Isaiah 9:2 - Printer Friendly

ESV: The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.

NIV: The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.

NASB: The people who walk in darkness Will see a great light; Those who live in a dark land, The light will shine on them.

CSB: The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; a light has dawned on those living in the land of darkness.

NLT: The people who walk in darkness will see a great light. For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine.

KJV: The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.

NKJV: The people who walked in darkness Have seen a great light; Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, Upon them a light has shined.

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).

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).