Isaiah 57:14 Meaning: Clearing the Path for God's People
He will say, “Build up, build up, prepare the way! Remove the stumbling-block out of the way of my people.”
And shall say, Cast ye up, cast ye up, prepare the way, take up the stumblingblock out of the way of my people.
And he will say, Cast ye up, cast ye up, prepare the way, take up the stumbling-block out of the way of my people.
And he hath said, `Raise up, raise up, prepare a way, Lift a stumbling-block out of the way of My people.'
And it shall be said, Cast up, cast up, prepare the way, take up the stumbling-blocks out of the way of my people.
Meaning in one sentence
Who calls for the way to be prepared? What stumbling block must be removed? A devotional on Isaiah 57:14.
Context
Israel has just been confronted with its idolatry and false trusts. In verse 13, God says those who take refuge in Him will possess the land and inherit His holy mountain. Then comes this urgent command: someone is called to build up a highway and remove obstacles from the path of God's own people. The surrounding verses show God as both the high and holy One and the One who dwells with the contrite. He heals, leads, and comforts. This call seems to come in the midst of restoration, a divine instruction to clear the way so that healing can reach its destination.
Key Words
The Hebrew behind “build up” is sa.lal, a word that means to lift up, cast up, or raise a highway. It is the same verb used in Isaiah 40:3 for preparing a roadway for God Himself. Here it is doubled, “Build up, build up”, an urgent, emphatic command, as if the work cannot wait.
The “stumbling-block” is mikh.shol, literally something that causes a person to trip and fall. In the prophets, stumbling is often linked to walking in ways that lead to ruin (Jeremiah 18:15). The word is concrete: a rock in the road, a snare hidden in the path.
And “way” is de.rekh, which can mean a literal road but more often describes a manner of life or moral character. So the path being cleared is not just geography; it is the whole direction a person walks.
How Christians Read This Verse
Many Christian readers connect this verse to the return from Babylonian exile, when the physical road needed clearing for the people to come home. Others see it as a picture of spiritual preparation that continues in every generation, a call to remove whatever keeps God's people from walking freely with Him.
Some point to the New Testament use of “stumbling block” in reference to Christ Himself (1 Corinthians 1:23). For them, the great obstacle was unbelief, and its removal happens when hearts are opened to receive the Messiah. John the Baptist's mission, “Prepare the way of the Lord”, echoes this passage, and Christians across traditions recognise that the call to clear the road remains alive today.
A common misunderstanding
Living This Out
Think of one obstacle that keeps you from walking freely with God this week. It might be a habit that trips you up, a fear that stops you from trusting, or a resentment that blocks forgiveness. You cannot wait for someone else to move it. Ask the Lord to show you what it is, and then do the hard work of clearing it out. Sometimes the way forward is simply about removing what should not be there.
Main takeaway: God commands that every obstacle be cleared from the path of His people so that they can walk freely into His healing and restoration.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
If a big rock was on your path, you would move it so you could walk safely. God says we should help remove things that make it hard for His people to follow Him.
For ages 9, 12
Sometimes we put up our own obstacles without realising, like an angry word that blocks a friendship, or a secret worry that stops us trusting God. This verse is God telling someone to clear the path. You can be that someone. Think of one small way you can make it easier for someone else to follow Jesus today.
Questions People Ask
Who is the speaker in Isaiah 57:14?
The verse begins 'He will say' or 'And it shall be said.' Commentators differ: some see God as the speaker, others see it as a heavenly cry or the voice of the believing remnant. The surrounding verses (13-15) suggest the call comes from within the context of God's promise to heal and restore His people.
What is the stumbling block that must be removed?
In the immediate context of Isaiah 57, the stumbling block includes the people's own idolatry, pride, and rebellion (vv. 3, 13). Later New Testament writers use the same word (skandalon) for the cross itself, which was a stumbling block to Jews (1 Corinthians 1:23). Christians have understood the verse to mean both external hindrances and internal obstacles to walking with God.
How does Isaiah 57:14 connect to John the Baptist?
Isaiah 40:3 uses similar language ('Prepare the way of the Lord'), which the Gospels apply to John the Baptist's ministry. Isaiah 57:14 uses the same imagery of building up a highway. Many Christians see John's call to repentance as a fulfilment of this wider theme: removing obstacles so that people can receive the Messiah.
Does this verse apply to us today?
Yes. The call to 'prepare the way' and 'remove the stumbling block' can be understood spiritually. Believers are invited to clear away anything that hinders their relationship with God or blocks others from seeing Him. This includes sins, distractions, and attitudes that trip us up or cause others to fall.
For pastors & researchers
Hebrew interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study