Kelli Trujillo Supporter Loving Wife, Mother, Grandmother, Teacher, Musician

The word "wait" in the original text has these meanings according to Strong's Concordance:

a primitive root; to bind together (perhaps by twisting), i.e. collect; (figuratively) to expect:--gather (together), look, patiently, tarry, wait (for, on, upon).

One other meaning I found in a Hebrew lexicon is to "mutually expect one another."

When you look at the entire group of definitions offered here, you can see a "picture" of sorts begin to develop, which is exactly the way the Hebrew language is meant to be read. When you imagine a person being "bound together" with God, or a person and God "mutually expecting one another," coupled with words like "tarry" and "patiently," the original intent of the Hebrew word that has been translated to our modern "wait" becomes clearer. 

In order for a person to truly be bound together with God, one must tarry patiently in the presence of God, allowing Him time to speak through His word and to move on the person's heart as He wishes. In addition, our stance must be one of expectancy and openness to His word and His guidance.

I believe that the closest English word to the original text translates as "wait" because in order to be wound and bound together with God, a person would need to sit still in God's presence, patiently awaiting His whispers of love and words of guidance and encouragement. Think about a craftsman (or woman) binding hemp strands together to make a rope--this takes time and skill, a master at work, and the proper treatment of the hemp strands in order to create a strong and useful rope. It makes sense in Isaiah 40:31 to say that the person who waits on God will renew his strength because a cord of many strands is stronger than a single strand.

March 18 2014 • 1 response • Vote Up • Share • Report

Sharon Fernandez Supporter

To wait upon the Lord is to look exclusively to Jesus Christ and The Cross on a daily basis, knowing that He will meet your every need. Jesus being the Source and the Cross being the means.

January 26 2017 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Jack Gutknecht Supporter Arizona Bible College graduate and Dallas Seminary graduate

Good question, Jafeda!

Kelli was right when she said "wait upon" means as the Hebrew lexicon of the Old Testament, Brown-Driver-Briggs, also says:
I. [קָוָה] verb wait for (probably originally twist, stretch, then of tension of enduring, waiting: Assyrian ‡ûû II, I. wait, ‡û, cord; Arabic be strong, strength, also strand of rope; Syriac endure, remain, await, threads, so ᵑ7 קַוִּין spider's threads, web); 

I think Isaiah 40:31, where it says, "They that WAIT UPON THE LORD" means "they who HOPE in the Lord." It is translated wait, or look eagerly for,(with ל of thing) in Job 6:19. Perhaps in these 2 versions we see it best:

GW -- GOD’S WORD Translation (GW) 
Yet, the strength of those who wait with hope in the Lord will be renewed. They will soar on wings like eagles. They will run and won’t become weary. They will walk and won’t grow tired.

NOG -- Names of God Bible (NOG) 
Yet, the strength of those who wait with hope in Yahweh will be renewed. They will soar on wings like eagles. They will run and won’t become weary. They will walk and won’t grow tired.

Job 6:19
HEB: הֲלִיכֹ֥ת שְׁ֝בָ֗א קִוּוּ־ לָֽמוֹ׃
NAS: The travelers of Sheba hoped for them.
KJV: of Sheba waited for them.
INT: the travelers of Sheba hoped

Press onward, upward still,
To win your way at last,
With better hope and stronger will
Than in the past.

God, bless Your church with hope!
Despite chaotic days,
May we in chaos shine to light
A pathway through life’s maze.

"Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to... give us HOPE and ENCOURAGEMENT as we WAIT PATIENTLY for God's promises to be fulfilled." Romans 15:4 
NLT Sing through the Bible (Amy Treadwell Toy) on youtube.

But the opposite is also true. Those who don't wait on the Lord shall not renew their strength. Those who don't wait on the Lord shall not mount up with wings like eagles. Those who don't wait upon the Lord shall run and be wearied. And those who don't wait upon the Lord shall walk and be faint. 

And for what it's worth, I believe waiting on the Lord could include fasting but not in every instance, for sure.

June 22 2021 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Leslie Coutinho Supporter

Isaiah 40:31: But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. 

Waiting upon the Lord God today is for those who go through trials and tribulations, having the right discernment in life, and are then led to go through it. For it is those who wait upon the Lord, that are revealed to be counseled at night, as the conscience then instructs them. (Psalm 16:7) The sacrifices that the Lord God wants is to have a humble cry and a broken spirit, for He then shall not reject a contrite heart that is broken who confess to Him and be sorry. For then He shall not despise those who confess their sins. (Psalm 51:17/Lk 18:14) 

We had Judas, who betrayed Jesus, and Peter, who denied knowing our Lord Jesus and had no clue how to overcome the bondage they carried. Being born again and having received salvation, one had a greed for money and one who feared and then denied knowing our Lord Jesus. Peter then knowing, felt remorse for denying as the cock crowed out three times and went crying out bitterly, and Judas betraying, which led him to go and hang himself and die. (Mat 26:34,75/27:3-5)

Our Lord God comes and dwells with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit. For he revives the spirit of the lowly and revives the heart of the contrite and breathes into him a new life into his heart. (Isa 57:15) For every child of God needs to pray and not to lose heart, just as the Pharisee and the publican that went to the temple to pray. As the Pharisee stood and prayed comparing himself to the others, the publican smoothed his breast saying God be merciful unto me, for he thus went home justified. For everyone that exalteth himself shall be abased and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. (Luke 18:10-14)

Romans 8:26: The Spirit helps our weaknesses by making intercessions with groanings which cannot be uttered.

May 23 2024 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report