For the people shall dwell in Zion at Jerusalem: thou shalt weep no more: he will be very gracious unto thee at the voice of thy cry; when he shall hear it, he will answer thee.

ISAIAH 30:19KJV
Know the Bible

Isaiah 30:19 (KJV)

What does Isaiah 30:19 mean?

Isaiah 30:19 promises that the people living in Zion at Jerusalem will no longer have to weep, because God will show them great kindness and respond to their cries for help. The verse assures that when God hears their voice, He will answer them with grace.

Isaiah is speaking to the people of Judah, who are facing trouble and distress due to their choices and the threat of foreign invasion. In this verse, Isaiah shifts to a message of hope, telling them that God is attentive to their suffering and ready to respond compassionately when they call out to Him. The verse highlights God’s willingness to forgive and restore His people when they turn to Him in need.

The Hebrew behind Isaiah 30:19

  • "Weep" (בָּכָה, bakhah): This word means to cry or mourn. The promise that they will "weep no more" emphasizes a complete end to their sorrow, not just a temporary relief.
  • "Very gracious" (חָנַן, chanan): The Hebrew word here means to show favor or mercy. The repetition in the original language intensifies the idea, stressing just how deeply God will care for and respond to His people’s cries.
  • "Cry" (זַעֲקָה, za'aqah): This word refers to a loud call for help, often in distress. The verse assures that God is moved by such heartfelt cries and will not ignore them.
  • "Hear" (שָׁמַע, shama): This means more than just listening; it carries the sense of paying attention and being ready to act, highlighting God’s active involvement.

Why Isaiah 30:19 matters

  • Isaiah 30:19 clears up the idea that God is distant or unresponsive; instead, it shows that God is attentive and compassionate toward those who seek Him.
  • The verse shifts the tone from warning and judgment earlier in the chapter to comfort and hope, marking a turning point in Isaiah’s message to the people.
  • Isaiah 30:19 connects to the wider theme in Isaiah of God’s faithfulness to restore and bless His people, even after times of discipline or hardship.

Where else these words appear

“very” Hebrew H2603 · used in 72 verses

  • Genesis 33:5 And he lifted up his eyes, and saw the women and the children; and said, Who are those with thee? And he said, The children which God hath graciously given thy servant.
  • Job 19:16 I called my servant, and he gave me no answer; I intreated him with my mouth.
  • Psalms 102:14 For thy servants take pleasure in her stones, and favour the dust thereof.

“cry” Hebrew H2199 · used in 73 verses

  • Exodus 2:23 And it came to pass in process of time, that the king of Egypt died: and the children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage, and they cried, and their cry came up unto God by reason of the bondage.
  • 1 Samuel 28:12 And when the woman saw Samuel, she cried with a loud voice: and the woman spake to Saul, saying, Why hast thou deceived me? for thou art Saul.
  • Isaiah 26:17 Like as a woman with child, that draweth near the time of her delivery, is in pain, and crieth out in her pangs; so have we been in thy sight, O LORD.

“weep” Hebrew H1058 · used in 100 verses

  • Genesis 21:16 And she went, and sat her down over against him a good way off, as it were a bowshot: for she said, Let me not see the death of the child. And she sat over against him, and lift up her voice, and wept.
  • Judges 20:26 Then all the children of Israel, and all the people, went up, and came unto the house of God, and wept, and sat there before the LORD, and fasted that day until even, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD.
  • Nehemiah 8:9 And Nehemiah, which is the Tirshatha, and Ezra the priest the scribe, and the Levites that taught the people, said unto all the people, This day is holy unto the LORD your God; mourn not, nor weep. For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law.