And I will restore your judges as at the first, and your counsellors as at the beginning: afterward you shall be called, The city of righteousness, the faithful city.
and I will
Isaiah 32:1,2 Behold, a king shall reign in righteousness, and princes shall rule in judgment…
Isaiah 60:17,18 For brass I will bring gold, and for iron I will bring silver, and for wood brass, and for stones iron: I will also make thy officers peace, and thine exactors righteousness…
Numbers 12:3 (Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.)
thou shalt
Isaiah 1:21 How is the faithful city become an harlot! it was full of judgment; righteousness lodged in it; but now murderers.
Isaiah 60:21 Thy people also shall be all righteous: they shall inherit the land for ever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be glorified.
Isaiah 62:1 For Zion's sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth.
and your counselors as at the beginning
Counselors in ancient Israel were advisors who provided wisdom and guidance to the leaders and the people. The reference to "the beginning" may allude to the early days of Israel's monarchy under leaders like King David, who sought God's guidance through prophets and wise counselors. This restoration of counselors signifies a return to divine wisdom and guidance, contrasting with the corrupt leadership that Isaiah often condemns. It underscores the importance of godly counsel in maintaining a just and righteous society.
After that you will be called the City of Righteousness
The transformation of the city, likely referring to Jerusalem, into a "City of Righteousness" signifies a profound moral and spiritual renewal. This change in identity reflects the fulfillment of God's promise to cleanse and purify His people. The term "righteousness" in the Hebrew context involves justice, ethical behavior, and adherence to God's laws. This transformation is not just a return to past glory but an elevation to a new standard of holiness and justice, aligning with prophetic visions of a future where God's kingdom is established on earth.
the Faithful City
The designation "Faithful City" indicates a community that is steadfast in its commitment to God and His covenant. This faithfulness contrasts sharply with the unfaithfulness and idolatry that Isaiah rebukes throughout his prophecies. The term suggests a city that embodies loyalty, trustworthiness, and devotion to God. This transformation is often seen as a type of the New Jerusalem described in Revelation, where God's presence dwells among a faithful people. It points to the ultimate fulfillment of God's redemptive plan, where His people live in harmony with His will.
The Lord reaches back to the earliest days of Israel, when judges such as Deborah, Gideon, and Samuel governed under His direct authority (Judges 2:16; 1 Samuel 7:15–17). By promising to “restore” those kinds of leaders, God pledges:
• A return to righteous, God-fearing justice (Deuteronomy 16:18; Psalm 82:3-4).
• A reminder that civil order flourishes only when grounded in obedience to His law (Joshua 1:8).
• A literal future for Israel in which governance is once again openly submitted to Yahweh’s standard (Jeremiah 23:5).
Counselors shaped national direction alongside the judges (Exodus 18:13-26). God intends to replace corrupt advisers with men and women who fear Him (Proverbs 11:14; 15:22). That means:
• Wise guidance that promotes covenant faithfulness.
• Policies reflecting the Word rather than human schemes (Psalm 119:105).
• The re-establishment of godly accountability at every level of leadership (2 Chronicles 19:6-7).
Once leadership is realigned with the Lord, Jerusalem’s very identity changes. “Righteousness” will not merely be preached; it will be practiced (Jeremiah 33:16; Zechariah 8:3). Expect:
• Public life marked by justice, honesty, and compassion (Isaiah 32:1).
• National testimony that attracts the nations to seek Israel’s God (Micah 4:2).
• A foreshadowing of Messiah’s earthly reign when righteousness covers the earth (Isaiah 11:4-5).
Isaiah previously labeled Jerusalem “an unfaithful city” (Isaiah 1:21). God now reverses that verdict. Faithfulness here speaks of covenant loyalty—steadfast love for the Lord evidenced in daily life (Psalm 101:6). The promise includes:
• Hearts restored to single-minded devotion (Ezekiel 36:26-27).
• Worship purified from idolatry (Zephaniah 3:9-13).
• Ultimate fulfillment in the New Jerusalem, eternally loyal to the Lamb (Revelation 21:2, 27).
God vows to overhaul Jerusalem from the top down: replacing corrupt judges with righteous ones, exchanging deceitful advisers for wise counselors, and transforming the city’s reputation from wicked to righteous and faithful. Taken literally, Isaiah 1:26 looks toward a future era—culminating in Messiah’s kingdom—when leadership, society, and worship all align with God’s holy character. What He promises, He will certainly perform.
(26) I will restore thy judges as at the first.--The prophet looks back to the good old days, the time probably of David, or the early years of Solomon (1Kings 10:9)--as Englishmen look back to those of Elizabeth--when judges were faithful, and princes upright, and the people happy--to such an ideal polity as that of Psalms 15, 24.The city of righteousness, the faithful city.--The two nouns are not the same, and the second has rather the meaning of "citadel," the acropolis of Jerusalem. There is possibly an allusive reference to the idea embodied in the names of Melchizedek (Genesis 14:18; Hebrews 7:2) and Adonizedec (Joshua 10:3), as connected with Jerusalem. So in Jeremiah 33:16 the ideal city, no less than the ideal king, is to be called Jehovah Tsidkenu ("the Lord our righteousness"). . . .
Verse 26. - I will restore thy judges as at the first (see Exodus 19:25, 26). In the early times there was no bribery, no perversion of justice (Jeremiah 2:2, 3). God will bring back a time when the nation will renew its first love, and be as it was in the days of Moses and Joshua. Thy counselors (comp. 2 Samuel 15:12; 1 Chronicles 26:14; 1 Chronicles 27:32, 33, etc.). The city of righteousness; or, of justice. The prophecy may have been fulfilled in part by the earthly Jerusalem under Zerubhabel, Ezra, and the Maccabees. but is mainly fulfilled in the heavenly Jerusalem - the Church of God, the true Israel. The faithful city (comp. ver. 21). Certainly the post-Captivity Church was "faithful" to Jehovah, in the way of acknowledging him, and him only, to be God, to a very remarkable degree, and in strong contrast to its inclination during pro-Captivity times.