Isaiah – Chapter 25

Old Testament • 12 Verses

Chapter Summary

Isaiah 25 opens with the words: "O Lord, thou art my God, I will exalt O thee, and give glory to thy name: for thou hast done wonderful things, thy designs of old faithful,…" Across its 12 verses, two threads run through the text: worship and praise and God feeding His people. Read slowly, this chapter rewards the kind of prayerful attention the Church calls lectio divina.

1O Lord, thou art my God, I will exalt O thee, and give glory to thy name: for thou hast done wonderful things, thy designs of old faithful, amen.

2For thou hast reduced the city to a heap, the strong city to ruin, the house of strangers, to be no city, and to be no more built up for ever.

3Therefore shall a strong people praise thee, the city of mighty nations shall fear thee.

4Because thou hast been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress: a refuge from the whirlwind, a shadow from the heat. For the blast of the mighty is like a whirlwind beating against a wall.

5Thou shalt bring down the tumult of strangers, as heat in thirst: and as with heat under a burning cloud, thou shalt make the branch of the mighty to wither away.

6And the Lord of hosts shall make unto all people in this mountain, a feast of fat things, a feast of wine, of fat things full of marrow, of wine purified from the lees.

7And he shall destroy in this mountain the face of the bond with which all people were tied, and the web that he began over all nations.

8He shall cast death down headlong for ever: and the Lord God shall wipe away tears from every face, and the reproach of his people he shall take away from off the whole earth: for the Lord hath spoken it.

9And they shall say in that day: Lo, this is our God, we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the Lord, we have patiently waited for him, we shall rejoice and be joyful in his salvation.

10For the hand of the Lord shall rest in this mountain: and Moab shall be trodden down under him, as straw is broken in pieces with the wain.

11And he shall stretch forth his hands under him, as he that swimmeth stretcheth forth his hands to swim: and he shall bring down his glory with the dashing of his hands.

12And the bulwarks of thy high walls shall fall, and be brought low, and shall be pulled down to the ground, even to the dust.

Important Verses in Isaiah 25

“O Lord, thou art my God, I will exalt O thee, and give glory to thy name: for thou hast done wonderful things, thy designs of old faithful, amen.”

Isaiah 25:1

“And the Lord of hosts shall make unto all people in this mountain, a feast of fat things, a feast of wine, of fat things full of marrow, of wine purified from the lees.”

Isaiah 25:6

“And they shall say in that day: Lo, this is our God, we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the Lord, we have patiently waited for him, we shall rejoice and be joyful in his salvation.”

Isaiah 25:9

“And the bulwarks of thy high walls shall fall, and be brought low, and shall be pulled down to the ground, even to the dust. ”

Isaiah 25:12

Historical Context

As a Old Testament book, Isaiah was written with judah in crisis, the exiles in Babylon, and all who await the Messiah in view. Chapter 25 of 66 stands in the central portion of the book, where decisive events or teachings take shape. It is a narrative passage recounting concrete events in salvation history with 12 verses in the Douay-Rheims translation. The chapter begins: "O Lord, thou art my God, I will exalt O thee, and give glory to thy name: for thou hast done wonderful things, thy…" The chapter ends with: "And the bulwarks of thy high walls shall fall, and be brought low, and shall be pulled down to the ground, even to the…" The wider setting of Isaiah is this: Isaiah prophesied in Jerusalem during the Assyrian crisis, calling kings to trust God rather than alliances. The book's material reflects the era summarized as follows: Isaiah's ministry about 740-700 BC; the book's later chapters address the exile and return (6th century BC).

Who Wrote It

The prophet Isaiah of Jerusalem; chapters 40-66 continue his message through inspired disciples

When It Was Written

Isaiah's ministry about 740-700 BC; the book's later chapters address the exile and return (6th century BC)

Catholic Commentary

Read at the narrative level, this chapter presents teaching, action, or revelation within the broader account of judgment, comfort, and messianic hope. A pivotal line is verse 1: "O Lord, thou art my God, I will exalt O thee, and give glory to thy name: for thou hast done wonderful things, thy designs of old faithful, amen." The passage repeatedly touches on worship and praise.

Catholic exegesis reads Isaiah 25 within the unity of Scripture and Tradition. Isaiah's prophecies are fulfilled in Christ, especially the Suffering Servant (CIC 601). St. Augustine and other Fathers of the Church saw in texts like this a preparation for or reflection of Christ, the center of revelation (CIC 302).

The moral and spiritual import remains timely: Worship is the heart of the covenant: giving God the praise and adoration that are His due.. St. Jerome insisted that ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ; this chapter offers material for meditation, examination of conscience, and deeper love of God.

Main Teachings

  • ✓Worship is the heart of the covenant: giving God the praise and adoration that are His due.
  • ✓From the manna to the Last Supper, God feeds His people — fully in the Eucharist.
  • ✓The Lord is a refuge and deliverer for all who call upon Him in trouble.

Reflection for Today

Sacred Scripture presents Isaiah Chapter 25 as a unique stage in salvation history, not merely as background to other books.

St. Augustine and other Fathers of the Church meditated on texts like this one, seeing in them instruction for the spiritual life. Isaiah's prophecies are fulfilled in Christ, especially the Suffering Servant (CIC 601). The passage calls believers to grasp that God's salvation reaches to the ends of the earth.

Let Isaiah Chapter 25 deepen your love for the Eucharist, where the Word made flesh continues to feed His people. The same Christ who speaks in Scripture offers Himself sacramentally on the altar.

💡Catholic Reflection • Church Teachings

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Isaiah Chapter 25 about?

Isaiah 25 contains 12 verses. It opens with "O Lord, thou art my God, I will exalt O thee, and give glory to thy name: for thou hast done wonderful things, thy…" and closes with "And the bulwarks of thy high walls shall fall, and be brought low, and shall be pulled down to the ground, even to the…". The book as a whole is prophetic oracles and poetry.

What is a key verse in Isaiah 25?

One of the most significant verses is verse 1: "O Lord, thou art my God, I will exalt O thee, and give glory to thy name: for thou hast done wonderful things, thy designs of old faithful, amen." It is often cited in Catholic teaching and preaching.

Who wrote Isaiah and when?

The prophet Isaiah of Jerusalem; chapters 40-66 continue his message through inspired disciples. Isaiah's ministry about 740-700 BC; the book's later chapters address the exile and return (6th century BC).

Related Chapters

Judges 7Shares people and themes with this chapter

Prayers Related to This Chapter

🙏Gloria in Excelsis🙏The Divine Praises🙏Prayer Before Communion🙏Spiritual Communion

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