The Meaning of Isaiah 26:15 Explained

Isaiah 26:15

KJV: Thou 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.

YLT: Thou hast added to the nation, O Jehovah, Thou hast added to the nation, Thou hast been honoured, Thou hast put far off all the ends of earth.

Darby: Thou hast increased the nation, Jehovah, thou hast increased the nation: thou art glorified. Thou hadst removed it far unto all the ends of the earth.

ASV: Thou hast increased the nation, O Jehovah, thou hast increased the nation; thou art glorified; thou hast enlarged all the borders of the land.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Thou 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. 

What does Isaiah 26:15 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Rather than Israel dying out as a nation, the Lord had increased her, as He promised Abraham ( Genesis 15:5). This was not Israel"s doing; the Lord had increased her borders and so gained great glory for Himself. During the reigns of David and Solomon the Israelites experienced numerical growth and geographical expansion. God would do the same for them in the future.
"It is worth remembering that the land promised to Israel in Exodus 23:31 was never fully occupied, even in the days of David and Song of Solomon , but that the bounds of the messianic kingdom are to be wider still (cf. Psalm 72:8)." [1]
Many amillennialists believe that the promises concerning the future increase of the Israelites found fulfillment in the inclusion of Gentiles in the church. [2]

Context Summary

Isaiah 26:11-21 - Chastened By Suffering
When God ordains our peace, a world in arms cannot disturb us. Our peace results from the conviction that God is going before us and preparing our works. But be careful to make mention of His name, that is, to give Him the glory.
Do not be afraid of your enemies. When God brings you back from the ends of the earth, He will free you from their toils and snares. Let us, as Isaiah 26:16 suggests, pour out our prayers, as a vessel its contents; though, as the Hebrew signifies, those prayers are but whispers. It is true that apart from God we work no deliverance in the earth, Isaiah 26:18, but when He speaks, even the dead live. Jesus, the resurrection and the life, speaks in Isaiah 26:19. What comfort results to those that dwell in the dust of self-abasement and despair to look up to the ever-living Christ, from whom streams of life-giving energy come to believing hearts! Arise and sing, thou broken heart: even now the stone is being rolled from the door of thy sepulcher; the morning dew is distilling upon thee. Cast out by earth, thou shalt be welcomed by heaven, and sheltered in God's secret place till the storm-burst has spent itself. [source]

Chapter Summary: Isaiah 26

1  Trust in God's Provision

What do the individual words in Isaiah 26:15 mean?

You have increased the nation Yahweh the nation You are glorified You have expanded all the borders of the land
יָסַ֤פְתָּ לַגּוֹי֙ יְהוָ֔ה לַגּ֖וֹי נִכְבָּ֑דְתָּ רִחַ֖קְתָּ כָּל־ קַצְוֵי־ אָֽרֶץ

יָסַ֤פְתָּ  You  have  increased 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: יָסַף 
Sense: to add, increase, do again.
לַגּוֹי֙  the  nation 
Parse: Preposition-l, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: גֹּוי 
Sense: nation, people.
יְהוָ֔ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
לַגּ֖וֹי  the  nation 
Parse: Preposition-l, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: גֹּוי 
Sense: nation, people.
נִכְבָּ֑דְתָּ  You  are  glorified 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: כָּבֵד  
Sense: to be heavy, be weighty, be grievous, be hard, be rich, be honourable, be glorious, be burdensome, be honoured.
רִחַ֖קְתָּ  You  have  expanded 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: רָחַק  
Sense: to be or become far, be or become distant, be removed, go far away.
קַצְוֵי־  the  borders 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: קָצוּ  
Sense: end, border, boundary.
אָֽרֶץ  of  the  land 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.