A Great Light and a Child Is Born
Study note
The lands of Zebulun and Naphtali in northern Israel were the first areas to be conquered by the Assyrians. But Isaiah says that these same lands, which experienced the deepest darkness, will see the greatest light. This prophecy was fulfilled when Jesus began his ministry in Galilee, in this same region. The child described in verses 6-7 is given four remarkable titles that reveal his nature as both human and divine. Christians understand this as a prophecy about Jesus Christ, the Messiah who would establish an eternal kingdom of peace on David's throne.
1 But the gloom will not last for the land that was in so much pain. In earlier times, God shamed the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali. But later on, he will bring honor to the road along the sea, the land across the Jordan, and Galilee, where many nations live. 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.
2 People who had been stumbling through the dark have seen a blinding, brilliant light. For everyone living under a heavy shadow of death, a bright glow has broken through. 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.
3 You have made the nation grow and filled them with deep happiness. They celebrate in your presence with the joy people feel at harvest time, or the excitement soldiers feel when they split up the treasure they captured. Thou hast multiplied the nation, and not increased the joy: they joy before thee according to the joy in harvest, and as men rejoice when they divide the spoil.
4 You have shattered the heavy yoke that was crushing them. You have broken the rod that struck their backs and the stick their slave driver used to beat them, just like you did when you defeated Midian long ago. For thou hast broken the yoke of his burden, and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, as in the day of Midian.
5 Every boot that stomped through battle will be burned. Every piece of clothing soaked in blood will be thrown into the fire. For every battle of the warrior is with confused noise, and garments rolled in blood; but this shall be with burning and fuel of fire.
6 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. 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.
7 His kingdom and the peace he brings will keep growing and never stop. He will sit on David's throne and rule over David's kingdom. He will hold it together with fairness and justice from that point on and into forever. The burning passion of the Lord who commands heaven's armies will make all of this happen. 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.
God's Continued Anger Against Israel
Study note
The tone shifts to judgment against the northern kingdom of Israel. Despite being struck by God through military defeat, the people remain stubbornly proud. They boast that they will rebuild bigger and better than before, replacing fallen bricks with cut stone and ordinary trees with expensive cedars. God responds by stirring up their enemies on every side. The repeated phrase 'his anger is not turned away, and his hand is still raised to strike' appears like a drumbeat throughout this section.
8 The Lord sent a warning against the people of Jacob. It landed right on Israel. The Lord sent a word into Jacob, and it hath lighted upon Israel.
9 Everyone will feel its impact — the people of Ephraim and those in Samaria. But they respond with stubborn pride: And all the people shall know, even Ephraim and the inhabitant of Samaria, that say in the pride and stoutness of heart,
10 "The bricks fell down, but we will rebuild with polished stone. The common trees were chopped down, but we will replace them with the finest cedars." The bricks are fallen down, but we will build with hewn stones: the sycomores are cut down, but we will change them into cedars.
11 So the Lord has stirred up enemies against them and brought their opponents together. Therefore the LORD shall set up the adversaries of Rezin against him, and join his enemies together;
12 The Syrians attacked from the east and the Philistines from the west, and they gobbled up Israel. But even after all this, his anger has not cooled down, and his hand is still raised, ready to strike. 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.
Judgment Falls on Everyone
Study note
Because the people refuse to return to God, he will cut off both head and tail in a single day. The 'head' represents the elders and leaders, while the 'tail' represents the false prophets who tell lies. Even the young, the orphans, and the widows will not be spared, because everyone has become a hypocrite and an evildoer. Wickedness is compared to a fire that burns through thorns and briers, then catches in the thick forest and sends up columns of smoke. The people turn on each other in their desperation, even fighting against their own relatives.
13 Still, the people have not come back to the one who punished them, and they have not looked for the Lord who commands heaven's armies. For the people turneth not unto him that smiteth them, neither do they seek the LORD of hosts.
14 So in one single day, the Lord will chop off from Israel both the head and the tail, both the top branch and the bottom reed. Therefore the LORD will cut off from Israel head and tail, branch and rush, in one day.
15 The elders and honored leaders are the head. The prophets who tell lies are the tail. The ancient and honourable, he is the head; and the prophet that teacheth lies, he is the tail.
16 The guides of this people have steered them off a cliff, and those who followed them are done for. For the leaders of this people cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed.
17 Therefore the Lord finds no joy in their young men and shows no pity to their orphans and widows. Every one of them is a phony and a troublemaker, and every mouth speaks foolishness. Even after all this, his anger has not cooled down, and his hand is still raised, ready to strike. Therefore the Lord shall have no joy in their young men, neither shall have mercy on their fatherless and widows: for every one is an hypocrite and an evildoer, and every mouth speaketh folly. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.
18 Wickedness blazes like an out-of-control fire. It devours thornbushes and briers, then ignites the thick forest, and columns of smoke swirl upward. For wickedness burneth as the fire: it shall devour the briers and thorns, and shall kindle in the thickets of the forest, and they shall mount up like the lifting up of smoke.
19 The fury of the Lord who commands heaven's armies has scorched the land. The people have become fuel for the flames, and nobody shows mercy to their own neighbors. Through the wrath of the LORD of hosts is the land darkened, and the people shall be as the fuel of the fire: no man shall spare his brother.
20 People snatch food on the right but stay hungry. They eat on the left but are never full. They are so desperate they even turn on their own families. And he shall snatch on the right hand, and be hungry; and he shall eat on the left hand, and they shall not be satisfied: they shall eat every man the flesh of his own arm:
21 Manasseh attacks Ephraim, Ephraim attacks Manasseh, and both of them gang up against Judah. Even after all this, his anger has not cooled down, and his hand is still raised, ready to strike. 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.