And Lebanon is not sufficient to burn, nor the beasts thereof sufficient for a burnt offering.

ISAIAH 40:16KJV
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Isaiah 40:16 (KJV)

What does Isaiah 40:16 mean?

Isaiah 40:16 says that even the vast forests of Lebanon and all its animals would not be enough to make a worthy burnt offering to God. The verse uses the image of Lebanon’s famous trees and wildlife to show that nothing humans could offer would be sufficient for God’s greatness.

Isaiah is speaking to the people of Israel, reminding them of God’s unmatched majesty and the limits of human worship. In this part of the book, Isaiah is describing how God is far above all creation, and no sacrifice, no matter how grand, could ever measure up to Him.

The Hebrew behind Isaiah 40:16

  • לְבָנוֹן (Levanon, "Lebanon"): This refers to the region famous for its mighty cedar trees, symbolizing the greatest natural resources available for offerings.
  • דַּי (day, "sufficient"): This word means "enough" or "adequate," stressing that even Lebanon’s abundance falls short.
  • עֹלָה (olah, "offering"): This is the term for a burnt offering, a sacrifice completely consumed by fire, representing total devotion—yet even this cannot match God’s worth.

Why Isaiah 40:16 matters

  • Isaiah 40:16 clears up the idea that God can be satisfied or impressed by the size or value of human offerings, no matter how extravagant.
  • The verse emphasizes God’s absolute greatness, setting up the larger theme in Isaiah 40 that God is beyond comparison with anything in creation.
  • This helps the reader see the humility needed in worship, as Isaiah points out that God’s worth cannot be measured or repaid by anything humans possess.

Where else these words appear

“not” Hebrew H369 · used in 29 verses

  • Genesis 2:5 And every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew: for the LORD God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was not a man to till the ground.
  • 1 Chronicles 22:4 Also cedar trees in abundance: for the Zidonians and they of Tyre brought much cedar wood to David.
  • Isaiah 41:24 Behold, ye are of nothing, and your work of nought: an abomination is he that chooseth you.

“sufficient” Hebrew H1767 · used in 35 verses

  • Exodus 36:5 And they spake unto Moses, saying, The people bring much more than enough for the service of the work, which the LORD commanded to make.
  • 1 Samuel 18:30 Then the princes of the Philistines went forth: and it came to pass, after they went forth, that David behaved himself more wisely than all the servants of Saul; so that his name was much set by.
  • Isaiah 28:19 From the time that it goeth forth it shall take you: for morning by morning shall it pass over, by day and by night: and it shall be a vexation only to understand the report.

“Lebanon” Hebrew H3844 · used in 64 verses

  • Deuteronomy 1:7 Turn you, and take your journey, and go to the mount of the Amorites, and unto all the places nigh thereunto, in the plain, in the hills, and in the vale, and in the south, and by the sea side, to the land of the Canaanites, and unto Lebanon, unto the great river, the river Euphrates.
  • 2 Chronicles 2:8 Send me also cedar trees, fir trees, and algum trees, out of Lebanon: for I know that thy servants can skill to cut timber in Lebanon; and, behold, my servants shall be with thy servants,
  • Isaiah 29:17 Is it not yet a very little while, and Lebanon shall be turned into a fruitful field, and the fruitful field shall be esteemed as a forest?

“burn” Hebrew H1197 · used in 90 verses

  • Exodus 3:2 And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.
  • 2 Samuel 22:9 There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it.
  • Isaiah 30:27 Behold, the name of the LORD cometh from far, burning with his anger, and the burden thereof is heavy: his lips are full of indignation, and his tongue as a devouring fire: