Isaiah 25:8
He will swallow up death forever. The Lord GOD will wipe away the tears from every face and remove the disgrace of His people from the whole earth. For the LORD has spoken.
He will swallow up death forever
This phrase is a powerful declaration of God's ultimate victory over death. The Hebrew word for "swallow up" is "bala," which conveys the idea of completely consuming or destroying. In the ancient Near Eastern context, death was often personified as a monster or enemy, and the imagery here suggests a total and final defeat. The word "forever" emphasizes the eternal nature of this victory, aligning with the Christian belief in eternal life through Jesus Christ. This promise is fulfilled in the New Testament, where Paul echoes this triumph in 1 Corinthians 15:54, affirming the resurrection of Christ as the defeat of death.

The Lord GOD will wipe away the tears from every face
This phrase offers a deeply personal and compassionate image of God's care for His people. The act of wiping away tears signifies comfort and the end of suffering. The Hebrew word for "wipe away" is "machah," which means to blot out or erase, indicating a complete removal of sorrow. This promise is not only a future hope but also a present comfort, as believers experience God's peace amidst trials. The imagery is echoed in Revelation 21:4, where God promises to wipe away every tear in the new creation, highlighting the continuity of God's redemptive plan from the Old to the New Testament.

He will remove the disgrace of His people from all the earth
Here, the focus shifts to the restoration of God's people. The word "disgrace" in Hebrew is "cherpah," which refers to shame or reproach. Historically, Israel faced disgrace due to exile and disobedience, but this promise assures them of vindication and honor. The phrase "from all the earth" underscores the universal scope of God's redemption, extending beyond Israel to all nations. This aligns with the Christian understanding of salvation through Christ, who removes the shame of sin and restores believers to a place of honor before God.

For the LORD has spoken
This concluding phrase emphasizes the certainty and authority of the promise. The Hebrew word for "spoken" is "dabar," which implies a definitive and powerful declaration. In the biblical context, when the LORD speaks, His words are trustworthy and will come to pass. This assurance is foundational to the faith of believers, who trust in God's promises as unchanging and reliable. The phrase reinforces the theme of divine sovereignty and faithfulness, encouraging believers to hold fast to God's word amidst life's uncertainties.

Persons / Places / Events
1. The Lord GOD (Yahweh)
The sovereign and covenant-keeping God of Israel, who promises to defeat death and bring comfort to His people.

2. Death
Personified as an enemy that will be swallowed up and defeated by God, symbolizing the ultimate victory over sin and mortality.

3. His People (Israel)
The nation of Israel, representing God's chosen people, who will experience redemption and the removal of disgrace.

4. The Whole Earth
Indicates the universal scope of God's redemptive plan, extending beyond Israel to all nations.

5. Isaiah
The prophet who delivers this message of hope and restoration, speaking God's promises to the people.
Teaching Points
Victory Over Death
God's promise to swallow up death forever assures believers of eternal life through Christ. This victory is central to the Christian hope and should encourage us to live fearlessly in faith.

Comfort in Grief
The promise that God will wipe away every tear offers profound comfort to those who mourn. Believers can find solace in God's compassionate nature and His ultimate plan for restoration.

Universal Redemption
God's plan extends to the whole earth, highlighting the inclusivity of His salvation. This should inspire believers to share the gospel with all nations, reflecting God's heart for the world.

Removal of Disgrace
The removal of disgrace signifies the forgiveness and cleansing available through Christ. Believers are called to live in the freedom and dignity that comes from being God's redeemed people.

The Certainty of God's Promises
The phrase "For the LORD has spoken" underscores the reliability of God's word. Believers can trust in His promises, knowing that what He declares will come to pass.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the promise of God swallowing up death forever impact your understanding of eternal life?

2. In what ways can you find comfort in the assurance that God will wipe away every tear from your face?

3. How does the universal scope of God's redemption challenge you to engage in missions or evangelism?

4. What areas of your life still feel marked by disgrace, and how can you apply the truth of God's removal of disgrace to those areas?

5. How can you cultivate a deeper trust in the certainty of God's promises, especially in times of doubt or uncertainty?
Connections to Other Scriptures
1 Corinthians 15
Paul echoes the theme of victory over death, affirming the resurrection of Christ as the fulfillment of this prophecy.

Revelation 21
John describes a future where God will wipe away every tear, paralleling the promise of comfort and restoration found in Isaiah.

Hosea 13
The imagery of God defeating death is also present, emphasizing His power and sovereignty over life and death.

Psalm 23
The assurance of God's presence and comfort in the face of death reflects the promise of wiping away tears.

Romans 8
The removal of disgrace and the promise of no condemnation for those in Christ align with the themes of redemption and restoration.
Christ the Conqueror of DeathSunday School ChronicleIsaiah 25:8
Christ's Conquest of DeathW.M. Statham Isaiah 25:8
Christ's VictoryJ. Irons.Isaiah 25:8
Christ's Victory Over DeathS. Cox, D. D.Isaiah 25:8
D.L. Moody on DeathKing's Highway.Isaiah 25:8
DeathJ. Erskine, D. D.Isaiah 25:8
Death AbolishedT. De Witt Talmage, D. D.Isaiah 25:8
Death Swallowed UpJ. Parker, D. D.Isaiah 25:8
Death Swallowed Up in VictoryD. Moore, M. A.Isaiah 25:8
Fear of Death RemovedP. Norton.Isaiah 25:8
God's Power to Wipe Away TearsRobert Burns.Isaiah 25:8
Has Christ Destroyed DeathS. Cox, D. D.Isaiah 25:8
Imperfect Conceptions of Christ's Victory Over Death Their Effect on Practical LifeS. Cox, D. D.Isaiah 25:8
Jesus Victorious Over DeathT. Boston, D. D.Isaiah 25:8
Jesus Victorious Over DeathT. Boston, D. D.Isaiah 25:8
Light in DarknessE. Bailey, M. A.Isaiah 25:8
Man Born to TroubleW. Birch.Isaiah 25:8
The Graciousness of DeathJ. Parker, D. D.Isaiah 25:8
The Jewish Prevision of ImmortalityS. Cox, D. D.Isaiah 25:8
The Lake of TearsW. Birch.Isaiah 25:8
The Messiah the Victor Over DeathS. Cox, D. D.Isaiah 25:8
The Progressive March of Death a ConquerorHomilistIsaiah 25:8
The Resurrection of the DeadT. De Witt Talmage, D. D.Isaiah 25:8
The Supreme VictoryW. Clarkson Isaiah 25:8
The Veil and Web of Death Destroyed by ChristS. Cox, D. D.Isaiah 25:8
Triumph Over DeathR. Tuck Isaiah 25:8
Victory in DeathF. Silver.Isaiah 25:8
Victory Over DeathThe EvangelistIsaiah 25:8
Victory Over DeathJ. Love, D. D.Isaiah 25:8
Victory Over DeathG. Campbell.Isaiah 25:8
Victory Over Death and SorrowE. T. Prust.Isaiah 25:8
Hymn of Praise to JehovahE. Johnson Isaiah 25:1-8
A Feast of FatnessJ. C. Miller, D. D.Isaiah 25:6-9
A Rich Feast for Hungry SoulsT. Boston, D. D.Isaiah 25:6-9
Good Cheer for ChristmasIsaiah 25:6-9
In This MountainA. Maclaren, D. D.Isaiah 25:6-9
Needy Man and His Moral ProvisionHomilistIsaiah 25:6-9
The Feast Prepared by Jesus ChristT. Boston, D. D.Isaiah 25:6-9
The Gospel FeastJ. Benson, D. D.Isaiah 25:6-9
The Gospel FeastA. Bennie, M. A.Isaiah 25:6-9
The Gospel FeastR. Macculloch.Isaiah 25:6-9
The Source of the World's HopeA. Maclaren, D. D.Isaiah 25:6-9
Tire Marriage Feast Between Christ and His ChurchIsaiah 25:6-9
Veils Removed and Souls Feasted"V" in HomilistIsaiah 25:6-9
The Removal of the CoveringT. Davies, M. A.Isaiah 25:7-8
The Evening of ExpectationW. Clarkson Isaiah 25:8, 9
People
Isaiah
Places
Jerusalem, Moab
Topics
Aside, Death, Disgrace, Faces, Forever, Rebuke, Remove, Reproach, Shame, Sovereign, Spoken, Swallow, Swallowed, Tear, Tears, Turneth, Victory, Weeping, Wipe, Wiped
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Isaiah 25:8

     1205   God, titles of
     5059   rest, eternal
     5198   weeping
     5454   power, God's saving
     6201   imperfection, and God's purposes
     6203   mortality
     6645   eternal life, nature of
     9021   death, natural
     9022   death, believers
     9136   immortality, OT
     9414   heaven, community of redeemed

Isaiah 25:6-8

     5006   human race, destiny
     7949   mission, of Israel

Isaiah 25:7-8

     4010   creation, renewal

Isaiah 25:8-9

     5797   bereavement, comfort in

Library
The Feast on the Sacrifice
And in this mountain shall the Lord of hosts make unto all people a feast.' ISAIAH xxv. 6. There is here a reference to Sinai, where a feast followed the vision of God. It was the sign of covenant, harmony, and relationship, and was furnished by a sacrifice. I. The General Ideas contained in this Image of a Feast. We meet it all through Scripture; it culminates in Christ's parables and in the 'Marriage Supper of the Lamb.' In the image are suggested:-- Free familiarity of access, fellowship, and
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Veil Over all Nations
'He will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering cast over all people, and the veil that is spread over all nations.'--ISAIAH xxv. 7. The previous chapter closes with a prediction of the reign of Jehovah in Mount Zion 'before His elders' in Glory. The allusion apparently is to the elders being summoned up to the Mount and seeing the Glory, 'as the body of heaven in its clearness.' The veil in this verse is probably a similar allusion to that which covered Moses' face. It will then be an
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

'In this Mountain'
'In this mountain shall the Lord of hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees well refined. 7. And He will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering cast over all people, and the veil that is spread over all nations. 8. He will swallow up death in victory.'--ISAIAH xxv. 6-8. A poet's imagination and a prophet's clear vision of the goal to which God will lead humanity are both at their highest in this
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Consolations against the Fear of Death.
If in the time of thy sickness thou findest thyself fearful to die, meditate-- 1. That it argueth a dastardly mind to fear that which is not; for in the church of Christ there is no death (Isa. xxv. 7, 8), and whosoever liveth and believeth in Christ, shall never die (John xi. 26). Let them fear death who live without Christ. Christians die not; but when they please God, they are like Enoch translated unto God (Gen. v. 24;) their pains are but Elijah's fiery chariot to carry them up to heaven (2
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety

The Restoration of Israel is Only Made Possible by the Second Advent of Christ.
Under this head we shall seek to prove briefly three things--that Israel as a nation will be restored, that Israel's restoration occurs at the Return of Christ, that Israel's restoration will result in great blessing to the whole world. That Israel as a nation will be actually and literally restored is declared again and again in the Word of God. We quote now but two prophecies from among scores of similar ones:--"Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch,
Arthur W. Pink—The Redeemer's Return

Of Meditating on the Future Life.
1. The design of God in afflicting his people. 1. To accustom us to despise the present life. Our infatuated love of it. Afflictions employed as the cure. 2. To lead us to aspire to heaven. 2. Excessive love of the present life prevents us from duly aspiring to the other. Hence the disadvantages of prosperity. Blindness of the human judgment. Our philosophizing on the vanity of life only of momentary influence. The necessity of the cross. 3. The present life an evidence of the divine favour to his
John Calvin—The Institutes of the Christian Religion

The Signs
There are indications that to some of those who took part in the crucifixion of Christ His death presented hardly anything to distinguish it from an ordinary execution; and there were others who were anxious to believe that it had no features which were extraordinary. But God did not leave His Son altogether without witness. The end of the Saviour's sufferings was accompanied by certain signs, which showed the interest excited by them in the world unseen. I. The first sign was the rending of the
James Stalker—The Trial and Death of Jesus Christ

Religion Pleasant to the Religious.
"O taste and see how gracious the Lord is; blessed is the man that trusteth in Him."--Psalm xxxiv. 8. You see by these words what love Almighty God has towards us, and what claims He has upon our love. He is the Most High, and All-Holy. He inhabiteth eternity: we are but worms compared with Him. He would not be less happy though He had never created us; He would not be less happy though we were all blotted out again from creation. But He is the God of love; He brought us all into existence,
John Henry Newman—Parochial and Plain Sermons, Vol. VII

The Return to Capernaum - Healing of the Centurion's Servant.
We are once again in Capernaum. It is remarkable how much, connected not only with the Ministry of Jesus, but with His innermost Life, gathers around that little fishing town. In all probability its prosperity was chiefly due to the neighbouring Tiberias, which Herod Antipas [2583] had built, about ten years previously. Noteworthy is it also, how many of the most attractive characters and incidents in the Gospel-history are connected with that Capernaum, which, as a city, rejected its own real glory,
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

The Resurrection
'Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.' John 5:58, 29. Q-38: WHAT BENEFITS DO BELIEVERS RECEIVE FROM CHRIST AT THE RESURRECTION? A: At the resurrection, believers being raised up in glory, shall be openly acknowledged and acquitted in the day of judgement, and made perfectly blessed in the
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity

Death Swallowed up in victory
Then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory! D eath, simply considered, is no more than the cessation of life --that which was once living, lives no longer. But it has been the general, perhaps the universal custom of mankind, to personify it. Imagination gives death a formidable appearance, arms it with a dart, sting or scythe, and represents it as an active, inexorable and invincible reality. In this view death is a great devourer; with his iron tongue
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 2

Of Meditating on the Future Life.
The three divisions of this chapter,--I. The principal use of the cross is, that it in various ways accustoms us to despise the present, and excites us to aspire to the future life, sec. 1, 2. II. In withdrawing from the present life we must neither shun it nor feel hatred for it; but desiring the future life, gladly quit the present at the command of our sovereign Master, see. 3, 4. III. Our infirmity in dreading death described. The correction and safe remedy, sec. 6. 1. WHATEVER be the kind of
Archpriest John Iliytch Sergieff—On the Christian Life

Messiah Worshipped by Angels
Let all the angels of God worship Him. M any of the Lord's true servants, have been in a situation so nearly similar to that of Elijah, that like him they have been tempted to think they were left to serve the Lord alone (I Kings 19:10) . But God had then a faithful people, and He has so in every age. The preaching of the Gospel may be compared to a standard erected, to which they repair, and thereby become known to each other, and more exposed to the notice and observation of the world. But we hope
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 2

The Gospel Feast
"When Jesus then lifted up His eyes, and saw a great company come unto Him, He saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread that these may eat?"--John vi. 5. After these words the Evangelist adds, "And this He said to prove him, for He Himself knew what He would do." Thus, you see, our Lord had secret meanings when He spoke, and did not bring forth openly all His divine sense at once. He knew what He was about to do from the first, but He wished to lead forward His disciples, and to arrest and
John Henry Newman—Parochial and Plain Sermons, Vol. VII

Seven Sanctified Thoughts and Mournful Sighs of a Sick Man Ready to Die.
Now, forasmuch as God of his infinite mercy doth so temper our pain and sickness, that we are not always oppressed with extremity, but gives us in the midst of our extremities some respite, to ease and refresh ourselves, thou must have an especial care, considering how short a time thou hast either for ever to lose or to obtain heaven, to make use of every breathing time which God affords thee; and during that little time of ease to gather strength against the fits of greater anguish. Therefore,
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety

Death by Adam, Life by Christ
For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. F rom Mr. Handel's acknowledged abilities as a composer, and particularly from what I have heard of his great taste and success in adapting the style of his music to the subject, I judge, that this passage afforded him a fair occasion of displaying his genius and powers. Two ideas, vastly important in themselves, are here represented in the strongest light,
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 2

Healing the Centurion's Servant.
(at Capernaum.) ^A Matt. VIII. 1, 5-13; ^C Luke VII. 1-10. ^c 1 After he had ended all his sayings in the ears of the people, ^a 1 And when he was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him. ^c he entered into Capernaum. [Jesus proceeded from the mountain to Capernaum, which was now his home, or headquarters. The multitudes which are now mentioned for the third time were not wearied by his sermon, and so continued to follow him. Their presence showed the popularity of Jesus, and also
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

A Clearing-Up Storm in the Realm
(Revelation, Chapters vi.-viii.) "God Almighty! King of nations! earth Thy footstool, heaven Thy throne! Thine the greatness, power, and glory, Thine the kingdom, Lord, alone! Life and death are in Thy keeping, and Thy will ordaineth all: From the armies of Thy heavens to an unseen insect's fall. "Reigning, guiding, all-commanding, ruling myriad worlds of light; Now exalting, now abasing, none can stay Thy hand of might! Working all things by Thy power, by the counsel of Thy will. Thou art God!
by S. D. Gordon—Quiet Talks on the Crowned Christ of Revelation

How to Make Use of Christ as the Truth, that we May Get Our Case and Condition Cleared up to Us.
The believer is oft complaining of darkness concerning his case and condition, so as he cannot tell what to say of himself, or what judgment to pass on himself, and he knoweth not how to win to a distinct and clear discovery of his state and condition. Now, it is truth alone, and the Truth, that can satisfy them as to this. The question then is, how they shall make use of, and apply themselves to this truth, to the end they may get the truth of their condition discovered to them. But first let us
John Brown (of Wamphray)—Christ The Way, The Truth, and The Life

Questions.
LESSON I. 1. In what state was the Earth when first created? 2. To what trial was man subjected? 3. What punishment did the Fall bring on man? 4. How alone could his guilt be atoned for? A. By his punishment being borne by one who was innocent. 5. What was the first promise that there should be such an atonement?--Gen. iii. 15. 6. What were the sacrifices to foreshow? 7. Why was Abel's offering the more acceptable? 8. From which son of Adam was the Seed of the woman to spring? 9. How did Seth's
Charlotte Mary Yonge—The Chosen People

Isaiah
CHAPTERS I-XXXIX Isaiah is the most regal of the prophets. His words and thoughts are those of a man whose eyes had seen the King, vi. 5. The times in which he lived were big with political problems, which he met as a statesman who saw the large meaning of events, and as a prophet who read a divine purpose in history. Unlike his younger contemporary Micah, he was, in all probability, an aristocrat; and during his long ministry (740-701 B.C., possibly, but not probably later) he bore testimony, as
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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