength" and "say to the cities of Judah, 'Behold your God!'" This isn't just about shouting good news; it emphasizes an urgent, powerful, and unafraid proclamation of God's presence, especially to those scattered throughout Judah. It highlights that God's people are meant to be bold messengers, fearlessly announcing His reality to every corner of His land.
This passage shifts from the call for preparation in the wilderness to a direct address to Zion and Jerusalem. The prophet commands these beloved cities, personified as heralds, to ascend high places and boldly announce a momentous message. This proclamation is intended for all the cities of Judah, urging them to witness the return and presence of their God.
This passage shifts from the call for preparation in the wilderness to a direct address to Zion and Jerusalem. The prophet commands these beloved cities, personified as heralds, to ascend high places and boldly announce a momentous message. This proclamation is intended for all the cities of Judah, urging them to witness the return and presence of their God.
"Go on up to a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good news; lift up your voice with strength, O Jerusalem, herald of good news; lift it up, fear not; say to the cities of Judah, “Behold your God!” Beho…" — The verse commands Zion and Jerusalem to "lift up your voice with strength" and "say to the cities of Judah, 'Behold your God!'" This isn't just about shouting good news; it emphasizes an urgent, *…
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Last reviewed October 2026
