Isaiah 40:31
Those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength — they shall mount up with wings like eagles.
But those who wait for Yahweh will renew their strength. They will mount up with wings like eagles. They will run, and not be weary. They will walk, and not faint.
What Isaiah 40:31 means
The chapter is written for exhausted people who suspect God has stopped paying attention. Isaiah’s answer is that even young men grow tired — strength runs out for everyone — but those who wait on the Lord exchange their strength for his.
The images descend rather than climb: soaring, then running, then walking without fainting. That order is deliberate and kind. Most of life is the walking, and this verse promises God’s renewal for the long, unglamorous stretch as much as for the soaring.
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Questions about Isaiah 40:31
What does Isaiah 40:31 mean?
It means those who hope in and wait on the Lord receive fresh strength from him — enough to soar, to run, and, most practically, to keep walking without giving out.
What does it mean to ‘wait for the Lord’?
It means an active, expectant trust — continuing to look to God for help rather than relying on your own dwindling resources. It is dependence, not passivity.