The Light · stop 4 of 9
The people that walked in darkness
'The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light.' Four verses later Isaiah names what the light turned out to be: 'For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given' (9:6). The figure becomes a person inside a single paragraph.
2The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death, a light has dawned.
Open Isaiah 9:2 in the reader →Everything gathered on this verse →
A voice from the tradition
Witness
The people - Israel and Judah. Darkness - The expression is general and so may well comprehend both calamity and ignorance, idolatry and profaneness, in which those parts were eminently involved. Have seen - Shall see at the coming of the Messiah.
John Wesley· Explanatory Notes upon the Bible (1765), on Isaiah 9:2 — public domainEvangelical
The approved voices
On Isaiah 9:2
Therefore, he had the pledge of immortality: but being placed in the shadow of life, he could not see and grasp the hidden life with Christ in God by some common touch and sight. And if not yet a sinner, certainly not of an incorruptible and inviolable nature; for he who has fallen into sin is not yet a sinner. Indeed, he was in the shadow of life; but those who are sinners are in the shadow of death.
Ambrose of Milan· On Paradise 5.29, 397Patristic
The workbench
Words in this verse
- הָעָם֙ha.'Am — the peopleH5971
- הַהֹלְכִ֣יםha.ho.le.Khim — which walkH1980
- בַּחֹ֔שֶׁךְba.Cho.shekh — in the darknessH2822
- רָא֖וּra.'U — they will seeH7200
- א֣וֹר'or — a lightH216
- גָּד֑וֹלga.Dol — greatH1419
- יֹשְׁבֵי֙yo.she.Vei — [those who] dwellH3427
- בְּאֶ֣רֶץbe.'E.retz — in a land ofH776
- צַלְמָ֔וֶתtzal.Ma.vet — deep darknessH6757
- א֖וֹר'or — a lightH216
- נָגַ֥הּna.Gah — it will shineH5050
- עֲלֵיהֶֽם׃'a.lei.Hem — on themH5921
The floor
Where the canon echoes this verse
- Matthew 4:16
the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death, a light has dawned.”
Commentary on Matthew 4:162 voices
(in Esai. c. 9. 1.) They are said at the first time to be lightened from the burden of sin, because in the country of these two tribes, the Saviour first preached the Gospel; at the last time their faith was increased, most of the Jews remaining in error. By the sea here is meant the Lake of Gennesaret, a lake formed by the waters of the Jordan, on its shores are the towns of Capernaum, Tiberias, Bethsaida, and Corozaim, in which district principally Christ preached.
Jerome· Catena Aurea by Aquinas, 420Patristic
(Verse 15, 16.) The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles: the people who walked in darkness have seen a great light, Those who dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them a light has shined. These were the first to hear the Lord preaching, that where the first captivity had occurred by the Assyrians, there the proclamation of the Redeemer would be born.
Jerome· Commentary on Matthew, 420Patristic
- Ephesians 5:8
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light,
Commentary on Ephesians 5:81 voice
The darkness is being turned into light. There is not, as some heretics argue, a nature so alienated that it cannot receive salvation.… Those who receive salvation—the righteous—are "the light of the world." Those who refuse, the unrighteous, are in consequence called darkness.… The difference and distance between one and the other is clearly seen by their own fruits.
Jerome· Commentary on Ephesians 5:8, 420Patristic
- John 8:12
Once 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.”
- John 12:46
I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in Me should remain in darkness.
Commentary on John 12:461 voice
Behold, again He grasps their faith and fixes it on Himself, and effects at once two most useful ends. For on the one hand in professing Himself to be Light He proves that He is God by Nature, for so to be called befits Him alone Who is in His Nature God; and on the other hand by adding the cause of His coming, He brings a blush to the cheek of any man who thinks but little of loving Him.
Cyril of Alexandria· Commentary on the Gospel of John, Book 8 (Fragments), 444Patristic
- Luke 1:78–79
because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the Dawn will visit us from on high, to shine on those who live in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.”
Commentary on Luke 1:78–792 voices
For the world, indeed, was wandering in error, serving the creation in the place of the Creator, and was darkened over by the blackness of ignorance, and a night, as it were, that had fallen upon the minds of all, permitted them not to see Him, Who both by nature and truly is God. But the Lord of all rose for the Israelites, like a light and a sun.
Cyril of Alexandria· Commentary on the Gospel of Luke, 444Patristic
What greater destiny can befall man's humility than that he should be intermingled with God, and by this intermingling should be deified, and that we should be so visited by the "dayspring from on high"? Further, that even the holy thing that should be born should be called the Son of the Most High and that he should be given "a name that is above every name"? And what else can this be but God?
Gregory of Nazianzus· ORATION 30.3, ON THE SON, 390Patristic
- 1 Peter 2:9
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, to proclaim the virtues of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.
Commentary on 1 Peter 2:91 voice
If you want to exercise the priesthood of your soul, do not let the fire depart from your altar.
Origen of Alexandria· SERMONS ON LEVITICUS 4.6, 253Patristic
- 1 John 1:5–7
And this is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you: God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with Him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.
Commentary on 1 John 1:5–72 voices
When John says that there is no darkness in the light of God, he proves that all the lights of others are stained by some blemish.
Jerome· Against the Pelagians 2.7, 420Patristic
...the apostles who did also write the Gospel, in which they recorded the doctrine regarding God, pointing out that our Lord Jesus Christ is the truth, and that no lie is in Him. As also David says, prophesying His birth from a virgin, and the resurrection from the dead, "Truth has sprung out of the earth." The apostles, likewise, being disciples of the truth, are above all falsehood; for a lie has no fellowship with the truth, just as darkness has none with light, but the presence of the one shuts out that of the other.
Irenaeus· Against Heresies Book III, 202Patristic
- Isaiah 60:1–3
Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you. For behold, darkness covers the earth, and thick darkness is over the peoples; but the LORD will rise upon you, and His glory will appear over you. Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.
Commentary on Isaiah 60:1–32 voices
(Chapter 60—Verse 1 and following) Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you. And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. 70: Arise, arise, O Jerusalem, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. Behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples.
Jerome· Commentary on Isaiah, 420Patristic
Prophecy did not lie, then, when it said, "Kings shall walk in thy light." They shall walk openly, and especially Gratian and Theodosius before other princes, no longer protected by the weapons of their soldiers but by their own merits; clothed not in purple garments but in the mantle of glory. In this world they took delight in pardoning many. How much the more are they consoled in the other life by the remembrance of their goodness, recalling that they had spared many? They now enjoy radiant light.
Ambrose of Milan· ON THE DEATH OF THEODOSIUS 52, 397Patristic
- Luke 2:32
a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to Your people Israel.”
Commentary on Luke 2:322 voices
The mystery of Christ had been prepared even before the very foundation of the world but was manifested in the last ages of time. It became a light for those who in darkness and error had fallen under the devil's hand. These were they "who serve the creature instead of the Creator," worshiping moreover the dragon, the author of evil, and the impure throng of devils, to whom they attach the honor due God.
Cyril of Alexandria· COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 4, 444Patristic
(non occ.) For the Gentiles before the coming of Christ were lying in the deepest darkness, being without the knowledge of God.
Athanasius of Alexandria· Catena Aurea by Aquinas, 373Patristic
- Isaiah 60:19
No longer will the sun be your light by day, nor the brightness of the moon shine on your night; for the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your splendor.
Commentary on Isaiah 60:191 voice
(Verse 19, 20.) The sun will no longer be your light by day, nor will the splendor of the moon shine on you; for the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory. Your sun will never set again, and your moon will not decrease; for the LORD will be your everlasting light, and the days of your mourning will be fulfilled.
Jerome· Commentary on Isaiah, 420Patristic
Cross-reference data: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge; OpenBible.info (CC-BY).