Isaiah 40:28–31

In its context

Its words in the original

• יָדַעְתָּyadata· know

  Know. Not only having a fact: it is knowing by experience and closely; also recognize, care for, make known. So Hebrew also uses it for the intimate union of a man and his wife ("he knew his wife").

• שָׁמַעְתָּshamata· hear, listen, obey

  Hear, listen. In the Bible listening truly includes paying heed; so it often means "obey". In the causative form, make heard, proclaim.

• אֱלֹהֵיelohe· Elohim, God, gods

  The Hebrew word usually translated "God". This translation keeps "Elohim" when it speaks of the one true God, the Creator, the God of Israel. The word ends like a plural, but it does not mean several: for him the verb is singular ("Elohim created"); the plural form expresses greatness. The same word as a common noun names the "gods" of other peoples, and there it is a true plural, translated "gods". It is also used of mighty ones or judges.

• עוֹלָםolam· forever, eternal

  A very long time whose end cannot be seen: looking forward, "forever"; looking back, "of old", "ancient".

• יְהוָהyehva· YHWH

  The personal name of the God of Israel, written in Hebrew with four letters, Y-H-W-H, without vowels. Out of reverence Jews stopped pronouncing it and read "Adonai" (Lord), so many Bibles put "the LORD" or "Jehovah". This translation keeps the four letters. The name is related to the verb "to be" (Exodus 3:14-15). He is not a god other than Elohim: "YHWH Elohim" is the same Creator God, called by his name.

• בּוֹרֵאbore· create

  Create: make something new exist. In its basic form this verb is used in the Hebrew Bible only when God is the one acting. In other forms it means "clear, cut down" (a forest) or "fatten".

• קְצוֹתketsot· end, edge

  End, edge, tip of something.

• אָרֶץarets· earth, land

  The earth, in two senses: the whole world in contrast with the heavens, or a particular country or region ("the land of Egypt").

• יִיעַףyiaf· be weary

  Be weary, be left without strength from tiredness.

• יִיגָעyiga· grow weary, toil

  Grow weary, be tired from effort; also to toil, or to make another weary.

• חֵקֶרcheker· searching

  Searching: examining or thinking something through thoroughly. In the song it sounds almost the same as "resolves" (verse 15); it is a play on sounds in Hebrew.

• תְבוּנָתtevunat· understanding

  Understanding: the ability to understand and to find the right way.

• נֹתֵןnoten· give, put, set

  Give, in a very wide sense: hand over, put, place, grant, allow, make something be.

• יָּעֵףyaef· weary, faint

  Exhausted, without strength from weariness or thirst.

• כֹּחַkoach· strength

  Strength, power, vigor; also what the ground can produce. A word with the same letters names a large lizard.

• אוֹנִיםonim· strength; wealth

  Vigor, strength to beget. Elsewhere, wealth.

• עָצְמָהatsma· might, strength

  Might, great strength.

• יַרְבֶּהyarbe· multiply, increase

  Become many, increase in number or amount; multiply. In the causative form, make many, do much.

• נְעָרִיםnearim· young man, servant

  Boy, young man; also a servant or attendant.

• בַחוּרִיםvachurim· young man

  A young man in the prime of life.

• כָּשׁוֹלkashol· stumble

  Stumble, stagger and fall.

• קוֹיֵkoye· gather; wait for

  Gather together, collect in one place (said of the waters). In other passages the same verb means "wait for" with hope.

• יַחֲלִיפוּyachalifu· change, pass on

  Change, replace one thing with another. In other passages, pass by, pass away, or renew (strength).

• יַעֲלוּyaalu· go up, offer up

  Go up, ascend, climb. It is also used for "offering" a sacrifice (making it go up), and for coming up from Egypt.

• אֵבֶרever· wing, pinion

  A wing, or the long feathers of the wing with which a bird flies.

• נְּשָׁרִיםnesharim· eagle, vulture

  Eagle; it may also refer to another large bird of prey, such as the vulture.

• יָרוּצוּyarutsu· run

  Run; as a noun, "runner", a guard or courier.

• יֵלְכוּyelchu· go, walk

  Go, walk, depart; in the causative form, lead or bring.