The Meaning of Isaiah 26:9 Explained

Isaiah 26:9

KJV: With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.

YLT: With my soul I desired Thee in the night, Also, with my spirit within me I seek Thee earnestly, For when Thy judgments are on the earth, The inhabitants of the world have learned righteousness.

Darby: With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness.

ASV: With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee earnestly: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

With my soul  have I desired  thee in the night;  yea, with my spirit  within  me will I seek thee early:  for when thy judgments  [are] in the earth,  the inhabitants  of the world  will learn  righteousness. 

What does Isaiah 26:9 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Waiting was the experience of Isaiah individually as it was the experience of the faithful Israelites collectively. He sought the Lord rather than seeking a change in his circumstances. He recognized that God intends His commandments and His providential acts to teach people righteousness.

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 26:9 mean?

With my soul I have desired You in the night Yes by my spirit within me I will seek You early for when Your judgments [are] in the earth righteousness Will learn the inhabitants of the world
נַפְשִׁ֤י אִוִּיתִ֙יךָ֙ בַּלַּ֔יְלָה אַף־ רוּחִ֥י בְקִרְבִּ֖י אֲשַֽׁחֲרֶ֑ךָּ כִּ֞י כַּאֲשֶׁ֤ר מִשְׁפָּטֶ֙יךָ֙ לָאָ֔רֶץ צֶ֥דֶק לָמְד֖וּ יֹשְׁבֵ֥י תֵבֵֽל

נַפְשִׁ֤י  With  my  soul 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: נֶפֶשׁ  
Sense: soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion.
אִוִּיתִ֙יךָ֙  I  have  desired  You 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Perfect, first person common singular, second person masculine singular
Root: אָוָה  
Sense: desire, incline, covet, wait longingly, wish, sigh, want, be greedy, prefer.
בַּלַּ֔יְלָה  in  the  night 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: לַיִל 
Sense: night.
אַף־  Yes 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: אַף  
Sense: also, yea, though, so much the more adv.
רוּחִ֥י  by  my  spirit 
Parse: Noun, common singular construct, first person common singular
Root: רוּחַ  
Sense: wind, breath, mind, spirit.
בְקִרְבִּ֖י  within  me 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: קֶרֶב  
Sense: midst, among, inner part, middle.
אֲשַֽׁחֲרֶ֑ךָּ  I  will  seek  You  early 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect, first person common singular, second person masculine singular
Root: שָׁחַר  
Sense: to seek, seek early or earnestly, look early or diligently for.
מִשְׁפָּטֶ֙יךָ֙  Your  judgments  [are] 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, second person masculine singular
Root: מִשְׁפָּט  
Sense: judgment, justice, ordinance.
לָאָ֔רֶץ  in  the  earth 
Parse: Preposition-l, Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.
צֶ֥דֶק  righteousness 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: צֶדֶק  
Sense: justice, rightness, righteousness.
לָמְד֖וּ  Will  learn 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: לָמַד  
Sense: to learn. teach, exercise in.
יֹשְׁבֵ֥י  the  inhabitants 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural construct
Root: יָשַׁב 
Sense: to dwell, remain, sit, abide.
תֵבֵֽל  of  the  world 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: תֵּבֵל  
Sense: world.