Skip to main content
Psalmlog Logo

Isaiah 9

Isaiah sets God’s promise of a just, enduring king beside judgment on a proud people whose leaders lead them astray.

Zebulun and Naphtali, lands brought into contempt, are promised light and honor. Isaiah announces freedom from oppression and the birth of a child whose rule on David’s throne will bring lasting peace and justice. The prophecy then turns to judgment against Israel, naming Ephraim and Samaria. The people boast about rebuilding after destruction, yet refuse to seek God. Their leaders mislead them, wickedness consumes the land, and even related tribes turn against one another.

fear for the futureinjustice and angerpraise and worship
Read
1But there shall be no more gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time, he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali; but in the latter time he has made it glorious, by the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.
2The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light. The light has shined on those who lived in the land of the shadow of death.
3You have multiplied the nation. You have increased their joy. They rejoice before you according to the joy in harvest, as men rejoice when they divide the plunder.
4For the yoke of his burden, and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, you have broken as in the day of Midian.
5For all the armor of the armed man in the noisy battle, and the garments rolled in blood, will be for burning, fuel for the fire.
6For a child is born to us. A son is given to us; and the government will be on his shoulders. His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7Of the increase of his government and of peace there shall be no end, on David’s throne, and on his kingdom, to establish it, and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from that time on, even forever. The zeal of the LORD of Armies will perform this.
8The Lord sent a word into Jacob, and it falls on Israel.
9All the people will know, including Ephraim and the inhabitants of Samaria, who say in pride and in arrogance of heart,
10“The bricks have fallen, but we will build with cut stone. The sycamore fig trees have been cut down, but we will put cedars in their place.”
11Therefore the LORD will set up on high against him the adversaries of Rezin, and will stir up his enemies,
12The Syrians in front, and the Philistines behind; and they will devour Israel with open mouth. For all this, his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.
13Yet the people have not turned to him who struck them, neither have they sought the LORD of Armies.
14Therefore the LORD will cut off from Israel head and tail, palm branch and reed, in one day.
15The elder and the honorable man is the head, and the prophet who teaches lies is the tail.
16For those who lead this people lead them astray; and those who are led by them are destroyed.
17Therefore the Lord will not rejoice over their young men, neither will he have compassion on their fatherless and widows; for everyone is profane and an evildoer, and every mouth speaks folly. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.
18For wickedness burns like a fire. It devours the briers and thorns; yes, it kindles in the thickets of the forest, and they roll upward in a column of smoke.
19Through the LORD of Armies’ wrath, the land is burned up; and the people are the fuel for the fire. No one spares his brother.
20One will devour on the right hand, and be hungry; and he will eat on the left hand, and they will not be satisfied. Everyone will eat the flesh of his own arm:
21Manasseh eating Ephraim and Ephraim eating Manasseh, and they together will be against Judah. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.
World English BibleRead in NIV in Psalmlog →Highlighted verses are the most connected.
Key verses
Isaiah 9:6The promised child bears royal authority and divine titles, placing hope for peace in the ruler God gives.
Isaiah 9:7God’s zeal secures the enduring rule of David’s heir, whose kingdom rests on justice and righteousness.
Isaiah 9:2Light breaking over people in darkness announces the reversal of oppression that the following verses describe.
Where this chapter reaches

Matthew quotes Isaiah’s promise of light in connection with Jesus’ ministry in Galilee, while Luke shares the promise of an enduring kingdom on David’s throne. Jeremiah shares the chapter’s warning about prophets who speak lies and leaders who lead God’s people astray.

Isaiah 9's chapter linksAll strongest linksHover or tap a book
Notice

After reading the whole chapter

Which part of the promised king’s rule most shapes what you hope for, and why?

Write on this

How does the repeated refrain about God’s anger affect your reading of the promise of peace?

Write on this

Questions people ask about Isaiah 9

Who is the child in Isaiah 9:6?

The child is the promised ruler whose government brings peace and whose kingdom stands on David’s throne. His titles include “Mighty God” and “Prince of Peace.” Christians understand this promise as fulfilled in Jesus, with Matthew connecting him to Isaiah’s light and Luke describing his enduring rule on David’s throne.

Why is Jesus called Everlasting Father in Isaiah 9:6?

“Everlasting Father” is one of the promised king’s royal titles. It describes his enduring, fatherlike care and protection for his people. In Christian interpretation, the title belongs to Jesus as the promised king. It does not identify the Son as the person of God the Father.

What does “his hand is stretched out still” mean in Isaiah 9?

The phrase repeats after descriptions of judgment in verses 12, 17, and 21. Here God’s outstretched hand signals continuing judgment. The people have refused to turn to him, their leaders teach lies, and violence consumes their communities. The refrain makes clear that the judgments described have not exhausted God’s anger.

Read it. Now write it.

Start an entry on Isaiah 9. Your words go beside the text, and you get one next step for the week.

Isaiah · 66 chapters
123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233343536373839404142434445464748495051525354555657585960616263646566
What the Bible says about fear →What the Bible says about anger →What the Bible says about worship →

Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY). Scripture from the World English Bible (public domain). Arc diagram after Chris Harrison and Christoph Römhild (2007).