Isaiah 40:3

KJV

¶ 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.

KJV (with Strong's)

The voice {H6963} of him that crieth {H7121} in the wilderness {H4057}, Prepare {H6437} ye the way {H1870} of the LORD {H3068}, make straight {H3474} in the desert {H6160} a highway {H4546} for our God {H430}.

Complete Jewish Bible

A voice cries out: "Clear a road through the desert for ADONAI! Level a highway in the 'Aravah for our God!

Berean Standard Bible

A voice of one calling: “Prepare the way for the LORD in the wilderness; make a straight highway for our God in the desert.

American Standard Version

The voice of one that crieth, Prepare ye in the wilderness the way of Jehovah; make level in the desert a highway for our God.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Isaiah 40:3 serves as a pivotal prophetic declaration, initiating the "Book of Comfort" (Isaiah 40-66) and proclaiming the imminent and glorious arrival of the Lord. It envisions a divine herald calling for the preparation of a grand highway through the desolate wilderness, symbolizing the removal of all obstacles for God's majestic return to His people, bringing restoration and salvation after a period of judgment and exile.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Isaiah 40:3 marks a dramatic shift in the book of Isaiah. Chapters 1-39 predominantly focus on God's judgment against Judah and surrounding nations, warning of impending exile due to their unfaithfulness. However, chapter 40 opens with words of profound comfort and hope, "Comfort, comfort my people, says your God" ([Isaiah 40:1](/isaiah/40-1 "Isaiah 40:1 - The Opening of the Book of Comfort")). This verse, therefore, functions as the programmatic statement for the latter half of the book, signaling a transition from pronouncements of doom to promises of redemption, restoration, and the ultimate vindication of God's people. It sets the stage for themes of divine sovereignty, the incomparable nature of God, and the certainty of His promised return to Zion.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The prophecy of Isaiah 40:3 is set against the backdrop of the Babylonian exile, a period of immense suffering and despair for the Jewish people. Though Isaiah prophesied long before the actual exile, his prophetic vision extends to this future event, offering hope beyond the impending judgment. In the ancient Near East, it was customary for kings or dignitaries to have roads prepared, leveled, and cleared of obstacles when they were expected to travel through a region. This often involved large-scale public works, symbolizing the power and importance of the approaching ruler. Applying this imagery to the Lord God underscores His supreme majesty and the certainty of His coming, making His path straight and unobstructed through even the most desolate landscapes.
* **Key Themes:** This verse introduces several crucial themes that permeate the rest of Isaiah. Firstly, it highlights **Divine Sovereignty and Imminent Arrival**, emphasizing that God is actively intervening in history to fulfill His promises, even in seemingly impossible circumstances like a desert. Secondly, it underscores the **Call to Preparation**, not merely physical but spiritual, for the Lord's coming. This involves repentance and the removal of spiritual barriers that separate humanity from God, echoing the broader call for Israel to return to the Lord found throughout the prophetic literature. Thirdly, it foreshadows the **Role of a Forerunner**, an individual who would precede the Lord to announce His arrival and prepare the people's hearts, a theme explicitly developed in later prophetic books like [Malachi 3:1](/malachi/3-1 "Malachi 3:1 - The Messenger of the Covenant"). Finally, the imagery of a "highway in the desert" speaks to **God's Power to Transform Desolation into a Path of Glory**, promising that even the most barren and hopeless situations can become avenues for His majestic presence and redemptive work.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Voice (Hebrew, _qôwl'_):** From H6963, meaning "a voice or sound; [phrase] aloud, bleating, crackling, cry ([phrase] out)." In this context, "voice" signifies a distinct, authoritative utterance, a proclamation. It is the sound of a herald, a messenger, whose purpose is to announce a significant event. The emphasis is on the audible, public declaration, demanding attention and action.
* **Wilderness (Hebrew, _midbâr'_):** From H4057, meaning "a pasture (i.e. open field, whither cattle are driven); by implication, a desert; also speech (including its organs); desert, south, speech, wilderness." The "wilderness" here is not merely a geographical location but carries symbolic weight. It represents a place of desolation, hardship, and isolation. Historically, it was a place of testing for Israel, but also where God revealed Himself (e.g., the giving of the Law). The voice crying *in* the wilderness emphasizes that the message of hope emerges from a place of barrenness and despair, making the divine intervention even more striking.
* **Way (Hebrew, _derek'_):** From H1870, meaning "a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of life or mode of action... way(-side)." "Derek" refers to a path or road, but also metaphorically to a course of action or a manner of living. Here, it is the physical path for the Lord's journey, but also implicitly the spiritual path of repentance and readiness that His people must undertake. The command to "prepare the way" is a call to clear obstacles, both literal and spiritual, for the Lord's unhindered approach.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness,"**: This clause introduces the herald, an unnamed but divinely appointed messenger whose proclamation originates from a place of isolation and hardship. The "voice" signifies a powerful, public announcement, demanding attention and action, emerging from a context of spiritual and perhaps physical barrenness. It sets the stage for a message of profound significance.
* **"Prepare ye the way of the LORD,"**: This is the core command issued by the voice. "Prepare" (Hebrew: _pânâh_, H6437, "to turn; by implication, to face, i.e. appear, look, etc.") implies clearing, leveling, and making ready. "The way of the LORD" (Hebrew: _derek Yᵉhôvâh_, H1870, H3068) refers to the path for God Himself. This is not merely physical road construction but a spiritual readiness, a call for the removal of moral and spiritual obstacles that hinder God's presence and work among His people. It's an imperative for repentance and alignment with God's will.
* **"make straight in the desert a highway for our God."**: This phrase reinforces and expands upon the previous command. "Make straight" (Hebrew: _yâshar_, H3474, "to be straight or even; figuratively, to be (causatively, to make) right, pleasant, prosperous") means to level, smooth, or make direct. The "desert" (Hebrew: _ʻărâbâh_, H6160, "a desert; especially... the (generally) sterile valley of the Jordan") again emphasizes a desolate, difficult terrain. A "highway" (Hebrew: _mᵉçillâh_, H4546, "a thoroughfare (as turnpiked), literally or figuratively; specifically a viaduct, a staircase") refers to a raised, well-constructed road, suitable for a grand procession. This imagery underscores the grandeur and certainty of God's coming, overcoming all natural barriers and making His presence unmistakable and accessible to "our God" (Hebrew: _ʼĕlôhîym_, H430), highlighting His covenant relationship with Israel.

#### Literary Devices
Isaiah 40:3 is rich in **Imagery**, painting a vivid picture of a grand procession through a desolate landscape. The "wilderness" and "desert" serve as powerful **Symbols** of Israel's spiritual and physical desolation during exile, contrasting sharply with the majesty of the coming "highway" for God. The "voice" itself is a form of **Personification**, as it is the active agent of the proclamation. The entire verse functions as a profound **Prophecy**, foretelling a future event of divine intervention. The use of **Imperative Mood** in "Prepare ye" and "make straight" conveys the urgency and divine command for action, demanding a response from the audience. The contrast between the barrenness of the desert and the grandeur of the highway creates a powerful **Antithesis**, highlighting God's ability to transform the impossible into a path for His glory.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Isaiah 40:3 profoundly speaks to God's unwavering faithfulness and His commitment to restore His covenant people, even after periods of judgment. It establishes the theological truth that God is not distant but actively intervenes in human history, orchestrating events to bring about His redemptive purposes. The call to prepare the way signifies that human readiness, marked by repentance and spiritual alignment, is a necessary response to God's initiative. This preparation is not about earning God's favor but about removing the obstacles that hinder a deeper experience of His presence and the reception of His salvation. The coming of the Lord is presented as a transformative event, capable of making the crooked straight and the rough places plain, symbolizing the rectification of injustice and the leveling of societal and spiritual disparities in His presence.

* [Malachi 3:1](/malachi/3-1 "Malachi 3:1 - The Messenger of the Covenant")
* [Matthew 3:3](/matthew/3-3 "Matthew 3:3 - John the Baptist Fulfills Isaiah's Prophecy")
* [Luke 3:4-6](/luke/3-4 "Luke 3:4-6 - John the Baptist's Ministry and Isaiah's Prophecy")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Isaiah 40:3 remains a timeless call to readiness, challenging believers to actively prepare for the Lord's presence in their lives and in the world. Just as a physical highway is cleared of debris and made smooth for a king's procession, our hearts and lives must be cleared of sin, distractions, and anything that obstructs our communion with God. This involves a continuous process of repentance, spiritual discipline, and intentional pursuit of righteousness. Furthermore, recognizing the prophetic fulfillment of this verse in John the Baptist, we are reminded of our own missional imperative to prepare the way for others to encounter Christ. This means sharing the Gospel, living out the love of God, and working to remove spiritual and social barriers that prevent people from knowing Him. Ultimately, this verse instills a hopeful anticipation for Christ's return, encouraging us to live in a state of constant readiness and holiness, ensuring our "way" is straight for His glorious second coming.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "crooked paths" or "rough places" in my own life need to be made straight or plain to better prepare for the Lord's presence?**
* **In what ways can I, like the "voice in the wilderness," help prepare the way for others to encounter Jesus Christ in my community and beyond?**
* **How does the certainty of God's coming, as depicted in this verse, encourage me in times of personal or collective desolation?**

### FAQ
**Who is "the voice" crying in the wilderness in Isaiah 40:3?**

Answer: While Isaiah's original audience would have understood this as a prophetic figure announcing God's return from exile, the New Testament explicitly identifies "the voice" as [John the Baptist](/john/1-23 "John 1:23 - John the Baptist Identifies Himself as the Voice"), who prepared the way for the first coming of Jesus Christ. All four Gospels quote or allude to this verse in relation to John's ministry, making it one of the clearest examples of Old Testament prophecy fulfilled in the New Testament (e.g., [Matthew 3:3](/matthew/3-3 "Matthew 3:3 - John the Baptist's Fulfillment"), [Mark 1:3](/mark/1-3 "Mark 1:3 - The Beginning of the Gospel"), [Luke 3:4](/luke/3-4 "Luke 3:4 - John's Preaching"), [John 1:23](/john/1-23 "John 1:23 - John's Testimony")).

**What is the significance of the "wilderness" and "desert" in this prophecy?**

Answer: The "wilderness" and "desert" (Hebrew: _midbâr_ and _ʻărâbâh_) are significant on multiple levels. Geographically, they represent barren, uninhabitable regions, emphasizing the miraculous nature of God's intervention to create a "highway" where none existed. Spiritually, they symbolize the desolate state of Israel during their exile and their spiritual barrenness due to sin. However, the wilderness was also the place where God revealed Himself to Israel after the Exodus, providing for them and establishing His covenant ([Exodus 16](/exodus/16 "Exodus 16 - Manna in the Wilderness")). Thus, the prophecy suggests that God's glorious return and restoration will emerge from a place of despair and desolation, transforming it into a path of divine presence and blessing. It signifies that God can work powerfully even in the most unlikely and challenging circumstances.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Isaiah 40:3 finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The "voice crying in the wilderness" was literally embodied by [John the Baptist](/luke/3-2 "Luke 3:2 - The Word of God Came to John"), who came "preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins" ([Luke 3:3](/luke/3-3 "Luke 3:3 - John's Preaching of Repentance")), thereby preparing the hearts of the people for the arrival of the Messiah. Jesus himself is the "LORD" and "our God" for whom the way was prepared. His advent was the long-awaited divine visitation, bringing comfort, salvation, and the establishment of God's kingdom. Furthermore, Jesus is not just the one for whom the way is prepared, but He *is* the Way itself, declaring, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through me" ([John 14:6](/john/14-6 "John 14:6 - Jesus is the Way")). Through His life, death, and resurrection, Jesus made straight the crooked paths of sin and rebellion, leveling the spiritual mountains of pride and filling the valleys of despair, thus creating a direct "highway" for humanity to access God. This prophecy, therefore, points to Christ as the divine solution to humanity's separation from God, providing the means for reconciliation and ushering in an era of grace and truth. It also foreshadows His future return, reminding believers to continually prepare their hearts for His glorious second coming, when every "mountain and hill shall be made low" and "the glory of the LORD shall be revealed" ([Isaiah 40:4-5](/isaiah/40-4 "Isaiah 40:4-5 - The Glory of the LORD Revealed")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Malachi 3:1

¶ Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.

Mark 1:2

As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.

Mark 1:5

And there went out unto him all the land of Judaea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins.

John 1:23

He said, I [am] the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias.

Matthew 3:1

¶ In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,

Matthew 3:3

For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

Luke 1:16

And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.