The verse “How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news” is found in Isaiah 52:7 in the Bible. This verse is part of a passage in Isaiah describing the return of the Jewish exiles from Babylon back to Jerusalem. In its original context, this verse refers to messengers running to announce the good news of the exiles’ impending return and freedom from captivity. However, this verse also has significance beyond its immediate context.
In the broader context of Scripture, Isaiah 52:7 is a prophecy pointing to the coming of Christ and the gospel message. The “good news” is ultimately the news of salvation and restoration through Jesus. His followers are tasked with spreading this good news across the earth. So in the New Testament, Isaiah 52:7 is understood as a reference to Christian missionaries and evangelists who spread the gospel of Christ worldwide. Their “beautiful feet” represent the tireless efforts of those who carry the joyful message of salvation to all people, near and far. Just as the messengers in Isaiah’s time brought hope of return from exile, Christian evangelists bring the good news of spiritual freedom and redemption to all who receive it.
Why does Isaiah describe the feet of these messengers as “beautiful”? Beautiful is not a word we typically associate with feet. But here, the beauty is in the role these feet play. Their beauty comes from the purpose they serve – to carry the hope-filled news of God’s redemption and restoration to His people. The imagery emphasizes that those who spread the gospel have an urgently important calling, not one to be looked down upon. Their mission is central to God’s plan of salvation for the world. That makes their humble feet beautiful in the sight of God and all who await the good news.
So in summary, Isaiah 52:7 poetically highlights the following key truths:
- God sends out designated messengers to proclaim His gospel.
- Their mission is to spread a joyful message of salvation and hope.
- Their task is urgent and requires dedication and effort.
- What they do is honorable and precious in God’s eyes.
- Their humble service is beauty in action, according to God’s values.
The New Testament applies these truths to all who carry the gospel of Jesus to the world. Their feet may be dusty, calloused and tired, but they are beautiful to God because they run to share the best news humanity could ever receive. The excitement and urgency of Isaiah 52:7 should energize all who follow Jesus to participate in spreading the word of God’s love and redemption. Some are specifically called as missionaries and preachers. But every Christian can play a role in taking this life-changing message to their neighbors, communities and world. That is why the apostle Paul quotes Isaiah 52:7 in Romans 10:15, after highlighting the necessity of all believers preaching the gospel. The call in Isaiah 52:7 rings out to all who know Christ: Let us have beautiful feet that hurry to run the race of spreading the good news!
1. The Original Context of Isaiah 52:7
Isaiah 52:7 was originally written by the prophet Isaiah concerning the future return of the Jewish exiles from Babylon back to their homeland of Israel and Jerusalem. The verse reads:
How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.” (Isaiah 52:7)
This prophecy came around 539 BC, after many Jews were taken from Jerusalem into captivity in Babylon starting in 586 BC when Jerusalem was conquered. Nearly 50 years passed in exile. Then the Persian king Cyrus took over Babylon and allowed the Jewish exiles to return home around 538 BC.
Isaiah 52 anticipates this monumental moment. The prophet underscores the excitement of the messengers who will run to declare that the time has come for the Jews to return to their homeland. Their reign of captivity is over, and the Persian king is letting them go free. It is good news of a restored relationship between God and His people!
So in its first context, Isaiah 52:7 poetically describes the future heralds who will traverse the mountains bringing news that the exile is over. Their feet are “beautiful” because of the essential urgency and meaning of their message announcing freedom and a restored relationship between God and His people after years of estrangement and captivity.
2. Isaiah 52:7 As a Messianic Prophecy
While Isaiah 52:7 originally referred to the Jewish return from exile in Babylon, its imagery also prophetically points forward to the coming of the Messiah and the spreading of the gospel. There are several reasons this verse has a broader meaning:
- Isaiah frequently contains prophecies with a double fulfillment – one in the near future, another ultimately in Christ. Isaiah 52:7 has key parallels to Isaiah’s Servant Songs describing the suffering servant Messiah (Isaiah 42; 49; 50; 53).
- Isaiah 52:7 uses very exalted language to describe feet and a message of peace and salvation. This points to the climactic redemption through Christ.
- The phrase “Your God reigns” connects back to God’s kingdom being established on earth. Jesus proclaimed the arrival of God’s kingdom.
- In the early church, Isaiah 52:7 was understood as fulfilled in Christ and the preaching of the gospel throughout the world.
So while the return from Babylonian exile was one fulfillment, Isaiah 52:7 also finds its ultimate meaning in the Messiah Jesus and the spreading of his gospel worldwide. The New Testament validates this interpretation by quoting and alluding to Isaiah 52:7 in several places:
And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” (Romans 10:15)
For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? (Romans 10:13-14)
Paul sees Isaiah 52:7 as applying to all who are sent to preach the gospel of Christ’s salvation to the world. Their feet are “beautiful” because they bring the most important message ever given.
3. Feet Representing Action
Why does Isaiah describe feet as “beautiful” in this verse? Typically feet are not viewed as particularly attractive body parts. But Isaiah is speaking poetically and metaphorically here. He focuses on their feet to represent the action and movement of the messengers. Their feet hurriedly traverse the mountains to spread the joyful news. This emphasizes a few key truths:
- The urgency of their task – they are running swiftly to broadcast the message far and wide.
- The effort involved – feet racing across rough terrain, becoming calloused and dirty.
- The humility of the role – feet were seen as lowly body parts, but their humble service is noble.
- The scope of impact – their message is carried to many diverse lands.
So Isaiah highlights their feet as synecdoche – letting the dirty, worn feet represent the messengers and their whole mission. The focus on their feet running underscores the urgency, effort, humility and scope of impact. Their feet alone receive the descriptive “beautiful” because of the essential life-giving message they carry. What they do with their feet is beautiful in purpose.
4. The Messengers’ Role
Isaiah 52:7 clearly emphasizes the messengers’ key role. Without their willing service, the good news would not be proclaimed. Isaiah implies several things about those who fill this role:
- They are appointed by God – “How beautiful are the feet of him who brings good news”. It is a divine commissioning.
- Their task is urgent – hence the running feet hurrying across mountains and lands.
- Their job is effortful but joyful – running long distances over rough terrain requires dedication and perseverance.
- They humbly serve others – feet represent lowliness and service, not status.
- They partner with God – their feet carry His message of hope and redemption.
Thus Isaiah 52:7 highlights qualities like surrender to God’s call, urgency, diligence, humility and partnership with God to spread His Word. The messengers are faithful to deliver the life-changing message He entrusts to them.
5. The Message They Proclaim
What is this “good news” described in Isaiah 52:7 that makes the messengers’ feet so beautiful? Isaiah describes it as:
- Good news
- Peace
- Happiness
- Salvation
- “Your God reigns”
In its original context about the Jewish return from exile, these terms pointed to:
- Good news – The captivity is over, freedom is here!
- Peace – End of Babylonian oppression and return to peace in the homeland.
- Happiness – Joy at return to Jerusalem and the homeland Israel.
- Salvation – Salvation from exile and servitude in Babylon.
- “Your God reigns” – God’s deliverance of His people shows He is sovereign.
Of course, the New Testament sees these words ultimately fulfilled in the gospel of Christ. Jesus brings spiritual freedom from sin’s captivity, inner peace, joy of salvation, and the reign of God in hearts and minds. So in Isaiah 52:7, it is the life-changing nature of the message the messengers carry that makes their humble feet so beautiful. What they proclaim is profoundly and eternally meaningful.
6. Application for Today
For Christians today, Isaiah 52:7 is a call for each of us to participate in spreading the gospel – the “good news” of salvation through Jesus Christ. Consider several personal applications from this verse:
- Surrender – Am I submitted to God’s call on my life like the messengers described here? Every believer is called to service (though in different ways).
- Purpose – Do I recognize the urgency and value of sharing Christ’s message like those running messengers? It should be my purpose in life.
- Partnership – Am I partnering with God to spread His Word? The mission cannot succeed without His power.
- Perseverance – Like those racing across mountains, am I committed to persevering in spreading the gospel despite obstacles?
- Humility – Like their feet, am I serving in humility, not for selfish gain or acclaim?
Isaiah 52:7 highlights that sharing Christ should be every Christian’s urgent purpose. This requires surrendering our plans to God’s call, serving in humility, relying on God’s power, and persevering despite hardship. We are all called to live out this passage by proclaiming the gospel in word and deed, wherever God places us. When God’s people faithfully fill this role, their humble service is beautiful in God’s eyes, according to Isaiah 52:7. By following the example of Christ in gospel mission, our lowly feet can display the beauty of gospel service too.
