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.

ISAIAH 26:15KJV
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Isaiah 26:15 (KJV)

What does Isaiah 26:15 mean?

Isaiah 26:15 describes God’s people speaking to the LORD about the growth of their nation. They credit him with making the nation greater and spreading it across the earth, and they recognize that his actions have brought him honor.

The words form part of a song addressed directly to God. After verse 14 describes other rulers whose power has ended, verse 15 turns to what the LORD has done for his people. The repeated phrase “thou hast increased the nation” gives special weight to their growth.

The Hebrew behind Isaiah 26:15

  • “glorified” — כָּבַד (kavad): The word can carry the sense of being honored or given weight. Here, the nation’s growth is presented as something that brings honor to the LORD.
  • “ends” — קָצֶה (qatseh): The word means an edge or outer limit. “All the ends of the earth” pictures the nation’s reach extending far beyond its earlier boundaries.

Why Isaiah 26:15 matters

  • The verse points to the LORD as the one responsible for the change. “Thou hast increased” addresses him directly rather than crediting the nation with its own growth.
  • The song connects the nation’s future with the fate of its former rulers. The contrast with verse 14 places the people’s increase alongside the passing of those who had ruled over them.
  • “Removed it far” describes the nation’s reach, not the removal of God. The words that follow—“unto all the ends of the earth”—show how far the verse pictures the nation extending.

Where else these words appear

“ends” Hebrew H7099 · used in 7 verses

  • Exodus 37:8 One cherub on the end on this side, and another cherub on the other end on that side: out of the mercy seat made he the cherubims on the two ends thereof.
  • Exodus 39:4 They made shoulderpieces for it, to couple it together: by the two edges was it coupled together.
  • Psalms 65:5 By terrible things in righteousness wilt thou answer us, O God of our salvation; who art the confidence of all the ends of the earth, and of them that are afar off upon the sea:

“far” Hebrew H7368 · used in 56 verses

  • Genesis 21:16 And she went, and sat her down over against him a good way off, as it were a bowshot: for she said, Let me not see the death of the child. And she sat over against him, and lift up her voice, and wept.
  • Psalms 22:11 Be not far from me; for trouble is near; for there is none to help.
  • Ecclesiastes 12:6 Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern.

“glorified” Hebrew H3513 · used in 109 verses

  • Genesis 13:2 And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold.
  • 2 Samuel 6:22 And I will yet be more vile than thus, and will be base in mine own sight: and of the maidservants which thou hast spoken of, of them shall I be had in honour.
  • Proverbs 8:24 When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water.