The Meaning of Isaiah 9:2 Explained

Isaiah 9:2

KJV: The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.

YLT: The people who are walking in darkness Have seen a great light, Dwellers in a land of death-shade, Light hath shone upon them.

Darby: the people that walked in darkness have seen a great light; they that dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, upon them light hath shone.

ASV: The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.

Discover Isaiah 9:2

CONTEXT: What is the Context of Isaiah 9:2?

MEANING: What does Isaiah 9:2 Mean?

WORDS: What do the individual words in Isaiah 9:2 mean?

RELATIONS: What do the major concepts mean in Isaiah 9:2?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

The people  that walked  in darkness  have seen  a great  light:  they that dwell  in the land  of the shadow of death,  upon them hath the light  shined. 

What does Isaiah 9:2 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Light would come to those walking in darkness-the Israelites-as they lived in a dark land ( Isaiah 9:1). Many prophetic perfects in this section assure the certainty of the things predicted. In Hebrew, a writer sometimes described as past what was really in the future. He used this verb tense to emphasize that what was future was as sure to happen as if it had happened already. God would enlighten those in darkness by bringing new light to them, even though they did not deserve it (cf. Matthew 4:15-16). This was revelation about the future that was sure, compared to the unreliable predictions of mediums and wizards (cf. Isaiah 8:19).
". . . the very region where Assyrian armies brought darkness and death would be the first to rejoice in the light brought by the preaching of Christ ( Matthew 4:15-16)." [1]
"The darkness-light motif points to a creative work of God, who alone can make such a transformation (cf. Isaiah 4:5; Genesis 1:2-3; 2 Corinthians 4:6)." [2]

Context Summary

Isaiah 9:1-7 - The Prince Of Peace
When men cease to trust in God and rely on the help of man, they often turn to necromancy and spirit-rapping. The medium takes the place of the Mediator. The séance is sought after instead of the Law and the Testimony. What have God's children to do with back-stair gossip, when their Father's presence-chamber is open to them? What He does not tell us is not worth our knowing.
The land of Galilee was destined to suffer sorely, but better days would dawn on its mountains and lakes. The joy that was in store is compared to the daybreak, Isaiah 8:2; to the joy of harvest, Isaiah 8:3; and to the gladness of the harried tribes when Gideon broke the power of Midian, Isaiah 8:4. The implements of battle would become fuel for the peasants' cottage-fires. What titles are these for our Lord! They befit no human babe! Let us place the government of our lives on His shoulders; and as it extends so shall our peace. Ask God's zeal to do this for thee! In the power of His grace, put the government of all on the wonderful Son of God. [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 9:2 mean?

The people who walked in darkness have seen a light great Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death a light has shined Upon them
הָעָם֙ הַהֹלְכִ֣ים בַּחֹ֔שֶׁךְ רָא֖וּ א֣וֹר גָּד֑וֹל יֹשְׁבֵי֙ בְּאֶ֣רֶץ צַלְמָ֔וֶת א֖וֹר נָגַ֥הּ עֲלֵיהֶֽם

הָעָם֙  The  people 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: עַם 
Sense: nation, people.
הַהֹלְכִ֣ים  who  walked 
Parse: Article, Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural
Root: הָלַךְ  
Sense: to go, walk, come.
בַּחֹ֔שֶׁךְ  in  darkness 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: חֹשֶׁךְ  
Sense: darkness, obscurity.
רָא֖וּ  have  seen 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: רָאָה 
Sense: to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider.
א֣וֹר  a  light 
Parse: Noun, common singular
Root: אֹור  
Sense: light.
גָּד֑וֹל  great 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: גָּבֹול 
Sense: great.
יֹשְׁבֵי֙  Those  who  dwelt 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural construct
Root: יָשַׁב 
Sense: to dwell, remain, sit, abide.
בְּאֶ֣רֶץ  in  the  land 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.
צַלְמָ֔וֶת  of  the  shadow  of  death 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: צַלְמָוֶת  
Sense: death-shadow, deep shadow, deep darkness, shadow of death.
א֖וֹר  a  light 
Parse: Noun, common singular
Root: אֹור  
Sense: light.
נָגַ֥הּ  has  shined 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: נָגַהּ  
Sense: to shine.
עֲלֵיהֶֽם  Upon  them 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine plural
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.

What are the major concepts related to Isaiah 9:2?

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Similar Scriptures for Isaiah 9:2

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