Isaiah 26:15
Thou hast increased the nation, O LORD, thou hast increased the nation: thou art glorified: thou hadst removed it far unto all the ends of the earth.
Original Language Analysis
יָסַ֥פְתָּ
Thou hast increased
H3254
יָסַ֥פְתָּ
Thou hast increased
Strong's:
H3254
Word #:
1 of 10
to add or augment (often adverbial, to continue to do a thing)
לַגּ֖וֹי
the nation
H1471
לַגּ֖וֹי
the nation
Strong's:
H1471
Word #:
2 of 10
a foreign nation; hence, a gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight of locusts
יְהוָ֔ה
O LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֔ה
O LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
3 of 10
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
יָסַ֥פְתָּ
Thou hast increased
H3254
יָסַ֥פְתָּ
Thou hast increased
Strong's:
H3254
Word #:
4 of 10
to add or augment (often adverbial, to continue to do a thing)
לַגּ֖וֹי
the nation
H1471
לַגּ֖וֹי
the nation
Strong's:
H1471
Word #:
5 of 10
a foreign nation; hence, a gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight of locusts
נִכְבָּ֑דְתָּ
thou art glorified
H3513
נִכְבָּ֑דְתָּ
thou art glorified
Strong's:
H3513
Word #:
6 of 10
to be heavy, i.e., in a bad sense (burdensome, severe, dull) or in a good sense (numerous, rich, honorable); causatively, to make weighty (in the same
רִחַ֖קְתָּ
thou hadst removed it far
H7368
רִחַ֖קְתָּ
thou hadst removed it far
Strong's:
H7368
Word #:
7 of 10
to widen (in any direction), i.e., (intransitively) recede or (transitively) remove (literally or figuratively, of place or relation)
Cross References
Isaiah 9:3Thou hast multiplied the nation, and not increased the joy: they joy before thee according to the joy in harvest, and as men rejoice when they divide the spoil.Isaiah 60:21Thy people also shall be all righteous: they shall inherit the land for ever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be glorified.Isaiah 33:17Thine eyes shall see the king in his beauty: they shall behold the land that is very far off.Isaiah 44:23Sing, O ye heavens; for the LORD hath done it: shout, ye lower parts of the earth: break forth into singing, ye mountains, O forest, and every tree therein: for the LORD hath redeemed Jacob, and glorified himself in Israel.Jeremiah 32:37Behold, I will gather them out of all countries, whither I have driven them in mine anger, and in my fury, and in great wrath; and I will bring them again unto this place, and I will cause them to dwell safely:Jeremiah 30:19And out of them shall proceed thanksgiving and the voice of them that make merry: and I will multiply them, and they shall not be few; I will also glorify them, and they shall not be small.Nehemiah 9:23Their children also multipliedst thou as the stars of heaven, and broughtest them into the land, concerning which thou hadst promised to their fathers, that they should go in to possess it.John 17:1These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:John 15:8Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.Genesis 12:2And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:
Historical Context
This prophecy looked beyond the Assyrian threat to Babylonian exile (586 BC) and the wider Jewish diaspora. After 70 AD, Jewish dispersion became global. Yet Isaiah envisions this scattering reversed—God increasing the nation and gathering exiles. The New Testament sees fulfillment in the church: Jews and Gentiles united in Messiah, God's people multiplied to earth's ends. Paul cites Isaiah extensively in Romans 9-11 to explain how Israel's temporary hardening facilitates Gentile inclusion, leading to Israel's eventual restoration.
Questions for Reflection
- How does God use even scattering and exile to accomplish His purposes of glorifying Himself and expanding His people?
- In what ways has God 'increased the nation' through the church, incorporating Gentiles into Abraham's spiritual family?
- How should knowing that God's glory is the ultimate purpose of national/church growth shape our evangelism and mission?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
Thou hast increased the nation, O LORD, thou hast increased the nation: thou art glorified (יָסַפְתָּ לַגּוֹי יְהוָה יָסַפְתָּ לַגּוֹי נִכְבָּדְתָּ / yasafta lagoy YHWH yasafta lagoy nikbadta)—The verb יָסַף (yasaf, "to add, increase") appears twice for emphasis. After judgment purges the wicked (v. 14), God enlarges His people. The passive נִכְבָּד (nikhbad, "you are glorified") shows that national restoration brings glory to God, not the nation. This anticipates the ingathering of Gentiles into God's people (Isaiah 2:2-4, 49:6, 56:6-8).
Thou hadst removed it far unto all the ends of the earth (רִחַקְתָּ כָּל־קַצְוֵי־אָרֶץ / richaqta kol-qatsvey-aretz)—The verb רָחַק (rachaq, "to be far, removed") refers to exile and diaspora. God scattered Israel to earth's ends in judgment, yet this same dispersion becomes the means of worldwide witness and eventual regathering. The paradox: divine judgment becomes the instrument of global redemption.