Bible Commentaries
Isaiah 9

Verse 1

Nevertheless = For, This member (Isaiah 9:1-7 ) relates to Messiah, the Son, referring back to Isaiah 8:9 , Isaiah 8:10 ; and carries Isaiah 7:14 on to its future fulfilment, See App-102 .

dimness. vexation. Almost the same two words as dimness. anguish (Isaiah 8:22 ).

at the first. When Ben-hadad, in the reign of Baasha, "smote Ijon, and Dan, and Abel-beth-maachah, and all Cinneroth, with all the land of Naphtali" (1 Kings 15:20 )

the land, &c. Quoted in Luke 1:79 .

afterward. Referring to the heavier scourge when Hazael "smote all the coasts of Israel from Jordan eastward, all the land of Gilead" (2 Kings 10:32 , 2 Kings 10:33 ). This land was the first to be afflicted by the armies of Assyria (2 Kings 15:29 , and was the first to see the promised light in the person of the Messiah.

Verse 2

that walked in darkness = the walkers in darkness.

have men = saw. Quoted in Matthew 4:14-16 .

Verse 3

Thou: i.e. Jehovah*

hast. This is the Figure of speech Prolepsis , by which the future is prophetically spoken of as present, or past.

and not increased the joy. The difficulty is not removed by reading lo , "to him", instead of l'o , "not" (which is the marginal reading of Hebrew text, and is followed by the Revised Version. Dr. C. D. Ginsburg suggests that the word in question, haggil'o, was wrongly divided into two words, and the last syllable ( l'o) was treated as a separate word. Read as one word, the four lines form an Introversion , thus: Thou hast multiplied the exultation, Thou hast increased the joy: They joy before Thee according to the joy in harvest.

Verse 6

For unto us, &c. The prophecy of the "Divine Interposition" ends with Messiah, even as it began in Isaiah 7:14 (quoted in Luke 2:11 ). See App-102 .

is. Figure of speech Prolepsis .

given. The interval of this present dispensation comes between the word "given" and the next clause.

government. The Hebrew word misrah occurs only in these verses (6, 7). Like politeuma (Philippians 1:3 , Philippians 1:20 ).

name = He Himself. See note on Psalms 20:1 .

Wonderful. Compare Judges 13:18 .

GOD. Hebrew El. As in Isaiah 10:21 . App-4 .

of. Genitive (of Origin), App-17 .; i.e. the Prince Who gives peace. Compare Romans 15:16 .

Verse 7

no end. Compare the angelic message (Luke 1:32 , Luke 1:33 ).

it. Feminine, referring to the kingdom.

upon. henceforth. Quoted in Luke 1:32 , Luke 1:33 .

the Lord of hosts. See note on Isaiah 1:9 , and 1 Samuel 1:3 .

sent a word. ch. Isaiah 2:5 , Isaiah 2:6 which had now been fulfilled. Compare Isaiah 5:25 . 2 Chronicles 28:6-8 .

Jacob. See note on Isaiah 2:5 .

lighted = fallen.

Verse 9

all the People, &c. "People" is singular, and "know" is plural = the People, all of them.

Verse 11

adversaries. Some codices read "princes, or generals".

him: i.e. Ephraim (not Rezin).

join, &c. = weave together, unite as allies.

Verse 12

For all this, &c. See note on Isaiah 5:26 . Note the Figure of speech Amoeboeon , Isaiah 5:25 ; here, verses: Isaiah 9:17 , Isaiah 9:21 , Isaiah 9:4 . stretched out: in judgment. See note on Isa 6:26 .

Verse 13

turneth not. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 4:29 , Deuteronomy 4:30 ).

the Lord Hebrew. Jehovah. with 'eth = Jehovah Himself. App-4 . See note on 1 Samuel 1:3 .

Verse 14

rush. Hebrew. 'agmon. Occurs twice in "former" portion, here and Isaiah 19:15 ; and once in "latter" portion (Isaiah 58:5 , "bulrush"). Elsewhere only in Job 41:2 , Job 41:20 .

Verse 15

head. tail. Reference to Pentateuch. Only here and Deuteronomy 28:13 , Deuteronomy 28:44 .

Verse 16

the leaders: or, flatterers.

err = stray.

they that are led = they that are flattered.

destroyed = swallowed up.

Verse 18

wickedness = lawlessness. Hebrew. rasha'. App-44 .

Verse 19

of = for. Genitive of Relation ( App-17 .)

Verse 20

eat. not be satisfied. Reference to Pentateuch (Leviticus 26:26 ).