New English Translation
Isaiah 9:16
16The leaders of this nation were misleading people, and the people being led were destroyed.
Isaiah 9:16 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)For the leaders of this people cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed.
- New International Version (NIV)Those who guide this people mislead them, and those who are guided are led astray.
- English Standard Version (ESV)for those who guide this people have been leading them astray, and those who are guided by them are swallowed up.
- New King James Version (NKJV)For the leaders of this people cause them to err, And those who are led by them are destroyed.
Context of Isaiah 9:16
14So the Lord cut off Israel’s head and tail, both the shoots and stalk in one day. 15The leaders and the highly respected people are the head, the prophets who teach lies are the tail. The leaders of this nation were misleading people, and the people being led were destroyed. 17So the sovereign master was not pleased with their young men, he took no pity on their orphans and widows; for the whole nation was godless and did wicked things, every mouth was speaking disgraceful words. Despite all this, his anger does not subside, and his hand is ready to strike again. 18For evil burned like a fire, it consumed thorns and briers; it burned up the thickets of the forest, and they went up in smoke.
Read all of Isaiah 9Isaiah 9:16 word by word
וַיִּֽהְי֛וּ מְאַשְּׁרֵ֥י הָֽעָם־הַזֶּ֖ה מַתְעִ֑ים וּמְאֻשָּׁרָ֖יו מְבֻלָּעִֽים׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Isaiah 9:16
- Isaiah 3:12Oppressors treat my people cruelly; creditors rule over them. My people’s leaders mislead them; they give you confusing directions.
- Matthew 15:14Leave them! They are blind guides. If someone who is blind leads another who is blind, both will fall into a pit.”
- Matthew 23:16“Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘Whoever swears by the temple is bound by nothing. But whoever swears by the gold of the temple is bound by the oath.’
- Numbers 6:23“Tell Aaron and his sons, ‘This is the way you are to bless the Israelites. Say to them:
- 1 Kings 8:55When he stood up, he pronounced a blessing over the entire assembly of Israel, saying in a loud voice:
- 2 Chronicles 30:27The priests and Levites got up and pronounced blessings on the people. The Lord responded favorably to them as their prayers reached his holy dwelling place in heaven.
- Hebrews 7:7Now without dispute the inferior is blessed by the superior,
Commentaries on Isaiah 9:16
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 16For the leaders of this people - Note, Isaiah 3:12. Hebrew They that call this people blessed‘ - referring more particularly to the false prophets. They that are led of them - Hebrew, They that are called blessed by them.‘ Are destroyed - Hebrew, Are swallowed up;‘ see the note at Isaiah 3:12. They are ruined; or swallowed up as in a vast whirlpool or vortex.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 8-21Verses 8-21 Those are ripening apace for ruin, whose hearts are unhumbled under humbling providences. For that which God designs, in smiting us, is, to turn us to himself; and if this point be not gained by lesser judgments, greater may be expected. The leaders of the people misled them. We have reason to be afraid of those that speak well of us, when we do ill. Wickedness was universal, all were infected with it. They shall be in trouble, and see no way…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 13-17God used punishment to call his people to repentance. Repentance means turning away from sin and turning back to God. His goal was not to destroy Israel, but to correct them and bring them back to himself. However, Israel had become apostate. This means they had turned away from the Lord and rejected him. They refused to repent or to seek the Lord.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 13-1713-17. Second strophe. turneth not--the design of God's chastisements; not fulfilled in their case; a new cause for punishment (Jr 2:20; 5:3).Read the comment
Topics related to Isaiah 9:16
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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