The Meaning of Isaiah 25:3 Explained

Isaiah 25:3

KJV: Therefore shall the strong people glorify thee, the city of the terrible nations shall fear thee.

YLT: Therefore honour Thee do a strong people, A city of the terrible nations feareth Thee.

Darby: Therefore shall the mighty people glorify thee, the city of terrible nations shall fear thee.

ASV: Therefore shall a strong people glorify thee; a city of terrible nations shall fear thee.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Therefore shall the strong  people  glorify  thee, the city  of the terrible  nations  shall fear  thee. 

What does Isaiah 25:3 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Strong people and groups of ruthless individuals will fear God and respect Him for what He has done. They will not necessarily become believers in Him, but they will acknowledge that He has done great things (cf. Revelation 9:20-21).

Context Summary

Isaiah 25:1-12 - Sorrow Turned To Gladness
Here is a song of thanksgiving at the fall of Babylon. When she fell, a sigh of relief passed over the whole world, and strong, terrible nations over which she had exerted her tyranny gratefully recognized the goodness and righteousness of Jehovah. We may anticipate, as we read these glowing words, what that song will be when the spirited Babylon is overthrown, Revelation 19:1-7.
Notice how God suits Himself to our need, whether for strength, or refuge, or shadow. Take from Him what you are needing most. As the cloud draws its veil over the burning sunshine to mitigate its heat, so does God interpose to reduce the sufferings of His own. The branch, that is, the exulting song of the terrible ones, their song of triumph, shall be hushed. From Isaiah 25:6 we learn that the hunger of man for God can only be satisfied in Jesus; and from Isaiah 25:7, that the dread of death and the hereafter, which has lain heavily on humanity as a pall shall be forever ended, when Jesus comes the second time unto salvation. Compare 1 Corinthians 15:54. God will not only wipe tears from our eyes but the fountains of tears shall be dried up, Revelation 21:4. [source]

Chapter Summary: Isaiah 25

1  Song of Praise for God's Favor

What do the individual words in Isaiah 25:3 mean?

Upon thus will glorify You the people strong the city of the nations terrible will fear You
עַל־ כֵּ֖ן יְכַבְּד֣וּךָ עַם־ עָ֑ז קִרְיַ֛ת גּוֹיִ֥ם עָרִיצִ֖ים יִירָאֽוּךָ

עַל־  Upon 
Parse: Preposition
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
כֵּ֖ן  thus 
Parse: Adverb
Root: כֵּן 
Sense: so, therefore, thus.
יְכַבְּד֣וּךָ  will  glorify  You 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect, third person masculine plural, second person masculine singular
Root: כָּבֵד  
Sense: to be heavy, be weighty, be grievous, be hard, be rich, be honourable, be glorious, be burdensome, be honoured.
עַם־  the  people 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: עַם 
Sense: nation, people.
עָ֑ז  strong 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: עַז 
Sense: strong, mighty, fierce.
קִרְיַ֛ת  the  city 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: קִרְיָה 
Sense: city, town.
גּוֹיִ֥ם  of  the  nations 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: גֹּוי 
Sense: nation, people.
עָרִיצִ֖ים  terrible 
Parse: Adjective, masculine plural
Root: עָרִיץ  
Sense: awe-inspiring, terror-striking, awesome, terrifying, ruthless, mighty.
יִירָאֽוּךָ  will  fear  You 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural, second person masculine singular
Root: יָרֵא 
Sense: to fear, revere, be afraid.