Isaiah 26:14

[They are] dead, they shall not live; [they are] deceased, they shall not rise: therefore hast thou visited and destroyed them, and made all their memory to perish.

They are dead {H4191}, they shall not live {H2421}; they are deceased {H7496}, they shall not rise {H6965}: therefore hast thou visited {H6485} and destroyed {H8045} them, and made all their memory {H2143} to perish {H6}.

The dead will not live again, the ghosts will not rise again; for you punished and destroyed them, wiped out all memory of them.

The dead will not live; the departed spirits will not rise. Therefore You have punished and destroyed them; You have wiped out all memory of them.

They are dead, they shall not live; they are deceased, they shall not rise: therefore hast thou visited and destroyed them, and made all remembrance of them to perish.

Isaiah 26:14 is a powerful declaration within a prophetic song found in the book of Isaiah, contrasting the ultimate fate of God's enemies with the hope promised to His faithful people. This verse emphasizes the finality of divine judgment against oppressors and those who oppose God's will.

Context

This verse is part of what scholars often refer to as Isaiah's "Little Apocalypse" (chapters 24-27), a section rich with prophecies concerning God's universal judgment and the eventual triumph of His kingdom. Chapter 26 itself is a song of praise and trust in God's righteous judgment and His protection of His people. The preceding verses celebrate God's faithfulness and the security found in Him (Isaiah 26:3). Verse 14 specifically addresses the fate of the wicked, particularly foreign oppressors who had afflicted Judah, setting a stark contrast to the hope for the righteous.

Key Themes

  • Divine Judgment and Justice: The verse unequivocally states that God actively intervenes to destroy those who oppose Him and His people. It is a declaration of God's sovereign power to execute justice and bring an end to evil.
  • Finality of the Wicked's Doom: The phrases "they shall not live" and "they shall not rise" highlight the permanent and irreversible nature of the destruction awaiting God's adversaries. Unlike the hope of resurrection for the righteous, these oppressors face an eternal demise, emphasizing their utter powerlessness before God's might. This stands in stark contrast to the promise given to God's people in Isaiah 26:19, "Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise."
  • Eradication of Memory: "Made all their memory to perish" signifies a complete blotting out, not just of their physical presence but also of their legacy and influence. This speaks to the thoroughness of God's judgment, ensuring that the evil they perpetrated will not endure or be remembered. This concept echoes other Old Testament passages where God promises to erase the memory of the wicked (e.g., Psalm 9:5-6).

Linguistic Insights

The KJV uses "deceased" for the Hebrew word repha'im (רְפָאִים). This term often refers to the powerless dead, or shades in the underworld, sometimes implying a state of utter weakness and inability to return to life or power. Its use here underscores the absolute and permanent incapacitation of the oppressors. The phrase "made all their memory to perish" (זִכְרָם יֹאבֵד - zikram yo'bed) implies a divine act of erasure, ensuring their downfall is complete and their influence utterly removed.

Practical Application

For believers, Isaiah 26:14 offers profound comfort and assurance. It reminds us that even when evil seems to triumph, God's justice is sovereign and ultimate. He sees the oppression and will, in His perfect timing, bring judgment upon those who defy Him and harm His people. This verse encourages patient endurance and unwavering trust in God's ultimate victory. For those who might be tempted to oppress or act wickedly, it serves as a solemn warning about the inevitable and final consequences of rejecting God's ways and opposing His divine plan. Ultimately, our legacy is determined by our relationship with God, not by worldly power or fleeting influence.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Revelation 18:2

    And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.

  • Revelation 18:3

    For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.

  • Proverbs 10:7

    ¶ The memory of the just [is] blessed: but the name of the wicked shall rot.

  • Habakkuk 2:18

    What profiteth the graven image that the maker thereof hath graven it; the molten image, and a teacher of lies, that the maker of his work trusteth therein, to make dumb idols?

  • Habakkuk 2:20

    But the LORD [is] in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before him.

  • Isaiah 14:19

    But thou art cast out of thy grave like an abominable branch, [and as] the raiment of those that are slain, thrust through with a sword, that go down to the stones of the pit; as a carcase trodden under feet.

  • Isaiah 14:22

    For I will rise up against them, saith the LORD of hosts, and cut off from Babylon the name, and remnant, and son, and nephew, saith the LORD.
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