Isaiah 54:10
For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee.
Study Note
Study Note
God's promise that 'the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed' presents the new covenant as more stable than creation itself. The juxtaposition — geological permanence is less reliable than divine covenant-love — uses creation as the baseline of stability only to transcend it, a rhetorical strategy shared by Psalms 46:2 and 125:1-2. The 'covenant of my peace' (berit shalom) connects to Numbers 25:12 (Phinehas's covenant of peace) and Ezekiel 34:25; 37:26, where it describes the messianic era's restored relationship between God and his people. Jesus's assurance that heaven and earth will pass away but his words will not (Matthew 24:35) inhabits the same conceptual space: divine word outlasts cosmos.
Other Translations
For the mountains may depart, and the hills be removed; but my lovingkindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall my covenant of peace be removed, saith Jehovah that hath mercy on thee.
For the mountains depart, and the hills remove, And My kindness from thee departeth not, And the covenant of My peace removeth not, Said hath thy loving one--Jehovah.
For the mountains may be taken away, and the hills be moved out of their places, but my love will not be taken from you, or my agreement of peace broken, says the Lord, who has had mercy on you.
Cross References
Although my house be not so with God; yet he hath made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all …
Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of …
Nevertheless my lovingkindness will I not utterly take from him, nor suffer my faithfulness to fail.
My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips.
They shall not hunger nor thirst; neither shall the heat nor sun smite them: for he that hath mercy on …
Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath: for the heavens shall vanish away like …
Hearken unto me, ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law; fear ye not the reproach …
In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have …
Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant …
My covenant was with him of life and peace; and I gave them to him for the fear wherewith he …