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Isaiah 9:1
ESV But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.
NIV Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the nations, by the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan—
NASB But there will be no more gloom for her who was in anguish. In earlier times He treated the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali with contempt, but later on He will make it glorious, by the way of the sea, on the other side of the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles.
CSB Nevertheless, the gloom of the distressed land will not be like that of the former times when he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali. But in the future he will bring honor to the way of the sea, to the land east of the Jordan, and to Galilee of the nations.
NLT Nevertheless, that time of darkness and despair will not go on forever. The land of Zebulun and Naphtali will be humbled, but there will be a time in the future when Galilee of the Gentiles, which lies along the road that runs between the Jordan and the sea, will be filled with glory.
KJV Nevertheless the dimness shall not be such as was in her vexation, when at the first he lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, and afterward did more grievously afflict her by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, in Galilee of the nations.
NKJV Nevertheless the gloom will not be upon her who is distressed, As when at first He lightly esteemed The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, And afterward more heavily oppressed her, By the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, In Galilee of the Gentiles.

What does Isaiah 9:1 mean?

Commentators suggest this verse might fit better as the conclusion to Isaiah 8. Isaiah has been describing the gloom of anguish and thick darkness that will fall upon those who reject God's Word (Isaiah 8:20–22). No relief of morning's light will come for them.

Now, Isaiah speaks of a time to come, when that despair and darkness will lift. The anguish will end in Israel. Specially, he is speaking of the northern region of Israel that once belonged to the tribes of Zebulun and Naphtali. That area was the first to be hit by the destructive power of the Assyrians as they swept through the land. The area around the Sea of Galilee was taken by Tiglath-pileser, king of Assyria, around 733 BC. The Assyrian king repopulated it with Gentile settlers from other lands.

Assyrian records from that time show that this conquered, occupied region was divided into three Assyrian districts. Isaiah mentions those same three districts in this passage. "Galilee of the Gentiles" was also known as the Megiddo province: from the Litani River in the north to the Valley of Jezreel. "The way of the sea" is the Dor province: along the Mediterranean from Joppa to Haifa. And "along the Jordan" or "beyond the Jordan" is Gilead: territories east of the Jordan River from the Dead Sea to the Sea of Galilee.

Isaiah speaks, though, of a time to come when this region will be made glorious once more. The darkness will be dispelled. The light will return in splendor in the form of a child who will become much more than just a king. He will be the Messiah.
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