Isaiah Chapter 49 · Verse 11

Authorized King James Version

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And I will make all my mountains a way, and my highways shall be exalted.

Original Language Analysis

וְשַׂמְתִּ֥י And I will make H7760
וְשַׂמְתִּ֥י And I will make
Strong's: H7760
Word #: 1 of 6
to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically)
כָל H3605
כָל
Strong's: H3605
Word #: 2 of 6
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
הָרַ֖י all my mountains H2022
הָרַ֖י all my mountains
Strong's: H2022
Word #: 3 of 6
a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively)
לַדָּ֑רֶךְ a way H1870
לַדָּ֑רֶךְ a way
Strong's: H1870
Word #: 4 of 6
a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverb
וּמְסִלֹּתַ֖י and my highways H4546
וּמְסִלֹּתַ֖י and my highways
Strong's: H4546
Word #: 5 of 6
a thoroughfare (as turnpiked), literally or figuratively; specifically a viaduct, a staircase
יְרֻמֽוּן׃ shall be exalted H7311
יְרֻמֽוּן׃ shall be exalted
Strong's: H7311
Word #: 6 of 6
to be high actively, to rise or raise (in various applications, literally or figuratively)

Analysis & Commentary

The declaration 'I will make all my mountains a way, and my highways shall be exalted' depicts God removing obstacles and preparing paths for restoration. This reverses the Babylonian deportation's difficulty, promising easy return. Spiritually, God removes barriers to salvation - not human merit but divine grace makes the way (John 14:6). The highway imagery anticipates 40:3's 'prepare ye the way of the LORD.'

Historical Context

Persian road systems facilitated return under Cyrus, fulfilling this temporally. But the 'highway' ultimately is Christ, the 'way' that leads to Father. God's mountain-leveling work removes every hindrance to His sovereign purposes.

Questions for Reflection