Isaiah 44:26-28
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This verse highlights God's faithfulness by showing He not only confirms the spoken word of His servants but also performs the counsel of His messengers. It’s not just about hearing promises, but seeing them made real, even to the point of rebuilding what was ruined.
who confirms the word of his servant and fulfills the counsel of his messengers, who says of Jerusalem, ‘She shall be inhabited,’ and of the cities of Judah, ‘They shall be built, and I will raise up their ruins’; who says to the deep, ‘Be dry; I will dry up your rivers’; who says of Cyrus, ‘He is my shepherd, and he shall fulfill all my purpose’; saying of Jerusalem, ‘She shall be built,’ and of the temple, ‘Your foundation shall be laid.’”
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse comes at the end of a powerful section where God, through the prophet Isaiah, is speaking about His unique power and sovereignty, especially in contrast to idols. After declaring His ability to confound idolaters and establish His word, the focus shifts to the specific promise of restoring Jerusalem and the cities of Judah, which had been devastated and were in ruins due to exile and judgment. This promise serves as a concrete example of God's faithfulness in fulfilling His prophetic word to His people, both in their immediate future and ultimately in the coming of the Messiah.
The verse speaks of God confirming the word of His servants and fulfilling the counsel of His messengers. What does it mean for God to 'confirm' His word?
This verse highlights God's absolute faithfulness. He doesn't just speak; He guarantees His promises will come to pass.
God's Authority in Action
The prophecy speaks of devastated cities and raised ruins. How does this speak to places, or even parts of our lives, that feel utterly broken?
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This passage offers a powerful picture of divine restoration, moving from utter desolation to vibrant rebuilding.
The Scope of God's Rebuilding
Understand the original words
meqim · Hebrew Verb (Participle)
To make firm, establish, or validate; in a theological context, it refers to God guaranteeing that His spoken word will come to fruition.
etsah · Hebrew Noun
A plan, purpose, or settled design; often refers to God’s sovereign decree or blueprint for history.
Yerushalayim · Hebrew Noun
The holy city of God, often symbolizing the place of God's presence, the gathering of His people, and the locus of His redemptive activity.
Yehudah · Hebrew Noun
The southern kingdom of Israel; it represents the covenant people of God and the territory where His promises were particularly centered.
metsulah · Hebrew Noun
The primeval waters or the vast, chaotic sea; biblically, it symbolizes powers of chaos or massive obstacles that are under the ultimate control of the Creator.
ro'i · Hebrew Noun
A leader, protector, and provider; applied to God, it signifies His care for His people, and when applied to a human ruler (like Cyrus), it indicates a divinely appointed agent for the welfare of God's flock.
chephets · Hebrew Noun
God's sovereign will or master plan for creation and history; it denotes that which He has decided to accomplish.
heykhal · Hebrew Noun
The sacred house of God's dwelling on earth, where sacrifice is offered and God's glory resides among His people.
This prophecy speaks words of incredible hope into the utter devastation following Jerusalem's destruction and the exile. It assures the exiles that God's word, spoken through His servants, is unbreakable and that He will indeed restore His people and their cities, turning ruins into a testament to His faithfulness.
c. 701 BC
Assyrian Siege of Jerusalem
King Hezekiah trusts in Isaiah's prophecy and God's intervention, leading to the miraculous deliverance of Jerusalem from Sennacherib's Assyrian army.
621 BC
Josiah's Reforms and Discovery of the Law
King Josiah implements religious reforms based on the newly discovered Book of the Law, attempting to purify Judah's worship.
609 BC
Battle of Megiddo and Josiah's Death
King Josiah is killed in battle against Pharaoh Necho II of Egypt, a devastating blow that plunges Judah into political instability and spiritual decline.
598 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon conquers Jerusalem, exiles King Jehoiachin and many of the elite, marking the beginning of the Babylonian Captivity.
587/586 BC— this verse
Destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple
Nebuchadnezzar destroys Jerusalem and its magnificent Temple, exiling most of the remaining population to Babylon.
c. 550 BC
Rise of Cyrus the Great
Cyrus begins his rise to power, eventually conquering the Median and Lydian empires, setting the stage for his future confrontation with Babylon.
539 BC
Fall of Babylon
Cyrus the Great conquers Babylon, paving the way for the Jewish exiles to return to their homeland.
This passage also speaks of God's promise to restore Jerusalem and Judah after a period of exile, echoing the specific rebuilding and inhabitation mentioned in Isaiah.
Ezekiel 36:33-36Ezekiel prophesies the cleansing and rebuilding of the land of Israel, directly correlating with God's promise in Isaiah to raise up the ruined cities.
Zechariah 8:3-5This prophecy describes Jerusalem being re-inhabited with both the elderly and children, reflecting the assurance given in Isaiah that the city 'shall be inhabited'.
Psalm 102:13-14This psalm expresses a longing for Zion's restoration and mentions God's compassion for her ruins, aligning with Isaiah's promise to rebuild and raise up the desolate places.
cambridgeIsaiah 44:26: "That confirmeth the word of his servant, and performeth the counsel of his messengers; that saith to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be inhabited; and to the cities of Judah, Ye shall be built, and I will raise up the decayed places thereof:"
26 . That confirmeth ] is the antithesis to “that frustrateth” in Isaiah 44:25 . (Cf. Jeremiah 29:10 ; Jeremiah 33:14 ). the word of his servant … the counsel of his messengers ] are parallel expressions for the word of prophecy. The sing. “servant” p…
pulpitIsaiah 44:26: "That confirmeth the word of his servant, and performeth the counsel of his messengers; that saith to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be inhabited; and to the cities of Judah, Ye shall be built, and I will raise up the decayed places thereof:"
Verse 26. - That confirmeth the word of his servant; that is, of Isaiah himself, whom God calls "my Servant" in Isaiah 20:3. The "messengers" are the prophets generally. Before the return from the Captivity took place, it had been prophesied, not only…
This verse highlights God's faithfulness by showing He not only confirms the spoken word of His servants but also performs the counsel of His messengers. It’s not just about hearing promises, but seeing them made real, even to the point of rebuilding what was ruined.
This verse comes at the end of a powerful section where God, through the prophet Isaiah, is speaking about His unique power and sovereignty, especially in contrast to idols. After declaring His ability to confound idolaters and establish His word, the focus shifts to the specific promise of restoring Jerusalem and the cities of Judah, which had been devastated and were in ruins due to exile and judgment. This promise serves as a concrete example of God's faithfulness in fulfilling His prophetic word to His people, both in their immediate future and ultimately in the coming of the Messiah.
This verse comes at the end of a powerful section where God, through the prophet Isaiah, is speaking about His unique power and sovereignty, especially in contrast to idols. After declaring His ability to confound idolaters and establish His word, the focus shifts to the specific promise of restoring Jerusalem and the cities of Judah, which had been devastated and were in ruins due to exile and judgment. This promise serves as a concrete example of God's faithfulness in fulfilling His prophetic word to His people, both in their immediate future and ultimately in the coming of the Messiah.
"who confirms the word of his servant and fulfills the counsel of his messengers, who says of Jerusalem, ‘She shall be inhabited,’ and of the cities of Judah, ‘They shall be built, and I will raise up their ruins…" — This verse highlights God's faithfulness by showing He not only confirms the spoken word of His servants but also performs the counsel of His messengers. It’s not just about hearing promises, but…
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Last reviewed October 2026
