Isaiah 9:10
Isaiah 9:10 in Multiple Translations
“The bricks have fallen, but we will rebuild with finished stone; the sycamores have been felled, but we will replace them with cedars.”
The bricks are fallen down, but we will build with hewn stones: the sycomores are cut down, but we will change them into cedars.
The bricks are fallen, but we will build with hewn stone; the sycomores are cut down, but we will put cedars in their place.
The bricks have come down, but we will put up buildings of cut stone in their place: the sycamores are cut down, but they will be changed to cedars.
“The brick buildings have collapsed, but we will rebuild them with dressed stone; the sycamore fig trees have been cut down, but we will replace them with cedars.”
The brickes are fallen, but we will build it with hewen stones: the wilde figge trees are cut downe, but we will change them into ceders.
'Bricks have fallen, and hewn work we build, Sycamores have been cut down, and cedars we renew.'
“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.”
The bricks have fallen down, but we will build with hewn stones; the sycamores are cut down, but we will change them into cedars.
The bricks are fallen down, but we will build with square stones: they have cut down the sycamores, but we will change them for cedars.
Berean Amplified Bible — Isaiah 9:10
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Isaiah 9:10 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
וַ/יְשַׂגֵּ֧ב
יְהוָ֛ה
אֶת
צָרֵ֥י
רְצִ֖ין
עָלָ֑י/ו
וְ/אֶת
אֹיְבָ֖י/ו
יְסַכְסֵֽךְ
וַ/יְשַׂגֵּ֧ב
sâgab
H7682
to exalt
Conj | V-Piel-ConsecImperf-3ms
יְהוָ֛ה
Yᵉhôvâh
H3068
The Lord
N-proper
אֶת
ʼêth
H853
Obj.
DirObjM
צָרֵ֥י
tsar
H6862
narrow
N-mp
רְצִ֖ין
Rᵉtsîyn
H7526
Rezin
N-proper
עָלָ֑י/ו
ʻal
H5921
upon
Prep | Suff
וְ/אֶת
ʼêth
H853
Obj.
Conj | DirObjM
אֹיְבָ֖י/ו
ʼôyêb
H341
enemy
V-Qal | Suff
יְסַכְסֵֽךְ
çâkak
H5526
to fence
V-l-Imperf-3ms
Hebrew Word Study
Select any word above to explore its original meaning, root, and usage across Scripture.
Use ← → arrow keys to navigate between words.
Hebrew Word Reference — Isaiah 9:10
וַ/יְשַׂגֵּ֧ב
sâgab
H7682
"to exalt"
Conj | V-Piel-ConsecImperf-3ms
To exalt means to make something or someone lofty or strong, often used to describe God's power. It can also mean to defend or set something on high. This concept is found in Psalms and other books.
Definition: 1) to be high, be inaccessibly high 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to be (too) high (for capture) 1a2) to be high (of prosperity) 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be high 1b2) to be set on high, be (safely) set on high 1b3) to be exalted (of God) 1c) (Piel) 1c1) to set on high, set (securely) on high 1c2) to exalt, exalt (in effective hostility) 1d) (Pual) to be set (securely) on high 1e) (Hiphil) to act exaltedly
Usage: Occurs in 20 OT verses. KJV: defend, exalt, be excellent, (be, set on) high, lofty, be safe, set up (on high), be too strong. See also: Deuteronomy 2:36; Proverbs 18:10; Psalms 20:2.
יְהוָ֛ה
Yᵉhôvâh
H3068
"The Lord"
N-proper
Yehovah is another name for God, often translated as 'the Lord'. It is a national name for God in the Jewish faith. This name is used throughout the Old Testament.
Definition: Another name of ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)
Usage: Occurs in 5522 OT verses. KJV: Jehovah, the Lord. Compare H3050 (יָהּ), H3069 (יְהֹוִה). See also: Genesis 2:4; Genesis 24:42; Exodus 8:8.
אֶת
ʼêth
H853
"Obj."
DirObjM
In the original Hebrew, this word points out the object of a verb or preposition, like 'namely' or 'even'. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus. It's not directly translated in English, but helps clarify the meaning of sentences.
Definition: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)
Usage: Occurs in 6782 OT verses. KJV: (as such unrepresented in English). See also: Genesis 1:1; Genesis 10:8; Genesis 19:21.
צָרֵ֥י
tsar
H6862
"narrow"
N-mp
This word means hard or narrow, often referring to trouble or a tight spot, like an adversary or affliction. It can also mean a small stone or pebble, such as flint, and is used in various biblical contexts to describe challenges.
Definition: narrow, tight
Usage: Occurs in 107 OT verses. KJV: adversary, afflicted(-tion), anguish, close, distress, enemy, flint, foe, narrow, small, sorrow, strait, tribulation, trouble. See also: Genesis 14:20; Psalms 89:24; Psalms 3:2.
רְצִ֖ין
Rᵉtsîyn
H7526
"Rezin"
N-proper
Rezin means firm and refers to a king of Damascus and an Israelite who lived during the Exile and Return, mentioned in Ezra 2:48. He was a contemporary of kings Jotham and Ahaz of Judah. Rezin was also the name of a family of temple slaves.
Definition: A man living at the time of Exile and Return, first mentioned at Ezr.2.48 § Rezin = "firm" 1) king of Damascus during the reigns of kings Jotham and Ahaz of Judah 2) the progenitor of a family of temple slaves who returned from captivity with Zerubbabel
Usage: Occurs in 11 OT verses. KJV: Rezin. See also: 2 Kings 15:37; Nehemiah 7:50; Isaiah 7:1.
עָלָ֑י/ו
ʻal
H5921
"upon"
Prep | Suff
This Hebrew word means on or above something, like a physical object or a situation. It can also imply a sense of responsibility or accountability, as in being on behalf of someone.
Definition: prep 1) upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against 1a) upon, on the ground of, on the basis of, on account of, because of, therefore, on behalf of, for the sake of, for, with, in spite of, notwithstanding, concerning, in the matter of, as regards 1b) above, beyond, over (of excess) 1c) above, over (of elevation or pre-eminence) 1d) upon, to, over to, unto, in addition to, together with, with (of addition) 1e) over (of suspension or extension) 1f) by, adjoining, next, at, over, around (of contiguity or proximity) 1g) down upon, upon, on, from, up upon, up to, towards, over towards, to, against (with verbs of motion) 1h) to (as a dative)
Usage: Occurs in 4493 OT verses. KJV: above, according to(-ly), after, (as) against, among, and, [idiom] as, at, because of, beside (the rest of), between, beyond the time, [idiom] both and, by (reason of), [idiom] had the charge of, concerning for, in (that), (forth, out) of, (from) (off), (up-) on, over, than, through(-out), to, touching, [idiom] with. See also: Genesis 1:2; Genesis 24:13; Genesis 41:33.
וְ/אֶת
ʼêth
H853
"Obj."
Conj | DirObjM
In the original Hebrew, this word points out the object of a verb or preposition, like 'namely' or 'even'. It appears in many books, including Genesis and Exodus. It's not directly translated in English, but helps clarify the meaning of sentences.
Definition: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)
Usage: Occurs in 6782 OT verses. KJV: (as such unrepresented in English). See also: Genesis 1:1; Genesis 10:8; Genesis 19:21.
אֹיְבָ֖י/ו
ʼôyêb
H341
"enemy"
V-Qal | Suff
This Hebrew word means enemy or adversary, referring to someone who hates or opposes another person or nation. It is used to describe personal or national enemies in the Bible.
Definition: 1) (Qal) enemy 1a) personal 1b) national
Usage: Occurs in 275 OT verses. KJV: enemy, foe. See also: Genesis 22:17; 2 Samuel 22:1; Psalms 3:8.
יְסַכְסֵֽךְ
çâkak
H5526
"to fence"
V-l-Imperf-3ms
To weave means to entwine or fence in, implying protection, as seen in the Bible where it means to cover or defend something.
Definition: (Qal) to hedge, fence about, shut in
Usage: Occurs in 24 OT verses. KJV: cover, defence, defend, hedge in, join together, set, shut up. See also: Exodus 25:20; Job 40:22; Psalms 5:12.
Study Notes — Isaiah 9:10
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Isaiah 9:10 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Isaiah 9:10
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Isaiah 9:10
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Isaiah 9:10
- Trapp's Commentary on Isaiah 9:10
- Ellicott's Commentary on Isaiah 9:10
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Isaiah 9:10
- Cambridge Bible on Isaiah 9:10
- Barnes' Notes on Isaiah 9:10
- Whedon's Commentary on Isaiah 9:10
- Sermons on Isaiah 9:10
Context — Judgment against Israel’s Pride
8The Lord has sent a message against Jacob, and it has fallen upon Israel.
9All the people will know it— Ephraim and the dwellers of Samaria. With pride and arrogance of heart they will say:
10“The bricks have fallen, but we will rebuild with finished stone; the sycamores have been felled, but we will replace them with cedars.”
11The LORD has raised up the foes of Rezin against him and joined his enemies together. 12Aram from the east and Philistia from the west have devoured Israel with open mouths. Despite all this, His anger is not turned away; His hand is still upraised.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Malachi 1:4 | Though Edom may say, “We have been devastated, but we will rebuild the ruins,” this is what the LORD of Hosts says: “They may build, but I will demolish. They will be called the Land of Wickedness, and a people with whom the LORD is indignant forever. |
| 2 | 1 Kings 10:27 | The king made silver as common in Jerusalem as stones, and cedar as abundant as sycamore in the foothills. |
| 3 | 1 Kings 7:9–12 | All these buildings were constructed with costly stones, cut to size and trimmed with saws inside and out from the foundation to the eaves, and from the outside to the great courtyard. The foundations were laid with large, costly stones, some ten cubits long and some eight cubits long. Above these were high-grade stones, cut to size, and cedar beams. The great courtyard was surrounded by three rows of dressed stone and a row of trimmed cedar beams, as were the inner courtyard and portico of the house of the LORD. |
Isaiah 9:10 Summary
This verse is talking about how the people of Israel are responding to the destruction and devastation that has happened to them. They are saying that even though things have been destroyed, they will rebuild and make things even better than before, but they are doing this in their own strength, without acknowledging God's power and provision, as seen in Isaiah 9:8-9. This is a problem because it shows that they are not trusting in God, but rather in themselves, which is a form of pride, as seen in Proverbs 16:18. We can learn from this that it's important to trust in God and not just in our own abilities, as seen in Jeremiah 17:5-8 and Psalm 20:7-8.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the context of Isaiah 9:10 and why is it significant?
Isaiah 9:10 is part of a larger passage where God is speaking against the pride and arrogance of Israel, as seen in Isaiah 9:8-9, and their refusal to repent despite God's warnings, similar to the warnings given in Deuteronomy 28:1-68.
What do the bricks and sycamores represent in this verse?
The bricks and sycamores likely represent the destruction and devastation that Israel has faced, possibly due to their disobedience, as seen in Isaiah 5:1-30, and their confidence in being able to rebuild and recover on their own strength, much like the tower of Babel in Genesis 11:1-9.
How does this verse relate to the overall theme of Isaiah?
Isaiah 9:10 fits into the larger theme of Isaiah, which is God's judgment on a disobedient Israel, as well as His promise of redemption and restoration, as seen in Isaiah 2:1-5 and Isaiah 11:1-10, and the importance of humility and trust in God, as emphasized in Proverbs 3:5-6 and Jeremiah 17:5-8.
What can we learn from Israel's attitude in this verse?
We can learn from Israel's attitude that pride and self-reliance can lead to further judgment and hardship, as seen in Isaiah 9:11-12, but humility and trust in God can lead to redemption and restoration, as seen in 2 Chronicles 7:14 and Isaiah 57:15.
Reflection Questions
- How do I respond to difficulties and setbacks in my own life - with pride and self-reliance, or with humility and trust in God?
- What are some areas in my life where I may be relying on my own strength, rather than God's power and provision, as seen in Ephesians 6:10-18?
- How can I cultivate a spirit of humility and dependence on God, as seen in Psalm 51:1-19 and Matthew 5:1-12?
- What are some ways that I can trust in God's sovereignty and provision, even in the midst of uncertainty and hardship, as seen in Romans 8:28-39 and Psalm 23:1-6?
Gill's Exposition on Isaiah 9:10
The bricks are fallen down,.... Houses made of bricks, which were without the cities besieged and destroyed by the Assyrians; of which the haughty Israelites made no account, looking upon such a
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Isaiah 9:10
The bricks are fallen down, but we will build with hewn stones: the sycomores are cut down, but we will change them into cedars. The bricks are fallen down.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Isaiah 9:10
The bricks are fallen down, but we will build with hewn stones. It is true, we have received some damages from our enemies; but Rezin and the Syrians being now our friends and confederates, we doubt not we shall quickly repair them with great glory and advantage. Sycomores; wild fig trees, a contemptible sort of trees, if compared with cedars, . We will change them into cedars; putting cedars into our buildings instead of sycomores. See ,15.
Trapp's Commentary on Isaiah 9:10
Isaiah 9:10 The bricks are fallen down, but we will build with hewn stones: the sycomores are cut down, but we will change [them into] cedars.Ver. 10. The bricks are fallen down.] Not thrown down by Providence, but fallen down by fate or blind fortune. God is not so far honoured as once to be owned by these atheists, who think they can make their party good against him, and mend what he had marred, whether he would or not. Thus this giant-like generation; and the like impiety is in the corrupt nature of us all. For "as in water face answereth to face, so doth the heart of a man to a man," saith Solomon. The sycamores are cut down, &e.] Another proverbial speech to the same purpose. Sycamores were then very common in that country, and little set by. Now they are not to be found there, saith Jerome, as neither are cedars in Lebanon.
Ellicott's Commentary on Isaiah 9:10
(10) The bricks are fallen down . . .—Sun-dried bricks and the cheap timber of the sycamore (1 Kings 10:27) were the common materials used for the dwellings of the poor, hewn stones and cedar for the palaces of the rich. Whatever injury Samaria had sustained (the words are too proverbially figurative to make literal interpretation probable), through the intervention of Tiglath-pileser, was, its rulers thought, but as the prelude to a great and more lasting victory even than that of 2 Chronicles 28:6.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Isaiah 9:10
Verse 10. The bricks] "The eastern bricks," says Sir John Chardin, (see Harmer's Observ. I., p. 176,) "are only clay well moistened with water, and mixed with straw, and dried in the sun." So that their walls are commonly no better than our mud walls; see Maundrell, p. 124. That straw was a necessary part in the composition of this sort of bricks, to make the parts of the clay adhere together, appears from Exodus 5:7-19. These bricks are properly opposed to hewn stone, so greatly superior in beauty and durableness. The sycamores, which, as Jerome on the place says, are timber of little worth, with equal propriety are opposed to the cedars. "As the grain and texture of the sycamore is remarkably coarse and spongy, it could therefore stand in no competition at all (as it is observed, Isaiah 9:10) with the cedar, for beauty and ornament." - Shaw, Supplement to Travels, p. 96. We meet with the same opposition of cedars to sycamores, 1Kg 10:27, where Solomon is said to have made silver as the stones, and cedars as the sycamores in the vale for abundance. By this mashal, or figurative and sententious speech, they boast that they shall easily be able to repair their present losses, suffered perhaps by the first Assyrian invasion under Tiglath-pileser; and to bring their affairs to a more flourishing condition than ever. Some of the bricks mentioned above lie before me.
They were brought from the site of ancient Babylon. The straw is visible, kneaded with the clay; they are very hard, and evidently were dried in the sun; for they are very easily dissolved in water.
Cambridge Bible on Isaiah 9:10
10. It has been conjectured that these words are a fragment of a drinking song actually sung in Ephraim. They express the spirit of bravado which prevailed in the northern capital, cf. Amos 6:13; Hosea 7:9-10. It is, therefore, not necessary to refer them to any particular recent reverses, such as the inroads of Assyria which punished the ill-timed attack on Judah. From the time of the Syrian wars there had been abundant “occasion to use this proverb in Israel.” hewn stones] Cf. Amos 5:11. sycomores] The wood of the mulberry-fig, spongy but exceedingly durable, is still the cheapest and commonest building material in Palestine, cf. 1 Kings 10:27.
Barnes' Notes on Isaiah 9:10
The bricks are fallen down - The language of this verse is figurative; but the sentiment is plain.
Whedon's Commentary on Isaiah 9:10
10. Whether yet chastised by the visitation of Tiglath-pileser or not, the people of Israel remain defiant and contemptuous toward the capital of Judah.
Sermons on Isaiah 9:10
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
Watchman or Gossip? Contentiously Contending - 7 by Anton Bosch | Anton Bosch preaches on the importance of reacting to the fall of the wicked with mourning and intercession, rather than delighting in scandal or spreading rumors. He emphasizes th |