Isa 9:1 Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the nations, by the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan—
Isa 9:2 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.
Isa 9:3 You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest, as warriors rejoice when dividing the plunder.
Isa 9:4 For as in the day of Midian’s defeat, you have shattered the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor.
Isa 9:5 Every warrior’s boot used in battle and every garment rolled in blood will be destined for burning, will be fuel for the fire.
Isa 9:6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Isa 9:7 Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.
Judgment on Arrogance and Oppression
Isa 9:8 The Lord has sent a message against Jacob; it will fall on Israel.
Isa 9:9 All the people will know it— Ephraim and the inhabitants of Samaria— who say with pride and arrogance of heart,
Isa 9:10 “The bricks have fallen down, but we will rebuild with dressed stone; the fig trees have been felled, but we will replace them with cedars.”
Isa 9:11 But the LORD has strengthened Rezin’s foes against them and has spurred their enemies on.
Isa 9:12 Arameans from the east and Philistines from the west have devoured Israel with open mouth. Yet for all this, his anger is not turned away, his hand is still upraised.
Isa 9:13 But the people have not returned to him who struck them, nor have they sought the LORD Almighty.
Isa 9:14 So the LORD will cut off from Israel both head and tail, both palm branch and reed in a single day;
Isa 9:15 the elders and dignitaries are the head, the prophets who teach lies are the tail.
Isa 9:16 Those who guide this people mislead them, and those who are guided are led astray.
Isa 9:17 Therefore the Lord will take no pleasure in the young men, nor will he pity the fatherless and widows, for everyone is ungodly and wicked, every mouth speaks folly. Yet for all this, his anger is not turned away, his hand is still upraised.
Isa 9:18 Surely wickedness burns like a fire; it consumes briers and thorns, it sets the forest thickets ablaze, so that it rolls upward in a column of smoke.
Isa 9:19 By the wrath of the LORD Almighty the land will be scorched and the people will be fuel for the fire; they will not spare one another.
Isa 9:20 On the right they will devour, but still be hungry; on the left they will eat, but not be satisfied. Each will feed on the flesh of their own offspring:
Isa 9:21 Manasseh will feed on Ephraim, and Ephraim on Manasseh; together they will turn against Judah. Yet for all this, his anger is not turned away, his hand is still upraised.
What joy shall be in the midst of afflictions, by the kingdom and birth of Christ. 8 The judgments upon Israel for their pride, 13 for their hypocrisy, 18 and for their impenitency.
Isa 9:1 Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honour Galilee of the nations, by the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan—
In Hebrew Bibles ch. 9:1 is ch. 8:23.
Verses 1–7 of 9 are closely related to the closing verses of ch. 8, which present a picture of extreme misery and darkness.
In Isaiah’s day the armies of Assyria brought misery and “darkness” (ch. 9:2) to Zebulun and Naphtali, two of the northernmost tribes of Israel. In the realization that this experience came as the result of spiritual darkness, Isaiah, with prophetic eye, looks forward to the “great light” (vs. 2, 6, 7), which will dispel the darkness of men’s souls (John 1:4–9; 8:12; 9:5).
The same regions that once saw so much distress will see a revelation of glory and light. The picture is one of the coming of the world’s Messiah with His message of life and hope. Over a world shrouded in darkness (see DA 34, 35) the Sun of Righteousness will arise with healing in His wings (Mal. 4:2).
Zebulun. At the time Isaiah wrote these words the land of Israel was in great distress, particularly the border regions to the north and east, for Tiglath-pileser III had invaded the country and had taken “Kedesh, and Hazor, and Gilead, and Galilee, all the land of Naphtali, and carried them captive to Assyria” (2 Kings 15:29).
The way of the sea. In ancient times highways were given descriptive names (see Num. 21:22; Deut. 1:2; see on Num. 20:17; Deut. 2:27). Some identify the “way of the sea” with the famous caravan route that led from Damascus and the regions beyond the Jordan, across Galilee, to the Mediterranean Sea (see on Mark 2:14).
Galilee of the nations. The Kedesh mentioned in 2 Kings 15:29 was in Galilee, and was a city of refuge (Joshua 20:7; 21:32). In the days of Solomon the district of Galilee extended to the region of Tyre (1 Kings 9:11). The name “Galilee” means “circle” or “circuit.” In NT times Galilee included a somewhat larger area than formerly.
It was called “Galilee of the nations” because it was always inhabited by a mixed populace, only a small portion of whom were Jews. This region, however, was linked to the world by means of roads leading to Damascus, the Euphrates, and Mesopotamia, to Tyre, Asia Minor, and Europe in the north, and to Samaria, Judea, and Egypt in the south. It was in such a region, readily accessible to the world, that Jesus spent much of His time in ministry to mankind.
Isa 9:2 The people who walked in darkness Have seen a great light; Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, Upon them a light has shined.
To the people of Galilee, who lived in such impenetrable darkness, great light was suddenly to shine forth (see John 1:4–9). The mind of the prophet was carried forward to the coming of the world’s Messiah. These words met their fulfilment at the beginning of Christ’s public ministry in Galilee (see on Matt. 4:12–16). From the time of the captivity of the ten tribes in 723/722, Galilee was literally in darkness—subject to foreign powers and without the ministry of either priest or prophet—until the coming of Messiah.
Isa 9:3 You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest, as warriors rejoice when dividing the plunder.
The prophet presents a picture of a brighter and happier day, when Messiah has come to His people, bringing them peace and joy. They are increased in numbers (see Isa. 26:15; Eze. 36:10, 11), and their happiness is multiplied.
Rejoice at the harvest. That is, joy like that of workers in the harvest season—in agricultural lands the happiest time of the year. In the autumn the Hebrews had their Feast of Tabernacles, a season of great gladness and thanksgiving (see Neh. 8:17). Their rejoicing was because they knew that God was with them (Phil. 3:1; 4:4). Christ came to proclaim peace and gladness to men (Isa. 61:3; Luke 2:13, 14).
Isa 9:4 For as in the day of Midian’s defeat, you have shattered the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor.
Shattered the yoke. Christ came to break the bonds of sin and to relieve men of the pressing burden of guilt and care that rested so heavily upon them (Isa. 61:1, 2; see on Luke 4:18, 19; Matt. 11:28–30).
The day of Midian. During the days of the judges Israel was frequently under the heavy hand of an oppressor, but eventually liberated by a national hero. Gideon achieved a glorious victory over an overwhelming host, broke the power of the Midianites, and set his people free (Judges 7:19–25).
Isa 9:5 Every warrior’s boot used in battle and every garment rolled in blood will be destined for burning, will be fuel for the fire.
The picture is one of strife and bloodshed, of tumult, turmoil, and death, but of eventual victory and the burning of the debris of battle. The age-long struggle between the forces of right and wrong reaches a climax in the great battle of Armageddon, the prelude to Messiah’s eternal reign (Rev. 16:14, 16; 19:11–19; see also Ps. 46:6–9; 76:2, 3; Isa. 63:1–6; Eze. 38:21, 22; 39:9; Joel 3:11, 16; Zech. 9:9, 10; Zech. 14:13).
Isa 9:6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. An
Isa 9:6 For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Unto us a child. Isaiah concludes his picture of the coming era of peace with a striking prophecy of the great Prince of Peace.
Peace is never to be realized in this world by the efforts of men. In his description of earth’s coming King, who will reign in righteousness and holiness, Isaiah employs terms that cannot belong to any earthly ruler.
There is, clearly, but one Person in the universe to whom the description here given can fully and adequately apply, and that is Christ.
Nowhere else in the Bible do we find the loftiness of thought, the beauty of expression, the intensity of feeling, found here in the description of the world’s Saviour and coming King.
Truly, Isaiah had seen a vision of the Lord of glory when these words were written. The hand of God was upon him and an angel guided his pen, as with other OT writers. In Ps. 110 Christ is set forth as the coming King, who will be “a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek”
In Ps. 2 He is pictured as breaking the nations with a rod of iron; and in Ps. 45 He is described as riding forth in majesty.
The government. Christ will rule over all heaven and earth (see Dan. 2:44, 45; Matt. 25:31; 28:18; Luke 1:32, 33; 1 Cor. 15:25, cf. Ps. 110:1; Phil. 2:10; Rev. 11:15).
Wonderful, Counsellor. That is, “wonderful Counsellor” (see chs. 11:2, 3; 25:1; 28:29).
This name embodies the thought of wisdom, kindness, and consideration—a name that would call forth the rapture, adoration, and praise of all beings in heaven and earth, and in all the universe (see Phil. 2:9–11; Rev. 5:12, 13).
Mighty God. Jesus the Son is no less God than is the Father. He was one with the Father from the days of eternity (see Ps. 90:2; Prov. 8:22–30; Micah 5:2; John 1:1; 14:9, 11; DA 19).
Everlasting Father. As God the Father is eternal, so also is Christ. Isaiah calls Him the Father because He is Father to all mankind in a special sense, being the Creator of men and of the world (John 1:3; Eph. 3:9; Col. 1:16; Heb. 1:2; cf. Gen. 1:26). No other word than “Father” so fully expresses the love and care of Jesus toward His children. When Christ rules, it will be as a father to His people (Isa. 22:21, 22; cf. Rev. 3:7).
Prince of Peace. See Zech. 9:9, 10; Eph. 2:14. Peace comes only with righteousness (Isa. 32:17, 18), and Jesus is the righteous King (Jer. 23:5, 6; 33:15, 16), imputing and imparting His own righteousness to men. He came to the world to bring peace (Luke 2:14; John 14:27; see also Phil. 4:7).
Prince of Peace. See Zech. 9:9, 10; Eph. 2:14. Peace comes only with righteousness (Isa. 32:17, 18), and Jesus is the righteous King (Jer. 23:5, 6; 33:15, 16), imputing and imparting His own righteousness to men. He came to the world to bring peace (Luke 2:14; John 14:27; see also Phil. 4:7).
Isa 9:7 Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.
Daniel foretells that the kingdom of Christ will break in pieces all the kingdoms of the earth “and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever” (Dan. 2:44; cf. Rev. 11:15). The angel Gabriel declared that “of his kingdom there shall be no end” (Luke 1:33).
The throne of David. David was a type of Christ, and it is through Christ that the throne of David will be established forever (Gen. 49:10; 2 Sam. 7:11–13; Ps. 89:3, 4, 29, 36; 132:11, 12; Jer. 23:5; 33:17; Luke 1:32; see on Deut. 18:15; 1 Chron. 28:7; >Matt. 1:1).
With judgment and with justice. Literally, “with justice and with righteousness” (see chs. 11:4, 5; 16:5).
The zeal. Why will the Lord do all this? He is moved by holy and ardent zeal, prompted by a spirit of love. His is a love that cannot remain inactive, which, when He thinks of men lost in sin, prompts Him to works of grace and glory. There is no stronger power than love, nothing that can move a man to greater sacrifice or more valiant service. The all-embracing love of Christ moves Him to rule with a spirit of unselfish service, “with justice and with righteousness.”
Judgment on Arrogance and Oppression
Isa 9:8 The Lord has sent a message against Jacob; it will fall on Israel.
This verse begins a new section, extending through ch. 10:4, in which the Lord administers a rebuke to the nation of Israel. The vision of the King who will reign in glory has ended, and the prophet turns his attention to the problems of the immediate situation. The time is the same as that of the previous chapters, for Rezin of Syria is still alive (v. 11), and the message must therefore have been delivered between 735 and 732, when Rezin died.
Fall on Israel.
Both Jacob and Israel are mentioned in v. 8. The message of 9:8 to 10:4 is primarily directed against the rebellious ten tribes, usually addressed as Ephraim or Samaria (ch. 9:9, 21). But in v. 14 the term “Israel” almost certainly refers to the northern nation. Does Israel in v. 8 refer to the northern nation, Israel, and Jacob, to Judah?
Isa 9:9 All the people will know—Ephraim and the inhabitant of Samaria—Who say in pride and arrogance of heart:
The Lord had given assurance that Ephraim and Syria would not succeed in their plans against Judah (ch. 7:4–7). They had already experienced some reverses, but Pekah, of Israel, was still determined to continue his attack on Judah.
In perverse arrogance Pekah refused to accept the warnings delivered by Isaiah, determined rather to carry out his measures against Ahaz.
Isa 9:10 “The bricks have fallen down, but we will rebuild with dressed stone; the fig trees have been felled, but we will replace them with cedars.”
Isaiah here refers to the failure of earlier efforts by Pekah and to his plans to recoup past losses (see ch. 7:1). He was displaying his perversity and open defiance of the will of Heaven.
Isa 9:11 But the LORD has strengthened Rezin’s foes against them and has spurred their enemies on.
The Lord would send the Assyrians, the enemies of Rezin, against Israel. See 2 Kings 15:29 for an account of Tiglath-pileser’s measures against Pekah.
Isa 9:12 Arameans from the east and Philistines from the west have devoured Israel with open mouth. Yet for all this, his anger is not turned away, his hand is still upraised.
Still upraised. The Lord had smitten Israel with judgments, but His hand was stretched out as if in the act of bringing further judgments upon the nation. Tiglath-pileser III took large sections of Israel, but did not destroy it. They spurn the warnings until Sargon II brought the nation to its end. This happened after a long siege.
Isa 9:13 But the people have not returned to him who struck them, nor have they sought the LORD Almighty.
God had sent His judgments, not to destroy, but to bring the people to repentance. They failed, however, to accept His messages of reproof, and continued in their wickedness and perversity; therefore additional, and more severe, judgments would inevitably follow.
Isa 9:14 So the LORD will cut off from Israel both head and tail, both palm branch and reed in a single day;
Israel failed to repent, the Lord had no recourse but to send further judgments, which would cut off from them both “head and tail” (see on v. 13). The nation would be utterly destroyed, with the judgments falling particularly upon those who had led the nation astray (see v. 16).
Branch and reed. The “branch” was probably that of the stately palm, answering to the nobles and rulers of the land. The “rush,” or reed, may refer to an affected lowliness (ch. 58:5), or, according to ch. 9:14, 15, to the false prophets.
Isa 9:15 the elders and dignitaries are the head, the prophets who teach lies are the tail.
Princes, judges, civil officials, and military officers were among the outstanding leaders of the nation. Upon this class the coming judgment would be particularly severe.
The most contemptible class in the nation was that group of men who had the responsibility of providing spiritual leadership but led the people in ways of error and folly. Isaiah did not spare them in his messages of rebuke (chs. 28:7; 29:9, 10).
Isa 9:16 Those who guide this people mislead them, and those who are guided are led astray.
The fate of a nation depends upon the counsel he gives and the example he sets. Israel failed because its leaders led the people astray.
Isa 9:17 Therefore the Lord will take no pleasure in the young men, nor will he pity the fatherless and widows, for everyone is ungodly and wicked, every mouth speaks folly. Yet for all this, his anger is not turned away, his hand is still upraised.
They still made a profession of religion, but openly rejoiced in iniquity. All classes were involved, and all classes would suffer, from young to old. When iniquity reached such a pass, justice demanded that judgments should fall.
Isa 9:18 Surely wickedness burns like a fire; it consumes briers and thorns, it sets the forest thickets ablaze, so that it rolls upward in a column of smoke.
This is a striking description of the final effects of iniquity. Sin kills, but it does not heal. Wickedness burns and creates ashes and desolation, but it does not repair or build. Briers and thorns, fit only for destruction, symbolize the iniquity that prevailed among the people (see chs. 5:6; 7:23–25; 10:17; 27:4; 32:13).
When the land became covered with a rank growth of brambles and briers that crowded out the good trees of the forest, then wickedness would break forth as a fire to consume itself. Sin would be punished; it would, in fact, bring about its own destruction (see Isa. 33:11, 12; Jer. 21:14; Joel 1:19, 20; Heb. 6:8). Thus the land would be left clear, ready for a new growth of wholesome verdure (see 2 Peter 3:10–13).
Isa 9:19 By the wrath of the LORD Almighty the land will be scorched and the people will be fuel for the fire; they will not spare one another.
The prophet views a scene of chaos and confusion. Men are utterly bewildered, and the country is filled with darkness.
Passion and bitterness, hatred and vice, injustice and cruelty, have so torn the hearts of men and have so inflamed their spirits that every man is set against his neighbour. Such will be the ultimate effect of evil when “every man’s sword shall be against his brother” (Eze. 38:21) and when the hand of every man “shall rise up against the hand of his neighbour” (Zech. 14:13).
Isa 9:20 On the right they will devour, but still be hungry; on the left they will eat, but not be satisfied. Each will feed on the flesh of their own offspring:
A striking picture of the ultimate effects of greed and corruption. Selfishness at length consumes itself. He who is not interested in his neighbour’s welfare is actually working against his own best interests. No man can, in the long run, be perfectly happy and prosperous unless his neighbour is also happy.
Isa 9:21 Manasseh will feed on Ephraim, and Ephraim on Manasseh; together they will turn against Judah. Yet for all this, his anger is not turned away, his hand is still upraised.
Manasseh, Ephraim. These two tribes were brothers and had common interests. But when Ephraim was arrayed against Manasseh and Manasseh against Ephraim, the common destruction of both was certain. And when these two tribes arrayed themselves against their brother Judah, they were making certain the fact that their final day of doom had come. No nation can pass through such a turmoil of crime, lust, and blood, as was the case with the northern kingdom during the early lifetime of Isaiah, and long endure.