Isaiah 57:14 · Bible study
Isaiah 57:14 Commentary: Build Up, Remove the Stumbling Block
Hebrew · 10 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Explore Isaiah 57:14's call to remove obstacles for God's people. Debate over the speaker, the stumbling block, and the highway to restoration.
Research Summary
- Meaning: A divine or prophetic call to clear obstacles for God's people, preparing a way for their restoration and return to God.
- Key words: "Build up" (סלל, salal, to cast up a highway), "prepare" (פנה, panah, to clear), "stumbling block" (מכשול, mikhshol, an obstacle that causes falling).
- Main debate: The identity of the speaker, God himself, an unnamed herald, or the faithful remnant, and whether the stumbling block is physical (Babylonian barriers) or spiritual (idolatry, sin, or even Christ).
- Theological theme: God's grace in clearing the way for a sinful people to return to Him, requiring both divine initiative and human participation.
- Best use: A call to repentance and preparation, applicable to personal holiness, corporate renewal, and evangelistic outreach.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
And it will be said, “Build it up, build it up, prepare the way, take every obstacle out of the way of My people.”
WEB World English Bible 2000
He will say, “Build up, build up, prepare the way! Remove the stumbling-block out of the way of my people.”
KJV King James Version 1769
And shall say, Cast ye up, cast ye up, prepare the way, take up the stumblingblock out of the way of my people.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
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.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
And he hath said, `Raise up, raise up, prepare a way, Lift a stumbling-block out of the way of My people.'
Darby Darby Bible 1890
And it shall be said, Cast up, cast up, prepare the way, take up the stumbling-blocks out of the way of my people.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
And I will say: Make a way: give free passage, turn out of the path, take away the stumblingblocks out of the way of my people.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Y dirá: Allanad, allanad; barred el camino, quitad los tropiezos del camino de mi pueblo.
E será dito: Aplanai! Aplanai! Preparai o caminho! Tirai os tropeços do caminho do meu povo!
On dira: Frayez, frayez, préparez le chemin,
und wird sagen: Machet Bahn, machet Bahn! räumet den Weg, hebet die Anstöße aus dem Wege meines Volkes!
En men zal zeggen: Verhoogt de baan, verhoogt de baan, bereidt den weg, neemt den aanstoot uit den weg Mijns volks.
E si dirà: Acconciate, acconciate, preparate la via, togliete gli ostacoli dalla via del mio popolo!
Bo rzeką: Wyrównajcie, wyrównajcie, zgotujcie drogę, uprzątnijcie zawady z drogi ludu mojego.
И сказал: поднимайте, поднимайте, ровняйте путь, убирайте преграду с пути народа Моего.
耶和華要說：你們修築 修築，預備 道路，將絆腳石 從我百姓 的路 中除掉。
And I will say, Make it high, make it high, get ready the way, take the stones out of the way of my people.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Isaiah 57:14
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators across traditions agree that this verse calls for the removal of obstacles hindering God's people, continuing the highway imagery from Isaiah 40:3. The double imperative "Build up, build up" (סֹלּוּ-סֹלּוּ) echoes chapter 62:10 and signals urgent preparation. The command to remove the מִכְשׁוֹל (stumbling block) suggests both physical and spiritual clearing: the way for the redeemed to return to their land and to their God. Barnes and the Cambridge Bible connect this directly to the return from Babylonian exile, while Gill and others see it as a figure for clearing spiritual obstacles such as idolatry and false doctrine. The phrase "my people" identifies God as the one who owns and cares for these travelers. The speaker of the command, however, is debated: some read God himself (Clarke, Cambridge), others an unidentified herald (Keil & Delitzsch), others the trusting remnant personified (Jamieson-Fausset-Brown). Yet all agree the result is that God's people will be freed from what causes them to stumble.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- God as speaker: The phrase 'my people' suggests God is speaking; several translations (Clarke, Douay) read it as first person.
- Heavenly herald or prophet: Keil & Delitzsch note that the subject is left intentionally obscure, similar to Isaiah 40:3 and 62:10.
- The faithful remnant: The pronoun may refer back to 'he who takes refuge in me' in v.13, as Jamieson-Fausset-Brown argues.
What is clear: The command to build up and remove stumbling blocks for God's people is the clear, shared core of the verse, regardless of who speaks it.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Speaker of the command | The command carries divine authority and is addressed to God's people. | Some read it as God speaking directly (Clarke, Cambridge, Douay), others as a heavenly voice or herald (Keil & Delitzsch, Barnes), and still others as the faithful remnant personified (Jamieson-Fausset-Brown). |
| Nature of the stumbling block | The stumbling block is something that hinders God's people from walking in His ways. | Barnes and Cambridge view it as literal obstacles for the exiles' return; Gill identifies it with papal idolatry; Jamieson-Fausset-Brown sees it as Christ himself being a stumbling block to Jews that will be removed in the end times. |
| Temporal reference | The verse draws on the return from Babylon as a pattern. | Historicist readings apply it directly to the Persian period; others see an eschatological fulfillment in the restoration of Israel; Christian readings apply it to John the Baptist's ministry and the spread of the gospel. |
| Role of human agency | The command implies that human action is needed to clear the way. | Whether this is a call to the Jews themselves to prepare their hearts (Matthew Henry), to angelic or political powers (Gill), or to gospel ministers (Wesley). |
Historical & Cultural Context
The immediate context places this verse within Isaiah 57, a chapter that sharply condemns Israel's idolatry (vv.3-13) and then pivots to promise restoration for the contrite. Verses 13b-14 form the hinge: "He who takes refuge in me will possess the land... And shall say, 'Build up, build up, prepare the way!'" The highway language directly evokes Isaiah 40:3, where a voice cries in the wilderness to prepare Yahweh's way; the original context being the anticipated return from Babylonian exile under Cyrus (539 BC). By the time of this prophecy, the return had begun, but the full restoration of God's people was still awaited. The imagery of clearing a road was not abstract. Barnes records an 1837 account by missionary Joseph Wolff of Jerusalem: when the Pasha (Ibrahim, son of Mehemet Ali) approached the city, laborers went ahead removing stones, crying "Cast up, cast up the way; remove the stones," with a placard reading "the Pasha is coming." This custom of preparing a royal highway underscores the urgency and honor of the coming king, here the Lord coming to lead His people. The stumbling block (מִכְשׁוֹל) can refer to anything that causes physical or moral stumbling (cf. Jeremiah 18:15 where false gods make Israel stumble in their ways). In this passage, the stumbling blocks may be the very idols and sins cataloged in vv.3-13, now to be cleared away so that the humble and contrite (v.15) can walk freely. The Cambridge Bible notes that the highway image is applied here not to a literal desert road but to the removal of spiritual obstacles, a shift from physical exile to a larger redemption that the New Testament later applies to John the Baptist's preparatory ministry (Mark 1:3; John 1:23).
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants for this verse. The Masoretic Text is consistent across manuscripts, and the ancient versions (LXX, Syriac, Targum) support the reading without variation.
Reception History
The early church read Isaiah 57:14 as a prophecy of the way prepared for Christ's coming. The Synoptic Gospels apply the highway imagery of Isaiah 40:3 to John the Baptist, and by extension this verse was seen as part of the same preparatory work. During the Reformation, Protestant commentators like Calvin and Luther interpreted the stumbling block as the false teachings of Rome that hindered the gospel. Barnes and Gill, writing in the 18th and 19th centuries, continued this application, seeing the fall of antichristian powers as the removal of that obstacle. Jewish exegesis, represented by the Targum and later rabbinic writings, understood the verse as a call to remove wickedness from among the people, preparing for the messianic age. In modern Christian usage, the verse is often quoted in hymns about preparing the way for revival and in calls for social justice that remove barriers to faith. Despite differing applications, the constant thread is that God actively clears a path for His people, and He invites human participation in that work.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- The urgent call to prepare: The repeated command "Build up, build up" leaves no room for delay. God's work requires human readiness.
- The nature of the way: This is a highway for God's people. It is holy and set apart, as Isaiah 35:8 describes: "The unclean shall not pass over it."
- Removing the stumbling block: Obstacles must be cleared. The Hebrew word מִכְשׁוֹל suggests anything that trips or entangles, sin, idolatry, false teaching, or even Christ himself as a stumbling block to unbelieving hearts (1 Corinthians 1:23).
Five-point outline
- Who speaks? The identity is left ambiguous, but the command carries divine authority. Whether God, a herald, or the faithful remnant, the message is heaven's directive.
- The work of building: "Cast up" implies raising a roadbed, filling valleys, leveling hills. It is active, constructive labor.
- Making way clear: To "prepare the way" (פַּנּוּ) literally means to turn aside or remove, clearing a path for movement.
- The stumbling block named: The singular form may point to the primary obstacle. In the context of Isaiah 57, it is the idolatry and self-trust that caused the nation to fall.
- The people of God: "My people", the covenant relationship is the foundation. The way leads to the holy mountain, to communion with God.
Illustration hooks
- Clearing a path for a wedding procession through a crowded village. Every stone and branch is removed so the bridegroom can pass.
- A family clearing out a basement after years of clutter, what seemed valuable becomes trash that blocks the way to what matters.
- Road construction crews working through the night to open a highway before a presidential motorcade.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Why does God allow stumbling blocks in my life if He wants me to walk with Him?
- How do I know whether an obstacle is from God to test me or from the enemy to trip me?
- What does it mean to "prepare the way" in a practical, everyday sense?
Leading a Discussion
This verse appears at a turning point in Isaiah 57. After a strong critique of idolatry, the prophet announces that God will clear a path for His people. The call is to build up and remove stumbling blocks. As you discuss this passage, consider both the historical context of the exile and the broader spiritual meaning for followers of Christ today.
Discussion questions
- Read Isaiah 57:14 carefully. Who do you think is speaking, and why does the verse leave the speaker unnamed?
- The command is repeated: "Build up, build up." What does the repetition tell us about God's intention?
- In the context of the chapter, what were the stumbling blocks that caused Israel to fall (see vv.3-13)? How do those compare to obstacles in your own life?
- How does the highway imagery in Isaiah 40:3 and 62:10 help you understand this verse? What does it mean to "prepare the way" for God?
- The New Testament applies similar language to John the Baptist (Mark 1:3, Luke 3:5-6). How does his ministry fulfill the call of this verse?
- What are some "stumbling blocks" the Church might need to remove today to clear the way for people to encounter God?
- This verse follows the promise that "he who takes refuge in me will possess the land" (v.13). How does trust in God relate to the removal of obstacles?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Isaiah 35:8 | A highway will be there, a road, and it will be called “The Holy Way”. The unclean shall not pass over it, but it will be for those who walk in the Way. Wicked fools shall not go there. |
| Isaiah 40:3 | The voice of one who calls out, “Prepare the way of Yahweh in the wilderness! Make a level highway in the desert for our God. |
| Isaiah 62:10 | Go through, go through the gates! Prepare the way of the people! Build up, build up the highway! Gather out the stones! Lift up a banner for the peoples. |
| Jeremiah 18:15 | For my people have forgotten me. They have burned incense to false gods. They have been made to stumble in their ways in the ancient paths, to walk in byways, in a way not built up, |
| Luke 3:5 | Every valley will be filled. Every mountain and hill will be brought low. The crooked will become straight, and the rough ways smooth. |
| Luke 3:6 | All flesh will see God’s salvation.’” |
| Romans 14:13 | Therefore let’s not judge one another any more, but judge this rather, that no man put a stumbling block in his brother’s way, or an occasion for falling. |
| I Corinthians 1:23 | but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Greeks, |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
10 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke notes that the Hebrew verb behind "Then will I say" is clearly a first-person future form, showing that God himself is the speaker. The closing phrase "my people" confirms this, making the entire verse a direct divine pronouncement rather than a human declaration.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes observes that the cry to cast up the way and remove obstacles reflects an actual Eastern custom. Before a great ruler approached, laborers would go ahead clearing stones from the road, shouting for every obstruction to be taken away. He illustrates this with the entry of Ibrahim Pasha into Jerusalem, where this very practice was followed.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The Cambridge Bible notes that the highway imagery from Isaiah 40 is used here in a purely figurative sense, not as a literal road for exiles. After the first return from Babylon, it became clear the Messianic age would not be a physical journey across the desert. So the prophet reinterprets the highway as the removal of spiritual obstacles, much like John the Baptist’s later mission.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
And he shall say, Cast vp, cast vp: prepare the way: take vp the stumbling blocks out of the way of my people.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill reads these commands as a future work of Gospel ministers and Protestant rulers who will pour out judgment on the Papal and Mahometan powers. Removing the stumblingblock of Roman Catholic superstition and idolatry will prepare the way for the conversion of the Jewish people and their return to their land.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB reads this as a promise for Israel’s future restoration, when every obstacle to their return will be cleared. The chief stumbling block, Jesus Christ, will no longer be rejected by them because their prejudices will be taken away at that time.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil-Delitzsch notes that the speaker of this command is deliberately left unnamed. It is not Jehovah speaking directly but an unidentified heavenly voice, intentionally obscure. The prophet does not allow the crier to be more precisely identified.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange interprets the nation's idolatry as a deliberate, systematic parody of true worship, where every legitimate element of Jehovah's service is mimicked with a corrupt counterpart. He stresses that even political alliances with foreign kings are a form of spiritual adultery. The "smooth stones" he identifies as sacred anointed stones (baetylia), making the idols rivals to Jehovah himself.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry draws a stark contrast between the emptiness of idolatry and the security of trust in God. Idols and their worshippers vanish like chaff before God’s wrath, while those who put their trust in God will possess the land and inherit his holy mountain.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley reads the command to prepare a way as God raising up a specific man who will speak with divine authority and power. He takes the phrase "cast up" literally: build raised roads for safe travel and clear away every obstacle that could block the people's return.