The Meaning of Isaiah 26:2 Explained

Isaiah 26:2

KJV: Open ye the gates, that the righteous nation which keepeth the truth may enter in.

YLT: Open ye the gates, that enter may a righteous nation, Preserving stedfastness.

Darby: Open ye the gates, and the righteous nation which keepeth faithfulness shall enter in.

ASV: Open ye the gates, that the righteous nation which keepeth faith may enter in.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Open  ye the gates,  that the righteous  nation  which keepeth  the truth  may enter in. 

What does Isaiah 26:2 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Isaiah , writing as a psalmist, called on the porters to open the celestial city gates so the nation that was right with God could enter (cf. Psalm 15:1-5; Psalm 24:3-10; Psalm 118:19-22). The nation refers to Israel specifically in the context. Faithfulness and loyalty to the Lord will mark Israel then.
"God takes the very symbol of our rejection of him [1] and transforms it into Heaven." [2]

Context Summary

Isaiah 26:1-10 - Peace Through Steadfast Trust
No doubt when Babylon fell before Cyrus the Jewish remnant under Ezra and Nehemiah sang this triumphal ode, which contrasts the respective lots of Babylon and Jerusalem. The one is the city of this world and its children; the other the city and home of the saints. The fate of Babylon is delineated in Isaiah 26:5-6; but with what glowing words does the prophet dwell on the blessedness of those who are fellow-citizens with the saints and of the household of God, Ephesians 2:19. Note in Isaiah 26:3, margin, one of God's double doors against the intrusion on the soul of a single note of alarm or fear. God is the Rock of Ages, Isaiah 26:4, margin. Our trust should be permanent as His love-forever. The weakest foot may trample on the proudest foe, when God has laid him in the dust. God levels the path of the just. However difficult your path, dare to believe that you are being directed in righteousness God cannot make mistakes. Any other path would be impracticable. Only nurse the desires of your soul for God; they are the result of the promptings and drawings of His Spirit. [source]

Chapter Summary: Isaiah 26

1  Trust in God's Provision

What do the individual words in Isaiah 26:2 mean?

Open the gates that may enter in The nation righteous which keeps faithfulness
פִּתְח֖וּ שְׁעָרִ֑ים וְיָבֹ֥א גוֹי־ צַדִּ֖יק שֹׁמֵ֥ר אֱמֻנִֽים

פִּתְח֖וּ  Open 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine plural
Root: פָּתַח 
Sense: to open.
שְׁעָרִ֑ים  the  gates 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: שַׁעַר  
Sense: gate.
וְיָבֹ֥א  that  may  enter  in 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive imperfect Jussive, third person masculine singular
Root: בֹּוא 
Sense: to go in, enter, come, go, come in.
גוֹי־  The  nation 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: גֹּוי 
Sense: nation, people.
צַדִּ֖יק  righteous 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: צַדִּיק  
Sense: just, lawful, righteous.
שֹׁמֵ֥ר  which  keeps 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: שָׁמַר  
Sense: to keep, guard, observe, give heed.
אֱמֻנִֽים  faithfulness 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: אֵמוּן 
Sense: faithfulness, trusting.