Isaiah 9:14

14 et disperdet Dominus ab Israhel caput et caudam incurvantem et refrenantem die una

Isaiah 9:14 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 9:14

Therefore the Lord will cut off from Israel head and tail,
&c.] The former of these is afterwards interpreted of "the ancient and honourable", men in high places, civil magistrates, judges, governors, and elders of the people, the king as supreme, and all subordinate officers; and so the Targum,

``the Lord will destroy from Israel the prince and the ruler;''

and the latter is interpreted of the false prophet. The people of Israel are compared to a beast with a tail, being so sadly degenerated and corrupted; as the Romish antichrist, in both his capacities, civil and ecclesiastical, is compared to a beast; the one being the head, and the other the tail, ( Revelation 13:1 Revelation 13:2 Revelation 13:11 ) and Rome Pagan to a dragon with a tail, ( Revelation 12:3 Revelation 12:4 ) and the Saracens and Turks to locusts with tails like the tails of scorpions, ( Revelation 9:10 Revelation 9:19 ) : branch and rush, in one day.
The Septuagint render it, "great and small"; and so the Arabic version; the first word intending the great men of the nation, in flourishing circumstances, like branches of trees; the latter the common, people, like reeds and rushes, weak and feeble; so Kimchi explains them,

``the strong and the weak;''

though the Targum interprets both of the governor and lord; and so Jarchi says they signify kings and governors; but Aben Ezra renders the word root and branch; and so they may denote the utter destruction of the people of Israel, fathers and children, high and low, rich and poor. See ( Malachi 4:1 ) .

Isaiah 9:14 In-Context

12 Syriam ab oriente et Philisthim ab occidente et devorabunt Israhel toto ore in omnibus his non est aversus furor eius sed adhuc manus eius extenta

13 et populus non est reversus ad percutientem se et Dominum exercituum non inquisierunt

14 et disperdet Dominus ab Israhel caput et caudam incurvantem et refrenantem die una

15 longevus et honorabilis ipse est caput et propheta docens mendacium ipse cauda est

16 et erunt qui beatificant populum istum seducentes et qui beatificantur praecipitati