What does Isaiah 9:2 mean?

This references the end of the previous chapter (Isaiah 8:22). Isaiah said those who have rejected God's revelation of His word and truth will live in great anguish and darkness. It will be a darkness of their own making leading to the judgment of God. No matter where they look for the light, the dawn will not come for them. Yet this is not the end of the story. Isaiah is looking to the future to show something will bring glory back to the region of northern Israel, where Assyria first struck and took possession of the land (Isaiah 9:1).

This famous verse describes that future reversal. Isaiah speaks of these events in the past tense, although they will not take place until Jesus arrives on earth as the Messiah. The people of Israel who suffer under ignorance, unhappiness, and insecurity will be given a hopeful sign. That is like "light" shining into a dark place. It will be made obvious in the New Testament that the light is none other than Jesus the Messiah. Those living in Israel at the time will see Him cutting through the darkness with their own eyes.

Jesus will teach that even then, before He fully establishes His kingdom, not everyone will receive the light. Some will still choose darkness: "And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God" (John 3:19–21).