Isaiah 9:15 - Printer Friendly

ESV: the elder and honored man is the head, and the prophet who teaches lies is the tail;

NIV: the elders and dignitaries are the head, the prophets who teach lies are the tail.

NASB: The head is the elder and esteemed man, And the prophet who teaches falsehood is the tail.

CSB: The head is the elder, the honored one; the tail is the prophet, the one teaching lies.

NLT: The leaders of Israel are the head, and the lying prophets are the tail.

KJV: The ancient and honourable, he is the head; and the prophet that teacheth lies, he is the tail.

NKJV: The elder and honorable, he is the head; The prophet who teaches lies, he is the tail.

Isaiah is describing the sudden loss of all of Israel's leadership (Isaiah 9:14). The Lord has caused this to happen because the people of Israel still would not turn to Him for help (Isaiah 9:13). This is after the previous judgment of destruction by other nations. Because the leaders of the northern ten tribes of Israel did not direct the people to seek the Lord and His help, those leaders are suddenly and irreversibly wiped out.

These leaders include both "head and tail," Isaiah states (Isaiah 9:14). The head are the honored elders who appear to deserve attention and respect, though they do not. The tail are the false prophets who have been telling those leaders whatever they want to hear to keep their own positions and power. They will claim messages from the Lord or from false gods. The Lord will cut them all off at once, leaving Israel leaderless and vulnerable to attack.

Isaiah 9:8–21 returns to describing the judgment coming upon Israel in Isaiah's time. Despite the arrogance of the people, the enemies of their allies will devour them. When the people do not repent, the Lord will wipe out their leaders. He will have no compassion for the sinful people in every level of society. Wickedness burns through the people like a wildfire, turning human lives into fuel. Sinfulness causes people to devour each other and even themselves in trying to satisfy sin's appetite. The Lord will judge Israel for all of it.

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).

Accessed 4/28/2024 7:38:59 PM