The Meaning of Isaiah 54:10 Explained

Isaiah 54:10

KJV: For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the LORD that hath mercy on thee.

YLT: For the mountains depart, and the hills remove, And My kindness from thee departeth not, And the covenant of My peace removeth not, Said hath thy loving one -- Jehovah.

Darby: For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my loving-kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall my covenant of peace be removed, saith Jehovah, that hath mercy on thee.

ASV: For the mountains may depart, and the hills be removed; but my lovingkindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall my covenant of peace be removed, saith Jehovah that hath mercy on thee.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

For the mountains  shall depart,  and the hills  be removed;  but my kindness  shall not depart  from thee, neither shall the covenant  of my peace  be removed,  saith  the LORD  that hath mercy  on thee. 

What does Isaiah 54:10 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Even the most substantial and immovable of things do not compare with the firmness of God"s promise. The Lord will again reshape the surface of the earth, as He did with the Flood, only the next time it will be with a great earthquake (cf. Revelation 16:17-21). Even global changes would not alter this promise to preserve His people in intimate relationship with Himself. This promise is so firm and formal that it constitutes a covenant, a covenant guaranteeing peace with them and for them (Heb. shalom, wholeness of divine blessing). This is probably a reference to the New Covenant (cf. Jeremiah 31:31; Jeremiah 32:40; Ezekiel 37:26; Luke 22:20; 1 Corinthians 11:25; 2 Corinthians 3:6; Hebrews 8:8-12). [1] Young, 3:368 , interpreted it as a reference to the theological covenant of grace. [2] Another scholar claimed that the covenant of peace was an ancient Near Eastern motif in primeval myth. [2] Yahweh would renovate the earth because He has compassion on His people; He desires to bless them.
"How was it possible for God to enter into the Sinai Covenant with his people? They had to be delivered from Egypt by "Moses, my servant" (e.g, Numbers 12:7). How is it possible for God to enter into a (new) covenant of peace with Israel and all the nations of the world? It is possible through the deliverance brought about by the self-sacrifice of "my Servant," who is the expression of the eternal love of God. "Break forth with a shout!"" [4]
"Just as the Noahic settlement was formalized into a perpetual covenant, so the work of the Servant leads to a covenant pledging peace in perpetuity." [5]
Throughout this passage more than just the deliverance of Israel from the exile is in view. More than the deliverance of Israel from sin is in view. The deliverance of all humanity from sin by the Servant is in view. However, Israel is the primary focus of the prophecy.

Context Summary

Isaiah 54:1-17 - The Wondrous Love Of God
We have heard the exiles summoned to leave Babylon, and have beheld the Savior becoming the sin-bearer. Here our attention is recalled to the still desolate condition of Jerusalem. See Nehemiah 1:3; Nehemiah 2:3; Nehemiah 2:13-17. Jehovah says, Sing, but Israel replies that she cannot sing so long as she lies desolate. In reply God declares His inalienable love: He is their husband still and has sworn that the waters of death and destruction shall never be able to separate them from Himself. The kindness of His mercy is everlasting, and His covenant of peace shall outlast the mountains and hills.
In the closing paragraph, Isaiah 54:11-17, we behold the chosen city emerging from her heap of ruins. Watched by the eye of the great Architect, wrought by unseen hands, tested by the line and plummet of righteousness, she arises to fulfill her mission to the world. To inspired hearts it seems as though her common stones are jewels. Her children are taught of the Lord. Every accusing voice is hushed. All weapons of destruction are impotent. The New Jerusalem seems to have come down from heaven. [source]

Chapter Summary: Isaiah 54

1  The prophet, to comfort the Gentiles, prophesies the amplitude of their church
4  Their safety
6  Their certain deliverance out of affliction
11  Their fair edification
15  And their sure preservation

What do the individual words in Isaiah 54:10 mean?

For the mountains shall depart and the hills be removed but My kindness from you not shall depart and the covenant of My peace nor shall be removed says who has mercy on you Yahweh -
כִּ֤י הֶֽהָרִים֙ יָמ֔וּשׁוּ וְהַגְּבָע֖וֹת תְּמוּטֶ֑נָה וְחַסְדִּ֞י מֵאִתֵּ֣ךְ לֹֽא־ יָמ֗וּשׁ וּבְרִ֤ית שְׁלוֹמִי֙ לֹ֣א תָמ֔וּט אָמַ֥ר מְרַחֲמֵ֖ךְ יְהוָֽה ס

הֶֽהָרִים֙  the  mountains 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: הַר  
Sense: hill, mountain, hill country, mount.
יָמ֔וּשׁוּ  shall  depart 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: מוּשׁ  
Sense: to depart, remove.
וְהַגְּבָע֖וֹת  and  the  hills 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Article, Noun, feminine plural
Root: גִּבְעָה  
Sense: hill.
תְּמוּטֶ֑נָה  be  removed 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person feminine plural
Root: מֹוט  
Sense: to totter, shake, slip.
וְחַסְדִּ֞י  but  My  kindness 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: חֶסֶד 
Sense: goodness, kindness, faithfulness.
מֵאִתֵּ֣ךְ  from  you 
Parse: Preposition-m, Direct object marker, second person feminine singular
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
יָמ֗וּשׁ  shall  depart 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: מוּשׁ  
Sense: to depart, remove.
וּבְרִ֤ית  and  the  covenant 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: בְּרִית  
Sense: covenant, alliance, pledge.
שְׁלוֹמִי֙  of  My  peace 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: שָׁלֹום  
Sense: completeness, soundness, welfare, peace.
לֹ֣א  nor 
Parse: Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
תָמ֔וּט  shall  be  removed 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person feminine singular
Root: מֹוט  
Sense: to totter, shake, slip.
אָמַ֥ר  says 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
מְרַחֲמֵ֖ךְ  who  has  mercy  on  you 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Participle, masculine singular construct, second person feminine singular
Root: רָחַם  
Sense: to love, love deeply, have mercy, be compassionate, have tender affection, have compassion.
יְהוָֽה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
ס  - 
Parse: Punctuation