Light breaks on the land that was in anguish: Zebulun, Naphtali, and Galilee of the nations see a great light (9:1-2, quoted in Matthew 4:15-16). Joy multiplies as at harvest; the oppressor's yoke is broken as in the day of Midian, and warriors' boots and blood-rolled garments become fuel for fire. A child is born, a son is given, named Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace; his government and peace increase without end on the throne of David (9:6-7, taken up in Luke 1:32-33), the zeal of Jehovah of hosts performs it. The chapter then turns to judgment on Ephraim and Samaria, who boast of rebuilding with hewn stone: adversaries devour, leaders mislead, wickedness burns like fire, and tribe consumes tribe, each stanza closing with "his hand is stretched out still."

Drawn from Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory, Matthew Henry, Complete Commentary, John Wesley, Notes on the Old Testament and John Calvin, Commentaries.

Context

Prophecy · Isaiah — Isaiah overview

A. 1–7 A Great Light: Unto Us a Child Is Born
B. 8–12 Bricks Fallen, Cedars Planted — the Pride of Ephraim
C. 13–21 Head and Tail Cut Off, and the Anger Not Turned Away

Top cross-references8 chapters ▾

Matthew 42 verses
- Matthew 4:15“Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—
- Matthew 4:16the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death, a light has dawned.”
- Read Matthew 4 →
Isaiah 102 verses
- Isaiah 10:6I will send him against a godless nation; I will dispatch him against a people destined for My rage, to take spoils and seize plunder, and to trample them down like clay in the streets.
- Isaiah 10:26And the LORD of Hosts will brandish a whip against them, as when He struck Midian at the rock of Oreb. He will raise His staff over the sea, as He did in Egypt.
- Read Isaiah 10 →
Isaiah 51 verse
- Isaiah 5:25Therefore the anger of the LORD burns against His people; His hand is raised against them to strike them down. The mountains quake, and the corpses lay like refuse in the streets. Despite all this, His anger is not turned away; His hand is still upraised.
- Read Isaiah 5 →
2 Kings 151 verse
- 2 Kings 15:29In the days of Pekah king of Israel, Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria came and captured Ijon, Abel-beth-maacah, Janoah, Kedesh, Hazor, Gilead, and Galilee, including all the land of Naphtali, and he took the people as captives to Assyria.
- Read 2 Kings 15 →

4 more chapters this one speaks with

Isaiah 81 verse
- Isaiah 8:22Then they will look to the earth and see only distress and darkness and the gloom of anguish. And they will be driven into utter darkness.
- Read Isaiah 8 →
Ephesians 51 verse
- Ephesians 5:8For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light,
- Read Ephesians 5 →
John 81 verse
- John 8:12Once again, Jesus spoke to the people and said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life.”
- Read John 8 →
Isaiah 351 verse
- Isaiah 35:10So the redeemed of the LORD will return and enter Zion with singing, crowned with everlasting joy. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee.
- Read Isaiah 35 →

Cross-references from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and OpenBible.info.