Yeshayah 26:5

5 For He bringeth down them that dwell on marom (high); the lofty city, He layeth it low; He layeth it low, even ad eretz; He bringeth it even to aphar (dust).

Yeshayah 26:5 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 26:5

For he bringeth down them that dwell on high, the lofty
city
That dwell on high in the high city, so the accents require the words to be rendered; and accordingly the Targum is,

``for he will bring low the inhabitants of the high and strong city;''

such that dwell in a city built on high, and in the high towers and palaces of it; or that sit on high thrones, are spiritual wickednesses in high places, and are of proud and haughty dispositions and conduct; as the pope of Rome and his cardinals; for not the city of Jerusalem is here meant, as Jerom thinks, whose destruction he supposes is foretold, as both by the Babylonians and Romans; and therefore, he observes, the word is doubled in the next clause; nor the city of Nineveh; nor Babylon, literally taken; but mystical Babylon is here meant. Jarchi interprets them that dwell on high of Tyre and Greece; but Jerom says, the Jews understand by the lofty city the city of Rome; and this seems to be the true sense; a city built upon seven hills or mountains; a city that has ruled over the kings of the earth, and whose present inhabitants are proud and haughty: he layeth it low: he layeth it low, [even] to the ground; he
bringeth it [even] to the dust;
all which expressions denote the utter destruction of it; see ( Isaiah 25:12 ) ( Revelation 18:7 Revelation 18:8 Revelation 18:21 ) .

Yeshayah 26:5 In-Context

3 Thou wilt keep him in shalom shalom, whose yetzer (mind-set) is stayed on Thee; because he trusteth in Thee.

4 Trust ye in Hashem forever; for in G-d Hashem is Tzur Olamin;

5 For He bringeth down them that dwell on marom (high); the lofty city, He layeth it low; He layeth it low, even ad eretz; He bringeth it even to aphar (dust).

6 The regel (foot) shall trample it down, even the feet of the oni (oppressed), and the footsteps of the dalim (poor, downtrodden, needy).

7 The Orakh Latzaddik (way of the just) is meiysharim (altogether level, upright, direct ones); Thou, O Yashar (Upright One, Straight One), straighten the ma’agal (circuit) of the tzaddik.