Isaiah 9:16

16 For those leading this people lead them astray, and those led by them are destroyed.

Isaiah 9:16 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 9:16

For the leaders of this people cause [them] to err
Or, "who bless this people", as the Septuagint and Arabic versions; and so the Targum,

``who praise this people;''

that call them blessed, pronounce them happy, see ( Malachi 3:15 ) and promise them happiness, both in this world and that to come, though guilty of notorious sins, and live a vicious course of life; and so harden them in their iniquities, and cause them to wander more and more from the way of truth and righteousness; and lead them unto, and leave them in, fatal mistakes about their state and condition. These seem to design the ecclesiastical leaders of the people, the blind leaders of the blind, see ( Isaiah 3:12 ) ( Matthew 15:14 ) : and [they that are] led of them [are] destroyed;
or, "they" that "are blessed of them are swallowed up" ^F3; and so irrecoverably lost; the deceivers and the deceived perish together; as it is sinful in teachers and leaders of the people to teach them false things, and lead them out of the way, it is criminal in the people to be led and taught by them, who ought to take care what they hear and receive; and therefore both are righteously punished; for the words are a reason why the Lord would cut off both the one and the other.

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FOOTNOTES:

F3 (Myelbm wyrvamw) "qui ex hoc populo beati dicuntur, absorbebuntur", Vatablus.

Isaiah 9:16 In-Context

14 Therefore ADONAI will cut off Isra'el's head and tail, [tall] palm frond and [lowly] reed in a single day.

15 The old and the honored are the head, while prophets teaching lies are the tail.

16 For those leading this people lead them astray, and those led by them are destroyed.

17 Therefore Adonai takes no joy in their young men and has no compassion on their orphans and widows; for everyone is ungodly and does evil, every mouth speaks foolishly. Even after all this, his anger remains, his upraised hand still threatens.

18 For wickedness burns like fire, it devours briars and thorns; it sets the forest underbrush ablaze, with clouds of smoke whirling upward.