Isaiah 9:2-7

2 ^[a]1The people ²who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of ³deep darkness, on them has light shined.

3 ⁴You have multiplied the nation; you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with ⁵joy at the harvest, as they ⁶are glad ⁷when they divide the spoil.

4 ⁸For the yoke of his burden, ⁹and the staff for his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, you have broken as ¹⁰on the day of Midian.

5 ¹¹For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult and every garment rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for the fire.

6 ¹²For to us a child is born, to us ¹³a son is given; ¹⁴and the government shall be ¹⁵upon^[b] his shoulder, and his name shall be called^[c] Wonderful ¹⁶Counselor, ¹⁷Mighty God, ¹⁸Everlasting ¹⁹Father, Prince of ²⁰Peace.

7 Of the increase of his government and of peace ²¹there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it ²²with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. ²³The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.

Isaiah 9:2-7 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.

Cross References

• 1. [See ver. 1 above]
• 2. [Luke 1:79; Ephesians 5:8, 14]
• 3. See Job 3:5
• 4. Isaiah 26:15
• 5. Psalms 4:7; [John 4:36]
• 6. Psalms 119:162; [1 Samuel 30:16]
• 7. [Judges 5:30]
• 8. Isaiah 10:27; Isaiah 14:25; Nahum 1:13; [Matthew 11:29]
• 9. Isaiah 10:5, 24; Isaiah 14:5
• 10. Isaiah 10:26; Psalms 83:9; See Judges 7:19-25; Judges 8:10-21
• 11. Ezekiel 39:9
• 12. Luke 2:11; [John 3:16]
• 13. Isaiah 7:14
• 14. [Matthew 28:18; 1 Corinthians 15:25]
• 15. Isaiah 22:22
• 16. [Isaiah 28:29]
• 17. Isaiah 10:21; Deuteronomy 10:17; Nehemiah 9:32; Jeremiah 32:18; [Psalms 45:3]
• 18. Psalms 72:17
• 19. Isaiah 63:16; [John 14:18]
• 20. Psalms 72:7; [Ephesians 2:14]; See Isaiah 11:6-9
• 21. Psalms 89:4; Luke 1:32, 33
• 22. Jeremiah 23:5
• 23. Isaiah 37:32; 2 Kings 19:31; [Zechariah 1:14]

Footnotes

• [a]. Ch 9:1 in Hebrew
• [b]. Or is upon
• [c]. Or is called