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Isaiah 26:4
Trust in Yahweh forever; for in Yah, Yahweh, is an everlasting Rock.
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Interpretation

The prophet calls a trust forever that is embodied in concrete decisions. Isaiah 26:4: trace "yahweh" and "trust". Give trust forever in small choices no one sees—carry peace past preference.

Context

This passage belongs to Isaiah, a prophetic oracle witness, highlighting trust forever. Within ch. 26, a small unit frames the emphasis. It edges toward prophetic hope & judgment. Watch the terms “yahweh” and “trust”.

Authorship & Historical Background

Early sources associate Isaiah with Isaiah son of Amoz. Isaiah is frequently described this way: Often read as a multi‑stage composition (Deutero/Trito‑Isaiah).. Scholars commonly date Isaiah 8th–5th century BC. Here the thread of prophetic hope & judgment comes into view. Chs 40–55 commonly exilic (Deutero). Chs 56–66 commonly post‑exilic (Trito). A long compositional arc is often proposed (Proto/Deutero/Trito).

More details
Traditional:Isaiah son of Amoz
Modern scholarship:Multiple authors (Proto‑, Deutero‑, Trito‑Isaiah).
Date:8th–5th century BC
  • Chs 40–55 commonly exilic (Deutero).
  • Chs 56–66 commonly post‑exilic (Trito).
Manuscripts & Textual Witnesses
In the Masoretic tradition the Hebrew text is preserved, standardized between the 6th–10th centuries CE. The Dead Sea Scrolls (1947-1956 discoveries) provide manuscripts 1000+ years older than medieval texts, generally confirming the Masoretic Text's reliability with only minor variations. The Septuagint (Greek translation, 3rd-2nd century BCE) offers an independent textual witness. Variations between manuscripts are typically minor: spelling differences, word order, or clarifications that do not affect the core meaning. Modern translations compare all available manuscripts to reconstruct the probably reflects the initial text text.
Sources & witness notes
MT