New International Version
Isaiah 1:9
9Unless the Lord Almighty had left us some survivors, we would have become like Sodom, we would have been 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.
- 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.
- 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 is desolate, your cities burned with fire; your fields are being stripped by foreigners right before you, laid waste as when overthrown by strangers. 8Daughter Zion is left like a shelter in a vineyard, like a hut in a cucumber field, like a city under siege. Unless the Lord Almighty had left us some survivors, we would have become like Sodom, we would have been like Gomorrah. 10Hear the word of the Lord, you rulers of Sodom; listen to the instruction of our God, you people of Gomorrah! 11“The multitude of your sacrifices— what are they to me?” says the Lord. “I have more than enough of burnt offerings, of rams and the fat of fattened animals; I have no pleasure in the blood of bulls and lambs and 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 3:22Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.
- Habakkuk 3:2Lord, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, Lord. Repeat them in our day, in our time make them known; in wrath remember mercy.
- Romans 9:29It is just as Isaiah said previously: “Unless the Lord Almighty had left us descendants, we would have become like Sodom, we would have been like Gomorrah.”
- Isaiah 6:13And though a tenth remains in the land, it will again be laid waste. But as the terebinth and oak leave stumps when they are cut down, so the holy seed will be the stump in the land.”
- Isaiah 10:22Though your people be like the sand by the sea, Israel, only a remnant will return. Destruction has been decreed, overwhelming and righteous.
- Isaiah 17:6Yet some gleanings will remain, as when an olive tree is beaten, leaving two or three olives on the topmost branches, four or five on the fruitful boughs,” declares the Lord, the God of Israel.
- Isaiah 24:13So will it be on the earth and among the nations, as when an olive tree is beaten, or as when gleanings are left after the grape harvest.
- Isaiah 37:4It may be that the Lord your God will hear the words of the field commander, whom his master, the king of Assyria, has sent to ridicule the living God, and that he will rebuke him for the words the Lord your God has heard. Therefore pray for the remnant that still survives.”
- 1 Kings 19:18Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him.”
- Ezekiel 6:8“ ‘But I will spare some, for some of you will escape the sword when you are scattered among the lands and nations.
- Ezekiel 14:22Yet there will be some survivors—sons and daughters who will be brought out of it. They will come to you, and when you see their conduct and their actions, you will be consoled regarding the disaster I have brought on Jerusalem—every disaster I have brought on it.
- Joel 2:32And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved; for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be deliverance, as the Lord has said, even among the survivors whom the Lord calls.
- Zechariah 13:8In the whole land,” declares the Lord, “two-thirds will be struck down and perish; yet one-third will be left in it.
- Matthew 7:14But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
- Romans 9:27Isaiah cries out concerning Israel: “Though the number of the Israelites be like the sand by the sea, only the remnant will be saved.
- Romans 11:4And what was God’s answer to him? “I have reserved for myself seven thousand 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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