Ésaïe 9:1-6

1 Mais les ténèbres ne régneront pas toujours Sur la terre où il y a maintenant des angoisses: Si les temps passés ont couvert d'opprobre Le pays de Zabulon et le pays de Nephthali, Les temps à venir couvriront de gloire La contrée voisine de la mer, au delà du Jourdain, Le territoire des Gentils.

2 Le peuple qui marchait dans les ténèbres Voit une grande lumière; Sur ceux qui habitaient le pays de l'ombre de la mort Une lumière resplendit.

3 Tu rends le peuple nombreux, Tu lui accordes de grandes joies; Il se réjouit devant toi, comme on se réjouit à la moisson, Comme on pousse des cris d'allégresse au partage du butin.

4 Car le joug qui pesait sur lui, Le bâton qui frappait son dos, La verge de celui qui l'opprimait, Tu les brises, comme à la journée de Madian.

5 Car toute chaussure qu'on porte dans la mêlée, Et tout vêtement guerrier roulé dans le sang, Seront livrés aux flammes, Pour être dévorés par le feu.

6 Car un enfant nous est né, un fils nous est donné, Et la domination reposera sur son épaule; On l'appellera Admirable, Conseiller, Dieu puissant, Père éternel, Prince de la paix.

Ésaïe 9:1-6 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO ISAIAH 9

This chapter contains a prophecy, partly of comfort to the church and people of God, against the calamities predicted in the preceding chapter Isa 8:1-22; and partly of punishment, to be inflicted upon the ungodly Israelites by their enemies. The comfort promised arises from the appearance of Christ, the great light, in some certain places of the land mentioned, said before to be afflicted, Isa 9:1,2 which would occasion a joy among them; illustrated by some similes, by the joy in harvest, and at the dividing of spoils, Isa 9:3 the cause of which is a deliverance from a burdensome yoke of tyranny and bondage, wrought in like manner as that by Gideon formerly; different from all other salvations, which are usually obtained with noise and blood, Isa 9:4,5 the author of which is the Messiah; who is described by his birth as man, and by his divine sonship as God; or by his person, having two natures united in him; and by the government devolved on him; and by his several names, which express the greatness and glory of his person and office; and by the increase and administration of his government, Isa 9:6,7 then follows a denunciation of judgment on Israel, Isa 9:8 the instruments of which are pointed at, Isa 9:11,12, and the persons described that should suffer, high and low, rich and poor, young and old, Isa 9:14,15,17 the reasons of it, their making light of former corrections, Isa 9:9,10 their impenitence and hardness under chastenings, Isa 9:13 their going astray by means of their leaders; and their hypocrisy and wickedness, Isa 9:16-18 all which would occasion the wrath of God to burn against them, and consume them, Isa 9:18,19 yea, through hunger and want of provisions, should destroy one another, Isa 9:20,21.