Isaiah 26:9

Authorized King James Version

PDF

With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.

Original Language Analysis

נַפְשִׁ֤י With my soul H5315
נַפְשִׁ֤י With my soul
Strong's: H5315
Word #: 1 of 15
properly, a breathing creature, i.e., animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or ment
אִוִּיתִ֙ךָ֙ have I desired H183
אִוִּיתִ֙ךָ֙ have I desired
Strong's: H183
Word #: 2 of 15
to wish for
בַּלַּ֔יְלָה thee in the night H3915
בַּלַּ֔יְלָה thee in the night
Strong's: H3915
Word #: 3 of 15
properly, a twist (away of the light), i.e., night; figuratively, adversity
אַף H637
אַף
Strong's: H637
Word #: 4 of 15
meaning accession (used as an adverb or conjunction); also or yea; adversatively though
רוּחִ֥י yea with my spirit H7307
רוּחִ֥י yea with my spirit
Strong's: H7307
Word #: 5 of 15
wind; by resemblance breath, i.e., a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively, life, anger, unsubstantiality; by extension, a region of the
בְקִרְבִּ֖י within H7130
בְקִרְבִּ֖י within
Strong's: H7130
Word #: 6 of 15
properly, the nearest part, i.e., the center, whether literal, figurative or adverbial (especially with preposition)
אֲשַֽׁחֲרֶ֑ךָּ me will I seek thee early H7836
אֲשַֽׁחֲרֶ֑ךָּ me will I seek thee early
Strong's: H7836
Word #: 7 of 15
properly, to dawn, i.e., (figuratively) be (up) early at any task (with the implication of earnestness); by extension, to search for (with painstaking
כִּ֞י H3588
כִּ֞י
Strong's: H3588
Word #: 8 of 15
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
כַּאֲשֶׁ֤ר H834
כַּאֲשֶׁ֤ר
Strong's: H834
Word #: 9 of 15
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
מִשְׁפָּטֶ֙יךָ֙ for when thy judgments H4941
מִשְׁפָּטֶ֙יךָ֙ for when thy judgments
Strong's: H4941
Word #: 10 of 15
properly, a verdict (favorable or unfavorable) pronounced judicially, especially a sentence or formal decree (human or (participant's) divine law, ind
לָאָ֔רֶץ are in the earth H776
לָאָ֔רֶץ are in the earth
Strong's: H776
Word #: 11 of 15
the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
צֶ֥דֶק righteousness H6664
צֶ֥דֶק righteousness
Strong's: H6664
Word #: 12 of 15
the right (natural, moral or legal); also (abstractly) equity or (figuratively) prosperity
לָמְד֖וּ will learn H3925
לָמְד֖וּ will learn
Strong's: H3925
Word #: 13 of 15
properly, to goad, i.e., (by implication) to teach (the rod being an middle eastern incentive)
יֹשְׁבֵ֥י the inhabitants H3427
יֹשְׁבֵ֥י the inhabitants
Strong's: H3427
Word #: 14 of 15
properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry
תֵבֵֽל׃ of the world H8398
תֵבֵֽל׃ of the world
Strong's: H8398
Word #: 15 of 15
the earth (as moist and therefore inhabited); by extension, the globe; by implication, its inhabitants; specifically, a particular land, as babylonia,

Analysis & Commentary

"With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness." This verse intensifies the longing expressed in verse 8, now in first-person singular. "With my soul have I desired thee in the night" (נַפְשִׁי אִוִּיתִיךָ בַּלַּיְלָה/nafshi ivvitikha balaylah)—nafshi (my soul) is the seat of desire and emotion. Ivvitikha (I have desired You) expresses intense longing and craving. Balaylah (in the night) refers to times of darkness, difficulty, and distress, when sleeplessness comes from either trouble or passionate desire for God. The psalmist echoes this: "When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches" (Psalm 63:6).

"Yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early" (אַף־רוּחִי בְקִרְבִּי אֲשַׁחֲרֶךָּ/af-ruchi veqirbi ashacharekka)—ruchi (my spirit) emphasizes the inner person, the deepest part of human consciousness. Beqirbi (within me) emphasizes interiority. Ashacharekka (I will seek You early) comes from shachar, meaning dawn—to seek diligently at dawn, to pursue earnestly from first light. This describes intentional, disciplined, early-morning seeking of God, before the day's distractions intrude. The combination of soul (emotion/desire) and spirit (volition/inner being) emphasizes total-person longing for God.

"For when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness" (כִּי כַאֲשֶׁר מִשְׁפָּטֶיךָ לָאָרֶץ צֶדֶק לָמְדוּ יֹשְׁבֵי תֵבֵל/ki ka'asher mishpatekha la'aretz tzedeq lamedu yoshvei tevel)—this explains the passionate desire. Mishpatekha (Your judgments) are God's acts of governance and justice. When these are manifested la'aretz (in the earth), people lamedu tzedeq (learn righteousness). Lamad means to learn, be taught, trained. God's visible judgments become the curriculum teaching humanity righteousness.

Historical Context

This prayer reflects the experience of godly Israelites who longed for God while enduring national apostasy and judgment. During Isaiah's ministry, most of Judah pursued idolatry and injustice. The faithful remnant cried out for God's intervention. The verse anticipates the millennial kingdom when Christ's rule will enforce righteousness globally: "He shall judge among the nations...and they shall beat their swords into plowshares" (Isaiah 2:4). Currently, God's judgments throughout history teach righteousness to those with eyes to see, but the full manifestation awaits Christ's return.

Questions for Reflection

Related Resources

Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.

Topics

People