Isaiah 9:9 - Printer Friendly

ESV: and all the people will know, Ephraim and the inhabitants of Samaria, who say in pride and in arrogance of heart:

NIV: All the people will know it-- Ephraim and the inhabitants of Samaria-- who say with pride and arrogance of heart,

NASB: And all the people know it, That is, Ephraim and the inhabitants of Samaria, Asserting in pride and in arrogance of heart:

CSB: All the people -- Ephraim and the inhabitants of Samaria--will know it. They will say with pride and arrogance,

NLT: And the people of Israel and Samaria, who spoke with such pride and arrogance, will soon know it.

KJV: And all the people shall know, even Ephraim and the inhabitant of Samaria, that say in the pride and stoutness of heart,

NKJV: All the people will know— Ephraim and the inhabitant of Samaria— Who say in pride and arrogance of heart:

The prophet Isaiah is describing the impending judgment looming over the peoples of Israel. These are the ten tribes of Jacob in the north. Isaiah is almost exclusively a prophet to the kings and the people of Judah: two tribes of Jacob in the south. He sometimes speaks of Israel, though. This is to hold them up as an example of what the Lord expects of His people and what He will do when they reject Him (Isaiah 9:8).

He insists that all the people will know that the Lord has brought destruction upon Israel. He uses the phrase "Ephraim and the inhabitants of Samaria" to describe the power center of the nation. Israel was sometimes called "Ephraim" after that prominent tribe. Samaria was the capital.

The people of Israel had grown proud and arrogant. Their nation had thrived for a season. The city of Samaria was said to be beautiful and luxurious. The Israelites foolishly believed they had built for themselves great beauty, wealth, and power. And that because of this false belief, they thought they could continue to live this way unchecked. They will soon know by the power of the destruction sent their way by God that the Lord is God.

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).