Isaiah 9:4

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

Isaiah 9:4 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 9:4

For thou hast broken the yoke of his burden
Of Galilee, of the nation multiplied, of the spiritual inhabitants of it, whose joy was increased; and this is one reason of it, because they were delivered by the Lord from the burdensome yoke of the ceremonial law, which was broken off and abolished by Christ; and from the tyranny of Satan, the god of this world, out of whose hands they were ransomed and delivered; and from the dominion of sin, under the power of which they had been in bondage. And the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor;
different phrases, expressive of the same thing; the bondage and slavery of the law, sin, and Satan: as in the day of Midian;
when Gideon got an entire victory over the Midianites, with a few unarmed men, by the sound of trumpets, and breaking of pitchers, ( Judges 7:16-22 ) and may denote the easy manner in which Christ obtained a conquest over all his and our enemies; and the means by which it is made known unto us, and we are freed from bondage to spiritual enemies; namely, by the ministration of the Gospel, compared to the blowing of trumpets; and which is a treasure put into earthen vessels, frail and weak men.

Isaiah 9:4 In-Context

2 The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light; those that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them has the light shined.
3 As thou hast multiplied the nation, thou hast not increased the joy. They shall rejoice before thee as they rejoice in the harvest and as men rejoice when they divide the spoil.
4 For thou hast broken his heavy yoke and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, as in the day of Midian.
5 For every battle of him who fights is with shaking of the earth and the rolling of garments in blood; but this shall be with burning and consuming of fire.
6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government is placed upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called The Wonderful One, The Counsellor, The God, The Mighty One, The Eternal Father, The Prince of Peace.
The Jubilee Bible (from the Scriptures of the Reformation), edited by Russell M. Stendal, Copyright © 2000, 2001, 2010