Isaiah 25:8 Meaning and Explanation
“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.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →God will conquer death and end all suffering and shame.
The Context of Isaiah 25:8
Peak promise of the chapter: God's final victory over death and all sources of human suffering.
What Does Isaiah 25:8 Mean?
This verse announces God's ultimate victory over death itself. Death, the final enemy and the root of all human sorrow, will be 'swallowed up'—completely overcome and eliminated. The image of God wiping away tears from all faces expresses the end of grief, mourning, and suffering. Simultaneously, He removes the 'rebuke'—the shame, disgrace, and condemnation—of His people, restoring them to honor and vindication.
The phrase 'for the LORD hath spoken it' grounds this promise in God's absolute authority and reliability. This is not hope based on human effort or circumstance, but the declared word of the eternal God. The comprehensiveness of this transformation—affecting death, grief, and shame universally—presents the ultimate scope of God's redemptive work.
Isaiah 25:8 in the Original Language
bala (בָּלַע), 'swallowed up'—total consumption; complete vanquishing of death's power.
Frequently Asked Questions About Isaiah 25:8
What does Isaiah 25:8 mean?
God will conquer death and end all suffering and shame.
What is the context of Isaiah 25:8?
Peak promise of the chapter: God's final victory over death and all sources of human suffering.