Christian Standard Bible
Isaiah 9:1
1Nevertheless, the gloom of the distressed land will not be like that of the former times when he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali. But in the future he will bring honor to the way of the sea, to the land east of the Jordan, and to Galilee of the nations.
Isaiah 9:1 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)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.
- New International Version (NIV)Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. 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—
- English Standard Version (ESV)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.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Nevertheless the gloom will not be upon her who is distressed, As when at first He lightly esteemed The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, And afterward more heavily oppressed her, By the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, In Galilee of the Gentiles.
Context of Isaiah 9:1
Nevertheless, the gloom of the distressed land will not be like that of the former times when he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali. But in the future he will bring honor to the way of the sea, to the land east of the Jordan, and to Galilee of the nations. 2The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; a light has dawned on those living in the land of darkness. 3You have enlarged the nation and increased its joy. The people have rejoiced before you as they rejoice at harvest time and as they rejoice when dividing spoils.
Read all of Isaiah 9Isaiah 9:1 word by word
כִּ֣י לֹ֣א מוּעָף֮ לַאֲשֶׁ֣ר מוּצָ֣ק לָהּ֒ כָּעֵ֣ת הָרִאשׁ֗וֹן הֵקַ֞ל אַ֤רְצָה זְבֻלוּן֙ וְאַ֣רְצָה נַפְתָּלִ֔י וְהָאַחֲר֖וֹן הִכְבִּ֑יד דֶּ֤רֶךְ הַיָּם֙ עֵ֣בֶר הַיַּרְדֵּ֔ן גְּלִ֖יל הַגּוֹיִֽם׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Nevertheless the dimnessמוּעָףmû‛âph · gloomH4155
- in her vexationמוּצָקmûtsaq mûtsâq · constraintH4164
- whenעֵת‛êth · timeH6256
- at the firstרִאשׁוֹןri'shôn ri'shôn · first: previousH7223
- he lightly afflictedקָלַלqâlal · to lightenH7043
- the landאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: country/planetH776
- of Zebulunזְבוּלֻןzebûlûn zebûlûn zebûlûn · ZebulunH2074
- of Naphtaliנַפְתָּלִיnaphtâlîy · NaphtaliH5321
- and afterwardאַחֲרוֹן'achăryôn 'achărôn · lastH314
- did more grievously afflictכָּבֵדkâbad kâbêd · to honor: honourH3513
- the wayדֶּ֫רֶךְderek · way: journeyH1870
- of the seaיָםyâm · seaH3220
- beyondעֵ֫בֶר‛êber · side: beyondH5676
- Jordanיַרְדֵּןyardên · JordanH3383
- in Galileeגָּלִילgâlîyl gâlîylâh · GalileeH1551
- of the nationsגּוֹיgôy gôy · nationH1471
Cross-references for Isaiah 9:1
- Isaiah 8:22They will look toward the earth and see only distress, darkness, and the gloom of affliction, and they will be driven into thick darkness.
- 1 Kings 15:19“There is a treaty between me and you, between my father and your father. Look, I have sent you a gift of silver and gold. Go and break your treaty with King Baasha of Israel so that he will withdraw from me.”
- 2 Kings 15:29In the days of King Pekah of Israel, King Tiglath-pileser of Assyria came and captured Ijon, Abel-beth-maacah, Janoah, Kedesh, Hazor, Gilead, and Galilee — all the land of Naphtali — and deported the people to Assyria.
- 2 Chronicles 16:4Ben-hadad listened to King Asa and sent the commanders of his armies to the cities of Israel. They attacked Ijon, Dan, Abel-maim, and all the storage cities of Naphtali.
- Leviticus 26:24then I will act with hostility toward you; I also will strike you seven times for your sins.
- 2 Kings 17:5The king of Assyria invaded the whole land, marched up to Samaria, and besieged it for three years.
- 1 Chronicles 5:26So the God of Israel roused the spirit of King Pul (that is, Tiglath-pileser) of Assyria, and he took the Reubenites, Gadites, and half the tribe of Manasseh into exile. He took them to Halah, Habor, Hara, and Gozan’s river, where they are until today.
- Matthew 4:15Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, along the road by the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles.
Commentaries on Isaiah 9:1
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1Dimness "Accumulated darkness" - Either מנדחה menuddechah, fem. to agree with אפלה aphelah ; or המנדח אפל aphel hammenuddach, alluding perhaps to the palpable Egyptian darkness, Exodus 10:21. The land of Zebulun - Zebulun, Naphtali, Manasseh, that is, the country of Galilee all round the sea of Gennesareth, were the parts that principally suffered in the first Assyrian invasion under Tiglath-pileser; see 2 Kings 15:29; 1 Chronicles 5:26. And they were the…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1Nevertheless - Notwithstanding what is said in the previous chapter of the calamities that are coming upon Israel. Hengstenberg renders this whole verse: For darkness shall not be upon the land upon which there is distress; as the former time has dishonored the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali; so shall the time come to honor it, the region on the border of the sea, by the side of the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles.‘ The dimness - The Hebrew word…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1The Son that should be born, and his kingdom. (Is. 9:1-7) The judgments to come upon Israel, and on the enemies of the kingdom of Christ. (Is. 9:8-21) Verses 1-7 The Syrians and Assyrians first ravaged the countries here mentioned, and that region was first favoured by the preaching of Christ. Those that want the gospel, walk in darkness, and in the utmost danger. But when the gospel comes to any place, to any soul, light comes. Let us earnestly pray that…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1Zebulun and Naphtali were northern tribes in Israel (Judges 6:35). The Assyrian invaders, led by Tiglath-pileser III, humbled them in 734 and 732 BC. During the lifetime of Jesus, people connected this prophecy to his coming out from Galilee (Matthew 4:14–16). Galilee of the Gentiles was the area of Israel between the Sea of Galilee and the Mediterranean Sea. The surrounding Gentile nations heavily influenced it culturally, religiously, and politically.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-71. Nevertheless, &c.--rather, "For darkness shall not (continually) be on it (that is, the land) on which there is (now) distress" [Hengstenberg and Maurer]. The "for" refers, not to the words immediately preceding, but to the consolations in Is 8:9, 10, 17, 18. Do not despair, for, &c. when at the first, &c.--rather, "as the former time has brought contempt on the land of Zebulun and Naphtali (namely, the deportation of their inhabitants under…Read the comment
Topics related to Isaiah 9:1
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Isaiah 9
- 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
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