Isaiah 1:9

Isaiah 1:9 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Except the Lord of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, and we should have been like unto Gomorrah.
• New International Version (NIV)Unless the Lord Almighty had left us some survivors, we would have become like Sodom, we would have been like Gomorrah.
• English Standard Version (ESV)If the Lord of hosts had not left us a few survivors, we should have been like Sodom, and become like Gomorrah.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Unless the Lord of hosts Had left to us a very small remnant, We would have become like Sodom, We would have been made like Gomorrah.

Context of Isaiah 1:9

7Your land lies desolate [because of your disobedience], Your cities are burned with fire, Your fields—strangers are devouring them in your very presence; It is desolate, as overthrown by strangers. 8The Daughter of Zion (Jerusalem) is left like a [deserted] shelter in a vineyard, Like a watchman’s hut in a cucumber field, like a besieged city [isolated, surrounded by devastation]. If the Lord of hosts Had not left us a few survivors, We would be like Sodom, We would be like Gomorrah. 10Hear the word of the Lord [rulers of Jerusalem], You rulers of [another] Sodom, Listen to the law and instruction of our God, You people of [another] Gomorrah. 11“What are your multiplied sacrifices to Me [without your repentance]?” Says the Lord. “I have had enough of [your] burnt offerings of rams And the fat of well-fed cattle [without your obedience]; And I take no pleasure in the blood of bulls or lambs or goats [offered without repentance].

Isaiah 1:9 word by word

לוּלֵי֙ יְהוָ֣ה צְבָא֔וֹת הוֹתִ֥יר לָ֛נוּ שָׂרִ֖יד כִּמְעָ֑ט כִּסְדֹ֣ם הָיִ֔ינוּ לַעֲמֹרָ֖ה דָּמִֽינוּ׃ סRead the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Exceptלוּלֵאlûlê' lûlêy · unlessH3884
• the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
• of hostsצָבָאtsâbâ' tsebâ'âh · HostsH6635
• had leftיָתַרyâthar · to remainH3498
• unto us a very smallמְעַטme‛aţ me‛âţ · littleH4592
• remnantשָׂרִידώârîyd · survivorH8300
• we should have beenהָיָהhâyâh · to beH1961
• as Sodomסְדֹםsedôm · SodomH5467
• we should have been likeדָּמָהdâmâh · to resembleH1819
• unto Gomorrahעֲמֹרָה‛ămôrâh · GomorrahH6017

Cross-references for Isaiah 1:9

• Lamentations 3:22It is because of the Lord’s lovingkindnesses that we are not consumed, Because His [tender] compassions never fail.
• Habakkuk 3:2O Lord, I have heard the report about You and I fear. O Lord, revive Your work in the midst of the years, In the midst of the years make it known; In wrath [earnestly] remember compassion and love.
• Romans 9:29It is as Isaiah foretold, “If the Lord of Hosts had not left us seed [future generations from which a believing remnant of Israelites came], We would have become like Sodom, and would have resembled Gomorrah [totally rejected and destroyed]!”
• Isaiah 6:13And though a tenth [of the people] remain in the land, It will again be subject to destruction [consumed and burned], Like a massive terebinth tree or like an oak Whose stump remains when it is chopped down. The holy seed [the elect remnant] is its stump [the substance of Israel].”
• Isaiah 10:22For though your people, O Israel, may be as the sand of the sea, Only a remnant within them will return; The destruction is determined [it is decided and destined for completion], overflowing with justice (righteous punishment).
• Isaiah 17:6Yet gleanings will be left in the land [of Israel] like the shaking of the olive tree, Two or three olives on the topmost branch, Four or five on the [outermost] branches of the fruitful tree,” Declares the Lord, the God of Israel.
• Isaiah 24:13For so it will be in the midst of the earth among the peoples, As the shaking of an olive tree, As the gleanings when the grape harvest is over [and only a little of the fruit remains].
• Isaiah 37:4It may be that the Lord your God will hear the words of the Rabshakeh [the commander], whom his master the king of Assyria has sent to taunt and defy the living God, and will avenge the words which the Lord your God has heard. Therefore, offer a prayer for the remnant [of His people] that is left.’ ”
• 1 Kings 19:18Yet I will leave 7,000 [survivors] in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed down to Baal and every mouth that has not kissed him.”
• Ezekiel 6:8“Yet I will leave some of you alive [a remnant], for you will have some who escaped the sword among the nations when you are scattered throughout the countries.
• Ezekiel 14:22Yet, behold, survivors will be left in it [escaping the judgments], both sons and daughters. Listen carefully, they are going to come out to you [in Babylon] and you will see their [wicked] conduct and [despicable] actions; then you will be at peace in regard to the disaster which I have brought against Jerusalem for everything which I have brought on it [has been deserved].
• Joel 2:32And it shall come about that whoever calls on the name of the Lord Will be saved [from the coming judgment] For on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem There will be those who escape, As the Lord has said, Even among the remnant [of survivors] whom the Lord calls.
• Zechariah 13:8It will come about in all the land,” Declares the Lord, “Two parts in it will be cut off and perish, But the third will be left alive.
• Matthew 7:14But small is the gate and narrow and difficult to travel is the path that leads the way to [everlasting] life, and there are few who find it.
• Romans 9:27And Isaiah calls out concerning Israel: “Though the number of the sons of Israel be like the sand of the sea, it is only the remnant [a small believing minority] that will be saved [from God’s judgment];
• Romans 11:4But what is God’s response to him? “I have kept for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.”

Commentaries on Isaiah 1:9

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 9The Lord of hosts "Jehovah God of hosts" - As this title of God, צבאות יהוה Yehovah tsebaoth, "Jehovah of hosts, occurs here for the first time, I think it proper to note, that I translate it always, as in this place, "Jehovah God of hosts;" taking it as an elliptical expression for צבאות אלהי יהוה Yehovah Elohey tsebaoth . This title imports that Jehovah is the God or Lord of hosts or armies; as he is the Creator and Supreme Governor of all beings in…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 9Except … - It is owing entirely to the mercy of God, that we are not like Sodom. The prophet traces this not to the goodness of the nation, not to any power or merit of theirs, but solely to the mercy of God. This passage the apostle Paul has used in an argument to establish the doctrine of divine sovereignty in the salvation of people; see the note at Romans 9:29. The Lord - Hebrew Yahweh. Note Isaiah 1:2. Of hosts - צבאות tsebâ'ôth - the word…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 9the LORD of Hosts: This title refers to the countless angels under the Lord’s command (see 2 Kings 6:16–17; Matthew 26:53). During the exodus, Moses described God as a warrior who fought for his people (Exodus 15:1–21). Ironically, in Isaiah’s time, God fought against Judah because of their wickedness (Isaiah 1:24; 3:1–5).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 99. Jehovah of Sabaoth, that is, God of the angelic and starry hosts (Psa 59:5; 147:4; 148:2). The latter were objects of idolatry, called hence Sabaism (2Ki 17:16). God is above even them (1Ch 16:26). "The groves" were symbols of these starry hosts; it was their worship of Sabaoth instead of the Lord of Sabaoth, which had caused the present desolation (2Ch 24:18). It needed no less a power than His, to preserve even a "remnant." Condescending grace for…Read the comment

Topics related to Isaiah 1:9

• Church
• Gomorrah
• Israel, Prophecies Concerning
• Quotations and Allusions

In the dictionaries

• Gomorrah
• Sodom
• Lord of Hosts
• Convert
• Crib
• Eat
• Fade
• Harlot
• Isaiah, The Book of
• Judgment

Commentaries on Isaiah 1

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings