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Selected Verse: Isaiah 26:11 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
Isa 26:11	Strong Concordance	LORD [03068], when thy hand [03027] is lifted up [07311], they will not see [02372]: but they shall see [02372], and be ashamed [0954] for their envy [07068] at the people [05971]; yea, the fire [0784] of thine enemies [06862] shall devour [0398] them.
	King James	LORD, when thy hand is lifted up, they will not see: but they shall see, and be ashamed for their envy at the people; yea, the fire of thine enemies shall devour them.

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
lifted up--to punish the foes of God's people. They who will not see shall be made to "see" to their cost (Isa 5:12). their envy at the people--that is, "Thy people." LOWTH translates, "They shall see with confusion Thy zeal for Thy people." fire of . . . enemies--that is, the fire to which Thine enemies are doomed (Isa 9:18).

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

lifted up--to punish the foes of God's people. They who will not see shall be made to "see" to their cost (Isa 5:12).

their envy at the people--that is, "Thy people." LOWTH translates, "They shall see with confusion Thy zeal for Thy people."

fire of . . . enemies--that is, the fire to which Thine enemies are doomed (Isa 9:18).

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
Lord, when thy hand is lifted up - This is an explanation of the sentiment expressed in the former verse. The lifting up of the hand here refers, doubtless, to the manifestations of the majesty and goodness of the Lord. They will not see - They are blind to all the exhibitions of power, mercy, and goodness. But they shall see - They shall yet be brought to recognize thy hand. They shall see thy favor toward thy children, and thy judgment on thy foes. The divine dealings will be such that they shall be constrained to recognize him, and to acknowledge his existence and perfections. And be ashamed - Be confounded because they did not sooner recognize the divine goodness. For their envy at thy people - The word 'their' is not in the Hebrew, and the sense is, that they shall see the zeal of Yahweh in behalf of his people, and shall be ashamed that they did not sooner recognize his hand. The word rendered 'envy' (קנאה qin'âh) may mean envy Ecc 4:4; Ecc 9:6, but it more properly and frequently means zeal, ardor, Kg2 10:16; Isa 9:6). Yea, the fire of thine enemies shall devour them - Or rather, 'Yea, the fire in regard to thy enemies shall devour them.' The sense is, that when his people were delivered, his foes would be destroyed; his zeal for his people would also be connected with indignation against his foes. The deliverance of his people from Babylon, and the commencement of the downfall of that city, were simultaneous, and the cause was the same.

Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78]
The situation still remains essentially the same as in Isa 26:11-13 : "Jehovah, Thy hand has been exalted, but they did not see: they will see the zeal for a people, being put to shame; yea, fire will devour Thine adversaries. Jehovah, Thou wilt establish peace for us: for Thou hast accomplished all our work for us. Jehovah our God, lords besides Thee had enslaved us; but through Thee we praise Thy name." Here are three forms of address beginning with Jehovah, and rising in the third to "Jehovah our God." The standpoint of the first is the time before the judgment; the standpoint of the other two is in the midst of the redemption that has been effected through judgment. Hence what the prophet states in Isa 26:11 will be a general truth, which has now received its most splendid confirmation through the overthrow of the empire. The complaint of the prophet here is the same as in Isa 53:1. We may also compare Exo 14:8, not Psa 10:5; (rūm does not mean to remain beyond and unrecognised, but to prove one's self to be high.) The hand of Jehovah had already shown itself to be highly exalted (râmâh, 3 pr.), by manifesting itself in the history of the nations, by sheltering His congregation, and preparing the way for its exaltation in the midst of its humiliation; but as they had no eye for this hand, they would be made to feel it upon themselves as the avenger of His nation. The "zeal for a people," when reduced from this ideal expression into a concrete one, is the zeal of Jehovah of hosts (Isa 9:6; Isa 37:32) for His own nation (as in Isa 49:8). Kin'ath ‛âm (zeal for a people) is the object to yechezū (they shall see); v'yēbōshū (and be put to shame) being a parenthetical interpolation, which does not interfere with this connection. "Thou wilt establish peace" (tishpōt shâlom, Isa 26:12) expresses the certain hope of a future and imperturbable state of peace (pones, stabilies); and this hope is founded upon the fact, that all which the church has hitherto accomplished (ma‛aseh, the acting out of its calling, as in Psa 90:17, see at Isa 5:12) has not been its own work, but the work of Jehovah for it. And the deliverance just obtained from the yoke of the imperial power is the work of Jehovah also. The meaning of the complaint, "other lords beside Thee had enslaved us," is just the same as that in Isa 63:18; but there the standpoint is in the midst of the thing complained of, whereas here it is beyond it. Jehovah is Israel's King. He seemed indeed to have lost His rule, since the masters of the world had done as they liked with Israel. But it was very different now, and it was only through Jehovah ("through Thee") that Israel could now once more gratefully celebrate Jehovah's name.

Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78]

The situation still remains essentially the same as in Isa 26:11-13 : "Jehovah, Thy hand has been exalted, but they did not see: they will see the zeal for a people, being put to shame; yea, fire will devour Thine adversaries. Jehovah, Thou wilt establish peace for us: for Thou hast accomplished all our work for us. Jehovah our God, lords besides Thee had enslaved us; but through Thee we praise Thy name." Here are three forms of address beginning with Jehovah, and rising in the third to "Jehovah our God." The standpoint of the first is the time before the judgment; the standpoint of the other two is in the midst of the redemption that has been effected through judgment. Hence what the prophet states in Isa 26:11 will be a general truth, which has now received its most splendid confirmation through the overthrow of the empire. The complaint of the prophet here is the same as in Isa 53:1. We may also compare Exo 14:8, not Psa 10:5; (rūm does not mean to remain beyond and unrecognised, but to prove one's self to be high.) The hand of Jehovah had already shown itself to be highly exalted (râmâh, 3 pr.), by manifesting itself in the history of the nations, by sheltering His congregation, and preparing the way for its exaltation in the midst of its humiliation; but as they had no eye for this hand, they would be made to feel it upon themselves as the avenger of His nation. The "zeal for a people," when reduced from this ideal expression into a concrete one, is the zeal of Jehovah of hosts (Isa 9:6; Isa 37:32) for His own nation (as in Isa 49:8). Kin'ath ‛âm (zeal for a people) is the object to yechezū (they shall see); v'yēbōshū (and be put to shame) being a parenthetical interpolation, which does not interfere with this connection. "Thou wilt establish peace" (tishpōt shâlom, Isa 26:12) expresses the certain hope of a future and imperturbable state of peace (pones, stabilies); and this hope is founded upon the fact, that all which the church has hitherto accomplished (ma‛aseh, the acting out of its calling, as in Psa 90:17, see at Isa 5:12) has not been its own work, but the work of Jehovah for it. And the deliverance just obtained from the yoke of the imperial power is the work of Jehovah also. The meaning of the complaint, "other lords beside Thee had enslaved us," is just the same as that in Isa 63:18; but there the standpoint is in the midst of the thing complained of, whereas here it is beyond it. Jehovah is Israel's King. He seemed indeed to have lost His rule, since the masters of the world had done as they liked with Israel. But it was very different now, and it was only through Jehovah ("through Thee") that Israel could now once more gratefully celebrate Jehovah's name.

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
Will not see - And they are guilty of the same obstinate blindness when thou dost smite and punish them, which is commonly signified by lifting up the hand. They shall see - They shall know that by sad experience, which they would not learn by easier ways. These - Such fire or wrath as thou usest to pour forth upon thine implacable enemies.

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¹⁸ For wickedness [07564] burneth [01197] as the fire [0784]: it shall devour [0398] the briers [08068] and thorns [07898], and shall kindle [03341] in the thickets [05442] of the forest [03293], and they shall mount up [055] like the lifting up [01348] of smoke [06227].

¹² And the harp [03658], and the viol [05035], the tabret [08596], and pipe [02485], and wine [03196], are in their feasts [04960]: but they regard [05027] not the work [06467] of the LORD [03068], neither consider [07200] the operation [04639] of his hands [03027].

⁶ For unto us a child [03206] is born [03205], unto us a son [01121] is given [05414]: and the government [04951] shall be upon his shoulder [07926]: and his name [08034] shall be called [07121] Wonderful [06382], Counsellor [03289], The mighty [01368] God [0410], The everlasting [05703] Father [01], The Prince [08269] of Peace [07965].

¹⁶ And he said [0559], Come [03212] with me, and see [07200] my zeal [07068] for the LORD [03068]. So they made him ride [07392] in his chariot [07393].

⁶ Also their love [0160], and their hatred [08135], and their envy [07068], is now [03528] perished [06]; neither have they any more a portion [02506] for ever [05769] in any thing that is done [06213] under the sun [08121].

⁴ Again, I considered [07200] all travail [05999], and every right [03788] work [04639], that for this a man [0376] is envied [07068] of his neighbour [07453]. This is also vanity [01892] and vexation [07469] of spirit [07307].

¹⁸ The people [05971] of thy holiness [06944] have possessed [03423] it but a little while [04705]: our adversaries [06862] have trodden down [0947] thy sanctuary [04720].

¹⁷ And let the beauty [05278] of the LORD [03068] our God [0430] be upon us: and establish [03559] thou the work [04639] of our hands [03027] upon us; yea, the work [04639] of our hands [03027] establish [03559] thou it.

¹² LORD [03068], thou wilt ordain [08239] peace [07965] for us: for thou also hast wrought [06466] all our works [04639] in us.

⁸ Thus saith [0559] the LORD [03068], In an acceptable [07522] time [06256] have I heard [06030] thee, and in a day [03117] of salvation [03444] have I helped [05826] thee: and I will preserve [05341] thee, and give [05414] thee for a covenant [01285] of the people [05971], to establish [06965] the earth [0776], to cause to inherit [05157] the desolate [08074] heritages [05159];

³² For out of Jerusalem [03389] shall go forth [03318] a remnant [07611], and they that escape [06413] out of mount [02022] Zion [06726]: the zeal [07068] of the LORD [03068] of hosts [06635] shall do [06213] this.

⁵ His ways [01870] are always [06256] grievous [02342]; thy judgments [04941] are far above [04791] out of his sight: as for all his enemies [06887], he puffeth [06315] at them.

⁸ And the LORD [03068] hardened [02388] the heart [03820] of Pharaoh [06547] king [04428] of Egypt [04714], and he pursued [07291] after [0310] the children [01121] of Israel [03478]: and the children [01121] of Israel [03478] went out [03318] with an high [07311] hand [03027].

¹ Who hath believed [0539] our report [08052]? and to whom is the arm [02220] of the LORD [03068] revealed [01540]?

¹¹ LORD [03068], when thy hand [03027] is lifted up [07311], they will not see [02372]: but they shall see [02372], and be ashamed [0954] for their envy [07068] at the people [05971]; yea, the fire [0784] of thine enemies [06862] shall devour [0398] them.
¹² LORD [03068], thou wilt ordain [08239] peace [07965] for us: for thou also hast wrought [06466] all our works [04639] in us.
¹³ O LORD [03068] our God [0430], other lords [0113] beside [02108] thee have had dominion [01166] over us: but by thee only will we make mention [02142] of thy name [08034].