It was in despised Galilee that He first and most publicly exercised His ministry; from it were most of His apostles. either by Pul king of Assyria, in the reign of Menahem king of The land of Zebulun - The region occupied by the tribe of Zebulun. Zebulun and the land Besides the recent deportation by Tiglath-pileser, it had been sorely smitten by Ben-hadad of Syria, two hundred years before (1Ki 15:20). Thou hast multiplied the nation, &c.— The prophet, in the remainder of this discourse, sets forth, First, A consequence of this great benefit, that is, the joy of the pious for so great a blessing, vouchsafed to them; and secondly, He enumerates three causes of this joy; Isaiah 9:4-6. It probably has that sense here, as the design of the prophet is evidently to speak, not of a light affliction in the former time, but of a grievous, heavy calamity - a calamity which would be well denoted by the expression, 'he made them vile; he exposed them to contempt and derision.' (b) With which Israel was punished, first by Tiglath-pilesar, which was a light scourge in respect to that which they suffered afterward by Shalmaneser, who carried the Israelites away captive. When at the first - In the former time; on a former occasion. He would be the Light of the world to the people who walked in darkness. Lightly afflicted; either, 1. 24:22 ) it is true, indeed, it may be considered as an In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but … Israel, who took Samaria, and carried Israel or the ten tribes upon the Jews by the Romans should be greater than the heaviest Some understand the words to be an aggravation of the darkness or misery threatened Isaiah 8:22, rendering the words thus, for the dimness shall not be, &c. And so the sense is, This shall not be so slight an affliction as that which befell them by Pul, 2 Kings 15:19, nor as that which succeeded it by Tiglathpileser, who, at the desire of Ahaz, did about this time make another invasion into the land of Israel, 2 Kings 15:29, and was a heavier stroke than the former; but this shall be far heavier than either of them. The passage begin… Judgments for their pride, Isaiah 9:8-12; for their impenitency and hypocrisy, Isaiah 9:13-21. Continuation of the Prophecy in the Eighth Chapter. Isaiah 11:1-5 Spirit Dependent Living . What does this verse really mean? of these; there should be no fleeing, no escape, no, not of any, land) "to which distress is brought; as at the first time he This shows the English words related to the source biblical texts along with brief definitions. by Shalmaneser king of Assyria, in the reign of Hoshea king of The shoot of Jesse begins and ends the unit. caused reproach towards the land of Zebulun, and towards the land design the sea of Tiberias or Galilee, as Jarchi rightly our version: when at first he lightly afflicted the land of Nevertheless, the dimness [shall] not [be] such as [was] in. These also had suffered from the ravages of the Assyrian armies under Pul (1Chronicles 5:26). Isaiah 9:1-2 New International Version (NIV) 9 [ a]Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. (a) He comforts the Church again after these great threatenings promising to restore them to great glory in Messiah. By the way of the sea; in that part of the land which bordereth upon the sea, to wit, the lake of Gennesaret, which is very commonly called a sea, as Matthew 4:18 John 21:1, &c., and upon which the portions of Zebulun and Naphtali bordered. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali,(B)but in the future he will honor Galilee of the nations, by the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan— 2 The people walking in darkness(C) have seen a great light;(D) Introduction. the uttermost, and particularly in the places following: by Isaiah 9:6 is a prophecy about a future child who would bear the government on his shoulders and be called by titles that could only rightfully be attributed to God: “ For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. Adjacent to this region were the countries of Phenicia, Tyre, and Sidon; and the people would naturally mingle much with them in commerce. Salem Media Group. See Zechariah 2:10-11; Luke 2:10. Isaiah 9:1 NIV Isaiah 9:1 NLT Isaiah 9:1 ESV Isaiah 9:1 NASB Isaiah 9:1 KJV Isaiah 9:1 BibleApps.com Isaiah 9:1 Biblia Paralela Isaiah 9:1 Chinese Bible Isaiah 9:1 French Bible Isaiah 9:1 Clyx Quotations OT Prophets: Isaiah 9:1 But there shall be no more gloom (Isa Isi Is) 14:13-15 ) , where it is quoted, and applied to Christ's He lightly afflicted - The word used here, קלל qâlal, means properly, to be, or make light, or small; and in Hiphil, the form which occurs here, it often means to "esteem lightly, to despise, to hold in contempt;" 2 Samuel 19:43; Ezekiel 22:7. Four titles underscore the character of this God-man who is a King, and they build upon one another. Galil in Hebrew is a "circle," "circuit," and from it came the name Galilee. In this region, Solomon had given to Hiram, king of Tyre, twenty cities; 1 Kings 9:2. afterwards did more grievously afflict [her]: The time to which reference is made here, was probably the invasion of the land by Tiglath-pileser; 2 Kings 15:29; 1 Chronicles 5:26. It is true that, according to Jerome, in loc., the Nazarenes supposed Isaiah 9:1 to refer to the light of the gospel spread by the preaching of Paul in terminos gentium et viam universi maris. nations, and therefore so called; now these places suffered much It extended entirely across from the one to the other, and as it was thus favored with a somewhat extended seacoast, the people were more given to commerce than the other tribes, and hence, mingled more with surrounding nations. It is commonly applied to one in early life; but no particular stress is to be laid on the word. Ver. . Each promise delivers hope; each name reveals the glorious way the Lord rules His kingdom through King Jesus. 9 [a]Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom(A)for those who were in distress. of Naphtali, so in the last" (time) "he will give glory by the better to understand it of Titus Vespasian, who would not be The way of the sea . Beyond Jordan; or, on this side Jordan; for this preposition is used both ways, and this land might be said to be either beyond or on this side Jordan, in divers respects. Jerusalem, or distressed in Judea; and so the words are a reason alleviation of it, and as affording some comfort in a view of it, when at first he lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali; either by Pul king of Assyria, in the reign of Menahem king of Israel, 2 Kings 15:19 or rather by Tilgathpilneser king of Assyria, in the reign of Pekah king of Israel, since by him Galilee, and all the land of Naphtali, were carried captive, 2 Kings 15:29 which at the time of this prophecy was past, and was but a light affliction in comparison of what followed: and afterwards did more grievously afflict her: by Shalmaneser king of Assyria, in the reign of Hoshea king of Israel, who took Samaria, and carried Israel or the ten tribes into captivity, from whence they returned not; and yet it is suggested, that the tribulation and distress that should come upon the Jews by the Romans should be greater than the heaviest of these; there should be no fleeing, no escape, no, not of any, as at those times mentioned, but wrath should come upon them to the uttermost, and particularly in the places following: by the way of the sea; which some understand of the Mediterranean sea, and of that part of the land of Israel which lay next it; but it seems rather to design the sea of Tiberias or Galilee, as Jarchi rightly interprets it: beyond Jordan; a part of the land of Israel so called, known by the name of Peraea; See Gill on Matthew 4:25. in Galilee of the nations; which was inhabited not only by Jews, but by persons of other nations, and therefore so called; now these places suffered much in the wars between the Jews and the Romans, by skirmishes, sieges, robberies, plunders, &c. as appears from the history of Josephus. The words may be rendered, "for there shall be no weariness to Galilee of the nations, or Galilee of the Gentiles, to wit, the Upper Galilee, so called because it bordered upon the Gentiles. shall not abide or continue; for to be is sometimes put for to abide or continue to be, as 1 Samuel 12:14 Proverbs 23:5 Matthew 17:4 Hebrews 8:4) unto her, (to wit, the land, which by the consent of interpreters is understood here, as it was Isaiah 8:21) to whom this distress is or shall be. It will begin with the coming of the Messiah, the promised future king. a part of the land of Israel so called, known by the name of The dimness shall not be such as was in her vexation: the words thus rendered contain a mitigation of the foregoing threatening; and so the sense of the verse may be this, The calamity of this land and its inhabitants shall be great, yet not such as that which was brought upon the kingdom of the ten tribes by the king of Assyria, who at first indeed dealt more gently with them, but afterwards quite rooted them out, and carried them away into a dreadful captivity, from whence they were not to return, no, not when the Messiah came into the world; for after this darkness of which I have now spoken, there shall come a glorious light, as it follows in the next verse. Isaiah 9:1-7 The Government and Names of Yahweh . reign of Pekah king of Israel, since by him Galilee, and all the I. as at those times mentioned, but wrath should come upon them to In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the nations, by the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan--" Isaiah 9:1, ESV: "But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish. to be, and was, greater than ever was known, ( Matthew them, should, in the days of the Messiah, be highly honoured, and (c) While the Jews and Gentiles dwelt together by reason of those twenty cites, which Solomon gave to Hiram. It does not mean strictly on the east of Jordan, but rather the northern portion of the land. Article Images Copyright © 2021 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. her vexation The dimness, or calamity, here referred to, is that which is threatened, Isaiah 8:21-22. In the former time he brought shame on the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali; but in the latter he bringeth honour on the way by the sea, beyond Jordan, the circuit of the Gentiles. As handed down from antiquity , the Hebrew word for “not” (two letters: lamed-aleph) appears … By Pul; or rather, 2. "for there shall be no fleeing from him that is oppressed in it" - Gesenius." There would be light - particularly in the dark regions of Zebulun and Naphtali - the provinces lying most exposed to the Syrian invasion. Foretold in De 33:18, 19; Ac 2:7; Ps 68:27, 28, Jerusalem, the theocratic capital, might readily have known Messiah; to compensate less favored Galilee, He ministered mostly there; Galilee's very debasement made it feel its need of a Saviour, a feeling not known to the self-righteous Jews (Mt 9:13). This variation in translation, unlike the example in Isaiah 9:1, is not the result of differences in interpretation, but instead is based on different Hebrew wording. The birth, person, office, and kingdom of Christ, Isaiah 9:6,7. California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information. "Thou hast multiplied the nation, [and] not increased the joy: they joy before thee according to the joy … (g) "Et non poterit avolare de angustia sua", Hieron. which was inhabited not only by Jews, but by persons of other Isaiah … The words may be rendered, "for there shall be no weariness to him that straitens" or "afflicts" them F6; so Jarchi, who interprets it of the king of Assyria; but it is better to understand it of Titus Vespasian, who would not be weary of, but indefatigable in carrying on the siege of Jerusalem, and in distressing the Jews in all … By the way of the sea - The sea of Galilee, or Gennesareth. Copyright © 2021, Bible Study Tools. To the same purpose they may be thus rendered, according to the Hebrew, But darkness shall not be (i.e. .—The context shows that the “sea” is that which appears in Bible history under the names of the sea of Chinnereth (Numbers 34:11; Deuteronomy 3:17), the Sea of Galilee, the Sea of Tiberias (John 6:1), Gennesaret (Mark 6:53). Isaiah 9 likewise announces a new era, the sign of this new era will be a child. So Lowth, Rosenmuller, and Gesenius, translate it; see a similar use of the word in Jeremiah 30:19; 2 Chronicles 25:19; 1 Samuel 2:30. It would be mitigated. See Matthew 14:13, where it is quoted, and applied to Christ's being in those parts. Did more grievously afflict her; either, 1. of Naphtali; Surely there is no gloom to her that was afflicted. The high road thence to Damascus was known as Via Maris in the time of the Crusaders (Renan, quoted by Cheyne). it with his presence, who is afterwards spoken of, and so, in It is true that, according to Jerome, in loc., the Nazarenes supposed Isaiah 9:1 to refer to the light of the gospel spread by the preaching of Paul in terminos gentium et viam universi maris. She that was afflicted, the whole land of Israel, should have no more affliction. Isaiah 9:1 Nevertheless the dimness shall not be such as was in her vexation, when at the first he lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, and afterward did more grievously afflict her by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, in Galilee of the nations. famous for any arts or sciences, and having no prophet among Isaiah 11:1-5 shares the three keys needed in drawing close to God. This chapter Isaiah 9:1-4 by showing that the calamity would not be so great as in former times. but a light affliction in comparison of what followed: and The dimness shall not be such as was in her vexation: the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, he made the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali vile or contemptible, on this side Jordan, in Galilee of the Gentiles, when at the first … more grievously afflict, In the former time he brought into contempt … but in the latter time hath he made it glorious, Nevertheless the dimness shall not be such as was in her vexation, As at the former time he brought contempt upon the land of Zebulon, And afterward did more grievously afflict her, So in the latter time he hath brought honor on the way of the sea, Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers, Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament. “It was told the house of David, saying, ‘Syria is allied with Ephraim.’ 1. 15:20 ) or rather by Tilgathpilneser king of Assyria, in the This verb has very various significations. This region had also been invaded by Benhadad two hundred years before the time of Isaiah; 1 Kings 15:20, and there might have been a reference to these various invasions to which this northern part of the land of Palestine had been subjected. if it be asked what that glory should be, the answer is, "the (1) Nevertheless the dimness . The inhabitants of this country are represented as having been bold and courageous, but as seditious, and prone to insolence and rebellion. The extensive dark region lying in the vicinity of that sea, Both those tribes bordered on the sea of Tiberias, or had that as a part of their boundary. (Isaiah 9:1-5). THE CONTEXT. The previous part of the verse refers to the calamities that had come upon that region in former times. By Shalmaneser, who took Samaria, and carried Israel into captivity, 2 Kings 17:5,6; of which calamity, though yet to come, the prophet speaks as if it were past, as the manner of the prophet is. Shall not be such - It shall not be unbroken darkness, and unalleviated calamity; but it shall be interrupted by the rising of the great light that shall shine on the dark land of Zebulun and Naphtali. Call Him Wonderful Counselor. Please enter your email address associated with your Salem All-Pass account, then click Continue. Isaiah 9:2-7 EXEGESIS: ISAIAH 7:1 – 9:1. The back story The back story is the long-standing domination of the tribes of Zebulun and Naphtali by foreign states. Galilee of the nations - This was sometimes called upper Galilee. As the Prince of Peace, he reconciles us to God; he is the Giver of peace in the heart and conscience; and when his kingdom is fully established, men shall learn war no more. F7; either that is besieged in Use this table to get a word-for-word translation of the original Hebrew Scripture. But this last clause, and the two foregoing clauses, are otherwise rendered and interpreted by divers learned men, as a prophecy concerning the light of the gospel that should shine in those parts: As at the first time (to wit, in the former ages of the Israelitish church and commonwealth) he made the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali vile or contemptible; (as he might be said to have done, partly, by putting those people at so great a distance from his sanctuary; partly, by exposing them to some calamities which other tribes escaped; and partly, by denying them those honours and privileges which he afforded to other tribes, of which see John 7:52, Out of Galilee ariseth no prophet; and John 1:46, Can any good thing come out of Nazareth? The people of Israel were steeped in apostasy and walking in darkness and gloom, but Isaiah spoke of a coming Messiah, Who would not only bring light with Him, but would be the Light of lights.