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Study this verse
Public-domain commentary
Matthew Henry
From his Commentary on the Whole Bible. Henry comments on passages, not single verses — this entry covers Isaiah 26:20–21. His two-level outline is real structure in the source text, so it is rendered as structure.
These two verses are supposed not to belong to the song which takes up the rest of the chapter, but to begin a new matter, and to be rather an introduction to the following chapter than the conclusion of this. Of whereas, in the foregoing song, the people of God had spoken to him, complaining of their grievances, here he returns an answer to their complaints, in which,
I.He invites them into their chambers (Isa 26:20):
"Come, my people, come to me, come with me" (he calls them nowhere but where he himself will accompany them); "let the storm that disperses others bring you nearer together. Come, and enter into thy chambers; stay not abroad, lest you be caught in the storm, as the Egyptians in the hail," Exo 9:21. 1. "Come into chambers of distinction; come into your own apartments, and continue not any longer mixed with the children of Babylon. Come out from among them, and be you separate," Co2 6:17; Rev 18:4. If God has set apart those that are godly for himself, they ought to set themselves apart. 2. "Into chambers of defence, in which by the secresy or the strength of them you may be safe in the worst of times." The attributes of God are the secret of his tabernacle, Psa 27:5. His name is a strong tower, into which we may run for shelter, Pro 18:10. We must be faith find a way into these chambers, and there hide ourselves; that is, with a holy security and serenity of mind, we must put ourselves under the divine protection. Come, as Noah into the ark, for he shut the doors about him. When dangers are threatening it is good to retire, and lie hid, as Elijah did by the brook Cherith. 3. Into chambers of devotion. "Enter into thy closet, and shut thy door, Mat 6:6. Be private with God: Enter into thy chamber, to examine thyself, and commune with thy own heart, to pray, and humble thyself before God." This work is to be done in times of distress and danger; and thus we hide ourselves, that is, we recommend ourselves to God to hide us, and he will hide us either under heaven or in heaven. Israel must keep within doors when the destroying angel is slaying the first-born of Egypt, else the blood on the door-posts will not secure them. So must Rahab and her family when Jericho is being destroyed. Those are most safe that are least seen. Qui bene latuit, benevixit - He has lived well who has sought a proper degree of concealment.
II.He assures them that the trouble would be over in a very short time, that they should not long be in any fright or peril:
"Hide thyself for a moment, the smallest part of time we can conceive, like an atom of matter; may, if you can imagine one moment shorter than another, it is but for a little moment, and that with a quasi too, as it were for a little moment, less than you think of. When it is over it will seem as nothing to you; you will wonder how soon it is gone. You shall not need to lie long in confinement, long in concealment. The indignation will presently be over-past; that is, the indignation of the enemies against you, their persecuting power and rage, which force you to abscond. When the wicked rise, a man is hid. This will soon be over; God will cut them off, will break their power, defeat their purposes, and find a way for your enlargement." When Athanasius was banished from Alexandria by an edict of Julian, and his friends greatly lamented it, he bade them be of good cheer. Nubecula est quae cito pertransibit - It is a little cloud, that will soon blow over. You shall have tribulation ten days; that is all, Rev 2:10. This enables God's suffering people to call their afflictions light, that they are but for a moment.
III.He assures them that their enemies should be reckoned with for all the mischief they had done them by the sword, either of war or persecution, Isa 26:21. The Lord will punish them for the blood they have shed. Here is,
1.The judgment set, and process issued out: The Lord comes out of his place, to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity, in giving such disturbance to all about them. There is a great deal of iniquity among the inhabitants of the earth; but though they all combine in it, though hand join in hand to carry it on, yet it shall not go unpunished. Besides the everlasting punishment into which the wicked shall go hereafter, there are often remarkable punishments of cruelty, oppression, and persecution, in this world. When men's indignation is over-past, and they have done their worst, let them then expect God's indignation, for he sees that his day is coming, Psa 37:13. God comes out of his place to punish. He shows himself in an extraordinary manner from heaven, the firmament of his power, from the sanctuary, the residence of his grace. He is raised up out of his holy habitation, where he seemed before to conceal himself; and now he will do something great, the product of his wise, just, and secret counsels, as a prince that goes to take the chair or take the field, Zac 2:13. Some observe that God's place is the mercy-seat; there he delights to be; when he punishes he comes out of his place, for he has no pleasure in the death of sinners.
2.The criminals convicted by the notorious evidence of the face: The earth shall disclose her blood; the innocent blood, the blood of the saints and martyrs, which has been shed upon the earth like water, and has soaked into it, and been concealed and covered by it, shall not be brought to light, and brought to account; for God will make inquisition for it, and will give those that shed it blood to drink, for they are worthy. Secret murders, and other secret wickednesses, shall be discovered, sooner or later. And the slain which the earth has long covered she shall no longer cover, but they shall be produced as evidence against the murderers. The voice of Abel's blood cries from the earth, Gen 9:10, Gen 9:11; Job 20:27. Those sins which seemed to be buried in oblivion will be called to mind, and called over again, when the day of reckoning comes. Let God's people therefore wait awhile with patience, for behold the Judge stands before the door.
Historical interpretation
Three Centuries of Reception
6 surviving comments on this verse. Each one is dated, so this reads as a timeline rather than a list.
Select a marker to jump to its quote. Markers stagger vertically where authors wrote within a few decades of each other.
All the generations from Adam to this day have passed away; but those who were made perfect in charity by the grace of God live among the saints; and they shall be made manifest at the judgment of the kingdom of Christ. For it is written, “Enter into your chamber a little while, until my wrath and anger pass, and I remember the good day and will raise you up out of your graves.”
When we read, “Go, my people, enter into your closets for a little while, until my anger passes away,” we have in the closets graves, in which they will have to rest for a little while, who shall have at the end of the world departed this life in the last furious onset of the power of Antichrist. Why else did he use the expression closets in preference to some other receptacle, if it were not that the flesh is kept in these closets or cellars salted and reserved for use, to be drawn out thence on a suitable occasion? It is on a similar principle that embalmed corpses are set aside for burial in mausoleums and sepulchers, in order that they may be removed from there when the Master shall order it. Since, therefore, there is consistency in thus understanding the passage (for what refuge of little closets could possibly shelter us from the wrath of God?), it appears that by the very phrase which he uses, “until his anger passes away,” which shall extinguish Antichrist, he in fact shows that after that indignation the flesh will come forth from the sepulcher, in which it had been deposited previous to the bursting out of the anger. Now out of the closets nothing else is brought than that which had been put into them, and after the extirpation of Antichrist shall be busily transacted the great process of the resurrection.
Therefore [Noah] constructs the ark and makes nests in it, that is, certain chambers in which animals of various kinds are received. The prophet also speaks of these chambers: “Go, my people, into your chambers, hide yourself a while until the fury of my anger pass away.” This people, therefore, which is saved in the church is compared with all those, whether men or animals, which are saved in the ark.
“The hairs of your head are numbered.” If the hairs, I suppose the teeth would be more easily numbered. But there is no object in numbering them if they are some day to perish. “The hour will come in which all who are in the tombs shall hear the voice of the Son of God and shall come forth.” … Then shall be fulfilled what God says by the prophet, “Go, my people, into your closets for a little while, until my anger pass.” The closets signify the graves, out of which is brought forth which had been laid therein. And they shall come out of the graves like young mules free from the halter.
“The hour will come in which all who are in the tombs shall hear the voice of the Son of God and shall come forth.” They shall hear with ears and come forth with feet. This Lazarus had already done. They shall, moreover, come forth from the tombs; that is, they who had been laid in the tombs, the dead, shall come and shall rise again from their graves. For the dew that God gives is healing to their bones. Then shall be fulfilled what God says by the prophet, “Go, my people, into your closets for a little while, until mine anger pass.” The closets signify the graves, out of which is brought forth which had been laid therein. And they shall come out of the graves like young mules free from the halter. Their heart shall rejoice, and their bones shall rise like the sun; all flesh shall come into the presence of the Lord, and he shall command the fishes of the sea; and they shall give up the bones which they had eaten; and he shall bring joint to joint, and bone to bone;104 and they who slept in the dust of the earth shall arise, some to life eternal, others to shame and everlasting confusion.
Certainly there are two things that make us hope for the bliss of the just and the end of all suffering: death and the resurrection from the dead. In death is rest, as the prophet says, “My people, enter into your chambers, hide yourself a little until the indignation of the Lord pass away.” But in the resurrection there is perfect happiness in the whole person, that is, in flesh and spirit. Consequently we are not to think that both of these are to be marked by the labor of fasting but rather by the rejoicing of refreshment.
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Summary
Isaiah 26:20 presents an urgent, intimate divine summons to God's faithful remnant, instructing them to seek immediate refuge and seclusion within their secure "chambers" and to "shut their doors" as a period of intense divine indignation is poised to sweep across the earth. This prophetic imperative underscores both God's unwavering protective care for His people amidst global judgment and the finite, temporary nature of His wrath, assuring believers that this season of tribulation will ultimately pass. It serves as a profound call to obedient trust and patient endurance, highlighting the security found in divine provision during times of unprecedented upheaval.
Context
Literary Context
Isaiah 26:20 is strategically positioned within "Isaiah's Little Apocalypse" (chapters 24-27), a pivotal prophetic segment that vividly portrays God's universal judgment upon the earth, the ensuing desolation, and the ultimate restoration and salvation of His covenant people. Chapter 26 itself functions as a "Song of Salvation" or "Song of Trust," exalting God's righteous character, celebrating the security of His city, and extolling the blessedness of those who place their trust in Him. Verse 20 serves as a direct, urgent, and climactic imperative, a divine interlude issued just before the Lord emerges from His dwelling to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity, as explicitly detailed in Isaiah 26:21. It marks a critical transition from a celebratory song of praise to a stark warning, emphasizing God's imminent and decisive intervention in human affairs, providing a specific instruction for His people to navigate the coming storm.
Historical & Cultural Context
While the precise historical impetus for this prophecy remains a subject of scholarly discussion—with some suggesting the Assyrian or Babylonian invasions, and others a more encompassing eschatological framework—the imagery employed draws deeply from ancient Near Eastern practices of seeking sanctuary during periods of war, plague, or natural calamity. The concept of "chambers" or inner rooms as secure places of safety was universally understood, offering a tangible illustration of withdrawal from external peril. Culturally, the notion of divine judgment (the "indignation") was a pervasive theme in the ancient world, frequently associated with the wrath of deities against human transgression. However, a distinctive aspect of Israelite theology is the understanding that God's wrath, though severe and righteous, is purposeful, temporary for His covenant people, and ultimately leads to their restoration rather than annihilation. This verse would have resonated profoundly with a people who had either experienced or anticipated intense national distress and foreign aggression, finding solace and direction in God's specific instructions for their protection.
Key Themes
This verse profoundly contributes to several overarching themes central to Isaiah and broader biblical theology. Firstly, it powerfully articulates the theme of Divine Protection and Refuge, presenting God as the ultimate sanctuary for His faithful amidst global turmoil. The "chambers" symbolize a divinely provided, secure, and intimate haven, a place of safety from the coming storm. Secondly, the phrase "for a little moment" underscores the Temporary Nature of Judgment for God's people, a concept consistently affirmed throughout Scripture, as seen in Psalm 30:5, assuring them that divine indignation, though intense, has a definite and divinely appointed end and will not consume the righteous. Thirdly, the imperative commands to "come," "enter," "shut," and "hide" highlight the crucial necessity of Obedience and Trust in God's specific instructions, implying an active withdrawal from chaos and a passive, yet confident, reliance on His promised deliverance. Finally, the "indignation" itself points to the theme of God's Righteous Wrath and Judgment, a necessary and just response to human sin and rebellion, which ultimately purifies the earth and establishes His sovereign kingdom, as further elaborated in Isaiah 24.
Exposition and Analysis
Key Word Analysis
From the root חָדַר (hadar), meaning an apartment, usually literal, referring to an inner room, bedchamber, or innermost part. In this prophetic context, "chambers" transcends a mere physical space, symbolizing a private, secure, and divinely protected sanctuary, a place of refuge from external danger or judgment. It conveys a sense of intimacy, seclusion, and absolute safety provided by God.
A primitive root (compare חָבַב, chabab) meaning to secrete or hide oneself. This verb emphasizes the active, deliberate, and necessary act of seeking concealment and protection. It suggests a posture of humility, surrender, and profound reliance on God's provision for safety, indicating a hiding in God's presence rather than a fearful evasion from Him.
From the root זָעַם (zaʻam), strictly meaning froth at the mouth, and figuratively, fury, especially denoting God's intense displeasure with sin. This term powerfully conveys God's strong, vehement, and righteous displeasure against wickedness and rebellion. It signifies a period of severe, divinely orchestrated judgment, a manifestation of His holy wrath against unrighteousness.
Verse Breakdown
"Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers"
This opening phrase functions as an urgent, tender, and direct divine summons from God to His covenant people. The address "my people" underscores God's intimate relationship and deep care for Israel, even in the face of impending judgment. The imperative "enter thou into thy chambers" is a command instructing them to seek a designated place of safety and seclusion, symbolizing a divinely provided spiritual and physical refuge.
"and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself"
These subsequent commands reinforce the active, deliberate, and necessary nature of seeking refuge. "Shut thy doors about thee" implies a decisive act of sealing oneself off from the external chaos, danger, and judgment, establishing a secure boundary. "Hide thyself" further emphasizes the need for withdrawal and concealment, not through human strength or cunning, but by trusting implicitly in God's protective hand, rendering oneself inaccessible to the coming wrath.
"as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast."
This concluding clause provides crucial temporal and theological context, offering immense comfort. "As it were for a little moment" highlights the temporary and finite duration of the tribulation, assuring God's people that His wrath, though severe, is not eternal for them. "Until the indignation be overpast" signifies a definite, divinely appointed end to the period of divine judgment, promising that the storm will subside, and God's people will emerge safely into a new era of peace and restoration.
Literary Devices
Isaiah 26:20 is rich in powerful literary devices that amplify its message. The most prominent is Metaphor/Symbolism, where "chambers" and "doors" are not merely literal architectural elements but serve as profound symbols of divine refuge and protection. They represent a secure, intimate sanctuary provided by God, a place of spiritual and physical safety from the impending judgment. The verse is characterized by the Imperative Mood ("Come," "enter," "shut," "hide"), which creates a compelling sense of urgency and direct command, underscoring the necessity of immediate and obedient action on the part of God's people. Furthermore, the tender address "my people" exemplifies Personification and Intimate Address, as God speaks directly and affectionately to His covenant community, highlighting His personal care and concern even in the face of His universal wrath. The phrase "as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast" subtly employs Antithesis, contrasting the temporary nature of God's wrath for His chosen ones with its inevitable, yet limited, duration, emphasizing His ultimate control and faithfulness.
Theological and Thematic Connections
Isaiah 26:20 stands as a profound theological declaration concerning God's multifaceted character: His righteous wrath against sin and His merciful, protective care for His covenant people. It powerfully illustrates that while divine judgment is universal and unavoidable for the unrighteous, God unfailingly provides a way of escape and refuge for those who belong to Him. This passage anticipates a time of ultimate reckoning, yet simultaneously offers immense comfort by emphasizing the temporary nature of tribulation for the faithful. It speaks to God's absolute sovereignty over all events, including periods of intense suffering, assuring believers that He meticulously controls the duration and intensity of every storm. The divine call to withdraw and hide is not an act of cowardice but of wise obedience and profound trust in a God who is simultaneously a just judge and a faithful deliverer, preparing His people for the glorious advent of His kingdom.
Reflection and Application
Isaiah 26:20 offers timeless wisdom and profound encouragement for believers navigating a world frequently characterized by turmoil, uncertainty, and various manifestations of "indignation." It calls us to cultivate a posture of spiritual vigilance, active obedience, and unwavering trust in God's sovereign protection. In moments of personal crisis, societal unrest, or global upheaval, we are profoundly invited to "enter our chambers" – to retreat intentionally into the sanctuary of prayer, deep communion with God, and diligent meditation on His life-giving Word. This is not an act of escapism from reality but a strategic withdrawal designed to strengthen our faith, find profound peace in His presence, and receive His divine guidance. The powerful assurance that the "indignation" will be "overpast" reminds us that no trial, no matter how severe, is eternal, and God's ultimate purposes for our good and His glory will undeniably prevail. This verse encourages patient endurance, confident that our temporary hiding in Him will lead to ultimate deliverance and the glorious revelation of His unfailing faithfulness and redemptive plan.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Is "chambers" a literal place or a metaphor?
While the imagery of "chambers" (Hebrew cheder) could indeed refer to literal inner rooms used for safety and seclusion in ancient times, in this specific prophetic context, it primarily functions as a powerful and profound metaphor. It symbolizes a spiritual sanctuary and a divinely provided place of protection. It represents a secure, intimate space of communion with God, where believers can find refuge from the "indignation" or judgment unfolding in the world. This spiritual "hiding place" is ultimately found in God's presence, His unwavering promises, and His sovereign, protective care, as beautifully articulated in passages like Psalm 91:1.
What does "indignation" refer to, and how long does it last?
The "indignation" (Hebrew zaʻam) refers to God's righteous wrath and severe displeasure against sin and wickedness. It signifies a divinely appointed period of intense judgment upon the earth. The crucial phrase "for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast" is key to understanding its duration. It emphatically highlights that while this period of judgment is intense and necessary, it is not eternal for God's covenant people. It has a definite, divinely appointed end. This temporary nature of God's wrath for His chosen ones is a recurring and comforting theme throughout Scripture, as powerfully highlighted in Psalm 30:5, assuring believers that even the most severe trials are time-bound and will ultimately give way to His deliverance and restoration.
Christ-Centered Fulfillment
Isaiah 26:20 finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. He is the true "chamber" and the eternal refuge for all who believe, the one in whom we are perfectly hidden from the wrath to come. While the Old Testament saints were called to hide from a temporary, earthly indignation, Christ Himself, as the Lamb of God, bore the full, eternal weight of God's righteous "indignation" against human sin on the cross, precisely as prophesied in Isaiah 53:5. Through His perfect atoning sacrifice, believers are no longer subject to the condemnation of God's wrath but are instead eternally "hidden with Christ in God" (Colossians 3:3). The "little moment" of indignation for God's people is transformed by Christ's finished work, as He offers eternal rest and security to all who come to Him (Matthew 11:28). He is the Lamb who takes away the sin of the world, making it possible for us to stand justified, reconciled, and eternally protected, even as God's judgment sweeps over the earth (Romans 5:9). Thus, Isaiah 26:20 not only foreshadows God's protective care but ultimately points to the saving, redemptive work of Christ, who is our eternal sanctuary, our secure hiding place, and the glorious end of all divine indignation for those who are found in Him.