Isaiah 26:7 — Word Study
WLCאֹ֥רַח לַצַּדִּ֖יק מֵֽישָׁרִ֑ים יָשָׁ֕ר מַעְגַּ֥ל צַדִּ֖יק תְּפַלֵּֽס׃
BSAThe pathʼôrach [way, journey] of the righteoustsaddîyq [just, upright] is levelmêyshâr [straight, smooth] You clearpâlaç▸ [make straight, direct] a straighttsaddîyq [upright, just] pathmaʻgâl for the uprightyâshâr [those made right with God, the just]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| אֹ֥רַח | [the] way | Noun common, masculine singular absolute |
| לַצַּדִּ֖יק | of the righteous | Preposition |
| מֵֽישָׁרִ֑ים | [is] level paths | Noun common, masculine plural absolute |
| יָשָׁ֕ר | O upright [one] | Adj |
| מַעְגַּ֥ל | [the] track of | Noun common, masculine singular construct |
| צַדִּ֖יק | [the] righteous | Adj |
| תְּפַלֵּֽס׃ | you make level | Verb, Piel, imperfect second person masculine singular |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | The path of the righteous is level; You clear a straight path for the upright. |
| KJV | The way of the just is uprightness: thou, most upright, dost weigh the path of the just. |
| ASV | The way of the just is uprightness: thou that art upright dost direct the path of the just. |
| YLT | The path for the righteous [is] uprightness, O upright One, The path of the righteous Thou dost ponder. |
| WEB | The way of the just is uprightness. You who are upright make the path of the righteous level. |
| BBE | The way of the good man is straight; the road of the upright is made smooth by you. |
Where they part company is צַדִּ֖יק — see How Translations Differ.
One main clause followed by two phrases that describe God's action and the intended recipients of that action.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbפָּלַס
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Isaiah 26:7
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — The Assurance of God's Justicegenerated
Isaiah 26:7 reflects on the nature of the righteous and their path, which is made straight by God. This assurance comes amidst a discussion of God's justice and the experiences of the oppressed. The surrounding verses highlight the contrast between the righteous and the wicked, emphasizing the faithfulness of God to those who walk uprightly.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Isaiah 35:8 | And there will be a highway called the Way of Holiness. The unclean will not travel it— only those who walk in the Way— and fools will not stray onto it. |
| 2 | 1 Chronicles 29:17 | I know, my God, that You test the heart and delight in uprightness. All these things I have given willingly and with an upright heart, and now I have seen Your people who are present here giving joyfully and willingly to You. |
| 3 | Job 27:5–6 | I will never say that you are right; I will maintain my integrity until I die. |
| 4 | Psalm 18:23–26 | And I have been blameless before Him and kept myself from iniquity. |
| 5 | Proverbs 20:7 | The righteous man walks with integrity; blessed are his children after him. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 14 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — מֵישָׁרִים, mei.sha.Rimgenerated
The word מֵישָׁר (meyshar) means 'level' or 'straight,' indicating a path that is smooth and even. It is a noun in the masculine plural form, suggesting multiple aspects of uprightness and fairness. The parsing indicates it is used here to describe the condition of the paths of the righteous.
This term conveys a sense of moral and ethical integrity, often appearing in contexts that emphasize fairness and justice. In this verse, it highlights the nature of the righteous path as not only physically straight but also morally upright.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against. The BSB has level, and so do the KJV and the ASV: all three maintain the connotation of smoothness and straightness in the path of the righteous.
Where others part company with the BSB is in the rendering of צַדִּ֖יק — upright (ASV, BBE, KJV) vs. just (DRA, RVA). This shows a slight variation in emphasis on the nature of righteousness.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main clause is governed by the finite verb תְּפַלֵּֽס, you make level, which connects to the subject אֹ֥רַח, the path. The sentence structure emphasizes God's action in making the path straight for the righteous.
The Hebrew word order places the subject before the verb, which is typical in Hebrew poetry. This structure highlights the relationship between the righteous and the path that God clears for them.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint uses the Greek word ὁδὸς for אֹ֥רַח, which means 'way' or 'path.' This choice aligns closely with the Hebrew meaning, emphasizing the concept of a journey.
The term εὐθεῖα is used for מֵישָׁרִים, indicating a straight path. This translation captures the essence of the Hebrew text, maintaining the focus on the righteousness of the path.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Isaiah 26:7 tells us that the path of the righteous is level, emphasizing that God makes it straight for those who are upright. This verse assures believers that God guides them on a smooth and just path, contrasting their experience with that of the oppressed.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
It signifies that the way of those who live justly is made smooth and straight by God, ensuring they can walk without obstacles.
God's guidance and intervention in their lives help them navigate challenges and maintain a righteous course.
Being upright means living in accordance with God's standards of justice and morality, reflecting a character that is pleasing to Him.
A straight path symbolizes righteousness, guidance, and the assurance that God is with those who follow His ways.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what ways have I experienced God's guidance in my own life?
- How can I strive to live righteously and walk on the path He has cleared for me?
- What obstacles have I faced, and how can I trust God to make my path straight?
- How does understanding the nature of the righteous path affect my daily decisions?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Jerome comments on this verse, interpreting it to emphasize the straightness of the path for the just and the importance of waiting on God's judgments.
The path of the just is straight, the righteous path is for walking: and on the path of your judgments, O Lord, we have waited for you, your name and your memorial in the desire of our soul: my soul has desired you in the night.Early Church Fathers on Isaiah 26 →
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Isaiah 26:7 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleThe way of the just [is] uprightness,.... Or, "the way for the just is uprightnesses" (s), most upright; the way which is appointed for him, and which he is directed to walk in, is a way of
Read John Gill on Isaiah 26 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryThe way of the just is uprightness: thou, most upright, dost weigh the path of the just.
Read Robert Jamieson on Isaiah 26 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleIs uprightness; or, most even or plain. Heb. evenness or plainness. Which is understood either, 1. Of the rectitude or goodness of his actions or course; or rather, 2. Of the good success of his affairs; for this suits best with the coherence. When the way of the wicked is rugged, in which they easily stumble and fall into mischief, of which he spoke, ,6, the path of just men is plain and smooth, and they walk safely and comfortably in it. Thou, most upright, dost weigh the path of the just: the sense of the words thus rendered is, Thou, O God, who art most upright in all thy ways, and therefore a lover of uprightness. and of all upright men, dost weigh (i.e. examine) the path of the just…
Read Matthew Poole on Isaiah 26 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsIsaiah 26:7 The way of the just [is] uprightness: thou, most upright, dost weigh the path of the just.Ver. 7. The way of the just is uprightness.] Heb., Uprightnesses - that is, just and straight courses. They turn not aside to crooked and wry ways, as do the workers of iniquity, but hold on in an even way, without windings or writhings; the king’ s highway to heaven is their road, and this leadeth them to that city of God. Thou most upright dost weigh the path of the just.] Or, Thou dost by levelling make the just man’ s path even. By thy preventing grace thou makest him just and upright, and by thy subsequent grace thou strengthenest and directest him, that he may run and not be weary…
Read John Trapp on Isaiah 26 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(7) The way of the just is uprightness.—The English version seems somewhat tautologous. Better, is straight, or is even—i.e., leads on without interruption to its appointed end. So, in the second clause, instead of “thou shalt weigh the path,” which conveys a not very intelligible thought, we render, makest smooth the path. Probably, too, the word translated, “most upright,” as if it were a vocative, should be taken adverbially. The verse is, as it were, an echo of Pro 4:26; Proverbs 5:6; Proverbs 5:21.
Read Charles John Ellicott on Isaiah 26 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges7, 8. That the way of the righteous is made straight by Jehovah, is a fundamental principle of religion (Proverbs 3:6; Proverbs 15:19, &c.), but the principle is upheld only by Jehovah moving in His own way of judgment; therefore the “righteous nation” has waited impatiently for His judicial interposition.
Read Cambridge on Isaiah 26 →Albert Barnes1798–1870Barnes' Notes on the BibleThe way of the just is uprightness - The Hebrew is literally, ‘The way to the just is uprightness;’ the word ‘way’ probably refers to God’s way, or his dealings with the righteous.
Read Albert Barnes on Isaiah 26 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible5-7. He bringeth down them that dwell on high — The argument is, Why not trust such a One who has overwhelmed imperial oppressive cities, and abolished nearer gainsaying peoples.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Isaiah 26 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
The path of the righteous is level; You clear a straight path for the upright.
The way of the just is uprightness. You who are upright make the path of the righteous level.
The path of the righteous is level; You clear a straight path for the upright.
The way of the righteous is level, the path of the righteous that you make is straight.
Tyndale line
The way of the just is uprightness: thou, most upright, dost weigh the path of the just.
The way of the just is uprightness: thou that art upright dost direct the path of the just.
The way of the just is uprightness: thou that art up right dost direct the path of the just.
The way of the just is uprightness: thou, most upright, dost weigh the path of the just.
The way of the iust is righteousnesse: thou wilt make equall the righteous path of the iust.
Strictly literal
The way of the just is uprightness: thou, the Upright, dost make the path of the just even.
The path for the righteous [is] uprightness, O upright One, The path of the righteous Thou dost ponder.
The path for the righteous [is] uprightness, || O upright One, || You ponder the path of the righteous.
The path of the just is straight: thou, most upright, dost ever level the road of the just.
The path of the righteous is level, Righteous One; the path of the righteous you make straight.
From the Latin
The way of the just is right, the path of the just is right to walk in.
Simplified
You God, do what is right, and you straighten out the way for those who live right; you smooth out their path.
The way of the good man is straight; the road of the upright is made smooth by you.
Word by word, the decisions they made
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text is supported by the Septuagint and the Dead Sea Scrolls, which agree on most words. The 1Qisaa scroll aligns closely with the MT, while 4Q56 and 4Q57 have some restored words but do not significantly alter the meaning.
אֹ֥רַח לַצַּדִּ֖יק מֵֽישָׁרִ֑ים יָשָׁ֕ר מַעְגַּ֥ל צַדִּ֖יק תְּפַלֵּֽס׃
5 of the 7 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
אורח לצדיק מישרים ישר מעגל צדק תפלט
7 words on the leather.
[ארח] [לצדיק] מישרים ישר [מעגל] [צדיק] [תפלס]
nothing on the leather here — 2 partly restored, 5 supplied entire by an editor.
[ארח] לצדיק מישירים ישרו מעגל צדק [תפלס]
3 words on the leather — 2 partly restored, 2 supplied entire by an editor.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Isaiah 26:7
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
אֹ֫רַח (orach) means 'way' or 'path,' and can refer to both literal and figurative routes in life, including one's manner of living or character. It also denotes a traveler or wayfarer. The word is derived from a root meaning a well-trodden road, and it encompasses various aspects of life’s journey.
אֹ֫רַח n.m. way, path
lit.
fig. path, way, of course & fortunes of life
fig. way, of mode of living, or character
by meton. traveller, wayfarer
base
H734 אֹ֫רַח way, path . lit.
. fig. path, way, of course & fortunes of life
. fig. way, of mode of living, or character
. by meton. traveller, wayfarer
734 'orach o'-rakh
from 732; a well-trodden road (literally or figuratively);
also a caravan:--manner, path, race, rank, traveller, troop,
(by-, high-)way.
see HEBREW for 0732
אֹ֫רַח (o.rach) — way.
1) way, path
1a) path, road
1b) the path, way, passing of life (fig.)
1c) way of living (fig.)
1d) traveller, wayfarer (meton)
Aramaic equivalent: o.rach (אֹ֫רַח "way" H0735)
N-cs — Noun common · masculine singular absoluteHNcmsa
wa ('orach, orcha', 'erets, bo', derekh, halikhah, ma`galah, nathibh; hodos, parodos, poreia, tropos; "highway," mecillah, meclul; diexodoi ton hodon): The list just cited contains only a portion of the words translated "way" or "highway" in the King James Version. Most of them have the primary meaning of "road," "customary path," "course of travel" (Ge 3:24; Ex 23:20; Nu 20:17, etc.). By a very easy and natural figure "way" is applied to the course of human conduct, the manner of life which one lives (Ex 18:20; 32:8; Nu 22:32; 1Sa 8:3;
צַדִּיק (tsaddiyq) means just or righteous, covering various aspects such as lawful behavior, moral conduct, and being justified by God. It is derived from a related root and is used to describe individuals who are upright in character and actions.
צַדִּיק 206 adj. just, righteous
base
H6662 צַדִּיק just, righteous
6662 tsaddiyq tsad-deek'
from 6663; just:--just, lawful, righteous (man).
see HEBREW for 06663
צַדִּיק (tsad.diq) — righteous.
1) just, lawful, righteous
1a) just, righteous (in government)
1b) just, right (in one's cause)
1c) just, righteous (in conduct and character)
1d) righteous (as justified and vindicated by God)
1e) right, correct, lawful
Prep | Adj — PrepositionHRd/Aamsa
מֵישָׁר (meyshar) refers to concepts of evenness, uprightness, and equity. It is derived from a root meaning 'to be straight' and can figuratively denote prosperity or concord. The term is used in various contexts to express rectitude and fairness, often appearing in plural form with a singular sense.
[מֵישָׁר] n.m. evenness, uprightness, equity
base
H4339 [מֵישָׁר] evenness, uprightness, equity
4339 meyshar may-shawr'
from 3474; evenness, i.e. (figuratively) prosperity or
concord; also straightness, i.e. (figuratively) rectitude
(only in plural with singular sense; often
adverbially):--agreement, aright, that are equal, equity,
(things that are) right(-eously, things), sweetly,
upright(-ly, -ness).
see HEBREW for 03474
מֵישָׁר (me.shar) — uprightness.
1) evenness, uprightness, straightness, equity
1a) evenness, level, smoothness
1b) uprightness, equity
1c) rightly (as adv)
N-mp — Noun common · masculine plural absoluteHNcmpa
יָשָׁר (yashar) means straight or upright, covering a range of meanings from physical straightness to moral correctness. It can refer to something that is pleasing, just, or fitting, as well as the concept of uprightness itself. The term is also associated with a figure named Jashar, mentioned in Joshua 10:13.
יָשָׁר adj. straight, right
straight, level
right, pleasing
straightforward, just, upright
abstr., uprightness
base
H3477 יָשָׁר straight, right . straight, level
. right, pleasing
. straightforward, just, upright
. abstr., uprightness
3477 yashar yaw-shawr'
from 3474; straight (literally or figuratively):--convenient,
equity, Jasher, just, meet(-est), + pleased well right(-eous),
straight, (most) upright(-ly, -ness).
see HEBREW for 03474
יָשָׁר (ya.shar) — upright.
1) straight, upright, correct, right
1a) straight, level
1b) right, pleasing, correct
1c) straightforward, just, upright, fitting, proper
1d) uprightness, righteous, upright
1e) that which is upright (subst)
Also means: ya.shar (יָשָׁר "upright" H3477I)
יָשָׁר (ya.shar) — Jashar.
A man living before Israel's Monarchy, first mentioned at Jos.10.13
יָשָׁר (ya.shar) — upright.
1) straight, upright, correct, right
1a) straight, level
1b) right, pleasing, correct
1c) straightforward, just, upright, fitting, proper
1d) uprightness, righteous, upright
1e) that which is upright (subst)
Adj — AdjHAamsa
wun.
See NUMBER.
מַעְגָּל (ma`gal) refers to a track or entrenchment, with meanings that include a literal path or figurative way. It can also denote a circular rampart or trench. The entries consistently emphasize its use in contexts related to movement or fortification.
מַעְגָּל n.m. 1. entrenchment. 2. track
base
H4570 מַעְגָּל 1. entrenchment. 2. track
4570 ma`gal mah-gawl'
or feminine mapgalah {mah-gaw-law'}; from the same as 5696; a
track (literally or figuratively); also a rampart (as
circular):--going, path, trench, way((-side)).
see HEBREW for 05696
מַעְגָּל (ma.gal) — track.
1) entrenchment, track
1a) circumvallation, entrenchment
1b) track
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular constructHNcmsc
ov:
(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
צַדִּיק (tsaddiyq) means just or righteous, covering various aspects such as lawful behavior, moral conduct, and being justified by God. It is derived from a related root and is used to describe individuals who are upright in character and actions.
צַדִּיק 206 adj. just, righteous
base
H6662 צַדִּיק just, righteous
6662 tsaddiyq tsad-deek'
from 6663; just:--just, lawful, righteous (man).
see HEBREW for 06663
צַדִּיק (tsad.diq) — righteous.
1) just, lawful, righteous
1a) just, righteous (in government)
1b) just, right (in one's cause)
1c) just, righteous (in conduct and character)
1d) righteous (as justified and vindicated by God)
1e) right, correct, lawful
Adj — AdjHAamsa
פָּלַס (palas) is a verb that primarily means to weigh or make level. It can also imply preparing a road by rolling it flat or mentally weighing options. The entries highlight its use in the Piel form, emphasizing actions like weighing out or smoothing surfaces.
[פָּלַס] vb. Pi. denom. weigh, make level
base
H6424 פָּלַס vb. Pi. denom. weigh, make level
6424 palac paw-las'
a primitive root; properly, to roll flat, i.e. prepare (a
road); also to revolve, i.e. weigh (mentally):--make, ponder,
weigh.
פָּלַס (pa.las) — to envy.
1) (Piel) to weigh, make level, balance
1a) to weigh out
1b) to make level or smooth
V-Piel-Imperf-2ms — Verb · Piel · imperfect second person masculine singularHVpi2ms