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Isaiah 26
Isaiah 26:1
In that day
"At that time"
this song will be sung in the land of Judah
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "the people in the land of Judah will sing this song" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)
We have a strong city
This refers to the city of Jerusalem.
God has made salvation its walls and ramparts
God's power to protect and save his people is spoken of as if his salvation were walls around a city. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
ramparts
Ramparts are walls built around a city to keep enemy armies from getting into the city.
Isaiah 26:2
the righteous nation that keeps faith
Here "nation" represents the people. Alternate translation: "the righteous and faithful people" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)
Isaiah 26:3
The mind that is stayed on you
Here "mind" represents a person's thoughts. Also "you" refers to Yahweh. The phrase "stayed on you" is an idiom. Alternate translation: "The person who continually thinks about you" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-idiom)
Isaiah 26:4
Yah, Yahweh
"Yah" is a shortened form of the name "Yahweh."
Yahweh, is an everlasting rock
Yahweh having the power to protect his people is spoken of as if he were a tall rock where people could go to escape from their enemies. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
Isaiah 26:5
he will bring down those who live proudly
Yahweh humiliating those who are proud is spoken of as if proud people were up high and he would cause them to come down low. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
the fortified city
This means fortified cities in general not a specific city. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-genericnoun)
he will lay low ... he will level
Yahweh causing an army to destroy fortified cities is spoken of as if Yahweh would do it himself. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)
Isaiah 26:6
It will be trampled down by the feet of the poor and the treading of the needy
Both statements mean the same thing. This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "The poor and oppressed people will trample on the ruins of the city" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-parallelism and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)
Isaiah 26:7
The path of the righteous is level ... the path of the righteous you make straight
These two phrases mean basically the same thing. People obeying Yahweh is spoken of as if they were walking on his path. Yahweh ensuring the people that what they do is right is spoken of as if he were making the path level and straight for them. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-parallelism and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
Isaiah 26:8
in the path of your judgments, Yahweh, we wait for you
Doing what Yahweh judged to be right is spoken of walking on his path. Alternate translation: "we wait for you, Yahweh, as we continue to do what you judged to be right" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
of your judgments
"of your laws" or "of your teachings"
we wait
Here "we" refers to Isaiah and all righteous people who are speaking to Yahweh. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-exclusive)
your name and your reputation are our desire
Here "name" and "reputation" represent Yahweh's character which represents Yahweh himself. Alternate translation: "our only desire is to honor you" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)
Isaiah 26:9
my spirit within me seeks you earnestly
Wanting to know Yahweh and his laws better is spoken of as if the person were seeking to find Yahweh. Alternate translation: "I earnestly want to know you better" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
my spirit within me seeks you earnestly
Here "spirit" represents the speaker as a whole. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-synecdoche)
Isaiah 26:10
Let favor be shown to the wicked one, but he will not learn righteousness
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "Even if Yahweh is kind to wicked people, they still do not learn to do what is right" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)
the wicked one
This means wicked people in general. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-genericnoun)
In the land of uprightness
Here "land" represents the people who live there. Alternate translation: "In the land where the people do what is right" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)
does not see the majesty of Yahweh
Here "see" represents realizing something. Alternate translation: "does not realize that Yahweh is great" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)
Isaiah 26:11
your hand is lifted up
Yahweh preparing to punish wicked people is spoken of as if his hand were raised and about to hit the wicked people. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
but they do not notice
"but the wicked people do not notice"
they will see your zeal for the people
Here "see" represents realizing something. Alternate translation: "they will realize that you are eager to bless your people" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)
be put to shame
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "they will be ashamed" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)
fire of your adversaries will devour them
Yahweh punishing and completely destroying his adversaries is spoken of as if he would send a fire that will completely burn them up. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
fire of your adversaries
Here "of" does not mean the fire belongs to the adversaries but that the fire is intended to be used against the adversaries. Alternate translation: "your fire will completely burn them up"
Isaiah 26:12
for us
Here "us" refers to Isaiah and includes all the righteous people. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-exclusive)
Isaiah 26:13
but we praise your name alone
Here "name" represents the person of God. Alternate translation: "but we praise you alone" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)
Isaiah 26:14
they will not arise
"they will not come back to life"
made every memory of them to perish
Yahweh causing people to no longer remember those he destroyed is spoken of as if Yahweh made their memory perish or die. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
Isaiah 26:15
You have increased the nation, Yahweh, you have increased the nation
This clause is repeated for emphasis. Here "nation" represents the people. Alternate translation: "You have greatly increased the number of people in our nation" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-parallelism and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)
Isaiah 26:16
they looked to you
Here "they" refers to the people of Israel. This would include Isaiah. Alternate translation: "we looked to you" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-123person)
looked to you
This idiom means they asked Yahweh for help. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-idiom)
when your discipline was on them
The abstract noun "discipline" can be stated as a verb. Alternate translation: "when you disciplined them" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-abstractnouns)
Isaiah 26:17
As a pregnant woman ... cries out in her labor pains
This compares the people to a woman giving birth. This emphasizes their suffering and crying when Yahweh disciplined them. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-simile)
Isaiah 26:18
General Information:
Isaiah continues to compare the suffering of the people of Judah to a woman giving birth. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
but it is as if we have only given birth to wind
"but it is as if we have only given birth to air" or "it is like we gave birth to nothing." This is a simile that emphasizes that the people's suffering resulted in nothing. Alternate translation: "but nothing good resulted from it" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-simile)
We have not brought salvation to the earth, and the inhabitants of the world have not fallen
Here "earth" represents the people who live on the earth. The meaning is unclear, but it seems to mean that the people of Israel have not been able to save themselves or other people by defeating their enemy in battle. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit)
We have not brought salvation to the earth
This can be reworded so that the abstract noun "salvation" is expressed as the verb "save." Alternate translation: "We have not saved the inhabitants of the earth" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-abstractnouns)
and the inhabitants of the world have not fallen
"nor have we caused the wicked people of the world to fall in battle"
Isaiah 26:19
Your dead will live
This can be reworded so that the nominal adjective "dead" is expressed as the verb "have died." Alternate translation: "Your people who have died will live again" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-nominaladj)
Your dead
Possible meanings are 1) "Your" refers to Yahweh or 2) "Your" refers to the people of Israel. If you choose option two you could translate it as "Our dead."
Awake
This speaks of dead people coming back to life as if they were waking up from sleep. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
you who live in the dust
This is a polite way of referring to those who have died. Alternate translation: "those who are dead and buried" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-euphemism)
for your dew is the dew of light
Yahweh acting kindly towards his people and bringing them back to life is spoken of as if it were the dew that causes the plants to live. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
for your dew
Possible meanings are 1) "your" refers to Yahweh and this is the dew that Yahweh gives or 2) "your" refers to the people of Israel and this is the dew they receive from Yahweh.
dew of light
Possible meanings are 1) "light" refers to Yahweh's power to make dead people alive again. Alternate translation: "dew from Yahweh" or 2) "light" refers to the morning time when dew is on the plants. Alternate translation: "dew in the morning"
the earth will bring forth its dead
"the earth will give birth to those who died." Yahweh causing dead people to come back to life is spoken of as if the earth would give birth to those who have died. Alternate translation: "and Yahweh will cause those who have died to rise from the earth" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
Isaiah 26:20
my people
Here "my" refers to Isaiah. Also "people" refers to the people of Israel.
until the indignation has passed by
Translate the abstract noun "indignation" as the adjective "angry." Alternate translation: "until Yahweh is no longer angry with us" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-abstractnouns)
Isaiah 26:21
the earth will uncover her bloodshed, and will no longer conceal her slain
Yahweh revealing all murders that have happened on the earth so that he can punish the murderers is spoken of as if the earth itself will reveal everyone who has been murdered. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-personification)