Open ye the gates, that the righteous nation which keepeth the truth may enter in.

ISAIAH 26:2KJV
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Isaiah 26:2 (KJV)

What does Isaiah 26:2 mean?

Isaiah 26:2 is a call to open the gates so that a righteous nation, one that is faithful to the truth, may enter in. The verse pictures a secure place where only those who live rightly and hold firmly to what is true are welcomed.

In context, Isaiah is speaking to the people of Israel, imagining a future time when God’s city is safe and open to those who are loyal to Him. The verse uses the image of city gates being opened as a sign of welcome and acceptance for people who are trustworthy and live by God’s standards.

The Hebrew behind Isaiah 26:2

  • "Righteous" (צַדִּיק, tsaddiq): This word describes someone who acts justly and lives according to what is right, not just in a legal sense but in daily life. The focus is on moral character, not just outward actions.
  • "Keepeth" (שָׁמַר, shamar): This means to guard, watch over, or hold onto. Here, it suggests a nation that actively protects and remains faithful to the truth, not just knowing it but living by it.
  • "Truth" (אֱמוּנִים, emunim): This word carries the sense of faithfulness, reliability, or steadfastness. It is not just about factual truth but about being trustworthy and dependable in one’s relationship with God.

Why Isaiah 26:2 matters

  • Isaiah 26:2 clarifies that entry into God’s secure city is not based on nationality or heritage but on living rightly and being faithful to the truth.
  • The verse highlights the importance of both personal character ("righteous") and ongoing commitment ("keepeth the truth") as the basis for acceptance.
  • In the wider context of Isaiah 26, this verse sets up a vision of peace and security that comes from God, showing that such blessings are closely tied to faithfulness and integrity.

Where else these words appear

“truth” Hebrew H529 · used in 5 verses

  • Deuteronomy 32:20 And he said, I will hide my face from them, I will see what their end shall be: for they are a very froward generation, children in whom is no faith.
  • Proverbs 13:17 A wicked messenger falleth into mischief: but a faithful ambassador is health.
  • Proverbs 14:5 A faithful witness will not lie: but a false witness will utter lies.

“Open” Hebrew H6605 · used in 133 verses

  • Genesis 7:11 In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened.
  • Nehemiah 1:6 Let thine ear now be attentive, and thine eyes open, that thou mayest hear the prayer of thy servant, which I pray before thee now, day and night, for the children of Israel thy servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against thee: both I and my father's house have sinned.
  • Isaiah 5:27 None shall be weary nor stumble among them; none shall slumber nor sleep; neither shall the girdle of their loins be loosed, nor the latchet of their shoes be broken: