Isaiah 40:4

4 Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill shall become low, And the rough ground shall be like a plain, and the rugged ground like a valley-plain.

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 "Speak to the heart of Jerusalem, and call to her, that her compulsory labor is fulfilled, that her sin is paid for, that she has {received} from the hand of Yahweh double for all her sins."

3 A voice [is] calling in the wilderness, "Clear the way of Yahweh! Make a highway smooth in the desert for our God!

4 Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill shall become low, And the rough ground shall be like a plain, and the rugged ground like a valley-plain.

5 And the glory of Yahweh shall be revealed, and all {humankind} together shall see [it], for the mouth of Yahweh has spoken."

6 A voice [is] saying, "Call!" And he said, "What shall I call?" All {humankind} [are] grass, and all his loyalty [is] like the flowers of the field.