Isaiah 26
AOSNIsaiah 26:1-21
This part of the Little Apocalypse (see study note on Isaiah 24:1–27:13) is a song of praise and a prayer for salvation.
Isaiah 26:1-6
The new community of God’s people is likened to the citizens of a city, securely held together by the Lord. They are righteous, faithful, peaceful, and trusting.
Isaiah 26:1
The city refers to Zion, the eternal city of God, where the Lord is present to protect and bless his people (see Isaiah 1:8, 27; see also Psalm 46). Zion stands in direct contrast with the "fortified towns" of the nations (Isaiah 25:2; 26:5), which are helpless and reduced to "a heap of rubble."
The walls of God's salvation protectively enclose his people. No one can harm them again.
Isaiah 26:2
Open access is given to all who, like God and his Messiah, are righteous and faithful. The citizens of true Zion are committed to the Lord.
Isaiah 26:3
A perfect peace, marked by harmony, quietness, and confidence, is a benefit of the new creation.
Isaiah 26:5
Proud and arrogant people often praise themselves (see Isaiah 2:11–12), but God humbles them.
Isaiah 26:6
Justice finally occurs when the needy walk all over the ruins of the city where the proud have perished.
Isaiah 26:7-21
The godly pray for the end of oppression and the full establishment of God’s kingdom. Isaiah encouraged the godly to persevere as they wait for their final vindication and the resurrection of the body.
Isaiah 26:7
God will do what is right for those who follow his path, even if they suffer a bit longer (see Proverbs 24:16). One day, they will find peace and honesty (see Proverbs 2:8–9; 15:19).
Isaiah 26:8
we wait for You (see Isaiah 26:3–4): Waiting means trusting in the Lord and hoping for his redemption.
People demonstrate their commitment to God by obeying his laws; just saying it is not enough.
Isaiah 26:9
longs for You … seeks You: Compare Psalm 63:1.
Isaiah 26:10
God has shown kindness to those who do wrong. Even though they deserve judgment (see also Romans 2:4; 2 Peter 3:9), he has been patient and forgiving and has blessed them. However, one day, time will run out.
Isaiah 26:11
A raised fist shows anger and a threat of judgment (see also Isaiah 19:16).
Fire was often an image for God’s judgment.
Isaiah 26:15
This verse is a confident expression of thanks for God’s blessings. In Isaiah’s time, during King Hezekiah’s prosperous reign, the borders of the nation of Israel were extended, and people gave glory to God for his great deeds.
Isaiah 26:16
While waiting for God's salvation (Isaiah 26:1), the faithful were in distress and longed for justice. They prayed under the weight of God's discipline. During Hezekiah's time, Judah was in distress when Sennacherib attacked and destroyed the entire nation except for Jerusalem.
Isaiah 26:17
The image of a pregnant woman in childbirth shows the nation's pain when Assyrian King Sennacherib attacked in 701 BC (see Isaiah 37:3).
Isaiah 26:18
Only God can give salvation and bring life (see Isaiah 59:9–15).
Isaiah 26:19
Your dead will live: There is hope for the remnant. Some hold the minimal interpretation that this means the people would be restored to the land after the exile in Babylon (see Ezekiel 37:11–12) or that the Lord would preserve Jerusalem (see Isaiah 29:4, 6–8).
More likely, it refers to the resurrection of the body from the grave (see Isaiah 25:7–8). The Old Testament says little about the resurrection, but this text anticipates more detailed discussion in the New Testament (see 1 Corinthians 15:12–58).
Isaiah 26:20
God will punish the wicked, so the faithful should go home and avoid trouble.
Isaiah 26:21
The wicked hold power now, but their oppressive rule will end on the day of the Lord's wrath. On that day, he will punish them for their sins.
Aquifer Open Study Notes © 2026 Mission Mutual, an adaptation of the Tyndale Open Study Notes © 2023 Tyndale House Publishers. Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.