New Living Translation
Isaiah 1:9
9If the Lord of Heaven’s Armies had not spared a few of us, we would have been wiped out like Sodom, destroyed 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.
- 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.
Context of Isaiah 1:9
7Your country lies in ruins, and your towns are burned. Foreigners plunder your fields before your eyes and destroy everything they see. 8Beautiful Jerusalem stands abandoned like a watchman’s shelter in a vineyard, like a lean-to in a cucumber field after the harvest, like a helpless city under siege. 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. 10Listen to the Lord, you leaders of “Sodom.” Listen to the law of our God, people of “Gomorrah.” 11“What makes you think I want all your sacrifices?” says the Lord. “I am sick of your burnt offerings of rams and the fat of fattened cattle. I get no pleasure from 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 3:22The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease.
- Habakkuk 3:2I have heard all about you, Lord. I am filled with awe by your amazing works. In this time of our deep need, help us again as you did in years gone by. And in your anger, remember your mercy.
- Romans 9:29And Isaiah said the same thing in another place: “If the Lord of Heaven’s Armies had not spared a few of our children, we would have been wiped out like Sodom, destroyed like Gomorrah.”
- Isaiah 6:13If even a tenth—a remnant—survive, it will be invaded again and burned. But as a terebinth or oak tree leaves a stump when it is cut down, so Israel’s stump will be a holy seed.”
- Isaiah 10:22But though the people of Israel are as numerous as the sand of the seashore, only a remnant of them will return. The Lord has rightly decided to destroy his people.
- Isaiah 17:6Only a few of its people will be left, like stray olives left on a tree after the harvest. Only two or three remain in the highest branches, four or five scattered here and there on the limbs,” declares the Lord, the God of Israel.
- Isaiah 24:13Throughout the earth the story is the same— only a remnant is left, like the stray olives left on the tree or the few grapes left on the vine after harvest.
- Isaiah 37:4But perhaps the Lord your God has heard the Assyrian chief of staff, sent by the king to defy the living God, and will punish him for his words. Oh, pray for those of us who are left!”
- 1 Kings 19:18Yet I will preserve 7,000 others in Israel who have never bowed down to Baal or kissed him!”
- Ezekiel 6:8“But I will let a few of my people escape destruction, and they will be scattered among the nations of the world.
- Ezekiel 14:22Yet there will be survivors, and they will come here to join you as exiles in Babylon. You will see with your own eyes how wicked they are, and then you will feel better about what I have done to Jerusalem.
- Joel 2:32But everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved, for some on Mount Zion in Jerusalem will escape, just as the Lord has said. These will be among the survivors whom the Lord has called.
- Zechariah 13:8Two-thirds of the people in the land will be cut off and die,” says the Lord. “But one-third will be left in the land.
- Matthew 7:14But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.
- Romans 9:27And concerning Israel, Isaiah the prophet cried out, “Though the people of Israel are as numerous as the sand of the seashore, only a remnant will be saved.
- Romans 11:4And do you remember God’s reply? He said, “No, I have 7,000 others who have never bowed down 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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