Isaiah 9

King James Version

Full text for Isaiah Chapter 9

1¶ Nevertheless the dimness [shall] not [be] such as [was] in her vexation, when at the first he lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, and afterward did more grievously afflict [her by] the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, in Galilee of the nations.

2The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.

3Thou hast multiplied the nation, [and] not increased the joy: they joy before thee according to the joy in harvest, [and] as [men] rejoice when they divide the spoil.

4For thou hast broken the yoke of his burden, and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, as in the day of Midian.

5For every battle of the warrior [is] with confused noise, and garments rolled in blood; but [this] shall be with burning [and] fuel of fire.

6For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

7Of the increase of [his] government and peace [there shall be] no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

8¶ The Lord sent a word into Jacob, and it hath lighted upon Israel.

9And all the people shall know, [even] Ephraim and the inhabitant of Samaria, that say in the pride and stoutness of heart,

10The bricks are fallen down, but we will build with hewn stones: the sycomores are cut down, but we will change [them into] cedars.

11Therefore the LORD shall set up the adversaries of Rezin against him, and join his enemies together;

12The Syrians before, and the Philistines behind; and they shall devour Israel with open mouth. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand [is] stretched out still.

13For the people turneth not unto him that smiteth them, neither do they seek the LORD of hosts.

14Therefore the LORD will cut off from Israel head and tail, branch and rush, in one day.

15The ancient and honourable, he [is] the head; and the prophet that teacheth lies, he [is] the tail.

16For the leaders of this people cause [them] to err; and [they that are] led of them [are] destroyed.

17Therefore the Lord shall have no joy in their young men, neither shall have mercy on their fatherless and widows: for every one [is] an hypocrite and an evildoer, and every mouth speaketh folly. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand [is] stretched out still.

18For wickedness burneth as the fire: it shall devour the briers and thorns, and shall kindle in the thickets of the forest, and they shall mount up [like] the lifting up of smoke.

19Through the wrath of the LORD of hosts is the land darkened, and the people shall be as the fuel of the fire: no man shall spare his brother.

20And he shall snatch on the right hand, and be hungry; and he shall eat on the left hand, and they shall not be satisfied: they shall eat every man the flesh of his own arm:

21Manasseh, Ephraim; and Ephraim, Manasseh: [and] they together [shall be] against Judah. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand [is] stretched out still.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Isaiah 9 opens with a prophecy of hope, declaring that a great light will shine upon the afflicted lands of Zebulun and Naphtali, bringing joy and breaking the oppressor's yoke. This light is personified in the birth of a child, a son, who will bear the government and be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, and The Prince of Peace, establishing an eternal kingdom of peace and justice. However, the chapter then shifts to a stern pronouncement of judgment against Israel for their pride and refusal to turn to the Lord, leading to internal strife and unceasing divine wrath.

Medium Summary

The chapter opens with a promise of deliverance for the regions of Zebulun and Naphtali, which had experienced affliction. A great light is foretold to shine upon those dwelling in darkness, bringing immense joy akin to harvest or the division of spoil, as the Lord breaks the bonds of oppression. This deliverance culminates in the prophecy of a unique child, a son, whose birth signifies the establishment of an eternal government of peace and justice upon the throne of David. He is given majestic titles such as Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, and The Prince of Peace, whose reign will know no end. Yet, the chapter abruptly shifts to a declaration of God's judgment against Israel, particularly Ephraim and Samaria, for their arrogant defiance and refusal to seek the Lord. Despite repeated afflictions and the rise of adversaries, the people remain unrepentant. The Lord vows to cut off both the corrupt leadership ("head") and the false prophets ("tail"), as wickedness consumes the land like fire. Internal conflict and a lack of compassion prevail, with God's anger remaining unappeased due to their persistent iniquity.

Long Summary

Isaiah 9 commences with a hopeful declaration concerning the lands of Zebulun and Naphtali, which had previously endured affliction. It prophesies that the dimness of their vexation will not persist, as a great light will shine upon the people who walked in darkness and dwelt in the land of the shadow of death. This divine intervention will bring forth immense joy, comparable to the exultation of harvest or the division of spoil, as the Lord breaks the yoke of their burden and the rod of their oppressor, reminiscent of the day of Midian. The pinnacle of this prophecy is the birth of a miraculous child, a son, upon whose shoulder the government shall rest. He is bestowed with profound and majestic titles: Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, and The Prince of Peace. His government and peace are declared to be without end, established upon the throne of David with judgment and justice forever, a promise to be fulfilled by the zeal of the LORD of hosts. However, the chapter transitions sharply to a message of severe judgment against Israel. The Lord sends a word into Jacob, which lights upon Israel, specifically Ephraim and the inhabitants of Samaria, who, in their pride and stoutness of heart, boast of rebuilding with superior materials after destruction. Consequently, the LORD will raise their adversaries, joining the Syrians and Philistines against them, who will devour Israel. Despite these afflictions, the people refuse to turn to Him who smites them or seek the LORD of hosts. Therefore, the Lord will cut off from Israel both "head" (the ancient and honorable leaders) and "tail" (the prophet that teaches lies) in one day, for their leaders cause them to err, leading to destruction. The Lord finds no joy in their young men and no mercy for their fatherless and widows, as all are hypocrites, evildoers, and speak folly. Wickedness burns like a fire, consuming the land, which is darkened by the wrath of the LORD of hosts. The people become fuel for this fire, with no man sparing his brother, leading to insatiable hunger and cannibalism. Internal strife further plagues them, with Manasseh against Ephraim, and Ephraim against Manasseh, and both together against Judah. Throughout these pronouncements of judgment, the recurring phrase emphasizes that for all this, God's anger is not turned away, but His hand is stretched out still.

Core Concepts

  • Messianic LightThe prophecy of a "great light" shining upon those in darkness, specifically in Galilee of the nations, symbolizing divine hope and deliverance from affliction and the shadow of death.
  • Divine Child-KingThe birth of a son who is given extraordinary titles like "Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace," signifying a ruler with divine attributes and an eternal, peaceful government.
  • Eternal GovernmentThe promise that the increase of the child-king's government and peace shall have no end, established upon the throne of David with judgment and justice forever, performed by the zeal of the LORD of hosts.
  • Israel's Pride and RebellionThe persistent defiance of Ephraim and Samaria, who boast of rebuilding stronger after divine chastisement, refusing to turn to the Lord of hosts despite repeated afflictions.
  • God's Unrelenting JudgmentThe repeated declaration that despite severe afflictions and internal strife, the Lord's anger is not turned away, and His hand remains stretched out in judgment against an unrepentant people.
  • Corrupt LeadershipThe condemnation of both "ancient and honourable" leaders (head) and "prophets that teach lies" (tail) for causing the people to err, leading to their destruction and God's lack of mercy.
  • Internal Strife and Self-DestructionThe depiction of the land consumed by wickedness and the people turning against each other, with Manasseh and Ephraim in conflict, ultimately against Judah, illustrating the destructive consequences of divine wrath and unrepentance.