The Meaning of Isaiah 26:4 Explained

Isaiah 26:4

KJV: Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength:

YLT: Trust ye in Jehovah for ever, For in Jah Jehovah is a rock of ages,

Darby: Confide ye in Jehovah for ever; for in Jah, Jehovah, is the rock of ages.

ASV: Trust ye in Jehovah for ever; for in Jehovah, even Jehovah, is an everlasting rock.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Trust  ye in the LORD  for ever:  for in the LORD  JEHOVAH  [is] everlasting  strength: 

What does Isaiah 26:4 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Isaiah urged everyone to trust in the Lord as a way of life, not just in a saving act of faith, because Yahweh, even Yahweh, is the very essence of what an everlasting rock should be (cf. Isaiah 17:10; Isaiah 30:29; Isaiah 44:8; Exodus 33:21; Deuteronomy 32:4; 1 Samuel 2:2; 2 Samuel 22:2; 2 Samuel 22:32; Psalm 18:2; Psalm 19:14; Psalm 61:2; 1 Corinthians 10:4). His presence is an unmoving place of refuge and protection from the elements and from all enemies. Augustus M. Toplady drew the inspiration for his hymn Rock of Ages from this verse.
"The issue of trust is the key to the entire segment beginning at Isaiah 7:1 and concluding at Isaiah 39:8. Will Judah commit her security to the nations or to God?" [1]

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 26:4 mean?

Trust in Yahweh even to forever for in YAH Yahweh [is] strength everlasting
בִּטְח֥וּ בַֽיהוָ֖ה עֲדֵי־ עַ֑ד כִּ֚י בְּיָ֣הּ יְהוָ֔ה צ֖וּר עוֹלָמִֽים

בִּטְח֥וּ  Trust 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine plural
Root: בָּטוּחַ 
Sense: to trust.
בַֽיהוָ֖ה  in  Yahweh 
Parse: Preposition-b, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
עֲדֵי־  even  to 
Parse: Preposition
Root: עַד  
Sense: as far as, even to, until, up to, while, as far as.
עַ֑ד  forever 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: עַד  
Sense: perpetuity, for ever, continuing future.
בְּיָ֣הּ  in  YAH 
Parse: Preposition-b, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יָהּ  
Sense: Jah (Jehovah in the shortened form).
יְהוָ֔ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
צ֖וּר  [is]  strength 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: צוּר 
Sense: rock, cliff.
עוֹלָמִֽים  everlasting 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: עֹולָם  
Sense: long duration, antiquity, futurity, for ever, ever, everlasting, evermore, perpetual, old, ancient, world.