Isaiah 9

1 Nevertheless, there will be no more [dimness or spiritual darkness] gloom [a state of misery or distress] for those in [deep emotional or spiritual] distress [trouble or anguish]. In the past He humbled [brought low or afflicted] the land [region or territory] of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future He will honor [give glory or esteem to] the Way of the Sea [the road or path by the sea], beyond the Jordan [the river or border], Galilee [a region or district] of the nations [Gentiles or non-Jewish people]: word study 2 The people [walking in spiritual darkness] walking in darkness have seen [beheld, experienced] a great [powerful, radiant] light; on those living [dwelling, residing] in the land [region, territory] of the shadow [darkness, gloom] of death [mortal existence, spiritual separation], a light [enlightenment, salvation] has dawned [shone, arisen]. word study 3 You have enlarged [multiplied, increased in number] the nation and increased [made great] its joy [happiness, gladness]. The people rejoice [are glad, celebrate] before You as they rejoice [are joyful, happy] at harvest time [the time of gathering crops], as men rejoice [celebrate, delight] in dividing the plunder [spoils of war, booty]. word study 4 For as in the day of Midian [a time of great deliverance] You have shattered [broken, overthrown] the yoke of their burden [heavy load, weight], the bar [rod, staff] across their shoulders [a sign of servitude], and the rod [sceptre, staff] of their oppressor [cruel master, tyrant]. word study 5 For every trampling boot [of the warrior, with confused noise] of battle and every garment rolled [mingled] in blood will be burned [for burning, as fuel] as fuel for the fire [destruction, devouring flame]. word study 6 For unto us a child [born of a woman, a human being] is born, unto us a son [a male descendant, a gift from God] is given, and the government [dominion, ruling authority] will be upon His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful [inspiring awe and amazement] Counselor [a guide, an advisor], Mighty God [having great power and strength], Everlasting Father [a paternal figure, eternal and unchanging], Prince of Peace [a ruler, bringing harmony and tranquility]. word study 7 Of the increase [multiplication, expansion] of His government [rule, kingdom] and peace [harmony, wholeness] there will be no end [limit, termination]. He will reign [rule, sit in authority] on the throne [seat of power] of David and over his kingdom [domain, territory], to establish [set up, secure] and sustain [uphold, maintain] it with justice [righteousness, fairness] and righteousness [moral integrity, uprightness] from that time [point, moment] and forevermore [eternally, always]. The zeal [passion, fervor] of the LORD [Adonay, the sovereign God] of Hosts [armies, heavenly forces] will accomplish [bring about, fulfill] this. word study 8 The Lord [the supreme God] has sent [directed, dispatched] a message [word, declaration] against [to, toward] Jacob [the people of Israel, the descendants of Jacob], and it has fallen [come, lighted] upon [on, to] Israel [the nation, the people of God]. word study 9 All the people [including Ephraim, every inhabitant] will know it— Ephraim [the northern kingdom of Israel] and the dwellers [inhabitants, residents] of Samaria [the capital city of the northern kingdom]. With [in, characterized by] pride [stoutness, arrogance] and arrogance [haughtiness, presumption] of heart [the inner being, mind, and spirit] they will say [declare, speak]: word study 10 “The bricks [have fallen down, collapsed] have fallen, but we will rebuild [with hewn stones, using finished stone] with finished stone; the sycamores [are cut down] have been felled, but we will replace [change, put in their place] them with cedars [in their place, to renew them].” word study 11 The LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God] has raised up [set up on high, stirred up] the foes [adversaries, enemies] of Rezin [the king of Aram, Syria] against him and joined [stirred up, brought together] his enemies [those who hate him, opposers] together [in a crowd, as one]. word study 12 Aram [the Syrians] from the east and Philistia [the Philistines] from the west have devoured [greedily swallowed, destroyed] Israel with open mouths [like a wild animal]. Despite all this [for all this, in spite of everything], His anger [indignation, wrath] is not turned away [does not turn back, is not withdrawn]; His hand [the Lord’s power, Yahweh’s fist] is still upraised [stretched out, ready to strike]. word study 13 But the people [did not repent, turn back] did not return to Him [Yehovah] who struck [punished, disciplined] them; they did not seek [inquire of, worship] the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] of Hosts [armies, heavenly forces]. word study 14 So the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God] will cut off Israel’s [leaders and followers] head [the chief, prince, or ruler] and tail [the end, stump, or remnant], both palm branch [the high, noble, or upper class] and reed [the low, humble, or common people] in a single [one, same] day. word study 15 The head [elder, respected leader] is the elder [honorable, revered] and honorable [dignified, esteemed] man, and the tail [the false prophet] is the prophet [teacher, guide] who teaches [speaks, proclaims] lies [falsehood, deception]. word study 16 For those who guide [lead, direct] this people mislead [cause to err, lead astray] them, and those they mislead [deceive, lead into destruction] are swallowed up [destroyed, consumed]. word study 17 Therefore the Lord [the sovereign God] takes no pleasure [does not rejoice or delight] in their young men; He has no compassion [pity or mercy] on their fatherless [orphans, those without parents] and widows [women who have lost their husbands]. For every one of them is [completely, utterly] godless [without reverence for God, wicked] and wicked [evil, unrighteous], and every mouth speaks [utters, declares] folly [foolish, senseless words]. Despite all this [despite their sinful condition], His anger [wrath, indignation] is not turned away [does not subside or cease]; His hand [His power, authority] is still upraised [stretched out, ready to strike]. word study 18 For wickedness burns [burning with fury, consuming passion] like a fire [a powerful symbol of God’s anger and refining presence] that consumes the thorns [prickly, troublesome things] and briers [thorny, hindering obstacles] and kindles the forest thickets [dense, overgrown areas] which roll upward [rising high, mounting up] in billows of smoke [dark, ascending clouds]. word study 19 By the wrath [intense anger, fierce indignation] of the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God] of Hosts [armies, heavenly forces] the land is scorched [darkened, burned up], and the people are fuel [food, consumption] for the fire [destruction, judgment]. No man [individual, person] even spares [has pity, shows mercy] his brother [fellow, kin]. word study 20 They carve out what is on the right [to the very limit], but they are still hungry [and unsatisfied]; they eat what is on the left [everything in sight], but they are still not satisfied [or filled]. Each one devours [consumes utterly] the flesh of his own offspring [his own people, his neighbors]. word study 21 Manasseh devours Ephraim, and Ephraim [devours, destroys] Manasseh; together they [will be] turn against Judah. Despite all this, His anger [wrath, displeasure] is not turned away; His hand is still [yet] upraised. word study