Read & explore together
A Song of Salvation
Isaiah 26:1 to 21 is a song of trust, waiting, confession and hope. As poetry, it uses strong pictures to contrast God’s peace and upright way with human pride, human failure and coming judgment.
Understanding the passage
Read these words in context
The passage says this song will be sung in the land of Judah. It begins with a strong city and open gates, moves through trust, waiting and judgment, contrasts false rule with Yahweh’s name, admits the people’s weakness in trouble, and ends with hope for the dead and a brief call to hide.
Isaiah 26:1–21Main takeaway
This song teaches that peace, justice and lasting hope belong with Yahweh rather than with proud cities, wickedness or human effort.
Explore the poem and its images
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01A strong city and steadfast peaceThe song opens with security coming from God, not from walls alone, because he appoints salvation for walls and bulwarks.
Explanation
The song opens with security coming from God, not from walls alone, because he appoints salvation for walls and bulwarks. The gates are opened for the righteous nation that keeps faith. Peace is linked with a steadfast mind that trusts in Yahweh, who is called an everlasting Rock.
02God lowers pride and guides the justThe lofty city is brought down to the dust, and even the poor and needy tread on it. In contrast, the way of the just is upright, and God makes the path of the righteous level.
Explanation
The lofty city is brought down to the dust, and even the poor and needy tread on it. In contrast, the way of the just is upright, and God makes the path of the righteous level. The singers say they have waited for Yahweh and desired his name and renown.
03Judgment, blindness and peace from GodThe speaker seeks God earnestly and says his judgments teach righteousness on the earth. Yet the wicked still do wrong and do not see Yahweh’s majesty, even when his hand is lifted up.
Explanation
The speaker seeks God earnestly and says his judgments teach righteousness on the earth. Yet the wicked still do wrong and do not see Yahweh’s majesty, even when his hand is lifted up. The song then says Yahweh ordains peace, and his people will acknowledge his name above other lords.
04Destroyed rulers, an increased nation, and hope after failureThe song contrasts other rulers with Yahweh. It says the dead and departed spirits in view here will not rise, because God has destroyed them and removed their memory.
Explanation
The song contrasts other rulers with Yahweh. It says the dead and departed spirits in view here will not rise, because God has destroyed them and removed their memory. Yet Yahweh has increased the nation and enlarged the land. In trouble the people prayed, but confessed their labour produced only wind and no deliverance.
05The dead shall live, and indignation will passAfter that confession comes hope: “Your dead shall live.” Those in the dust are called to awake and sing.
Explanation
After that confession comes hope: “Your dead shall live.” Those in the dust are called to awake and sing. Then the people are told to enter their rooms and hide for a little moment until indignation passes. Yahweh comes to punish iniquity, and the earth will no longer cover bloodshed and the slain.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What images in the opening show where safety and peace come from?
Look at the strong city, salvation as walls, open gates, and the steadfast mind that trusts in Yahweh.
02How does the song contrast the proud and the righteous?
Compare the lowered lofty city with the level path God makes for the just and righteous.
03What contrast appears between Isaiah 26:14 to 15 and Isaiah 26:18 to 19?
Notice the destroyed dead and increased nation, then the confession of no deliverance, followed by the promise that God’s dead shall live.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Isaiah 26:1–21
1In that day, this song will be sung in the land of Judah: “We have a strong city. God appoints salvation for walls and bulwarks.
2Open the gates, that the righteous nation may enter: the one which keeps faith.
3You will keep whoever’s mind is steadfast in perfect peace, because he trusts in you.
4Trust in Yahweh forever; for in Yah, Yahweh, is an everlasting Rock.
5For he has brought down those who dwell on high, the lofty city. He lays it low. He lays it low even to the ground. He brings 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. You who are upright make the path of the righteous level.
8Yes, in the way of your judgments, Yahweh, we have waited for you. Your name and your renown are the desire of our soul.
9With my soul I have desired you in the night. Yes, with my spirit within me I will seek you earnestly; for when your judgments are on the earth, the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness.
10Let favor be shown to the wicked, yet he will not learn righteousness. In the land of uprightness he will deal wrongfully, and will not see Yahweh’s majesty.
11Yahweh, your hand is lifted up, yet they don’t see; but they will see your zeal for the people and be disappointed. Yes, fire will consume your adversaries.
12Yahweh, you will ordain peace for us, for you have also done all our work for us.
13Yahweh our God, other lords besides you have had dominion over us, but we will only acknowledge your name.
14The dead shall not live. The departed spirits shall not rise. Therefore you have visited and destroyed them, and caused all memory of them to perish.
15You have increased the nation, O Yahweh. You have increased the nation! You are glorified! You have enlarged all the borders of the land.
16Yahweh, in trouble they have visited you. They poured out a prayer when your chastening was on them.
17Just as a woman with child, who draws near the time of her delivery, is in pain and cries out in her pangs, so we have been before you, Yahweh.
18We have been with child. We have been in pain. We gave birth, it seems, only to wind. We have not worked any deliverance on the earth; neither have the inhabitants of the world fallen.
19Your dead shall live. Their dead bodies shall arise. Awake and sing, you who dwell in the dust; for your dew is like the dew of herbs, and the earth will cast out the departed spirits.
20Come, my people, enter into your rooms, and shut your doors behind you. Hide yourself for a little moment, until the indignation is past.
21For, behold, Yahweh comes out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity. The earth also will disclose her blood, and will no longer cover her slain.