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Monday, September 23rd, 2024
the Week of Proper 20 / Ordinary 25
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Updated Bible Version

Isaiah 9:2

The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: those that dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, on them has the light shined.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Blindness;   Church;   Darkness;   Gentiles;   Gospel;   Isaiah;   Naphtali;   Prophecy;   Quotations and Allusions;   Thompson Chain Reference - Conversion;   Darkness;   Gentiles;   Light, Spiritual;   Light-Darkness;   Messianic Prophecies;   Missions, World-Wide;   Prophesies, General;   Spiritual;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Death, Spiritual;   Galilee;   Naphtali, the Tribe of;   Prophecies Respecting Christ;  

Dictionaries:

- Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Darkness;   Messiah;   War;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Amos, Theology of;   Darkness;   Israel;   Joy;   Light;   Matthew, Theology of;   Mediator, Mediation;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Darkness;   Zebulun, Lot of;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Capernaum;   Naphtali;   Prophet;   Simeon;   Zebulun;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Darkness;   Dawn;   Fulfill;   Isaiah;   Remnant;   Shadow;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Immanuel;   Isaiah;   Isaiah, Book of;   Messiah;   Rezin;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Immanuel ;   Isaiah;   Light;   Light and Darkness;   Magi ;   Messiah;   Nunc Dimittis ;   Walk (2);   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Darkness;   Naphtali ;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Galilee;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Messiah;   Naphtali;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Jesus Christ;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Kingdom of Judah;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Dark;   Prophecy;   Shadow of Death;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Darkness;   Light;   Naphtali, Tribe of;   Pentecost;  

Devotionals:

- Every Day Light - Devotion for November 30;  

Parallel Translations

Legacy Standard Bible
The people who walk in darknessWill see a great light;Those who live in the land of the shadow of death,The light will shine on them.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
The people who walk in darkness Will see a great light; Those who live in a dark land, The light will shine on them.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
The people that walked in darknesse, haue seene a great light: As for them that dwell in the lande of the shadowe of death, vpon them hath the light shined.
Darby Translation
the people that walked in darkness have seen a great light; they that dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, upon them light hath shone.
New King James Version
The people who walked in darkness Have seen a great light; Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, Upon them a light has shined.
Literal Translation
The people who walk in darkness have seen a great light. The ones who dwell in the land of the shadow of death, light has shone on them.
Easy-to-Read Version
Those people lived in darkness, but they will see a great light. They lived in a place as dark as death, but a great light will shine on them.
World English Bible
The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light: those who lived in the land of the shadow of death, on them has the light shined.
King James Version (1611)
The people that walked in darknesse, haue seene a great light: they that dwel in the land of the shadow of death, vpon them hath the light shined.
King James Version
The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Neuertheles ye people that haue dwelt in darcknesse, shal se a greate light. As for them that dwel in the londe of the shadowe of death, vpon them shal the light shyne.
THE MESSAGE
The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light. For those who lived in a land of deep shadows— light! sunbursts of light! You repopulated the nation, you expanded its joy. Oh, they're so glad in your presence! Festival joy! The joy of a great celebration, sharing rich gifts and warm greetings. The abuse of oppressors and cruelty of tyrants— all their whips and cudgels and curses— Is gone, done away with, a deliverance as surprising and sudden as Gideon's old victory over Midian. The boots of all those invading troops, along with their shirts soaked with innocent blood, Will be piled in a heap and burned, a fire that will burn for days! For a child has been born—for us! the gift of a son—for us! He'll take over the running of the world. His names will be: Amazing Counselor, Strong God, Eternal Father, Prince of Wholeness. His ruling authority will grow, and there'll be no limits to the wholeness he brings. He'll rule from the historic David throne over that promised kingdom. He'll put that kingdom on a firm footing and keep it going With fair dealing and right living, beginning now and lasting always. The zeal of God -of-the-Angel-Armies will do all this.
Amplified Bible
The people who walk in [spiritual] darkness Will see a great Light; Those who live in the dark land, The Light will shine on them.
American Standard Version
The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.
Bible in Basic English
The people who went in the dark have seen a great light, and for those who were living in the land of the deepest night, the light is shining.
Webster's Bible Translation
The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shades of death, upon them hath the light shined.
New English Translation
The people walking in darkness see a bright light; light shines on those who live in a land of deep darkness.
Contemporary English Version
Those who walked in the dark have seen a bright light. And it shines upon everyone who lives in the land of darkest shadows.
Complete Jewish Bible
You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice in your presence as if rejoicing at harvest time, the way men rejoice when dividing up the spoil.
Geneva Bible (1587)
The people that walked in darkenes haue seene a great light: they that dwelled in the land of the shadowe of death, vpon them hath the light shined.
George Lamsa Translation
The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, upon them has the light shined.
Hebrew Names Version
The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light: those who lived in the land of the shadow of death, on them has the light shined.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
Thou hast multiplied the nation, Thou hast increased their joy; they joy before Thee according to the joy in harvest, as men rejoice when they divide the spoil.
New Living Translation
The people who walk in darkness will see a great light. For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine.
New Life Bible
The people who walk in darkness will see a great light. The light will shine on those living in the land of dark shadows.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
O people walking in darkness, behold a great light: ye that dwell in the region and shadow of death, a light shall shine upon you.
English Revised Version
The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.
Berean Standard Bible
The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death, a light has dawned.
New Revised Standard
The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness— on them light has shined.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
the people who were walking in darkness, Have seen a great light, - The dwellers in a land death-shadowed, A light, hath shined upon them.
Douay-Rheims Bible
The people that walked in darkness, have seen a great light: to them that dwelt in the region of the shadow of death, light is risen.
Lexham English Bible
The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; light has shined on those who lived in a land of darkness.
English Standard Version
The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.
New American Standard Bible
The people who walk in darkness Will see a great light; Those who live in a dark land, The light will shine on them.
New Century Version
Before those people lived in darkness, but now they have seen a great light. They lived in a dark land, but a light has shined on them.
Good News Translation
The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light. They lived in a land of shadows, but now light is shining on them.
Christian Standard Bible®
The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; a light has dawned on those living in the land of darkness.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
The puple that yede in derknessis siy a greet liyt; whanne men dwelliden in the cuntre of schadewe of deth, liyt roos vp to hem.
Revised Standard Version
The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shined.
Young's Literal Translation
The people who are walking in darkness Have seen a great light, Dwellers in a land of death-shade, Light hath shone upon them.

Contextual Overview

1 But there shall be no gloom to her that was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali; but in the latter time he has made it glorious, by the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations. 2 The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: those that dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, on them has the light shined. 3 You have multiplied the nation, you have increased their joy: they joy before you according to the joy in harvest, as men rejoice when they divide the spoil. 4 For the yoke of his burden, and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, you have broken as in the day of Midian. 5 For all the armor of the armed man in the tumult, and the garments rolled in blood, shall be for burning, for fuel of fire. 6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be on his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and of peace there shall be no end, on the throne of David, and on his kingdom, to establish it, and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from now on even forever. The zeal of Yahweh of hosts will perform this.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

walked: Isaiah 50:10, Isaiah 60:1-3, Isaiah 60:19, Micah 7:8, Micah 7:9, Matthew 4:16, Luke 1:78, Luke 1:79, Luke 2:32, John 8:12, John 12:35, John 12:46, Ephesians 5:8, Ephesians 5:13, Ephesians 5:14, 1 Peter 2:9, 1 John 1:5-7

in the land: Job 10:21, Psalms 23:4, Psalms 107:10, Psalms 107:14, Amos 5:8

Reciprocal: Deuteronomy 33:23 - O 2 Kings 15:29 - Galilee Job 3:5 - the shadow Job 33:28 - see Job 34:22 - nor Psalms 118:27 - showed Psalms 126:6 - shall doubtless Isaiah 42:7 - to bring Isaiah 49:9 - to them Malachi 4:2 - the Sun Matthew 4:14 - saying Luke 4:44 - Galilee John 7:52 - Search Acts 26:18 - and to 2 Peter 1:19 - a light 1 John 2:8 - the darkness

Cross-References

Genesis 1:28
And God blessed them: and God said to them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the heavens, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.
Genesis 2:19
And out of the ground Yahweh God formed every beast of the field, and every bird of the heavens; and brought them to the man to see what he would call them: and whatever the man called every living creature, that was the name thereof.
Genesis 9:4
But flesh with the life thereof, [which is] the blood thereof, you shall not eat.
Genesis 9:8
And God spoke to Noah, and to his sons with him, saying,
Genesis 9:20
And Noah began to be a husbandman, and planted a vineyard:
Genesis 9:22
And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brothers outside.
Genesis 9:23
And Shem and Japheth took a garment, and laid it on both their shoulders, and went backward, and covered the nakedness of their father. And their faces were backward, and they did not see their father's nakedness.
Genesis 35:5
And they journeyed: and a terror of God was on the cities that were round about them, and they did not pursue after the sons of Jacob.
Leviticus 26:6
And I will give peace in the land, and you shall lie down, and none shall make you afraid: and I will cause evil beasts to cease out of the land, neither shall the sword go through your land.
Leviticus 26:22
And I will send the beast of the field among you, which shall rob you of your children, and destroy your cattle, and make you few in number; and your ways shall become desolate.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

The people that walked in darkness,.... Meaning not the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem, in the times of Hezekiah, when Sennacherib besieged them, as Jarchi and Kimchi interpret it; and much less the people of Israel in Egypt, as the Targum paraphrases it; but the inhabitants of Galilee in the times of Christ; see Matthew 4:16 John 1:48 and is a true character of all the people of God before conversion, who are in a state of darkness, under the power of sin, shut up in unbelief; are in gross ignorance of themselves, and their condition; of sin, and the danger they are exposed to by it; of divine and spiritual things; of the grace of God; of the way of peace, life, and salvation by Christ; and of the work of the blessed Spirit; and of the truths of the Gospel; they are in the dark, and can see no objects in a spiritual sense; not to read the word, so as to understand it; or to work that which is good; and they "walk" on in darkness, not knowing where they are, and whither they are going; and yet of these it is said, they

have seen a great light; Christ himself, who conversed among the Galilaeans, preached unto them, and caused the light of his glorious Gospel to shine into many of their hearts; by which their darkness was removed, so that they not only saw Christ, this great light, with their bodily eyes, but with the eyes of their understanding; who may be called the "light", because he is the author and giver of all light, even of nature, grace, and glory; and a "great" one, because he is the sun, the greatest light, the sun of righteousness, the light of the world, both of Jews and Gentiles; he is the true light, in distinction from all typical ones, and in opposition to all false ones, and who in his person is God over all.

They that dwell in the land of the shadow of death; as Galilee might be called, because it was a poor, miserable, and uncomfortable place, from whence no good came; and this character fitly describes God's people in a state of nature and unregeneracy, who are dead in Adam, dead in law, and dead in trespasses and sins, dead as to the spiritual use of the powers and faculties of their souls; they have no spiritual life in them, nor any spiritual sense, feeling, or motion; and they "dwell", continue, and abide in this state, till grace brings them out of it; see John 12:46:

upon them hath the light shined: Christ in human nature, through the ministration of his Gospel, by his spirit, so as to enlighten them who walk in darkness, and to quicken them who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, and to comfort them in their desolate estate; and this light not only shone upon them in the external ministration of the word, as it did "upon" the inhabitants in general, but it shone "into" the hearts of many of them in particular, so that in this light they saw light.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The people that walked in darkness - The inhabitants of the region of Galilee. They were represented as walking in darkness, because they were far from the capital, and from the temple; they had few religious privileges; they were intermingled with the pagan, and were comparatively rude and uncultivated in their manners and in their language. Allusion to this is several times made in the New Testament; John 1:46 : ‘Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?’ John 7:52 : ‘Search and look, for out of Galilee ariseth no prophet;’ Matthew 26:69; Mark 14:70. The word walked here is synonymous with lived, and denotes that thick darkness brooded over the country, so that they lived, or walked amidst it.

Have seen a great light - Light is not only an emblem of knowledge in the Scriptures, but of joy, rejoicing, and deliverance. It stands opposed to moral darkness, and to times of judgment and calamity. What is the particular reference here, is not agreed by expositors. The immediate connection seems to require us to understand it of deliverance from the calamities that were impending over the nation then. They would be afflicted, but they would be delivered. The tribes of Israel would be carried captive away; and Judah would also be removed. This calamity would particularly affect the ten tribes of Israel - the northern part of the land, the regions of Galilee - “for those tribes would be carried away not to return.” Yet this region also would be favored with a especially striking manifestation of light. I see no reason to doubt that the language of the prophet here is adapted to extend into that future period when the Messiah should come to that dark region, and become both its light and its deliverer. Isaiah may have referred to the immediate deliverance of the nation from impending calamities, but there is a fullness and richness of the language that seems to be applicable only to the Messiah. So it is evidently understood in Matthew 4:13-16.

They that dwell - The same people are referred to here as in the former member of the verse.

In the land of the shadow of death - This is a most beautiful expression, and is special to the Hebrew poets. The word צלמות tsalmâveth, is exceedingly poetical. The idea is that of death, as a dark substance or being, casting a long and chilly shade over the land - standing between the land and the light - and thus becoming the image of ignorance, misery, and calamity. It is often used, in the Scriptures, to describe those regions that were lying as it were in the penumbra of this gloomy object, and exposed to all the chills and sorrows of this melancholy darkness. Death, by the Hebrews, was especially represented as extending his long and baleful shadow ever the regions of departed spirits; Job 38:17 :

Have the gates of death been opened to thee?

Hast thou seen the gates of the shadow of death?

Before I go - I shall not return -

To the land of darkness

And of the shadow of death.

Job 10:21

It is thus an image of chills, and gloom, and night - of anything that resembles the still and mournful regions of the dead. The Chaldee renders these two verses thus: ‘In a former time Zebulun and Naphtali emigrated; and those who remained after them a strong king shall carry into captivity, because they did not remember the power which was shown in the Red Sea, and the miracles which were done in Jordan, and the wars of the people of the cities. The people of the house of Israel who walked in Egypt as in the midst of shades, came out that they might see a great light.’


 
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