English Standard Version
Isaiah 1:9
9If the Lord of hosts had not left us a few survivors, we should have been like Sodom, and become like Gomorrah.
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.
- 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.
- New Living Translation (NLT)If the Lord of Heaven’s Armies had not spared a few of us, we would have been wiped out like Sodom, destroyed like Gomorrah.
Context of Isaiah 1:9
7Your country lies desolate; your cities are burned with fire; in your very presence foreigners devour your land; it is desolate, as overthrown by foreigners. 8And the daughter of Zion is left like a booth in a vineyard, like a lodge in a cucumber field, like a besieged city. If the Lord of hosts had not left us a few survivors, we should have been like Sodom, and become like Gomorrah. 10Hear the word of the Lord, you rulers of Sodom! Give ear to the teaching of our God, you people of Gomorrah! 11"What to me is the multitude of your sacrifices? says the Lord; I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams and the fat of well-fed beasts; I do not delight in the blood of bulls, or of lambs, or of goats.
Read all of Isaiah 1Isaiah 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 3:22The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end;
- Habakkuk 3:2O Lord, I have heard the report of you, and your work, O Lord, do I fear. In the midst of the years revive it; in the midst of the years make it known; in wrath remember mercy.
- Romans 9:29And as Isaiah predicted, "If the Lord of hosts had not left us offspring, we would have been like Sodom and become like Gomorrah."
- Isaiah 6:13And though a tenth remain in it, it will be burned again, like a terebinth or an oak, whose stump remains when it is felled." The holy seed is its stump.
- Isaiah 10:22For though your people Israel be as the sand of the sea, only a remnant of them will return. Destruction is decreed, overflowing with righteousness.
- Isaiah 17:6Gleanings will be left in it, as when an olive tree is beaten— two or three berries in the top of the highest bough, four or five on the branches of a fruit tree, declares the Lord God of Israel.
- Isaiah 24:13For thus it shall be in the midst of the earth among the nations, as when an olive tree is beaten, as at the gleaning when the grape harvest is done.
- Isaiah 37:4It may be that the Lord your God will hear the words of the Rabshakeh, whom his master the king of Assyria has sent to mock the living God, and will rebuke the words that the Lord your God has heard; therefore lift up your prayer for the remnant that is left.'"
- 1 Kings 19:18Yet I will leave seven thousand in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him."
- Ezekiel 6:8"Yet I will leave some of you alive. When you have among the nations some who escape the sword, and when you are scattered through the countries,
- Ezekiel 14:22But behold, some survivors will be left in it, sons and daughters who will be brought out; behold, when they come out to you, and you see their ways and their deeds, you will be consoled for the disaster that I have brought upon Jerusalem, for all that I have brought upon it.
- Joel 2:32And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be those who escape, as the Lord has said, and among the survivors shall be those whom the Lord calls.
- Zechariah 13:8In the whole land, declares the Lord, two thirds shall be cut off and perish, and one third shall be left alive.
- Matthew 7:14For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.
- Romans 9:27And Isaiah cries out concerning Israel: "Though the number of the sons of Israel be as the sand of the sea, only a remnant of them will be saved,
- Romans 11:4But what is God's reply 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
In the dictionaries
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
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