Bible Strands
Isaiah 26:10
Though grace is shown to the wicked man, he does not learn righteousness. In the land of righteousness he acts unjustly and fails to see the majesty of the LORD.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Isaiah addresses Judah during a period of national crisis, contrasting the spiritual response to God's discipline with the stubbornness of the unrepentant. The prophet observes that while God's judgments elsewhere in the world teach righteousness, the wicked remain unmoved.
The words — The Hebrew יֻחַן (yu.Chan) describes favor or grace shown to the רָשָׁע (ra.Sha'), the wicked man. Despite this kindness, he does not learn (לָמַד, la.Mad) righteousness (צֶדֶק, Tze.dek) and instead acts unjustly (יְעַוֵּל, ye.'a.Vel) in a land of straightforwardness (נְכֹחוֹת, ne.kho.Chot).
The thread — The pattern of unresponsiveness to divine kindness recurs in Hosea 11:7, where Israel turns away despite God's calls, and Romans 2:4, which warns against mistaking God's patience for indifference. Spiritual blindness to God's testimony is also noted in John 5:37.
Why it lands — The text establishes that unmerited grace does not guarantee moral change. It requires the reader to examine whether they are responding to God's discipline with repentance or remaining blind to His majesty.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
Let favour be shewed to the wicked, yet will he not learn righteousness: in the land of uprightness will he deal unjustly, and will not behold the majesty of the Lord.
Cross-references
- Hosea 11:7 My people are bent on turning from Me. Though they call to the Most High, He will by no means exalt them.
- John 5:37 And the Father who sent Me has Himself testified about Me. You have never heard His voice nor seen His form,
- Romans 2:4 Or do you disregard the riches of His kindness, tolerance, and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you to repentance?
- Exodus 8:15 When Pharaoh saw that there was relief, however, he hardened his heart and would not listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the LORD had said.
- Exodus 8:31 and the LORD did as Moses requested. He removed the swarms of flies from Pharaoh and his officials and his people; not one fly remained.
- Exodus 9:34 When Pharaoh saw that the rain and hail and thunder had ceased, he sinned again and hardened his heart—he and his officials.
- Deuteronomy 32:15 But Jeshurun grew fat and kicked—becoming fat, bloated, and gorged. He abandoned the God who made him and scorned the Rock of his salvation.
- Psalms 106:43 Many times He rescued them, but they were bent on rebellion and sank down in their iniquity.
- Proverbs 1:32 For the waywardness of the simple will slay them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them.
- Ecclesiastes 3:16 Furthermore, I saw under the sun that in the place of judgment there is wickedness, and in the place of righteousness there is wickedness.