The Meaning of Isaiah 9:19 Explained

Isaiah 9:19

KJV: 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.

YLT: In the wrath of Jehovah of Hosts Hath the land been consumed, And the people is as fuel of fire; A man on his brother hath no pity,

Darby: Through the wrath of Jehovah of hosts is the land burned up, and the people is as fuel for fire: a man spareth not his brother;

ASV: Through the wrath of Jehovah of hosts is the land burnt up; and the people are as the fuel of fire: no man spareth his brother.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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. 

What does Isaiah 9:19 Mean?

Verse Meaning

The Lord of armies uses human sin to consume sinners, and people consume one another trying to satisfy their own desires.

Context Summary

Isaiah 9:18-21 - Social Injustice Condemned
The terrible indictment of the preceding paragraphs is continued here. Notice the awful monotony of the refrain, Isaiah 9:12; Isaiah 9:17; Isaiah 9:21; Isaiah 10:4. Internal anarchy spread with the rapidity of a prairie fire. Jealousy and distrust awoke murderous hatred. Even the ties of brotherhood would not avail to arrest the knife of the assassin. In the horrors of starvation men would consume their own flesh, Isaiah 9:20. Civil strife would exhaust the forces, which, combined with God's blessing, might have arrested the invader. The weak would become the spoil of the strong; and there would be no appeal. What pathetic questions are suggested in Isaiah 10:3! What will ye do? To whom will ye flee? See Hebrews 9:26-28. What hope is there for the soul that has known and refused the offer of forgiveness in Jesus! Dear soul, make haste to the cleft of the Rock! [source]

Chapter Summary: Isaiah 9

1  What joy shall be in the midst of afflictions, by the birth and kingdom of Christ
8  The judgments upon Israel for their pride
13  For their hypocrisy
18  And for their unrepentance

What do the individual words in Isaiah 9:19 mean?

Through the wrath of Yahweh of hosts is burned up the land and shall be the people as fuel for the fire man shall spare his brother No shall spare
בְּעֶבְרַ֛ת יְהוָ֥ה צְבָא֖וֹת נֶעְתַּ֣ם אָ֑רֶץ וַיְהִ֤י הָעָם֙ כְּמַאֲכֹ֣לֶת אֵ֔שׁ אִ֥ישׁ אֶל־ אָחִ֖יו לֹ֥א יַחְמֹֽלוּ

בְּעֶבְרַ֛ת  Through  the  wrath 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: עֶבְרָה  
Sense: outpouring, overflow, excess, fury, wrath, arrogance.
יְהוָ֥ה  of  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: Jehovah—used primarily in the combination ‘Lord Jehovah’.
צְבָא֖וֹת  of  hosts 
Parse: Noun, common plural
Root: צָבָא 
Sense: that which goes forth, army, war, warfare, host.
נֶעְתַּ֣ם  is  burned  up 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: עָתַם  
Sense: (Niphal) to be burned up, be scorched.
אָ֑רֶץ  the  land 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.
וַיְהִ֤י  and  shall  be 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
הָעָם֙  the  people 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: עַם 
Sense: nation, people.
כְּמַאֲכֹ֣לֶת  as  fuel  for 
Parse: Preposition-k, Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: מַאֲכֹלֶת  
Sense: fuel.
אֵ֔שׁ  the  fire 
Parse: Noun, common singular
Root: אֵשׁ  
Sense: fire.
אִ֥ישׁ  man 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: אִישׁ 
Sense: man.
אֶל־  shall  spare 
Parse: Preposition
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
אָחִ֖יו  his  brother 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: אָח  
Sense: brother.
לֹ֥א  No 
Parse: Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
יַחְמֹֽלוּ  shall  spare 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: חָמַל 
Sense: (Qal) to spare, pity, have compassion on.