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Isaiah 26 · a question people ask

"the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness" (26:9), but the wicked "will not learn righteousness" (26:10). Does judgment teach where kindness doesn't?

In the text

The two verses stand side by side, and in Hebrew both have the same verb, lamad, learn, with the same word, tsedeq, righteousness (tap learn). 26:9 says, "for when your judgments are on the earth, the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness" (26:9). 26:10 says, "Let favor be shown to the wicked, yet he will not learn righteousness. In the land of uprightness he will deal wrongfully, and will not see the LORD’s majesty" (26:10). The next verse goes on, "LORD, your hand is lifted up, yet they don’t see" (26:11). The song speaks here of "the wicked" (26:10), not of every person, and it doesn't make a rule beyond its own words. Earlier in the book the same verb is a call: "Learn to do well" (1:17).

The verses

“With my soul I have desired you in the night. Yes, with my spirit within me I will seek you earnestly; for when your judgments are on the earth, the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness. Let favor be shown to the wicked, yet he will not learn righteousness. In the land of uprightness he will deal wrongfully, and will not see the LORD’s majesty. LORD, your hand is lifted up, yet they don’t see; but they will see your zeal for the people and be disappointed. Yes, fire will consume your adversaries.”
Isaiah 26:9-11 · World English Bible
“Learn to do well. Seek justice. Relieve the oppressed. Defend the fatherless. Plead for the widow.””
Isaiah 1:17 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of Isaiah 26

Isaiah 26: Perfect peace

The "perfect peace" of 26:3 is the Hebrew word for peace said twice, shalom shalom, kept for the one who trusts. And the chapter says the same words two ways: "The dead shall not live" (26:14), then "Your dead shall live" (26:19), the same Hebrew words without the "not".

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Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions