Isaiah 25:8 - Printer Friendly

ESV: He will swallow up death forever; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the Lord has spoken.

NIV: he will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove his people’s disgrace from all the earth. The Lord has spoken.

NASB: He will swallow up death for all time, And the Lord God will wipe tears away from all faces, And He will remove the disgrace of His people from all the earth; For the Lord has spoken.

CSB: he will destroy death forever. The Lord God will wipe away the tears from every face and remove his people’s disgrace from the whole earth, for the Lord has spoken.

NLT: He will swallow up death forever! The Sovereign Lord will wipe away all tears. He will remove forever all insults and mockery against his land and people. The Lord has spoken!

KJV: He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the Lord hath spoken it.

NKJV: He will swallow up death forever, And the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces; The rebuke of His people He will take away from all the earth; For the Lord has spoken.

This passage portrays an amazing moment of ultimate grace performed by the King Messiah. This moment occurs at the banquet which launches the Lord's reign over all the earth. On Mount Zion, Isaiah describes the Lord as "swallowing up death," the shroud that has been cast over all people since Adam sinned for the first time (Isaiah 25:6–7; Genesis 3:19).

This amazing grace is made possible because the very King who swallows up death is the One who died on the cross to pay the penalty each person owes for their own sin. The Lord's justice was fulfilled in the death of Jesus and now all who will trust in the Savior Jesus will receive God's forgiveness of their sin. Those who accept this gift of salvation will be free from death's hold on them (John 3:16–18).

That freedom becomes official here as the Lord destroys death forever. He removes that interfering cover from God's gathered people. Isaiah describes the Lord as wiping away the tears of mourning from all faces. Revelation 21 uses similar language:

"Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away" (Revelation 21:3–4).

This is more than just the end of death for God's people. It is the end of shame. No more will God's people live under the reproach of their own sinful choices. Sin will end, and the heavy burden of our sinful choices will vanish with it. No more death. No more reproach.

The joyous rescue applies to anyone in the world who accepts the Lord as Savior (Revelation 7:9). Other nations are used as metaphors for those who oppose God in this passage (Isaiah 25:2, 10). But in the end, it will be faith in God and His Son which separates mankind, not culture or race (John 3:36; Galatians 3:28).

Chapter 25:6–12 describes a celebratory feast, hosted by God Himself, at the inauguration of His kingdom. The Lord will completely remove death and the shame of sin from His people. He also describes how the Lord takes away death forever for those who are His. The salvation which Israel long expected will come at last. In contrast, those who still refuse God's authority are crushed and humiliated. Moab, symbolic of all the nations who hated Israel, is depicted writhing in a cesspit under God's heel.

Isaiah's description of the Lord's judgment on the earth is followed by celebration. This comes at the beginning of the Lord's reign over all the earth. The prophet declares his own praise for God's wonderful works and righteous plans. The Lord protects the needy from the ruthless. At the inaugural banquet, the Lord swallows up death forever and wipes away every tear. All the people declare that they were right to wait on their Lord to save them. The Lord judges unbelieving Moab by trampling them into their place.

In the previous chapter, the Lord of hosts is said to reign on Mount Zion following His judgment of the entire earth. Here, Isaiah declares His praise for the Lord who protects the poor and needy. At an inaugural banquet for His kingdom, the Lord swallows up death forever. He also takes away the shame of His people's sin while wiping away their tears. The people rejoice and are glad for waiting on the Lord's salvation. The Lord destroys Moab—symbolic of nations who reject God—in judgment for not trusting in Him.

Isaiah is among the most important prophetic books in the entire Bible. The first segment details God's impending judgment against ancient peoples for sin and idolatry (Isaiah 1—35). The second part of Isaiah briefly explains a failed assault on Jerusalem during the rule of Hezekiah (Isaiah 36—39). The final chapters predict Israel's rescue from Babylonian captivity (Isaiah 40—48), the promised Messiah (Isaiah 49—57), and the final glory of Jerusalem and God's people (Isaiah 58—66).