Chapter Overview
Summary
Isaiah 9 contains the GREAT-LIGHT-IN-DARKNESS prophecy (vv. 1–2) cited at Matthew 4:14–16 as fulfilled-in-Jesus' Galilean-ministry, AND the famous CHILD-IS-BORN-TO-US prophecy (vv. 6–7) with the four-fold throne-name 'Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.' Handel's Messiah immortalizes-this-passage. The chapter is one of the most Christologically-consequential in the OT.
Notable Variants
9:1–2 → Matthew 4:14–16 'great light' Galilee fulfillment; 9:6 'unto us a child is born' four-fold throne-name → Handel's Messiah; the LXX of-9:6 has its own distinctive renderings reducing-the-throne-names.
Structural Notes
MT Isaiah 9 = LXX Isaiah 9. 21 verses (MT). Isaiah 9:1 in some English-Bibles = MT 8:23 (numbering-offset).
But there will be no more gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time he brought contempt on the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he will bring honor — by the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.
Masoretic (WLC)
כִּי לֹא מוּעָף לַאֲשֶׁר מוּצָק לָהּ כָּעֵת הָרִאשׁוֹן הֵקַל אַרְצָה זְבֻלוּן וְאַרְצָה נַפְתָּלִי וְהָאַחֲרוֹן הִכְבִּיד דֶּרֶךְ הַיָּם עֵבֶר הַיַּרְדֵּן גְּלִיל הַגּוֹיִם
But there will be no gloom for her who 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 glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations
Septuagint (LXX)
καὶ οὐκ ἀπορηθήσεται ὁ ἐν στενοχωρίᾳ ὢν ἕως καιροῦ τοῦτο πρῶτον ποίει ταχύ ποίει χώρα Ζαβουλων ἡ γῆ Νεφθαλιμ ὁδὸν θαλάσσης καὶ οἱ λοιποὶ οἱ τὴν παραλίαν κατοικοῦντες καὶ πέραν τοῦ Ιορδάνου Γαλιλαία τῶν ἐθνῶν
But the one in distress shall not be without recourse for a season. Do this first; do it quickly: O land of Zebulun, the land of Naphtali, the way of the sea, and the rest who dwell on the seacoast and beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations
MATTHEW 4:14–16 CITATION FULFILLMENT — Galilee's-illumination by Christ's-ministry. Matthew 4:14–16 cites this verse-pair (Isa 9:1–2) explicitly: 'so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: THE LAND OF ZEBULUN AND THE LAND OF NAPHTALI, THE WAY OF THE SEA, BEYOND THE JORDAN, GALILEE OF THE GENTILES — the people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned.' Matthew shows-Jesus-fulfilling this-prophecy by-establishing-his-base in-Capernaum (Naphtali-territory).
The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light. Those who dwelt in a land of deep shadow — light has dawned upon them.
'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' tracks MT. GREAT-LIGHT-IN-DARKNESS. Matthew 4:16 cites verbatim. John 1:4–5, 8:12 ('I am the light of the world') Christologically extends.
You have multiplied the nation; you have increased its joy. They rejoice before you as with the joy of harvest, as warriors exult when dividing plunder.
'You have multiplied the nation; you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as they are glad when they divide the spoil' tracks MT.
For the yoke of his burden, the bar across his shoulders, the rod of his oppressor — you have shattered them as on the day of Midian.
'For the yoke of his burden, and the staff for his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian' tracks MT. DAY-OF-MIDIAN — Gideon's-victory (Judges 7) referenced.
For every boot that tramped in the earthquake of battle, every cloak rolled in blood — they will be fuel for burning, food for fire.
'For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult and every garment rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for the fire' tracks MT. END-OF-WAR. Anticipates-the-Messianic-peace.
For a child is born to us, a son is given to us, and the dominion rests upon his shoulder. His name is called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Father of Eternity, Prince of Peace.
Masoretic (WLC)
כִּי־יֶלֶד יֻלַּד־לָנוּ בֵּן נִתַּן־לָנוּ וַתְּהִי הַמִּשְׂרָה עַל־שִׁכְמוֹ וַיִּקְרָא שְׁמוֹ פֶּלֶא יוֹעֵץ אֵל גִּבּוֹר אֲבִיעַד שַׂר־שָׁלוֹם
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace
Septuagint (LXX)
ὅτι παιδίον ἐγεννήθη ἡμῖν υἱὸς καὶ ἐδόθη ἡμῖν οὗ ἡ ἀρχὴ ἐγενήθη ἐπὶ τοῦ ὤμου αὐτοῦ καὶ καλεῖται τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ μεγάλης βουλῆς ἄγγελος ἐγὼ γὰρ ἄξω εἰρήνην ἐπὶ τοὺς ἄρχοντας εἰρήνην καὶ ὑγίειαν αὐτῷ
For a child is born to us, and a son is given to us, whose government is upon his shoulder; and his name is called Angel of Great Counsel, for I will bring peace upon the rulers, peace and health to him
THE CHILD-IS-BORN-TO-US PROPHECY. Handel's Messiah Part I, no. 12: 'For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given' set-this-verse to one of the most-recognizable choral-pieces in Western-music. The four-fold throne-names of-the-MT (Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace) are quintessential-Messianic-titles.
MAJOR LXX-vs-MT DIVERGENCE. The MT preserves four-throne-names (with-divine-titles 'Mighty God,' 'Everlasting Father'); the LXX collapses-them into 'Angel of Great Counsel' (megalēs boulēs angelos) and adds an interpretive-extension about-peace. The LXX's reduction was-likely Hellenistic-monotheistic-anxiety about-applying divine-titles to a human-king. Christian-tradition retains-the-MT's full-four-fold-name through Theodotion's later-translation and Latin-Vulgate. Handel's-aria sings the-MT-form.
FOUR-FOLD THRONE-NAME. (1) WONDERFUL COUNSELOR (pele' yo'etz) — supernatural-counsel; (2) MIGHTY GOD (el gibbor) — divine-warrior-title also at Isa 10:21; (3) EVERLASTING FATHER (avi-ad) — eternally-fathering; (4) PRINCE OF PEACE (sar shalom) — Messianic-shalom-bringer. The compounded-titles establish the-Messianic-king's divine-character — foundational for-Trinitarian-theology of-the-Son's-deity.
Of the increase of his dominion and of peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and sustain it with justice and with righteousness from now and forever. The zeal of the LORD of Hosts will accomplish this.
'Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this' tracks MT. NO-END-TO-HIS-GOVERNMENT — eternal-Messianic-reign. Luke 1:33 ('he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end') Christologically-fulfills.
The Lord sent a word against Jacob, and it fell upon Israel.
'The Lord has sent a word against Jacob, and it will fall on Israel' tracks MT. JUDGMENT-AGAINST-NORTHERN-KINGDOM begins (vv. 8–21) — recurring 'his hand is stretched out still' refrain (vv. 12, 17, 21).
And all the people will know it — Ephraim and the inhabitants of Samaria — who say in pride and arrogance of heart:
'And all the people will know, Ephraim and the inhabitants of Samaria, who say in pride and in arrogance of heart' tracks MT.
"The bricks have fallen, but we will build with dressed stone. The sycamores have been cut down, but we will replace them with cedars."
'The bricks have fallen, but we will build with dressed stones; the sycamores have been cut down, but we will put cedars in their place' tracks MT. PROUD-REBUILDING — defiance-after-judgment.
So the LORD has raised up the adversaries of Rezin against him and stirred up his enemies —
'But the LORD raises the adversaries of Rezin against him, and stirs up his enemies' tracks MT.
Aram from the east and the Philistines from the west — they devour Israel with open mouth. For all this, his anger has not turned away, and his hand is still stretched out.
'The Syrians on the east and the Philistines on the west devour Israel with open mouth. For all this his anger has not turned away, and his hand is stretched out still' tracks MT. HAND-STRETCHED-OUT REFRAIN — repeats at vv. 17, 21.
Yet the people have not turned back to the one who struck them, and the LORD of Hosts they have not sought.
'The people did not turn to him who struck them, nor inquire of the LORD of hosts' tracks MT.
So the LORD cut off from Israel head and tail, palm branch and reed, in a single day.
'So the LORD cut off from Israel head and tail, palm branch and reed, in one day' tracks MT.
The elder and the dignitary — these are the head. The prophet who teaches lies — he is the tail.
'The elder and honored man is the head, and the prophet who teaches lies is the tail' tracks MT.
Those who guide this people lead them astray, and those who are guided by them are swallowed up.
'For those who guide this people have been leading them astray, and those who are guided by them are swallowed up' tracks MT. BLIND-LEADING-BLIND. Matthew 15:14 ('they are blind guides; if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit') Christologically-extends.
Therefore the Lord takes no pleasure in their young men, and on their orphans and widows he has no compassion, for every one of them is godless and does evil, and every mouth speaks disgrace. For all this, his anger has not turned away, and his hand is still stretched out.
'Therefore the Lord does not rejoice over their young men, and has no compassion on their fatherless and widows; for everyone is godless and an evildoer, and every mouth speaks folly. For all this his anger has not turned away, and his hand is stretched out still' tracks MT. // v. 12 refrain.
For wickedness burns like fire; it devours thorns and briars, it kindles the thickets of the forest, and they swirl upward in columns of smoke.
'For wickedness burns like a fire; it consumes briers and thorns; it kindles the thickets of the forest, and they roll upward in a column of smoke' tracks MT.
By the fury of the LORD of Hosts the land is scorched, and the people are fuel for the fire. No one spares his brother.
'Through the wrath of the LORD of hosts the land is scorched, and the people are like fuel for the fire; no one spares another' tracks MT.
They snatch on the right but are still hungry; they devour on the left but are not satisfied. Each one feeds on the flesh of his own arm —
'They slice meat on the right, but are still hungry, and they devour on the left, but are not satisfied; each devours the flesh of his own arm' tracks MT.
Manasseh devours Ephraim, and Ephraim devours Manasseh; together they turn against Judah. For all this, his anger has not turned away, and his hand is still stretched out.
'Manasseh devours Ephraim, and Ephraim devours Manasseh; together they are against Judah. For all this his anger has not turned away, and his hand is stretched out still' tracks MT. // v. 12 refrain. CIVIL-WAR among the tribes — closing-scene of fragmented-Israel.