Isaiah 9:15

15 The head is ¹the elder and honorable * man, And the prophet who teaches ²falsehood is the tail.

Isaiah 9:15 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 9:15

The ancient and honourable, he [is] the head
The elder in office, not in age; and who, on account of his office, dignity, and riches, is honoured by men, is of a venerable countenance himself, and is reverenced when seen and looked upon by others, and received by persons with pleasure and cheerfulness; as the phrase used signifies. The Septuagint and Arabic versions render it, "who admire", or "have" men's "persons in admiration"; which is the character Jude gives of false teachers, ( Jude 1:16 ) who are next described: and the prophet that teacheth lies, he [is] the tail;
so called from their low extract, being often of a mean original and descent; or rather from the meanness of their spirits, their flattery of princes and great men, to whom they tell lies, and prophesy smooth and false things, for the sake of a little sordid gain, in allusion to dogs that wag their tails at their masters; or from the poison of their doctrines, some creatures having poison in their tails, and do much mischief with them. See ( Revelation 9:19 ) .

Isaiah 9:15 In-Context

13 Yet the people do not turn back to Him who struck them, Nor do they seek the LORD of hosts.

14 So the LORD cuts off head and tail from Israel, Both palm branch and bulrush in a single day.

15 The head is the elder and honorable man, And the prophet who teaches falsehood is the tail.

16 For those who guide this people are leading them astray; And those who are guided by them are brought to confusion.

17 Therefore the Lord does not take pleasure in their young men, Nor does He have pity on their orphans or their widows; For every one of them is godless and an evildoer, And every mouth is speaking foolishness. In spite of all this, His anger does not turn away And His hand is still stretched out.

Cross References

• 1. Isaiah 3:2, 3
• 2. Isaiah 28:15; Isaiah 59:3, 4; Jeremiah 23:14, 32; Matthew 24:24