Isaiah 9:1
Context9:1 (8:23) 1 The gloom will be dispelled for those who were anxious. 2
In earlier times he 3 humiliated
the land of Zebulun,
and the land of Naphtali; 4
but now he brings honor 5
to the way of the sea,
the region beyond the Jordan,
and Galilee of the nations. 6
Isaiah 60:9
Context60:9 Indeed, the coastlands 7 look eagerly for me,
the large ships 8 are in the lead,
bringing your sons from far away,
along with their silver and gold,
to honor the Lord your God, 9
the Holy One of Israel, 10 for he has bestowed honor on you.
Isaiah 65:7
Context65:7 for your sins and your ancestors’ sins,” 11 says the Lord.
“Because they burned incense on the mountains
and offended 12 me on the hills,
I will punish them in full measure.” 13


[9:1] 1 sn In the Hebrew text (BHS) the chapter division comes one verse later than in the English Bible; 9:1 (8:23 HT). Thus 9:2-21 in the English Bible = 9:1-20 in the Hebrew text. Beginning with 10:1 the verse numbers in the English Bible and the Hebrew Bible are again the same.
[9:1] 2 tn The Hebrew text reads, “Indeed there is no gloom for the one to whom there was anxiety for her.” The feminine singular pronominal suffix “her” must refer to the land (cf. vv. 22a, 23b). So one could translate, “Indeed there will be no gloom for the land which was anxious.” In this case the statement introduces the positive message to follow. Some assume an emendation of לֹא (lo’, “no”) to לוֹ (lo, “to him”) and of לָהּ (lah, “to her”) to לוֹ (lo, “to him”), yielding this literal reading: “indeed there is gloom for him, for the one to whom there was anxiety for him.” In this case the statement concludes the preceding description of judgment.
[9:1] 3 tn The Lord must be understood as the subject of the two verbs in this verse.
[9:1] 4 sn The statement probably alludes to the Assyrian conquest of Israel in ca. 734-733
[9:1] 5 tn Heb Just as in earlier times he humiliated…, [in] the latter times he has brought honor.” The main verbs in vv. 1b-4 are Hebrew perfects. The prophet takes his rhetorical stance in the future age of restoration and describes future events as if they have already occurred. To capture the dramatic effect of the original text, the translation uses the English present or present perfect.
[9:1] 6 sn These three geographical designations may refer to provinces established by the Assyrians in 734-733
[60:9] 7 tn Or “islands” (NIV); CEV “distant islands”; TEV “distant lands.”
[60:9] 8 tn Heb “the ships of Tarshish.” See the note at 2:16.
[60:9] 9 tn Heb “to the name of the Lord your God.”
[60:9] 10 sn See the note on the phrase “the Holy One of Israel” in 1:4.
[65:7] 13 tn Heb “the iniquities of your fathers.”
[65:7] 14 tn Or perhaps, “taunted”; KJV “blasphemed”; NAB “disgraced”; NASB “scorned”; NIV “defied”; NRSV “reviled.”
[65:7] 15 tn Heb “I will measure out their pay [from the] beginning into their lap,” i.e., he will give them everything they have earned.