Isaiah 25:9 Meaning: We Waited for Him, He Saved Us
It shall be said in that day, “Behold, this is our God! We have waited for him, and he will save us! This is Yahweh! We have waited for him. We will be glad and rejoice in his salvation!”
And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the Lord; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.
And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is Jehovah; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.
And one hath said in that day, `Lo, this is our God, We waited for Him, and He saveth us, This is Jehovah, we have waited for Him, We joy and rejoice in His salvation.'
And it shall be said in that day, Behold, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is Jehovah, we have waited for him; we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.
Meaning in one sentence
Isaiah 25:9 declares the joyful recognition of God's people after waiting for salvation. A verse of hope for both present and future.
Context
Isaiah 25 sits within a series of prophecies where judgment and restoration intertwine. In the verses just before this one, the prophet describes a feast God prepares for all peoples, the lifting of a veil of sorrow, and the swallowing up of death itself. Then the scene shifts. Those who have endured exile, oppression, and long silence break into a spontaneous shout. They have been waiting, actively, expectantly, and now they see their God has acted. This verse becomes a song the church takes up across centuries. Believers look back to Christ's first coming and ahead to His return, and they say the same words: this is our God.
Key Words
The word translated 'waited' is the Hebrew qavah. It carries the sense of twisting or stretching, like a rope pulled taut. This is not killing time. It is a hopeful, straining look ahead, the posture of a people who know their God keeps promises. The word behind 'behold' is hinneh, a finger pointing, 'Look! There He is.' After all that waiting, they do not just think about God; they see Him. And 'salvation' is yeshuah, the root of the name Jesus. This is not just rescue from trouble; it is rescue that takes the shape of a Person. The same word appears in the Psalms and Genesis 49:18, where Jacob says, 'I have waited for your salvation.' The connection is intentional. The wait has always been for Him.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians across traditions have read this verse as the cry of God's people when salvation finally arrives. Many see it fulfilled in the coming of Christ. Wesley and Clarke point to the Messiah whom Israel had long expected. Others, like the Jamieson-Fausset-Brown commentary, connect this verse to the second coming, when believers will see the Lord face to face and rejoice in His final victory over death. The verse also finds echoes in the church's liturgical life, sung at Advent and Easter, as a confession that spans both the first coming and the hope of the last day. All traditions agree that this is a song of recognition and joy.
A common misunderstanding
Some read 'we have waited for him' as a complaint that God kept them waiting too long. In fact, the Hebrew word qavah describes an active, hopeful stretching forward, not passive resignation. And the salvation they rejoice in is not just temporary rescue but the defeat of death itself, as the surrounding verses make clear.
Living This Out
This week, you may be waiting for something real: a diagnosis to change, a relationship to heal, a burden to lift. Isaiah 25:9 gives you words to speak before you see the outcome. The crowd in the verse waits, and then they see, but the confession 'this is our God' comes when they see Him, not when they see their circumstances fixed. You can say it now, not because the wait is over but because He is already worthy. Practice saying it under your breath while you drive, or write it on a sticky note: 'This is our God. We have waited for Him. He will save us.' Let the words shape your posture this week.
Main takeaway: God's people respond to salvation with joyful recognition, declaring that the One they waited for has truly come and saved them.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
Waiting is hard, but God always keeps His promises. When you wait for God, He is getting ready to do something good and show you He loves you.
For ages 9, 12
In Isaiah 25:9, God's people have been waiting for a long time, and then they see God has come to save them. They shout, 'This is our God!' Waiting doesn't mean God forgot. It means He is working something big. When you feel like you are waiting for an answer, you can still trust that God sees you and will act at the right time. He is worth the wait.
Questions People Ask
Who is speaking in Isaiah 25:9?
The verse says 'it shall be said,' and commentators agree the speakers are God's people, the ones who have been waiting for His salvation. Adam Clarke notes that the Jews and Gentiles together will say this, recognizing Jesus Christ as their God.
What 'day' is being referred to in this verse?
The phrase 'in that day' is a common prophetic marker. It points to a future time of God's decisive action. Christians have understood it as the coming of Christ, either His first coming, His second coming, or both, as the verse spans the full scope of salvation.
How does 'salvation' in Isaiah 25:9 connect to Jesus?
The Hebrew word for 'salvation' here is yeshuah, which is the root of the name Jesus (Yeshua). This verse is not just about rescue from enemies; it points to the person of God Himself as the Savior. The early church saw this as a direct prophecy of Christ.
Does this verse mean we should just passively wait on God?
No. The Hebrew verb for 'waited' (qavah) means to stretch or twist like a rope under tension, active, expectant hope. It is the same word used in Psalms 27:14: 'Wait for Yahweh. Be strong, and let your heart take courage.' Waiting is a posture of trust, not idleness.
Why does the verse repeat 'we have waited for him' twice?
The repetition emphasizes the depth and certainty of the waiting. The first mention ties waiting to God's identity ('this is our God'), and the second ties it to His name ('this is Yahweh'). It is a refrain that builds to the final shout of joy: 'We will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.'
For pastors & researchers
Hebrew interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study