Isaiah 26:18

Isaiah 26:18 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)We have been with child, we have been in pain, we have as it were brought forth wind; we have not wrought any deliverance in the earth; neither have the inhabitants of the world fallen.
• New International Version (NIV)We were with child, we writhed in labor, but we gave birth to wind. We have not brought salvation to the earth, and the people of the world have not come to life.
• English Standard Version (ESV)we were pregnant, we writhed, but we have given birth to wind. We have accomplished no deliverance in the earth, and the inhabitants of the world have not fallen.
• New King James Version (NKJV)We have been with child, we have been in pain; We have, as it were, brought forth wind; We have not accomplished any deliverance in the earth, Nor have the inhabitants of the world fallen.

Context of Isaiah 26:18

16Lord, they went to you in their distress; they poured out whispered prayers because your discipline fell on them. 17As a pregnant woman about to give birth writhes and cries out in her pains, so we were before you, Lord. We became pregnant, we writhed in pain; we gave birth to wind. We have won no victories on earth, and the earth’s inhabitants have not fallen. 19Your dead will live; their bodies will rise. Awake and sing, you who dwell in the dust! For you will be covered with the morning dew, and the earth will bring out the departed spirits. 20Go, my people, enter your rooms and close your doors behind you. Hide for a little while until the wrath has passed.

Isaiah 26:18 word by word

הָרִ֣ינוּ חַ֔לְנוּ כְּמ֖וֹ יָלַ֣דְנוּ ר֑וּחַ יְשׁוּעֹת֙ בַּל־נַ֣עֲשֶׂה אֶ֔רֶץ וּבַֽל־יִפְּל֖וּ יֹשְׁבֵ֥י תֵבֵֽל׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• We have been with childהָרָהhârâh · to conceiveH2029
• we have been in painחוּלchûl chîyl · to twist: writh in painH2342
• we have as it wereכְּמוֹkemô kâmô · likeH3644
• brought forthיָלַדyâlad · to begetH3205
• windרוּחַrûach · spirit: breathH7307
• we have not wroughtעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213
• any deliveranceיְשׁוּעָהyeshû‛âh · salvationH3444
• in the earthאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: country/planetH776
• neitherבַּלbal · notH1077
• have the inhabitantsיָשַׁבyâshab · to dwellH3427
• of the worldתֵּבֵלtêbêl · worldH8398
• fallenנָפַלnâphal · to fall: fallH5307

Cross-references for Isaiah 26:18

• Isaiah 37:3They said to him, “This is what Hezekiah says: ‘Today is a day of distress, rebuke, and disgrace. It is as if children have come to the point of birth, and there is no strength to deliver them.
• 2 Kings 19:3They said to him, “This is what Hezekiah says: ‘Today is a day of distress, rebuke, and disgrace, for children have come to the point of birth, but there is no strength to deliver them.
• Hosea 13:13Labor pains come on him. He is not a wise son; when the time comes, he will not be born.
• Exodus 5:22So Moses went back to the Lord and asked, “Lord, why have you caused trouble for this people? And why did you ever send me?
• Joshua 7:7“Oh, Lord God,” Joshua said, “why did you ever bring these people across the Jordan to hand us over to the Amorites for our destruction? If only we had been content to remain on the other side of the Jordan!
• 1 Samuel 11:13But Saul ordered, “No one will be executed this day, for today the Lord has provided deliverance in Israel.”
• 1 Samuel 14:45But the people said to Saul, “Must Jonathan die? He accomplished such a great deliverance for Israel! No, as the Lord lives, not a hair of his head will fall to the ground, for he worked with God’s help today.” So the people redeemed Jonathan, and he did not die.
• Psalms 17:14With your hand, Lord, save me from men, from men of the world whose portion is in this life: You fill their bellies with what you have in store; their sons are satisfied, and they leave their surplus to their children.
• John 7:7The world cannot hate you, but it does hate me because I testify about it — that its works are evil.
• 1 John 5:19We know that we are of God, and the whole world is under the sway of the evil one.

Commentaries on Isaiah 26:18

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 18We have - brought forth wind - The learned Professor Michaelis explains this image in the following manner: "Rariorem morbum describi, empneumatosin, aut ventosam molam, dictum; quo quae laborant diu et sibi et peritis medicis gravidae videntur,tandemque post omnes verae graviditatis molestias et labored ventum ex utero emittunt: quem morbum passim describunt medici. "Syntagma Comment., vol. ii., p. 165. The empneumatosis, or windy inflation of the womb…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 18We have been … - This refers to sorrows and calamities which they had experienced in former times, when they had made great efforts for deliverance, and when those efforts had proved abortive. Perhaps it refers to the efforts of this kind which they had made during their painful captivity of seventy years. There is no direct proof indeed, that during that time they attempted to revolt, or that they organized themselves for resistance to the Babylonian…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 12-19Verses 12-19 Every creature, every business, any way serviceable to our comfort, God makes to be so; he makes that work for us which seemed to make against us. They had been slaves of sin and Satan; but by the Divine grace they were taught to look to be set free from all former masters. The cause opposed to God and his kingdom will sink at last. See our need of afflictions. Before, prayer came drop by drop; now they pour it out, it comes now like water…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 18Only God can give salvation and bring life (see Isaiah 59:9–15).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1818. brought forth wind--Michaelis explains this of the disease empneumatosis. Rather, "wind" is a figure for that which proves an abortive effort. The "we" is in antithesis to "Thy," "my" (Is 26:19), what we vainly attempt, God will accomplish. not wrought ... deliverance in ... earth--literally, "the land (Judea) is not made security," that is, is not become a place of security from our enemies. neither ... world fallen--The "world" at large, is in…Read the comment

Topics related to Isaiah 26:18

• Character
• Israel, Prophecies Concerning

In the dictionaries

• Delivery
• Indignation
• Judgment
• Intercession
• Isaiah
• Pain
• Salvation

Commentaries on Isaiah 26

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings