Isaiah 40:30

Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:

Even the youths {H5288} shall faint {H3286} and be weary {H3021}, and the young men {H970} shall utterly {H3782} fall {H3782}:

Young men may grow tired and weary, even the fittest may stumble and fall;

Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall.

Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:

Commentary

Isaiah 40:30 (KJV) states, "Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:" This verse serves as a powerful reminder of the inherent limitations and frailty of human strength, regardless of age or vigor.

Context

This verse is nestled within Isaiah Chapter 40, a profound section of prophecy often called "The Book of Comfort." Following chapters that emphasize God's incomparable majesty, power, and wisdom, Isaiah 40 begins with a message of hope and consolation for Israel, particularly looking beyond their period of exile and hardship. The preceding verses (Isaiah 40:28-29) highlight God's eternal strength and His ability to give power to the faint. Verse 30 then acts as a stark contrast, setting the stage for the glorious promise of renewed strength for those who wait upon the Lord in the subsequent verse (Isaiah 40:31).

Key Themes

  • Human Frailty and Limitation: The verse directly confronts the common assumption that youth equates to endless energy and resilience. By stating that even the strongest and most vigorous individuals—"youths" and "young men"—will eventually "faint and be weary" and "utterly fall," it underscores the universal reality of human weakness and mortality. Our physical and mental reserves are finite.
  • Contrast with Divine Power: This human limitation is presented in sharp contrast to the boundless and unwavering power of God, as described throughout Isaiah 40. While human strength wanes, God's strength is eternal and never diminishes (Isaiah 40:28).
  • Preparation for Spiritual Reliance: The verse prepares the reader for the critical message of the next verse: true, enduring strength comes not from within oneself but from reliance on the Lord. It highlights the futility of trusting in one's own capabilities alone.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew words used intensify the message:

  • The term for "youths" (ne'arim) generally refers to young men, often implying servants or those in their prime.
  • "Young men" (bachurim) specifically denotes chosen young men, often associated with the peak of physical strength, vigor, and eligibility for military service or marriage.
  • The phrase "utterly fall" is a strong Hebrew idiom, kashol yikkashelu, which uses a verb root repeated for emphasis. This construction emphasizes a complete and irreversible collapse or stumbling, not just a momentary trip. It conveys a sense of absolute exhaustion and failure, reinforcing that even those at their physical peak cannot sustain themselves indefinitely.

Practical Application

Isaiah 40:30 holds profound relevance for believers today:

  • Humility and Dependence: It serves as a call to humility, reminding us that no matter how strong, intelligent, or capable we may feel, we are ultimately dependent on God. Our own strength is fleeting and will eventually fail. This echoes the biblical principle that God's strength is made perfect in our weakness.
  • Seeking God for Endurance: When we face challenges, exhaustion, or despair, this verse prompts us to look beyond our own diminishing resources. It sets the stage for the promise of renewed strength for those who wait upon the Lord, emphasizing that true and lasting power for life's journey comes from Him alone.
  • Understanding Spiritual Weakness: Beyond physical strength, the verse can also metaphorically speak to spiritual weariness. Even the most zealous and committed Christians can experience spiritual fatigue and discouragement. The solution is not to try harder in one's own power, but to surrender to God's sustaining grace.
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Amos 2:14

    Therefore the flight shall perish from the swift, and the strong shall not strengthen his force, neither shall the mighty deliver himself:

  • Psalms 34:10

    The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good [thing].

  • Psalms 33:16

    There is no king saved by the multitude of an host: a mighty man is not delivered by much strength.

  • Ecclesiastes 9:11

    ¶ I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race [is] not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.

  • Isaiah 9:17

    Therefore the Lord shall have no joy in their young men, neither shall have mercy on their fatherless and widows: for every one [is] an hypocrite and an evildoer, and every mouth speaketh folly. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand [is] stretched out still.

  • Isaiah 13:18

    [Their] bows also shall dash the young men to pieces; and they shall have no pity on the fruit of the womb; their eye shall not spare children.

  • Psalms 39:5

    Behold, thou hast made my days [as] an handbreadth; and mine age [is] as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state [is] altogether vanity. Selah.
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