The Meaning of Isaiah 9:3 Explained

Isaiah 9:3

KJV: Thou hast multiplied the nation, and not increased the joy: they joy before thee according to the joy in harvest, and as men rejoice when they divide the spoil.

YLT: Thou hast multiplied the nation, Thou hast made great its joy, They have joyed before Thee as the joy in harvest, As men rejoice in their apportioning spoil.

Darby: Thou hast multiplied the nation, hast increased its joy: they joy before thee like to the joy in harvest; as men rejoice when they divide the spoil.

ASV: Thou hast multiplied the nation, thou hast increased their joy: they joy before thee according to the joy in harvest, as men rejoice when they divide the spoil.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Thou hast multiplied  the nation,  [and] not increased  the joy:  they joy  before  thee according to the joy  in harvest,  [and] as [men] rejoice  when they divide  the spoil. 

What does Isaiah 9:3 Mean?

Verse Meaning

God would reveal His presence to His people, and the results would be national growth (cf. Isaiah 7:20-23; Isaiah 49:19-23) and abundance (cf. Isaiah 5:10; Isaiah 33:23; Isaiah 35:1-2), really every type of joy.

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 9:3 mean?

You have multiplied the nation - not [And] increased its joy they rejoice before You According to the joy of harvest as [men] rejoice when they divide the spoil
הִרְבִּ֣יתָ הַגּ֔וֹי [לא] (ל֖וֹ) הִגְדַּ֣לְתָּ הַשִּׂמְחָ֑ה שָׂמְח֤וּ לְפָנֶ֙יךָ֙ כְּשִׂמְחַ֣ת בַּקָּצִ֔יר כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר יָגִ֖ילוּ בְּחַלְּקָ֥ם שָׁלָֽל

הִרְבִּ֣יתָ  You  have  multiplied 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: הַרְבָּה 
Sense: be or become great, be or become many, be or become much, be or become numerous.
הַגּ֔וֹי  the  nation 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: גֹּוי 
Sense: nation, people.
[לא]  - 
Parse: Adverb, Negative particle
הִגְדַּ֣לְתָּ  [And]  increased 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: גָּדַל  
Sense: to grow, become great or important, promote, make powerful, praise, magnify, do great things.
הַשִּׂמְחָ֑ה  its  joy 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: שִׂמְחָה  
Sense: joy, mirth, gladness.
שָׂמְח֤וּ  they  rejoice 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: שָׂמַח  
Sense: to rejoice, be glad.
לְפָנֶ֙יךָ֙  before  You 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, common plural construct, second person masculine singular
Root: לִפְנֵי 
Sense: face.
כְּשִׂמְחַ֣ת  According  to  the  joy 
Parse: Preposition-k, Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: שִׂמְחָה  
Sense: joy, mirth, gladness.
בַּקָּצִ֔יר  of  harvest 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: קָצִיר 
Sense: harvest, harvesting.
יָגִ֖ילוּ  [men]  rejoice 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: גִּיל  
Sense: to rejoice, exult, be glad.
בְּחַלְּקָ֥ם  when  they  divide 
Parse: Preposition-b, Verb, Piel, Infinitive construct, third person masculine plural
Root: חָלַק 
Sense: to divide, share, plunder, allot, apportion, assign.
שָׁלָֽל  the  spoil 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: שָׁלָל  
Sense: prey, plunder, spoil, booty.