Isaiah 27:9

Good News Translation

But Israel's sins will be forgiven only when the stones of pagan altars are ground up like chalk, and no more incense altars or symbols of the goddess Asherah are left.

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Therefore Jacob’s iniquity will be atoned for in this way,and the result of the removal of his sin will be this:when he makes all the altar stoneslike crushed bits of chalk,no Asherah poles or incense altars will remain standing.

Hebrew Names Version
Therefore by this shall the iniquity of Ya`akov be forgiven, and this is all the fruit of taking away his sin: that he makes all the stones of the altar as chalk stones that are beaten in sunder, [so that] the Asherim and the sun-images shall rise no more.

King James Version
By this therefore shall the iniquity of Jacob be purged; and this is all the fruit to take away his sin; when he maketh all the stones of the altar as chalkstones that are beaten in sunder, the groves and images shall not stand up.

English Standard Version
Therefore by this the guilt of Jacob will be atoned for, and this will be the full fruit of the removal of his sin: when he makes all the stones of the altars like chalkstones crushed to pieces, no Asherim or incense altars will remain standing.

New American Standard Bible
Therefore through this Jacob's wrongdoing will be forgiven; And this will be the full price of the pardoning of his sin: When he makes all the altar stones like pulverized chalk stones; When Asherim and incense altars will not stand.

New Century Version
This is how Israel's guilt will be forgiven; this is how its sins will be taken away: Israel will crush the rocks of the altar to dust, and no statues or altars will be left standing for the Asherah idols.

Amplified Bible
Therefore through this the wickedness [the sin, the injustice, the wrongdoing] of Jacob (Israel) will be atoned for and forgiven; And this will be the full price [that God requires] for taking away his sin: When Israel makes all the stones of the [pagan] altars like crushed chalk stones; When the Asherim and the incense altars will not stand.

World English Bible
Therefore by this shall the iniquity of Jacob be forgiven, and this is all the fruit of taking away his sin: that he makes all the stones of the altar as chalk stones that are beaten in sunder, [so that] the Asherim and the sun-images shall rise no more.

Geneva Bible (1587)
By this therefore shall the iniquitie of Iaakob be purged, and this is all the fruit, the taking away of his sinne: whe he shal make all the stones of the altars, as chalke stones broken in pieces, that the groues and images may not stand vp.

Legacy Standard Bible
Therefore through this, Jacob's iniquity will be atoned for;And this will be the whole fruit of the turning away of his sin:When he makes all the altar stones like pulverized chalk stones,When Asherim and incense altars will not stand.

Berean Standard Bible
Therefore Jacob's guilt will be atoned for, and the fruit of the removal of his sin will be this: When he makes all the altar stones like crushed bits of chalk, no Asherah poles or incense altars will remain standing.

Contemporary English Version
There's only one way that Israel's sin and guilt can be completely forgiven: They must crush the stones of every pagan altar and place of worship.

Complete Jewish Bible
So the iniquity of Ya‘akov is atoned for by this, and removing his sin produces this result: he chops up all the altar stones like chalk — sacred poles and sun-pillars stand no more.

Darby Translation
By this, therefore, shall the iniquity of Jacob be purged; and this is all the fruit of the taking away of his sin: when he shall make all the stones of the altar as chalkstones that are crumbled in pieces,—the Asherahs and the sun-images shall not stand.

Easy-to-Read Version
How will Jacob's guilt be forgiven? What will happen so his sins can be taken away? The rocks of the altar will be crushed to dust; the statues and altars for worshiping false gods will all be destroyed.

George Lamsa Translation
By this, therefore, shall the iniquity of Jacob be forgiven; and with all this fruit his sin will be taken away; when he makes all the stones of the altar as chalk-stones that are broken in pieces; likewise, the images and idols shall not stand up.

Lexham English Bible
Therefore by this he will make atonement for the guilt of Jacob, and this will be all of the fruit of the removal of his sin: when he makes all the stones of the altar like crushed stones of chalk, no poles of Asherah worship or incense altars will stand.

Literal Translation
By this, then, the iniquity of Jacob will be covered, and this is all the fruit, to take away his sin; when he makes all the stones of the altar as chalkstones that are beaten in pieces; Asherahs and sun pillars shall not rise.

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
And therfore shal the iniquite of Iacob be thus reconciled. And so shal he take awaye all ye frute of his synnes. As for aulter stones, he shal make them all as stones beaten to poulder: the Groues and Idols shal not stonde.

American Standard Version
Therefore by this shall the iniquity of Jacob be forgiven, and this is all the fruit of taking away his sin: that he maketh all the stones of the altar as chalkstones that are beaten in sunder, so that the Asherim and the sun-images shall rise no more.

Bible in Basic English
So by this will the sin of Jacob be covered, and this is all the fruit of taking away his punishment; when all the stones of the altar are crushed together, so that the wood pillars and the sun-images will not be put up again.

JPS Old Testament (1917)
Therefore by this shall the iniquity of Jacob be expiated, and this is all the fruit of taking away his sin: when he maketh all the stones of the altar as chalkstones that are beaten in pieces, so that the Asherim and the sun-images shall rise no more.

King James Version (1611)
By this therefore shall the iniquitie of Iacob be purged, and this is all the fruit, to take away his sinne: when he maketh all the stones of the Altar as chalke stones, that are beaten in sunder, the groues and images shall not stand vp.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
By this meanes therfore shall the iniquitie of Iacob be purged, and this is all the fruite [namely] the taking away of his sinne, if he make all the stones of the aulter of idols as chalke stones that are beaten in sunder, that their groues and images ryse not vp agayne.

Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
Therefore shall the iniquity of Jacob be taken away; and this is his blessing, when I shall have taken away his sin; when they shall have broken to pieces all the stones of the altars as fine dust, and their trees shall not remain, and their idols shall be cut off, as a thicket afar off.

English Revised Version
Therefore by this shall the iniquity of Jacob be purged, and this is all the fruit of taking away his sin; when he maketh all the stones of the altar as chalkstones that are beaten in sunder, so that the Asherim and the sun-images shall rise no more.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Therfor on this thing wickidnesse schal be foryouun to the hous of Jacob, and this schal be al the fruyt, that the synne therof be don awei, whanne it hath set all the stoonys of the auter as the stoonys of aische hurtlid doun. Wodis and templis schulen not stonde.

Update Bible Version
Therefore by this shall the iniquity of Jacob be forgiven, and this is all the fruit of taking away his sin: that he makes all the stones of the altar as chalkstones that are beaten in sunder, [so that] the Asherim and the sun-images shall rise no more.

Webster's Bible Translation
By this therefore shall the iniquity of Jacob be purged; and this [is] all the fruit to take away his sin; when he maketh all the stones of the altar as chalk-stones that are beaten asunder, the groves and images shall not stand up.

New English Translation
So in this way Jacob's sin will be forgiven, and this is how they will show they are finished sinning: They will make all the stones of the altars like crushed limestone, and the Asherah poles and the incense altars will no longer stand.

New King James Version
Therefore by this the iniquity of Jacob will be covered;And this is all the fruit of taking away his sin:When he makes all the stones of the altarLike chalkstones that are beaten to dust,Wooden images [fn] and incense altars shall not stand.

New Living Translation
The Lord did this to purge Israel's wickedness, to take away all her sin. As a result, all the pagan altars will be crushed to dust. No Asherah pole or pagan shrine will be left standing.

New Life Bible
So by this Jacob's sin will be forgiven. This will be the full price of taking his sin away: When he crushes all the altar stones into fine pieces, so the wooden female goddess Asherah and the altars of special perfume will not stand.

New Revised Standard
Therefore by this the guilt of Jacob will be expiated, and this will be the full fruit of the removal of his sin: when he makes all the stones of the altars like chalkstones crushed to pieces, no sacred poles or incense altars will remain standing.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Therefore hereby, shall a propitiatory - covering be put over the iniquity of Jacob, And all, this, is the fruit of taking away his sin, - When he maketh all the stones of an altar like chalk-stones that soon crumble, Sacred Stems and Sun Images, shall not arise.

Douay-Rheims Bible
Therefore upon this shall the iniquity of the house of Jacob be forgiven: and this is all the fruit, that the sin thereof should be taken away, when he shall have made all the stones of the altar, as burnt stones broken in pieces, the groves and temples shall not stand.

Revised Standard Version
Therefore by this the guilt of Jacob will be expiated, and this will be the full fruit of the removal of his sin: when he makes all the stones of the altars like chalkstones crushed to pieces, no Ashe'rim or incense altars will remain standing.

Young's Literal Translation
Therefore by this is the iniquity of Jacob covered, And this [is] all the fruit -- To take away his sin, in His setting all the stones of an altar, As chalkstones beaten in pieces, They rise not -- shrines and images.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
Therefore through this Jacob's iniquity will be forgiven; And this will be the full price of the pardoning of his sin: When he makes all the altar stones like pulverized chalk stones; When Asherim and incense altars will not stand.

Contextual Overview

⁷ Israel has not been punished by the Lord as severely as its enemies nor lost as many people. ⁸ The Lord punished his people by sending them into exile. He took them away with a cruel wind from the east. ⁹ But Israel's sins will be forgiven only when the stones of pagan altars are ground up like chalk, and no more incense altars or symbols of the goddess Asherah are left. ¹⁰ The fortified city lies in ruins. It is deserted like an empty wilderness. It has become a pasture for cattle, where they can rest and graze. ¹¹ The branches of the trees are withered and broken, and women gather them for firewood. Because the people have understood nothing, God their Creator will not pity them or show them any mercy. ¹² On that day, from the Euphrates to the Egyptian border, the Lord will gather his people one by one, as threshing separates the wheat from the chaff. ¹³ When that day comes, a trumpet will be blown to call back from Assyria and Egypt all the Israelites who are in exile there. They will come and worship the Lord in Jerusalem, on his sacred hill.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

this therefore: Isaiah 1:24, Isaiah 1:25, Isaiah 4:4, Isaiah 48:10, Psalms 119:67, Psalms 119:71, Proverbs 20:30, *marg. Ezekiel 20:38, Ezekiel 24:13, Daniel 11:35, Malachi 3:2, Malachi 3:3, 1 Corinthians 11:32, Hebrews 12:6, Hebrews 12:9-11

when: 2 Kings 25:9, 2 Kings 25:13-17, 2 Chronicles 36:19, Ezra 3:2, Ezra 3:3, Ezekiel 11:18, Ezekiel 24:11-14

the groves: Isaiah 1:29, Isaiah 2:12-21, Isaiah 17:8, Hosea 14:8, Micah 5:13, Micah 5:14, Zechariah 13:2

images: or, sun images, 2 Chronicles 14:5, 2 Chronicles 34:4

Reciprocal: Genesis 42:36 - all these things are against me Genesis 44:16 - iniquity Leviticus 26:30 - I will destroy 1 Samuel 5:4 - the head 1 Samuel 30:2 - slew not 2 Kings 23:4 - Baal Job 33:19 - chastened Isaiah 2:18 - the idols Isaiah 10:12 - when the Lord Isaiah 26:9 - for Isaiah 30:22 - defile Jeremiah 17:3 - and thy Jeremiah 46:28 - will I Ezekiel 6:3 - and I will Ezekiel 6:6 - your altars Ezekiel 16:39 - they shall throw Ezekiel 16:41 - and I Ezekiel 20:34 - General Ezekiel 23:27 - will I Hosea 14:3 - neither Micah 1:7 - all the graven Micah 5:12 - General Habakkuk 1:12 - for Zephaniah 1:3 - stumblingblocks Malachi 2:4 - that my John 15:2 - and Romans 11:27 - when

Cross-References

Judges 13:15
Not knowing that it was the Lord 's angel, Manoah said to him, "Please do not go yet. Let us cook a young goat for you." But the angel said, "If I do stay, I will not eat your food. But if you want to prepare it, burn it as an offering to the Lord ."

1 Samuel 16:20
Jesse sent David to Saul with a young goat, a donkey loaded with bread, and a leather bag full of wine.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

By this therefore shall the iniquity of Jacob be purged,.... Or "expiated", or "atoned" a; not that afflictions are atonements for sin, or give satisfaction to divine justice for it; but they are the means of bringing the Lord's people to a sense of their sins, and to repentance and humiliation for them, and confession of them, and of leading them to the blood and sacrifice of Christ, by which they are expiated and atoned, and which the Spirit of God brings near, and applies unto them; whereby their sins, they are convicted of by means of afflictions, and which lay heavy upon their consciences, are purged away, and removed from them:

and this [is] all the fruit, to take away sin; this is the design and use of afflictions, the profit and advantage of them to the saints, that, being humbled for their sins, they depart from them, leave and forsake them; as well as the guilt of them is taken away from their consciences, through the application of pardoning grace, upon their repentance; see Job 36:8 this shows another difference between the afflictions of God's people and of others: namely, in the use and end of them. The sin of idolatry seems to be particularly designed by what follows; unless the sin of the present Jews, in their disbelief and rejection of the Messiah, should be rather intended; which, through their long affliction, they will be convinced of in the latter day, and it will be taken away from them, and be purged and expiated through the atoning sacrifice of Christ, the Saviour and Deliverer, they will embrace, Romans 11:25:

when he maketh all the stones of the altar as chalkstones that are beaten in sunder; that is, when Jacob, or the people of the Jews, being convinced of their idolatry by their afflictions, shall pull down all their idolatrous altars; perhaps particularly referring to that which Ahaz made, 2 Kings 16:10 and remove the stones thereof, and break them to pieces, as chalkstones for lime, which is easily done:

the groves and the images shall not stand up; erect, to be worshipped; but shall be thrown down, demolished, and broke to pieces; and, by thus abandoning their idols and idolatrous practices, they will show the sense they have of their sins, and the sincerity of their repentance; and it is to be observed, that the Jews, after their return from the Babylonish captivity, never practised idolatry more, not in the literal sense; perhaps some respect may be had here to the time when they shall look on him whom they have pierced, and mourn; and when they shall renounce all their legal sacrifices, traditions of the elders, and their own righteousness, their idols, and look alone to the sacrifice of Christ, and declare against all the idolatry of the church of Rome, and all antichristian worship.

a יכפר "propitiabitur", Pagninus, Montanus; "expiabitur", Piscator.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

By this - This verse states the whole design of the punishment of the Jews. They were taken away from their temple, their city, and their land; they were removed from the groves and altars of idolatry by which they had been so often led into sin; and the design was to preserve them henceforward from relapsing into their accustomed idolatry.

The iniquity of Jacob - The sin of the Jewish people, and particularly their tendency to idolatry, which was their easily besetting sin.

Be purged - (see the note at Isaiah 1:25).

And this is all the fruit - And this is all the “object” or “design” of their captivity and removal to Babylon.

When he maketh all the stones of the altar as chalk stones - That is, Yahweh shall make the stones of the altars reared in honor of idols like chalk stones; or shall throw them down, and scatter them abroad like stones that are easily beaten to pieces. The sense is, that Yahweh, during their captivity in Babylon, would overthrow the places where they had worshipped idols.

The groves and images shall not stand up - The groves consecrated to idols, and the images erected therein (see the note at Isaiah 17:8).

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Isaiah 27:9. The groves - "And if the groves"] ולא velo. Four MSS., two ancient, of Kennicott's, and one ancient of my own, with the Septuagint; this makes a fuller sense.