The Meaning of Isaiah 26:5 Explained

Isaiah 26:5

KJV: For he bringeth down them that dwell on high; the lofty city, he layeth it low; he layeth it low, even to the ground; he bringeth it even to the dust.

YLT: For He bowed down the dwellers on high, A city set on high He maketh low, He maketh it low unto the earth, He causeth it to come unto the dust,

Darby: For he bringeth down them that dwell on high; the lofty city, he layeth it low, he layeth it low to the ground, he bringeth it even to the dust.

ASV: For he hath brought down them that dwell on high, the lofty city: he layeth it low, he layeth it low even to the ground; he bringeth it even to the dust.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

For he bringeth down  them that dwell  on high;  the lofty  city,  he layeth it low;  he layeth it low,  [even] to the ground;  he bringeth  it [even] to the dust. 

What does Isaiah 26:5 Mean?

Verse Meaning

The New Jerusalem is secure because God brought down the city of the world and the proud who inhabited it (cf. Isaiah 25:12). This is the reason God"s people can and should trust in Him.

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 26:5 mean?

For He brings down those who dwell on high the city lofty He lays it low He lays it low to the ground He brings it down to the dust
כִּ֤י הֵשַׁח֙ יֹשְׁבֵ֣י מָר֔וֹם קִרְיָ֖ה נִשְׂגָּבָ֑ה יַשְׁפִּילֶ֤נָּה יַשְׁפִּילָהּ֙ עַד־ אֶ֔רֶץ יַגִּיעֶ֖נָּה עַד־ עָפָֽר

הֵשַׁח֙  He  brings  down 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שָׁחַח 
Sense: to bow, crouch, bow down, be bowed down.
יֹשְׁבֵ֣י  those  who  dwell  on 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural construct
Root: יָשַׁב 
Sense: to dwell, remain, sit, abide.
מָר֔וֹם  high 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: מָרֹום  
Sense: height.
קִרְיָ֖ה  the  city 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: קִרְיָה 
Sense: city, town.
נִשְׂגָּבָ֑ה  lofty 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Participle, feminine singular
Root: שָׂגַב  
Sense: to be high, be inaccessibly high.
יַשְׁפִּילֶ֤נָּה  He  lays  it  low 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, third person masculine singular, third person feminine singular
Root: שָׁפֵל  
Sense: to be or become low, sink, be humbled, be abased.
יַשְׁפִּילָהּ֙  He  lays  it  low 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, third person masculine singular, third person feminine singular
Root: שָׁפֵל  
Sense: to be or become low, sink, be humbled, be abased.
אֶ֔רֶץ  the  ground 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.
יַגִּיעֶ֖נָּה  He  brings  it 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, third person masculine singular, third person feminine singular
Root: נָגַע  
Sense: to touch, reach, strike.
עַד־  down  to 
Parse: Preposition
Root: עַד  
Sense: as far as, even to, until, up to, while, as far as.
עָפָֽר  the  dust 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: עָפָר  
Sense: dry earth, dust, powder, ashes, earth, ground, mortar, rubbish.