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Isaiah 26 · a question people ask

"Hide yourself for a little moment, until the indignation is past" (26:20). Hide from what, and for how long?

In the text

The next verse gives the reason: "For, behold, the LORD comes out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity" (26:21). In Hebrew punish there is paqad, the verb of "the LORD will punish the army of the high ones on high" (24:21), and the chapter on Isaiah 24 looks at it. The call is to "my people": "Come, my people, enter into your rooms, and shut your doors behind you" (26:20). The verse doesn't name who is speaking. As for how long, it says only "for a little moment, until the indignation is past" (26:20) (tap moment, indignation). Chapter 10 has the same two Hebrew words, a little and indignation,: "For yet a very little while, and the indignation against you will be accomplished" (10:25). The verses give no date, and these notes don't set one.

The verses

“Come, my people, enter into your rooms, and shut your doors behind you. Hide yourself for a little moment, until the indignation is past. For, behold, the LORD comes out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity. The earth also will disclose her blood, and will no longer cover her slain.”
Isaiah 26:20-21 · World English Bible
“It will happen in that day that the LORD will punish the army of the high ones on high, and the kings of the earth on the earth.”
Isaiah 24:21 · World English Bible
“For yet a very little while, and the indignation against you will be accomplished, and my anger will be directed to his destruction.””
Isaiah 10:25 · 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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Last reviewed September 29, 2026. 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