Isaiah 26:3-4
You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The Hebrew word for "mind" here literally means "thing formed" or "constitution of the mind." So, God guards not just our thoughts, but the very inclination or character of a person, keeping them in deep peace because they are firmly fixed on Him through trust.
This verse emerges within a song of praise and trust for the nation of Judah. Following prophecies of judgment and exile, Isaiah shifts to a message of hope, depicting God as the protector of His people who will ultimately triumph over their enemies and dwell securely in Jerusalem. The song emphasizes God's strength and faithfulness, even when the nation faces devastation and its people feel like they are in exile or amidst the dust of death.
Understand the original words
shalom shalom · Hebrew Noun
Literally 'shalom, shalom,' signifying the highest degree of completeness, soundness, and total well-being. It is the tranquil state of heart that results from being in harmony with God.
batach · Hebrew Verb
The act of relying upon God's character, power, and promises. It is the opposite of self-reliance, requiring a complete surrender of one's security to the Lord.
YHWH · Hebrew Proper Noun
The personal, covenantal name of God (YHWH) who reveals Himself as the faithful Savior of Israel. It denotes His eternal existence, unchanging nature, and supreme sovereignty.
tsur olamim · Hebrew Noun phrase
This promise of perfect peace comes to the people of Judah during the tumultuous period of the Babylonian exile, a time when their nation and faith were severely tested. The verse offers comfort and assurance that even in the face of destruction and displacement, a steadfast trust in God can bring inner peace.
c. 701 BC
Assyrian Siege of Jerusalem
King Sennacherib of Assyria invades Judah and besieks Jerusalem. Though the city is miraculously spared, the surrounding land is devastated.
597 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon deports King Jehoiachin and many prominent citizens to Babylon after a brief revolt.
586 BC— this verse
Fall of Jerusalem and Destruction of the Temple
Nebuchadnezzar destroys Jerusalem and its Temple, exiling the remaining population to Babylon.
c. 539 BC
Persian Conquest of Babylon
Cyrus the Great conquers Babylon, paving the way for the return of Jewish exiles.
This Psalm speaks of the righteous person whose heart is steadfast, not fearing evil news, directly paralleling the 'mind stayed on you' and the resulting peace.
Proverbs 3:5-6This passage encourages trusting in the Lord with all your heart and leaning not on your own understanding, which is the core of having your mind stayed on God and finding guidance.
Matthew 6:33Jesus teaches to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, promising that all these things will be added, which reflects the principle that focusing on God brings peace and provision.
Philippians 4:6-7This New Testament passage directly connects prayer and thanksgiving to God with the result of His peace guarding our hearts and minds, echoing Isaiah's promise.
1 Peter 2:23This verse describes Jesus, who, when reviled, did not revile in return and entrusted himself to God. This exemplifies the ultimate model of a mind stayed on God, experiencing peace amidst suffering.
bensonIsaiah 26:3: "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee."
Isaiah 26:3-4 . Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace — Hebrew, in peace, peace; peace with God, and peace of conscience; peace at all times, and under all events; whose mind is stayed on thee — Hebrew, יצר סמוךְ , the thought, or, mind fixed, or, the stayed mind, as Bishop Lowth renders it; that is, the man whose thoughts and mind are fixed and settled on thee by faith, as the next clau…
cambridgeIsaiah 26:3: "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee."
3 . A stricter rendering might be: A steadfast disposition thou guardest in constant peace (lit. “peace, peace”), for it is trustful towards thee (see R.V. marg.). The word for “disposition” is elsewhere translated “imagination” (e.g. Genesis 6:5 ; Genesis 8:21 ). Literally it means a “thing formed” (as in ch. Isaiah 29:16 ), and thus may be used tropically either of that which is form…
The Hebrew word for "mind" here literally means "thing formed" or "constitution of the mind." So, God guards not just our thoughts, but the very inclination or character of a person, keeping them in deep peace because they are firmly fixed on Him through trust.
This verse emerges within a song of praise and trust for the nation of Judah. Following prophecies of judgment and exile, Isaiah shifts to a message of hope, depicting God as the protector of His people who will ultimately triumph over their enemies and dwell securely in Jerusalem. The song emphasizes God's strength and faithfulness, even when the nation faces devastation and its people feel like they are in exile or amidst the dust of death.
This verse emerges within a song of praise and trust for the nation of Judah. Following prophecies of judgment and exile, Isaiah shifts to a message of hope, depicting God as the protector of His people who will ultimately triumph over their enemies and dwell securely in Jerusalem. The song emphasizes God's strength and faithfulness, even when the nation faces devastation and its people feel like they are in exile or amidst the dust of death.
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A metaphor for God's unchanging stability, strength, and security. He is the immovable foundation upon which believers can rely in the midst of life's shifting circumstances.
538 BC
Edict of Cyrus and Return of Exiles
Cyrus issues a decree allowing Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem and rebuild their Temple.
"You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock." — The Hebrew word for "mind" here literally means "thing formed" or "constitution of the mind." So, God guards not just our thoughts, but the very inclination or character of a person, keeping them…
