New King James Version
Isaiah 26:18
18We 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.
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 Living Translation (NLT)We, too, writhe in agony, but nothing comes of our suffering. We have not given salvation to the earth, nor brought life into the world.
Context of Isaiah 26:18
16Lord, in trouble they have visited You, They poured out a prayer when Your chastening was upon them. 17As a woman with child Is in pain and cries out in her pangs, When she draws near the time of her delivery, So have we been in Your sight, O Lord. 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. 19Your dead shall live; Together with my dead body they shall arise. Awake and sing, you who dwell in dust; For your dew is like the dew of herbs, And the earth shall cast out the dead. 20Come, my people, enter your chambers, And shut your doors behind you; Hide yourself, as it were, for a little moment, Until the indignation is past.
Read all of Isaiah 26Isaiah 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 37:3And they said to him, “Thus says Hezekiah: ‘This day is a day of trouble and rebuke and blasphemy; for the children have come to birth, but there is no strength to bring them forth.
- 2 Kings 19:3And they said to him, “Thus says Hezekiah: ‘This day is a day of trouble, and rebuke, and blasphemy; for the children have come to birth, but there is no strength to bring them forth.
- Hosea 13:13The sorrows of a woman in childbirth shall come upon him. He is an unwise son, For he should not stay long where children are born.
- Exodus 5:22So Moses returned to the Lord and said, “Lord, why have You brought trouble on this people? Why is it You have sent me?
- Joshua 7:7And Joshua said, “Alas, Lord God, why have You brought this people over the Jordan at all—to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us? Oh, that we had been content, and dwelt on the other side of the Jordan!
- 1 Samuel 11:13But Saul said, “Not a man shall be put to death this day, for today the Lord has accomplished salvation in Israel.”
- 1 Samuel 14:45But the people said to Saul, “Shall Jonathan die, who has accomplished this great deliverance in Israel? Certainly not! As the Lord lives, not one hair of his head shall fall to the ground, for he has worked with God this day.” So the people rescued Jonathan, and he did not die.
- Psalms 17:14With Your hand from men, O Lord, From men of the world who have their portion in this life, And whose belly You fill with Your hidden treasure. They are satisfied with children, And leave the rest of their possession for their babes.
- John 7:7The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify of it that its works are evil.
- 1 John 5:19We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked 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
In the dictionaries
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
New King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries