Isaiah 2:9
in Isaiah 2So mankind is brought low, and man is humbled—do not forgive them!
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And the mean man is bowed down, and the great man is brought low: therefore forgive them not.
KJV
And the mean man boweth down, and the great man humbleth himself: therefore forgive them not.
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This verse in Isaiah 2
Commentary
10 notes on this verse(Verse 9) And his land was filled with idols: they worshipped the work of their own hands, what their fingers have made. And man bowed down, and the man was humbled. Where once stood the Temple and the religion of God, there stood the statue of Hadrian and the idol of Jupiter. Many interpret this as a testimony, which we read in the Gospel: But when you see the abomination of desolation standing in the holy place (Mark 13:14). And they inclined the works of their hands: and man, a rational animal, adored copper and stone.
This site's exposition
Their land is full of silver
on Isaiah 2:7-9
Verses 7 and 8 list the wealth in three items, treasure, horses and idols, each one a substitute for trust in the LORD. Horses and chariots without limit recall the law for kings at Deuteronomy 17:16. The idols indict themselves by their own description, "the work of their hands."
This site's exposition
mankind is brought low, and man is humbled
Two Hebrew words for man stand side by side, adam for the common man and ish for the man of rank. Every rank bowed to idols, and every rank is brought low. Jamieson, Fausset and Brown read the closing plea as a threat put as a command.
The record, by era
The Medieval Church1 voice
Third, from the dignity of man: and therefore he says: "man," who was made to the image of God, "has bowed himself down," in putting himself under idols; "man," who seems powerful as to acquired things, "has been debased": "man when he was in honor …
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
We are here told that sooner or later God will find out a way, I. To startle and awaken secure sinners, who cry peace to themselves, and bid defiance to God and his judgments (
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens
And the mean man boweth down, and the great man humbleth himself,....
And there was a partial and temporary rejection of them by the captivity in Babylon hastening on, which was a type of their final destruction by the Romans, and which the sins here mentioned brought upon them. Their sins were such as directly contradicted all God's kind and gracious designs concerning them.
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
And the mean man - That is, the man in humble life, the poor, the low in rank - for this is all that the Hebrew word here - אדם 'âdâm - implies. The distinction between the two words here used - אדם 'âdâm as denoting a man of humble rank, and אישׁ 'ı̂ysh as denoting one of elevated rank - is one that constantly occurs in the Scriptures. Our word “mean” conveys an idea of moral baseness and degradation, which is not implied in the Hebrew. Boweth down - That is, before idols.
2 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
mean--in rank: not morally base: opposed to "the great man." The former is in Hebrew, Adam, the latter, ish. boweth--namely, to idols. All ranks were idolaters. forgive . . . not--a threat expressed by an imperative.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase
Boweth down “Shall be bowed down” - This has reference to the preceding verse. They bowed themselves down to their idols, therefore shall they be bowed down and brought low under the avenging hand of God. Therefore forgive them not - “And thou wilt not forgive them.” - L.
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
On the verses either side of this one
Come into the rock To come into the rock to escape in the cracks of the rocks.
1 more on this passage, in their own words ▾
They shall enter into the rock in order to flee with a flight, and to be hidden in the dust, for fear of the Lord, and for the brightness of His glory.
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 4 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
The words behind it
7 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וַיִּשַּׁ֥ח | vaiyishach | and he has been humbled | H7817 → | 21 times |
| אָדָ֖ם | ʾadam | everyone | H120 → | 551 times |
| וַיִּשְׁפַּל־ | vaiyishpal- | and he has become low | H8213 → | 31 times |
| אִ֑ישׁ | ʾish | everyone | H376 → | 1663 times |
| וְאַל־ | veal- | and may not | H408 → | 724 times |
| תִּשָּׂ֖א | tisa' | you forgive | H5375 → | 656 times |
| לָהֶֽם׃ | lahem | <to> them |
וַיִּשַּׁ֥חand he has been humbled
vaiyishachH7817 →21 times
אָדָ֖םeveryone
ʾadamH120 →551 times
וַיִּשְׁפַּל־and he has become low
vaiyishpal-H8213 →31 times
אִ֑ישׁeveryone
ʾishH376 →1663 times
וְאַל־and may not
veal-H408 →724 times
תִּשָּׂ֖אyou forgive
tisa'H5375 →656 times
לָהֶֽם׃<to> them
lahem
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Mark 3:29But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; he is guilty of eternal sin.”
it leads to
- Matthew 12:31–32
Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven.
- Luke 12:10
And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.
- Matthew 12:31–32
Through
Joshua 24:19But Joshua said to the people, “You are not able to serve the LORD, for He is a holy God; He is a jealous God; He will not forgive your rebellion or your sins.
it leads to
- Exodus 23:21
Pay attention to him and listen to his voice; do not defy him, for he will not forgive rebellion, since My Name is in him.
- Isaiah 5:16
But the LORD of Hosts will be exalted by His justice, and the holy God will show Himself holy in righteousness.
- Psalms 99:5
Exalt the LORD our God, and worship at His footstool; He is holy!
- Psalms 99:9
Exalt the LORD our God and worship at His holy mountain, for the LORD our God is holy.
- Exodus 20:5
You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on their children to the third and fourth…
- Exodus 23:21
Through
Jeremiah 18:23But You, O LORD, know all their deadly plots against me. Do not wipe out their guilt or blot out their sin from Your sight. Let them be overthrown before You; deal with them…
it leads to
- Psalms 35:4
May those who seek my life be disgraced and put to shame; may those who plan to harm me be driven back and confounded.
- Psalms 35:4
Where this verse is studied
About Isaiah
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes on the Book of Isaiah; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; Jerome, Commentary on Isaiah; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Isaiah.