Isaiah 40:31 reads: “But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint” (ESV).
In Hebrew, the word for “wait” in Isaiah 40 is “Qavah.” It is such a fantastic word with so much hidden depth.
What does the Hebrew word for “wait” mean in Isaiah 40:31? The word is qavah (קָוָה), which carries the meaning of waiting, hoping, or looking forward with expectation. In this verse, it describes more than simply passing time until something changes. It is a hopeful dependence on the Lord, trusting that he will provide what we need. The word has also been connected with the imagery of a cord being drawn together, a beautiful picture of how waiting on God can strengthen our faith. Isaiah’s promise isn’t that waiting will always be easy, but that the Lord renews the strength of those whose hope rests in him.
The word qavah is a verb that more literally means “to twist fibers together,” like you would to make a cord or rope … binding smaller, weaker fibers into something strong and useful.
How many of us have been “at the end of our rope” or “hanging by a thread”—all examples of what happens when we don’t have a very strong rope. Maybe we’re only clinging to one little fiber!
But this verse implies that the longer we wait, the stronger we get as we’re twisted up in the fibers of faith and our connection with God. God makes us stronger as we wait, transforming us from a lonely fiber into a ROPE! Qavah!
So the next time you feel frail and frayed, remember this. If you’re in an exhausting season of waiting and just don’t see the point, remember that God is using this time to strengthen and build you up so that you are stronger for whatever comes next.
