Tree of Life Version
Isaiah 59:9
9That is why justice is far from us and righteousness does not reach us. We hope for light, but behold darkness, for brightness, but walk in gloom.
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
7Their feet run after evil. They rush to shed innocent blood. Their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity. Violence and ruin are on their highways. 8They do not know the path of peace, and there is no justice in their tracks. They have made their paths crooked. Whoever walks in them will not experience shalom. That is why justice is far from us and righteousness does not reach us. We hope for light, but behold darkness, for brightness, but walk in gloom. 10We grope along the wall like the blind. We grope like those with no eyes. We stumble at noon as at twilight. We are like the dead in desolation. 11All of us growl like bears or moan like doves. We hope for justice, but there is none; for salvation, but it is far from us.
Read all of Isaiah 59Isaiah 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. Oy to us, for we have sinned!
- Habakkuk 1:13With eyes too pure to see evil You cannot look at such trouble! Why do You look at the treacherous? Why do You remain silent when a wicked one swallows up those more righteous than him?
- Isaiah 5:30They will roar against them like the roaring of the sea. If one looks to the land, behold, darkness and distress! The light is darkened by the clouds.
- Job 30:26Yet, when I hoped for good, evil came; when I waited for light, then darkness came.
- Jeremiah 8:15We hoped for shalom, but it is no good, for a time of healing —and suddenly, terror!”
- Jeremiah 14:19Have You utterly rejected Judah? Has Your soul loathed Zion? Why have You smitten us, and there is no healing for us? We looked for shalom, but nothing good came, and for a time of healing, but suddenly, terror!
- Amos 5:18Oy to you—longing for the Day of Adonai! What would it be for you? The Day of Adonai will be darkness and not light.
- Micah 1:12For she who dwells in Maroth has languished for something good. For calamity has come down from Adonai to Jerusalem’s gate.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:3When they are saying, “Shalom and safety,” sudden destruction comes upon them like a woman having birth pains in the womb—there is no way they will 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
In the dictionaries
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
Tree of Life Version — © 2015 The Messianic Jewish Family Bible Society
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