Isaiah chapter 9
The future arrival of the Prince of Peace. The northern kingdom will fall.
THE FUTURE ARRIVAL OF THE PRINCE OF PEACE
VERSE 1. But there shall be no more gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time, he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali; but in the latter time he has made it glorious, by the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.
NLT translation. Nevertheless, that time of darkness and despair will not go on forever. The land of Zebulun and Naphtali will be humbled, but there will be a time in the future when Galilee of the Gentiles, which lies along the road that runs between the Jordan and the sea, will be filled with glory.
no more gloom. Their time of darkness and despair will come to a close. No matter what miserable thing is going on, it won’t last forever. It will end.
VERSE 2. The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light. The light has shined on those who lived in the land of the shadow of death.
This is one of the many famous prophetic statements in Isaiah about the upcoming Messiah. It is probably familiar, and yet looking closer will shower you with new insights.
This also speaks of Contemplative Prayer. We sit in darkness, perhaps for what seems like ages, and then the light from God arrives.
VERSE 3. You have multiplied the nation. You have increased their joy. They rejoice before you according to the joy in harvest, as men rejoice when they divide the plunder.
NLT translation. You will enlarge the nation of Israel, and its people will rejoice. They will rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest and like warriors dividing the plunder.
BBE translation. You have made them very glad, increasing their joy. They are glad before you as men are glad in the time of getting in the grain, or when they make division of the goods taken in war.
You have increased their joy. The promises of God are yes and amen. They are not doom-and-gloom. They are not sadness.
Some Christians have a sad disposition. It’s like the Good News of Jesus Christ gives them depression.
They are messengers of Sad News, not Good News of great joy that will be for all the peoples.
VERSE 4. For the yoke of his burden, and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, you have broken as in the day of Midian.
NLT translation. For you will break the yoke of their slavery and lift the heavy burden from their shoulders. You will break the oppressor’s rod, just as you did when you destroyed the army of Midian.
break the yoke of their slavery. One day, the LORD God will cause your oppressors to cease.
VERSE 5. For all the armor of the armed man in the noisy battle, and the garments rolled in blood, will be for burning, fuel for the fire.
VERSE 6. For a child is born to us. A son is given to us; and the government will be on his shoulders. His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
NLT translation. For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
MSG translation. For a child has been born – for us! the gift of a son – for us! He’ll take over the running of the world. His names will be: Amazing Counselor, Strong God, Eternal Father, Prince of Wholeness.
Prince of Peace. Some passages in the Bible speak of the LORD God being all about war. However, the Lord Jesus will be called the Prince of Peace. Read more »
VERSE 7. Of the increase of his government and of peace there shall be no end, on David’s throne, and on his kingdom, to establish it, and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from that time on, even forever. The zeal of the LORD of Hosts will perform this.
NLT translation. His government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity. The passionate commitment of the LORD of Heaven’s Armies will make this happen!
justice and with righteousness. The Messiah will rule with fairness and justice. He will make wise decisions and rule righteously.
He is completely different from most leaders. They rule with selfishness and deceit.
passionate commitment. This is a lovely way view of the LORD God.
THE NORTHERN KINGDOM WILL FALL
VERSE 8. The Lord sent a word into Jacob, and it falls on Israel.
VERSE 9. All the people will know, including Ephraim and the inhabitants of Samaria, who say in pride and in arrogance of heart,
who say in pride and in arrogance of heart. In our day, many Christians speak with pride and arrogance.
VERSE 10. “The bricks have fallen, but we will build with cut stone. The sycamore fig trees have been cut down, but we will put cedars in their place.”
VERSE 11. Therefore the LORD will set up on high against him the adversaries of Rezin, and will stir up his enemies,
VERSE 12. The Syrians in front, and the Philistines behind; and they will devour Israel with open mouth. For all this, his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.
The Syrians in front. Some translations refer to Syria as “Aram.”
with open mouth. They will bare their fangs.
VERSE 13. Yet the people have not turned to him who struck them, neither have they sought the LORD of Hosts.
the people have not turned to him. It is nearly impossible to convert the obligation-mindset people.
neither have they sought the LORD of Hosts. Many Christians have an obligation mindset.
They do not seek the Living God. Rather, they just fulfill their religious obligations.
VERSE 14. Therefore the LORD will cut off from Israel head and tail, palm branch and reed, in one day.
VERSE 15. The elder and the honorable man is the head, and the prophet who teaches lies is the tail.
From head to tail, the nation is corrupt.
the honorable man is the head. The “head” of the nation is the secular leaders.
They are almost always corrupt. However, in this verse, they referred to as honorable.
prophet who teaches lies. The “tail” of the nation is the false prophets. They are also known as the lying prophets.
Religious leaders are almost always corrupt. That is, false prophets. Lying prophets.
VERSE 16. For those who lead this people lead them astray; and those who are led by them are destroyed.
those who lead this people lead them astray. The leaders, both secular and religious, cause the people to go astray.
VERSE 17. Therefore the Lord will not rejoice over their young men, neither will he have compassion on their fatherless and widows; for everyone is profane and an evildoer, and every mouth speaks folly. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.
everyone is profane and an evildoer. They all hate God and do evil. They are wicked hypocrites.
VERSE 18. For wickedness burns like a fire. It devours the briers and thorns; yes, it kindles in the thickets of the forest, and they roll upward in a column of smoke.
VERSE 19. Through the LORD of Hosts’ wrath, the land is burned up; and the people are the fuel for the fire. No one spares his brother.
VERSE 20. One will devour on the right hand, and be hungry; and he will eat on the left hand, and they will not be satisfied. Everyone will eat the flesh of his own arm:
Everyone will eat the flesh of his own arm. That is, they will eat their own children. Moses prophesied this would happen.
VERSE 21. Manasseh, 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.
ISAIAH
CHAPTERS: 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66
RESOURCES: Summary, Outline, Memorize, True Fasting
Unless otherwise noted, all Bible quotations on this page are from the World English Bible and the World Messianic Edition. These translations have no copyright restrictions. They are in the Public Domain.