View source for Isaiah 9

{{Short description|Book of Isaiah, chapter 9}}
{{Bible chapter|letname= Isaiah 9 |previouslink= Isaiah 8 |previousletter= chapter 8 |nextlink= Isaiah 10 |nextletter= chapter 10 |book=[[Book of Isaiah]] |biblepart=[[Old Testament]] | booknum= 23 |hbiblepart= [[Nevi'im]] | hbooknum = 5 |category= [[Nevi'im|Latter Prophets]] | filename= Great Isaiah Scroll.jpg |size=242px | name=Great Isaiah Scroll |caption=<div style="width: 242px; text-align: center; line-height: 1em">The [[Great Isaiah Scroll]], the best preserved of the biblical scrolls found at [[Qumran]] from the second century BC, contains all the verses in this chapter.</div>}}
'''Isaiah 9''' is the ninth [[Chapters and verses of the Bible|chapter]] of the [[Book of Isaiah]] in the [[Hebrew Bible]] or the [[Old Testament]] of the [[Christianity|Christian]] [[Bible]]. This book contains the prophecies attributed to the prophet [[Isaiah]], and is one of the [[Nevi'im]].
== Text ==
The original text was written in [[Biblical Hebrew|Hebrew language]]. [[Chapters and verses of the Bible|This chapter is divided into]] 21 verses in Christian Bibles, but 20 verses in the Hebrew Bible with the following verse numbering comparison:<ref>Note [a] on Isaiah 9:1 in [[New English Translation|NET Bible]]</ref>
{| class=wikitable
|+ Verse numbering for Isaiah 8 and 9
! English !! Hebrew
|-
|9:1
|8:23
|-
|9:2–21
|9:1–20
|}
This article generally follows the common numbering in Christian English Bible versions, with notes to the numbering in Hebrew Bible versions.
===Textual witnesses===
Some early manuscripts containing the text of this chapter in [[Biblical Hebrew|Hebrew]] are of the [[Masoretic Text]] tradition, which includes the [[Codex Cairensis]] (895), [[Codex Babylonicus Petropolitanus|the Petersburg Codex of the Prophets]] (916), [[Aleppo Codex]] (10th century), [[Leningrad Codex|Codex Leningradensis]] (1008).{{sfn|Würthwein|1995|pp=35-37}}
Fragments containing parts of this chapter were found among the [[Dead Sea Scrolls]] (3rd century BC or later):{{sfn|Ulrich|2010|p=347-349}}
* [[Isaiah scroll|1QIsa<sup>a</sup>]]: complete
* 4QIsa<sup>b</sup> (4Q56): extant: verses 10‑11
* 4QIsa<sup>c</sup> (4Q57): extant: verses 3‑12
* 4QIsa<sup>e</sup> (4Q59): extant: verses 17‑20
There is also a translation into [[Koine Greek]] known as the [[Septuagint]], made in the last few centuries BCE. Extant ancient manuscripts of the [[Septuagint]] version include [[Codex Vaticanus]] ('''B'''; <math> \mathfrak{G}</math><sup>B</sup>; 4th century), [[Codex Sinaiticus]] ('''S'''; [[Biblia Hebraica (Kittel)|BHK]]: <math> \mathfrak{G}</math><sup>S</sup>; 4th century), [[Codex Alexandrinus]] ('''A'''; <math> \mathfrak{G}</math><sup>A</sup>; 5th century) and [[Codex Marchalianus]] ('''Q'''; <math> \mathfrak{G}</math><sup>Q</sup>; 6th century).{{sfn|Würthwein|1995|pp=73-74}}
==Parashot==
The ''[[parashah]]'' sections listed here are based on the [[Aleppo Codex]].<ref>As reflected in the [http://mechon-mamre.org/e/et/et0.htm Jewish Publication Society's 1917 edition of the Hebrew Bible in English].</ref> Isaiah 9 is a part of the ''Prophecies about Judah and Israel ([[Isaiah 1]][[Isaiah 12|-12]])''. {P}: open ''parashah''; {S}: closed ''parashah''; using Hebrew Bible verse numbering:
: [{S} 8:19-23] 9:1-6 {P} 9:7-12 {S} 9:13-20 {S}
=={{Anchor|Verses 1–7}}The government of the promised son (9:1–7)==
===Verse 1===
{{quote|For is there no gloom to her that was stedfast? Now the former hath lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but the latter hath dealt a more grievous blow by the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, in the district of the nations.|{{bibleverse|Isaiah|8:23|HE}} Hebrew Bible}}
====Christian interpretation====
{{quote|Nevertheless the dimness shall not be such as was in her vexation, when at the first he lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, and afterward did more grievously afflict her by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, in Galilee of the nations.|{{bibleverse|Isaiah|9:1|KJV}} [[King James Version|KJV]]}}
The [[Gospel of Matthew]] [[Matthew 4|chapter 4]] ([[Matthew 4:14–15|verses 14–15]]) cites this and the next verse as a fulfillment of [[Messianic Prophecies of Jesus]]. In the Greek "by way of the sea" (or "toward the sea") refers to a specific route, and Jones feels it should perhaps be more accurately read as "on the road to the sea."{{sfn|Jones|1965}} In Isaiah this verse is in the section describing the [[Assyria]]n invasion of northern Israel, so "toward the sea, beyond the Jordan" refers to the geography from the view point of the Assyrian invaders. To them the region of Zebulun and Naphtali would be across the [[Jordan River]] on the way to the [[Mediterranean]].{{sfn|Keener|1999|p=147}}
===Verse 2===
{{quote|The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light; they that dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.|{{bibleverse|Isaiah|9:1|HE}} Hebrew Bible}}
{{quote|The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.|{{bibleverse|Isaiah|9:2|KJV}} KJV}}
====Christian interpretation====
Cross reference: [[Matthew 4:16]]
===Verse 6===
{{quote|For a child is born unto us, a son is given unto us; and the government is upon his shoulder; and his name is called [[Pele-joez-el-gibbor-abi-ad-sar-shalom|Pele-joez-el-gibbor-Abi-ad-sar-shalom]]|{{bibleverse|Isaiah|9:5-6|HE}} Hebrew Bible}}
====Jewish interpretation====
Edersheim (1883) notes that this verse is applied to the Messiah in the Aramaic [[Targum]].<ref>Alfred Edersheim The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah 1883 "and there is a very curious comment in Debarim R. 1 (ed. Warsh., p.&nbsp;4a) in connection with a Haggadic discussion of Genesis 43:14, which, however fanciful, makes a Messianic application of this passage - also in Bemidbar R. 11." [http://philologos.org/__eb-lat/appen09.htm Philologos | The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah | Appendix 9] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160513180133/http://philologos.org/__eb-lat/appen09.htm |date=2016-05-13 }}</ref> In rabbinical interpretation, such as [[Joseph Herman Hertz]] (1968) citing [[Rashi]] and [[Samuel David Luzzatto|Luzzatto]], the name is taken as referring to the 'crown prince.'<ref>[[Joseph Herman Hertz]] ''The Pentateuch and Haftorahs'' 1968 "This clearly indicates that the 'crown prince' is the person referred to. pele-joez-el-gibbor-abi-ad-sar-shalom. i.e. Wonderful in counsel is God the mighty, the Everlasting Father, the Ruler of Peace ([[Rashi]] and [[Samuel David Luzzatto|Luzzatto]])."</ref> Rashi, having applied [[Emmanuel]] to [[Hezekiah]] also applies the ''Pele Yoez'', "Wonderful Counsellor" prophecy to Hezekiah, saying that God "called the name of Hezekiah "Prince of Peace"."<ref>Géza Vermès Studia post-biblica 1959 p62; reprinted in ''Scripture and tradition in Judaism: Haggadic studies'' 1983 p62  "Rashi, for instance, follows it in his commentary : The Holy One, blessed be He, who is a Wonderful Counsellor, a Mighty God, and the Father of Eternity, called the name of Hezekiah "Prince of Peace". It would be incorrect to see an ..."</ref> In the Greek [[Septuagint]] the name is translated, "Messenger of Great Counsel" as a description of the prince: "he shall be named Messenger of Great Counsel, for I will bring peace upon the rulers, peace and health to him."<ref>LXX Is.9:5 [i.e.9:6] {{lang|grc|ὅτι παιδίον ἐγεννήθη ἡμῖν υἱὸς καὶ ἐδόθη ἡμῖν οὗ ἡ ἀρχὴ ἐγενήθη ἐπὶ τοῦ ὤμου αὐτοῦ καὶ καλεῖται τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ μεγάλης βουλῆς ἄγγελος ἐγὼ γὰρ ἄξω εἰρήνην ἐπὶ τοὺς ἄρχοντας εἰρήνην καὶ ὑγίειαν αὐτῷ}}</ref><ref>translation Tessa Rajak ''Jewish perspectives on Hellenistic rulers'' 2007 p261 "Because a child was born for us, a son also given to us, whose sovereignty was upon his shoulder; and he shall be named Messenger of Great Counsel, for I will bring peace upon the rulers, peace and health to him." NB translation accords with that, or may be following [[Géza Vermes]] ''Scripture and tradition in Judaism: Haggadic studies.'' p62 1959, 1983</ref>
====Christian interpretation====
{{quote|For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.|{{bibleverse|Isaiah|9:6|KJV}} KJV}}
{{quote|For a child is born to us, and a son is given to us, whose government is upon his shoulder: and his name is called the Messenger of great counsel: for I will bring peace upon the princes, and health to him.|{{bibleverse|Isaiah|9:6|Brenton LXX}} Brenton LXX}} <ref>{{cite web |last1=Brenton |title=The Septuagint version of the Old Testament |url=https://www.ccel.org/bible/brenton/Isaiah/9.html |access-date=21 July 2022}}</ref>
* "Wonderful Counselor": {{bibleverse|Isaiah|5:19|9}}; {{bibleverse|Isaiah |25:1|9}}.{{sfn|Coogan|Brettler|Newsom|Perkins|2007|p=990-992}}
* "Mighty God": [[Isaiah 10:21]].{{sfn|Coogan|Brettler|Newsom|Perkins|2007|p=990-992}}
* "Everlasting Father": The New Oxford Annotated Bible interprets it "God as the eternal creator" {{bibleverse|Isaiah|40:28|9}}.{{sfn|Coogan|Brettler|Newsom|Perkins|2007|p=990-992}}
* "Prince of Peace": According to the New Oxford Annotated Bible, it is "a messianic title in Judaism and early Christianity".{{sfn|Coogan|Brettler|Newsom|Perkins|2007|p=990-992}}
* "Messenger of great counsel": is translated as "Angel of the great Council" in The Apostolic Constitutions. <ref>{{cite book |last1=Chase, Krabbe |title=The Apostolic Constitutions |date=1848 |publisher=D. Appleton and company |page=42 |edition=William Whiston's Version}}</ref>
In Christian interpretation, based partly on the proximity of a quote of [[#Verse 2|Isaiah 9:2]] found in [[Matthew 4]],{{sfn|France|2007|p=142}} the name is taken as referring to [[Jesus and Messianic prophecy]]. The full verse "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." is quoted in the libretto of [[Messiah (Handel)|Handel's ''Messiah'']].
===Verse 7===
{{quote|That the government may be increased, and of peace there be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to establish it, and to uphold it through justice and through righteousness from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts doth perform this.|{{bibleverse|Isaiah|9:6|HE}} Hebrew Bible}}
{{quote|Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.|{{bibleverse|Isaiah|9:7|KJV}} KJV}}
=={{Anchor|Verses 8–21}}The punishment of Samaria (9:8–21)==
===Verse 12===
:''The Syrians before, and the Philistines behind;''
::''and they shall devour Israel with open mouth.''
:''For all this his anger is not turned away,''
::''but his hand is stretched out still''.<ref>{{bibleverse|Isaiah|9:12|KJV}} KJV or {{bibleverse|Isaiah|9:11|HE}} Hebrew Bible</ref>
The refrain "For all this ... still" first appeared in [[Isaiah 5:25]] and also appears here as well as in [[#Verse 17|9:17]], [[#Verse 21|9:21]] and [[Isaiah 10:4|10:4]].<ref name="12net">Note [b] on Isaiah 9:12 in NET Bible</ref>
===Verse 14===
[[File:Biezensnijder - Reed cutter (5097599062).jpg|right|thumb|200px|A man cutting bulrush/reed in [[the Netherlands]] with bundles of cut reed behind him (c. 1940)]]
: ''Therefore the Lord will cut off from Israel head and tail,''
: ''branch and rush, in one day.''<ref>{{bibleverse|Isaiah|9:14|KJV}} KJV or {{bibleverse|Isaiah|9:13|HE}} Hebrew Bible</ref>
*Cross reference: [[Isaiah 19:15]]
This verse uses a metaphor of 'a [[Reed (plant)|reed]] being cut down'.<ref>Note on Isaiah 9:14 in NET Bible</ref>
===Verse 15===
: ''The elder and honorable, he is the head;''
:: ''The prophet who teaches lies, he is the tail.''<ref>{{bibleref2|Isaiah|9:15|NKJV}} NKJV or {{bibleverse|Isaiah|9:14|HE}} Hebrew Bible</ref>
*"Honorable": in Hebrew literally "the one lifted up with respect to the face" (cf. [[2 Kings 5:1]]).<ref>Note on Isaiah 9:15 in NET Bible</ref>
===Verse 16===
: ''For the leaders of this people cause them to err,''
:: ''And those who are led by them are destroyed.''<ref>{{bibleref2|Isaiah|9:16|NKJV}} NKJV or {{bibleverse|Isaiah|9:15|HE}} Hebrew Bible</ref>
*"And those who are led by them are destroyed": in Hebrew literally "and the ones being led were swallowed up.”<ref>Note on Isaiah 9:16 in NET Bible</ref>
===Verse 17===
:''Therefore the Lord will have no joy in their young men,''
::''Nor have mercy on their fatherless and widows;''
:''For everyone is a hypocrite and an evildoer,''
::''And every mouth speaks folly.''
:''For all this His anger is not turned away,''
::''But His hand is stretched out still.''<ref>{{bibleref2|Isaiah|9:17|NKJV}} NKJV or {{bibleverse|Isaiah|9:16|HE}} Hebrew Bible</ref>
*"Speaks folly": that is, "speaks foolishness"<ref>Note on Isaiah 9:17 in NKJV</ref> or "speaks disgraceful things"<ref>Note on Isaiah 9:17 in [[English Standard Version|ESV]]</ref>
The refrain "For all this ... still" first appeared in [[Isaiah 5:25]] and also appears here as well as in [[#Verse 12|9:12]], [[#Verse 21|9:21]] and [[Isaiah 10:4|10:4]].<ref name="12net"/>
===Verse 21===
:''Manasseh, Ephraim; and Ephraim, Manasseh:''
::''and they together shall be against Judah.''
:''For all this his anger is not turned away,''
::''but his hand is stretched out still.''<ref>{{bibleverse|Isaiah|9:21|KJV}} KJV or {{bibleverse|Isaiah|9:20|HE}} Hebrew Bible</ref>
The refrain "For all this ... still" first appeared in [[Isaiah 5:25]] and also appears here as well as in [[#Verse 12|9:12]], [[#Verse 17|9:17]] and [[Isaiah 10:4|10:4]].<ref name="12net"/>
==Uses==
===Music===
The [[King James Version]] of verses 2 and 6 from this chapter is cited as texts in the English-language [[oratorio]] "[[Messiah (Handel)|Messiah]]" by [[George Frideric Handel]] (HWV 56).<ref name="Block 2001">
{{cite journal
| last = Block
| first = Daniel I.
| author-link = Daniel I. Block
| year = 2001
| title = Handel's Messiah: Biblical and Theological Perspectives
| journal = [[Didaskalia (journal)|Didaskalia]]
| volume = 12
| number = 2
| url = http://www.sbts.edu/documents/icw/messiah.pdf
| access-date = 19 July 2011
}}
</ref>
==See also==
*[[Galilee]]
*[[Jewish messianism]]
*[[Messianic prophecies of Jesus]]
*Related [[Bible]] parts: [[Isaiah 7]], [[Isaiah 8]], [[Isaiah 19]], [[Jeremiah 23]], [[Matthew 4]]
==Notes and references==
{{Reflist|2}}
==Sources==
*{{cite book|last= Coggins | first= R. | chapter = 22. Isaiah | title=The Oxford Bible Commentary | editor-first1=John| editor-last1=Barton |editor1-link = John Barton (theologian) | editor-first2=John| editor-last2= Muddiman |editor2-link = John Muddiman | publisher = Oxford University Press |edition= first (paperback) | date = 2007 | pages = 433–486 | isbn = 978-0199277186 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZJdVkgEACAAJ| access-date=February 6, 2019}}
*{{cite book|last1=Coogan|first1=Michael David |last2=Brettler|first2=Marc Zvi |last3=Newsom|first3=Carol Ann |first4=Pheme|last4 =Perkins|title=The New Oxford Annotated Bible with the Apocryphal/Deuterocanonical Books: New Revised Standard Version|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Nc-i_pQsiW8C&pg=PA990|year=2007|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-528880-3}}
*{{cite book|last=France|first=R.T. |title=The Gospel of Matthew|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0ruP6J_XPCEC&pg=PA142 |year=2007|publisher=Wm. B. Eerdmans |isbn=978-0-8028-2501-8}}
*{{cite book|last=Jones|first= Alexander|title=The Gospel According to St. Matthew|location= London|publisher= Geoffrey Chapman|date= 1965}}
*{{cite book|last=Keener|first=Craig S. |title=A Commentary on the Gospel of Matthew|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sWzhEdBZOp4C&pg=PA147|year=1999|publisher=Wm. B. Eerdmans |isbn=978-0-8028-3821-6}}
*{{cite book | last = Motyer | first = J. Alec | title = The Prophecy of Isaiah: An Introduction & Commentary | publisher = InterVarsity Press | year = 2015 | isbn = 9780830895243 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=p3R3CwAAQBAJ }}
* {{Cite book
| editor-last                   = Ulrich
| editor-first                  = Eugene
| title                         = The Biblical Qumran Scrolls: Transcriptions and Textual Variants
| year                          = 2010
| publisher                     = Brill
| url                           = https://archive.org/details/TheBiblicalQumranScrolls}}
*{{cite book | last = Würthwein | first = Ernst | author-link = Ernst Würthwein | title = The Text of the Old Testament | publisher = Wm. B. Eerdmans |location = Grand Rapids, MI | year=  1995 | translator-first1 = Erroll F.| translator-last1 = Rhodes |isbn = 0-8028-0788-7 | url= https://books.google.com/books?id=FSNKSBObCYwC | access-date= January 26, 2019}}
==External links==
===Jewish===
*[http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt1009.htm Isaiah 9:Original Hebrew with Parallel English]
===Christian===
*[http://www.latinvulgate.com/lv/verse.aspx?t=0&b=27&c=9 Isaiah 9 English Translation with Parallel Latin Vulgate] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200815125717/http://latinvulgate.com/lv/verse.aspx?t=0&b=27&c=9 |date=2020-08-15 }}
{{Book of Isaiah}}
[[Category:Book of Isaiah chapters|09]]