The big picture
Isaiah 26 opens in verse 1 with “In that day shall this song be sung in the land of Judah; We have a strong city…”, reaches its middle movement near verse 11 with “LORD , when thy hand is lifted up, they will not see: but they shall see, and be ashamed…”, and closes in verse 21 with “For, behold, the LORD cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for…” Repeated or prominent terms include LORD, earth, dead, inhabitants, nation. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
Isaiah · King James Version · 21Isaiah 26:1-7
1–7: In that day shall this song be sung in the land of Judah; We have a…
Isaiah 26:1–7 opens with “In that day shall this song be sung in the land of Judah; We have a strong city; salvation will…” and reaches “The way of the just is uprightness: thou, most upright, dost weigh the path of the just.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Isaiah 26 develops its own movement around LORD, earth, dead, inhabitants, nation, with particular weight carried by bringeth, city, just.
Context that brings the passage to life
“In that day shall this song be sung in the land of Judah; We have a strong city; salvation will God appoint for walls…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
Isaiah 26:1-7
King James Version1In that day shall this song be sung in the land of Judah; We have a strong city; salvation will God appoint for walls and bulwarks.
2Open ye the gates, that the righteous nation which keepeth the truth may enter in.
3Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.
4Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength:
5For he bringeth down them that dwell on high; the lofty city, he layeth it low; he layeth it low, even to the ground; he bringeth it even to the dust.
6The foot shall tread it down, even the feet of the poor, and the steps of the needy.
7The way of the just is uprightness: thou, most upright, dost weigh the path of the just.
Isaiah 26:8-14
8–14: Yea, in the way of thy judgments, O LORD , have we waited for thee; the…
Isaiah 26:8–14 opens with “Yea, in the way of thy judgments, O LORD , have we waited for thee; the desire of our soul is to…” and reaches “They are dead, they shall not live; they are deceased, they shall not rise: therefore hast thou…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Isaiah 26 develops its own movement around LORD, earth, dead, inhabitants, nation, with particular weight carried by LORD, judgments, learn.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Yea, in the way of thy judgments, O LORD , have we waited for thee; the desire of our soul is to thy name, and to the…” Naming Yea keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy…” The line’s distinctive content terms include desired, early, earth. Its relationship to verses 8 and 10 shows what work it does in this passage.
Isaiah 26:8-14
King James Version8Yea, in the way of thy judgments, O LORD , have we waited for thee; the desire of our soul is to thy name, and to the remembrance of thee.
9With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.
10Let favour be shewed to the wicked, yet will he not learn righteousness: in the land of uprightness will he deal unjustly, and will not behold the majesty of the LORD .
11LORD , when thy hand is lifted up, they will not see: but they shall see, and be ashamed for their envy at the people; yea, the fire of thine enemies shall devour them.
12LORD , thou wilt ordain peace for us: for thou also hast wrought all our works in us.
13O LORD our God, other lords beside thee have had dominion over us: but by thee only will we make mention of thy name.
14They are dead, they shall not live; they are deceased, they shall not rise: therefore hast thou visited and destroyed them, and made all their memory to perish.
Isaiah 26:15-21
15–21: Thou hast increased the nation, O LORD , thou hast increased the nation…
Isaiah 26:15–21 opens with “Thou hast increased the nation, O LORD , thou hast increased the nation: thou art glorified…” and reaches “For, behold, the LORD cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Isaiah 26 develops its own movement around LORD, earth, dead, inhabitants, nation, with particular weight carried by earth, LORD, dead.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Thou hast increased the nation, O LORD , thou hast increased the nation: thou art glorified: thou hadst removed it far…” Naming Thou keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“LORD , in trouble have they visited thee, they poured out a prayer when thy chastening was upon them.” The line’s distinctive content terms include chastening, LORD, poured. Its relationship to verses 15 and 17 shows what work it does in this passage.
“Like as a woman with child, that draweth near the time of her delivery, is in pain, and crieth out in her pangs; so…” Naming Like keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Isaiah 26:15-21
King James Version15Thou hast increased the nation, O LORD , thou hast increased the nation: thou art glorified: thou hadst removed it far unto all the ends of the earth.
16LORD , in trouble have they visited thee, they poured out a prayer when thy chastening was upon them.
17Like as a woman with child, that draweth near the time of her delivery, is in pain, and crieth out in her pangs; so have we been in thy sight, O LORD .
18We have been with child, we have been in pain, we have as it were brought forth wind; we have not wrought any deliverance in the earth; neither have the inhabitants of the world fallen.
19Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead.
20Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast.
21For, behold, the LORD cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Isaiah 26:1 begins with “In that day shall this song be sung in the land of Judah; We have a strong city; salvation will God appoint for walls and bulwarks.”
Where the chapter turns
Isaiah 26:20 forms a natural hinge: “Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be…”
The final note
Isaiah 26:21 leaves the reader with “For, behold, the LORD cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall…”
A word trail through the chapter
The words LORD, earth, dead, inhabitants, nation, bringeth help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
How does Isaac respond to repeated disputes?
He relocates and digs again until a well is not contested, while later accepting a negotiated peace.
What persists from Abraham's story?
The promise, altars, wells, outsider status and the dangerous sister deception.
KJV words made clear
- dominion
- responsibility or rule
- behold
- look, or pay close attention
- unto
- to
- thee
- you
- thou
- you
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.