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 sought You in distress; They could only whisper a prayer, Your discipline was upon them. 17As the pregnant woman approaches the time to give birth, She writhes and cries out in her labor pains; This is how we were before You, Lord. We were pregnant, we writhed in labor, We gave birth, as it seems, only to wind. We could not accomplish deliverance for the earth, Nor were inhabitants of the world born. 19Your dead will live; Their corpses will rise. You who lie in the dust, awake and shout for joy, For your dew is as the dew of the dawn, And the earth will give birth to the departed spirits. 20Come, my people, enter your rooms And close your doors behind you; Hide for a little while Until indignation runs its course.

Isaiah 26:18 word by word

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

• We wereהָרָהhârâh · to conceiveH2029
• we writhedחוּלchûl chîyl · to twist: writh in painH2342
• gaveיָלַדyâlad · to begetH3205
• to windרוּחַrûach · spirit: breathH7307
• We could not accomplishעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213
• deliveranceיְשׁוּעָהyeshû‛âh · salvationH3444
• for the earthאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: country/planetH776
• Norבַּלbal · notH1077
• inhabitantsיָשַׁבyâshab · to dwellH3427
• of the worldתֵּבֵלtêbêl · worldH8398
• bornנָפַלnâphal · to fall: fallH5307

Cross-references for Isaiah 26:18

• Isaiah 37:3And they said to him, “This is what Hezekiah says: ‘This day is a day of distress, rebuke, and humiliation; for children have come to the point of birth, and there is no strength to deliver them.
• 2 Kings 19:3And they said to him, “This is what Hezekiah says: ‘This day is a day of distress, rebuke, and humiliation; for children have come to the point of birth, and there is no strength to deliver them.
• Hosea 13:13The pains of childbirth come on him; He is not a wise son, For it is not the time that he should delay at the opening of the womb.
• Exodus 5:22Then Moses returned to the Lord and said, “Lord, why have You brought harm to this people? Why did You ever send me?
• Joshua 7:7And Joshua said, “Oh, Lord God! Why did You ever bring this people across the Jordan, only to hand us over to the Amorites, to eliminate us? If only we had been willing to live beyond the Jordan!
• 1 Samuel 11:13But Saul said, “Not a single person shall be put to death this day, for today the Lord has brought about victory in Israel.”
• 1 Samuel 14:45But the people said to Saul, “Must Jonathan die, he who has brought about this great victory in Israel? Far from it! As the Lord lives, not even a hair of his head shall fall to the ground, because he has worked with God this day.” So the people rescued Jonathan and he did not die.
• Psalms 17:14From people by Your hand, Lord, From people of the world, whose portion is in this life, And whose belly You fill with Your treasure; They are satisfied with children, And leave their abundance to their babies.
• John 7:7The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify about it, that its deeds are evil.
• 1 John 5:19We know that we are of God, and that the whole world lies in the power 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