Isaiah 5:26

"Therefore the LORD’s anger burns against his people, and he has stretched out his hand against them and has struck them. The mountains tremble, and their dead bodies are as refuse in the middle of the streets. For all this, his anger is not turned away, but his hand is still stretched out."

Key Reflection

Isaiah 5:26 portrays a scene of divine judgment where God's anger is so intense that it causes the very earth to quake. The imagery of mountains trembling and dead bodies left in the streets vividly conveys the severity and finality of this wrath. This passage underscores the permanence of God’s judgment, as his hand remains stretched out against the people despite their suffering, indicating that even after experiencing divine retribution, the consequences persist and his anger is not quenched.

From the Scholars: Barnes' Notes

And he will lift up an ensign ... -The idea here is, that the nations of the earth are under his control, and that he can call whom he pleases to execute his purposes. This power over the nations he often claims; compareIsaiah 44:28;Isaiah 45:1-7;Isaiah 10:5-7;Isaiah 9:11;Isaiah 8:18. An “ensign” is the “standard,” or “flag” used in an army. The elevation of the standard was a signal for assembling for war. God represents himself here as simply raising the standard, expecting that the nations would come at once. And will hiss unto them -This means that he would “collect” them together to accomplish his purposes. The expression is probably taken from the manner in which bees were hived.

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