Isaiah 26:5

¶ 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.

For he bringeth down {H7817} them that dwell {H3427} on high {H4791}; the lofty {H7682} city {H7151}, he layeth it low {H8213}; he layeth it low {H8213}, even to the ground {H776}; he bringeth {H5060} it even to the dust {H6083}.

For he has humbled those in high places, levelling the lofty city, levelling it to the ground, laying it in the dust.

For He has humbled those who dwell on high; He lays the lofty city low. He brings it down to the ground; He casts it into the dust.

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.

Isaiah 26:5, found within a powerful prophetic song of praise and trust, declares God's absolute sovereignty and His decisive action against human pride and arrogance. This verse serves as a stark warning to those who exalt themselves, whether individuals, nations, or systems, promising their inevitable downfall at the hand of the Almighty.

Context

This verse is part of a larger prophetic song in Isaiah 26 (verses 1-19), which expresses the joy and confidence of God's people in His ultimate salvation and justice. The chapter contrasts the security and strength of God's "strong city" (Isaiah 26:1) with the "lofty city" of the wicked, which God will bring to ruin. This song likely looks forward to a time of future deliverance for Israel, perhaps after the Babylonian exile, but also carries eschatological implications, pointing to God's final triumph over all opposing powers. The immediate context emphasizes that while the righteous are kept in perfect peace (Isaiah 26:3) and trust in the Lord forever (Isaiah 26:4), the proud will face severe judgment.

Key Themes

  • Divine Humiliation of Pride: The verse powerfully illustrates God's active role in abasing the arrogant. "Them that dwell on high" and "the lofty city" represent any power, nation, or individual that has elevated itself in pride and opposition to God. God's justice ensures that no human achievement or self-exaltation can ultimately stand against His will.
  • Justice and Judgment: This passage underscores God's righteous character, demonstrating that He will not tolerate unbridled arrogance and oppression. The repeated phrase "he layeth it low" emphasizes the certainty and completeness of His judgment, reducing even the most formidable human constructs to dust. This speaks to a universal principle of divine justice where pride precedes destruction.
  • Sovereignty of God: Isaiah 26:5 reaffirms God's ultimate control over history and the destiny of nations. No kingdom, however mighty or secure it may seem, is beyond His reach or judgment. This theme offers comfort to the oppressed and a warning to the oppressor.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "lofty" (gābaḥ) implies being high, exalted, or arrogant. The phrase "dwell on high" often denotes a sense of security, self-sufficiency, or a position of power, which can easily lead to pride. The repetition of "he layeth it low" and the progression from "ground" to "dust" vividly portrays the absolute and irreversible nature of this downfall. It signifies complete devastation and the utter reduction to insignificance, echoing the concept of returning to the dust from which humanity came.

Practical Application

Isaiah 26:5 carries profound lessons for contemporary life:

  • Warning Against Personal Pride: The principle applies not only to nations but also to individuals. It serves as a reminder that self-exaltation and arrogance lead to a fall, as stated in James 4:6, which says God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. Cultivating humility is essential for a right relationship with God.
  • Trust in God's Ultimate Justice: For those who are oppressed or feel overwhelmed by powerful, arrogant systems, this verse offers hope. It assures believers that God sees injustice and will, in His perfect timing, bring down those who oppress and exalt themselves.
  • The Impermanence of Earthly Power: The "lofty city" can symbolize any human institution, empire, or ideology that boasts of its power and ignores God. This verse reminds us that all earthly power is temporary and subject to God's ultimate authority. Only God's kingdom is eternal and unshakable.

Ultimately, Isaiah 26:5 is a powerful declaration of God's character as a just and sovereign ruler who brings low the proud and exalts the humble, ensuring that His righteous purposes prevail.

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.

  • Job 40:11

    Cast abroad the rage of thy wrath: and behold every one [that is] proud, and abase him.

  • Job 40:13

    Hide them in the dust together; [and] bind their faces in secret.

  • Jeremiah 51:37

    And Babylon shall become heaps, a dwellingplace for dragons, an astonishment, and an hissing, without an inhabitant.

  • Jeremiah 51:25

    Behold, I [am] against thee, O destroying mountain, saith the LORD, which destroyest all the earth: and I will stretch out mine hand upon thee, and roll thee down from the rocks, and will make thee a burnt mountain.

  • Jeremiah 51:26

    And they shall not take of thee a stone for a corner, nor a stone for foundations; but thou shalt be desolate for ever, saith the LORD.

  • Isaiah 13:11

    And I will punish the world for [their] evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible.

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