Isaiah 9:4 - Printer Friendly

ESV: For the yoke of his burden, and the staff for his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian.

NIV: For as in the day of Midian’s defeat, you have shattered the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor.

NASB: For You will break the yoke of their burden and the staff on their shoulders, The rod of their oppressor, as at the battle of Midian.

CSB: For you have shattered their oppressive yoke and the rod on their shoulders, the staff of their oppressor, just as you did on the day of Midian.

NLT: For you will break the yoke of their slavery and lift the heavy burden from their shoulders. You will break the oppressor’s rod, just as you did when you destroyed the army of Midian.

KJV: For thou hast broken the yoke of his burden, and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, as in the day of Midian.

NKJV: For You have broken the yoke of his burden And the staff of his shoulder, The rod of his oppressor, As in the day of Midian.

Isaiah is describing in past tense Israel's glorious future. This is when the Lord will return the light to their dark land and give them reason for joy. At that time, they will live in both abundance and security. Rejoicing will become normal again (Isaiah 9:2–3).

How will the Lord do this for His people? He will free them from their enemies, for one. The Assyrians are said to have boasted about placing yokes on the necks of the people that they conquered. This was to further humiliate those under their control. A yoke was a kind of heavy harness placed on oxen and other animals. This device enabled a farmer to control and drive the animals to work for him. Isaiah has prophesied that Israel and Judah would soon come under the yoke of oppression.

In this future time of glory, however, the Lord will shatter the enemy yoke, their staff, and their rod. The Lord will break every weapon and means of control Israel's enemies could use against them.

Isaiah's first readers must have pictured the irresistible might of the Assyrian army and wondered how such a thing could possibly be true. His mention of the day of Midian is meant to remind them of the story of Gideon in Judges 6–7. The Lord insisted on reducing the size of Gideon's army. He reduced it until it was so small that nobody could make the mistake of thinking the victory came from anyone but the Lord. He will do the same again, and this time it will be once and for all.

Isaiah 9:1–7 begins with the end to Isaiah 8. The darkness that was mentioned in that chapter will one day be permanently replaced with glory. Israel will abound in life and joy. The nation will be secure and free from oppression. War will end. Peace will be permanent. How will this happen? God will send a child who will become the forever king on David's throne. He will be called Mighty God and Prince of Peace. And He will rule in righteousness and justice. The Lord will cause all this to happen.

Isaiah 9 begins prophecy about a future when darkness will be lifted from Israel. The nation will be free, prosperous, and at permanent peace. This will happen because God will send a child who will become a king on David's throne. More than a man, this king will be called Mighty God and Prince of Peace and will rule forever. In Isaiah's day, though, God's judgment will soon fall on Israel. He will wipe out their leaders. Wickedness burns through the nation like fire.

Isaiah 9 begins with what may be the conclusion of the previous chapter. Isaiah 8 ended with the description of the darkness experienced by those in Israel who reject the Lord. The prophet describes a day in Israel's far future when the gloom will lift and glory will return. A child will become king of Israel, but He will also be the Everlasting Father who will rule forever. However, In Isaiah's time, the Lord will judge Israel with destruction from other nations. The following chapter pronounces disaster for the people who persist in sin.

Isaiah is among the most important prophetic books in the entire Bible. The first segment details God's impending judgment against ancient peoples for sin and idolatry (Isaiah 1—35). The second part of Isaiah briefly explains a failed assault on Jerusalem during the rule of Hezekiah (Isaiah 36—39). The final chapters predict Israel's rescue from Babylonian captivity (Isaiah 40—48), the promised Messiah (Isaiah 49—57), and the final glory of Jerusalem and God's people (Isaiah 58—66).