Isaiah 40:4

4 Fill every valley; level every mountain. The hills will become a plain, and the rough country will be made smooth.

Isaiah 40:4 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 40:4

Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill
shall be made low
Which is not to be understood literally, but, as Kimchi says, parabolically and mystically: the meaning is, that in consequence of John's ministry, and our Lord's coming, such who were depressed and bowed down with the guilt of sin, and were low and humble in their own eyes, should be raised up and comforted; and that such who were elated with themselves, and their own righteousness, should be humbled; their pride and haughtiness should be brought down, and they treated with neglect and contempt, while great notice was taken of lowly minded ones; see ( Luke 14:11 ) and ( Luke 18:14 ) : and the crooked shall be straight and the rough places plain;
what before was dark and intricate in prophecy should now become clear; and such doctrines as were not so well understood should now become plain and easy.

Isaiah 40:4 In-Context

2 Encourage the people of Jerusalem. Tell them they have suffered long enough and their sins are now forgiven. I have punished them in full for all their sins."
3 A voice cries out, "Prepare in the wilderness a road for the Lord! Clear the way in the desert for our God!
4 Fill every valley; level every mountain. The hills will become a plain, and the rough country will be made smooth.
5 Then the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all people will see it. The Lord himself has promised this."
6 A voice cries out, "Proclaim a message!" "What message shall I proclaim?" I ask. "Proclaim that all human beings are like grass; they last no longer than wild flowers.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.