Isaiah 59:9

Isaiah 59:9 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Therefore is judgment far from us, neither doth justice overtake us: we wait for light, but behold obscurity; for brightness, but we walk in darkness.
• New International Version (NIV)So justice is far from us, and righteousness does not reach us. We look for light, but all is darkness; for brightness, but we walk in deep shadows.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Therefore justice is far from us, and righteousness does not overtake us; we hope for light, and behold, darkness, and for brightness, but we walk in gloom.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Therefore justice is far from us, Nor does righteousness overtake us; We look for light, but there is darkness! For brightness, but we walk in blackness!

Context of Isaiah 59:9

7They are eager to do evil, quick to shed innocent blood. Their thoughts are sinful; they crush and destroy. 8They are unfamiliar with peace; their deeds are unjust. They use deceitful methods, and whoever deals with them is unfamiliar with peace. For this reason deliverance is far from us and salvation does not reach us. We wait for light, but see only darkness; we wait for a bright light, but live in deep darkness. 10We grope along the wall like the blind, we grope like those who cannot see; we stumble at noontime as if it were evening. Though others are strong, we are like dead men. 11We all growl like bears, we coo mournfully like doves; we wait for deliverance, but there is none, for salvation, but it is far from us.

Isaiah 59:9 word by word

עַל־כֵּ֗ן רָחַ֤ק מִשְׁפָּט֙ מִמֶּ֔נּוּ וְלֹ֥א תַשִּׂיגֵ֖נוּ צְדָקָ֑ה נְקַוֶּ֤ה לָאוֹר֙ וְהִנֵּה־חֹ֔שֶׁךְ לִנְגֹה֖וֹת בָּאֲפֵל֥וֹת נְהַלֵּֽךְ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Therefore is judgmentמִשְׁפָּטmishpâţ · justiceH4941
• farרָחַקrâchaq · to removeH7368
• from us, neither doth justiceצְדָקָהtsedâqâh · righteousnessH6666
• overtakeנָשַׂגnâώag · to overtakeH5381
• us: we waitקָוָהqâvâh · to awaitH6960
• for lightאוֹר'ôr · lightH216
• but behold obscurityחֹ֫שֶׁךְchôshek · darknessH2822
• for brightnessנְגֹהָהnegôhâh · brightnessH5054
• we walkהָלַךְhâlak · to go: walkH1980
• in darknessאֲפֵלָה'ăphêlâh · darknessH653

Cross-references for Isaiah 59:9

• Lamentations 5:16The crown has fallen from our head; woe to us, for we have sinned!
• Habakkuk 1:13You are too just to tolerate evil; you are unable to condone wrongdoing. So why do you put up with such treacherous people? Why do you say nothing when the wicked devour those more righteous than they are?
• Isaiah 5:30At that time they will growl over their prey, it will sound like sea waves crashing against rocks. One will look out over the land and see the darkness of disaster, clouds will turn the light into darkness.
• Job 30:26But when I hoped for good, trouble came; when I expected light, then darkness came.
• Jeremiah 8:15We hoped for good fortune, but nothing good has come of it. We hoped for a time of relief, but instead we experience terror.
• Jeremiah 14:19Then I said, “Lord, have you completely rejected the nation of Judah? Do you despise the city of Zion? Why have you struck us with such force that we are beyond recovery? We hope for peace, but nothing good has come of it. We hope for a time of relief from our troubles, but experience terror.
• Amos 5:18Woe to those who wish for the day of the Lord! Why do you want the Lord’s day of judgment to come? It will bring darkness, not light.
• Micah 1:12Indeed, the residents of Maroth hope for something good to happen, though the Lord has sent disaster against the city of Jerusalem.
• 1 Thessalonians 5:3Now when they are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction comes on them, like labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will surely not escape.

Commentaries on Isaiah 59:9

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 9Therefore is judgment far from us - This is the confession of the people that they were suffering not unjustly on account of their crimes. The word judgment‘ here is evidently to be taken in the sense of vengeance or vindication. The idea is this, we are subjected to calamities and to oppressions by our enemies. In our distresses we cry unto God, but on account of our sins he does not hear us, nor does he come to vindicate our cause.‘ Neither doth justice…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 9-15Verses 9-15 If we shut our eyes against the light of Divine truth, it is just with God to hide from our eyes the things that belong to our peace. The sins of those who profess themselves God's people, are worse than the sins of others. And the sins of a nation bring public judgments, when not restrained by public justice. Men may murmur under calamities, but nothing will truly profit while they reject Christ and his gospel.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 9-15Israel had a long history of turning away from God. The people often rebelled against him. In this passage, the prophet speaks for the nation. He admits their sins and expresses deep sorrow. He says they could not grasp the light of God’s salvation (they could not understand or receive the rescue God offered).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 99. judgment far--retribution in kind because they had shown "no judgment in their goings" (Is 59:8). "The vindication of our just rights by God is withheld by Him from us." us--In Is 59:8 and previous verses, it was "they," the third person; here, "us ... we," the first person. The nation here speaks: God thus making them out of their own mouth condemn themselves; just as He by His prophet had condemned them before. Isaiah includes himself with his people…Read the comment

Topics related to Isaiah 59:9

• Conscience
• Isaiah
• Sin

In the dictionaries

• Cloke
• Grope
• Heavy
• Iniquity
• Mutter
• Revolt
• Isaiah
• Saviour
• Servant of Jehovah; Servant of the Lord; Servant of Yahweh
• Tribulation

Commentaries on Isaiah 59

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• 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