Focused Passage

Isaiah 9:18-21

The Great Light, the Royal Child, and the Unrelenting Judgment on Proud Israel

The chapter moves from gloom to light, from oppression to joy, from war to peace, from royal child to endless Davidic reign, and then from Israel’s proud response to repeated judgment, failed leadership, social devouring, and the LORD’s upraised hand.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

18 For wickedness burns like a fire that consumes the thorns and briers and kindles the forest thickets, which roll upward in billows of smoke.

19 By the wrath of the LORD of Hosts the land is scorched, and the people are fuel for the fire. No man even spares his brother.

20 They carve out what is on the right, but they are still hungry; they eat what is on the left, but they are still not satisfied. Each one devours the flesh of his own offspring.

21 Manasseh devours Ephraim, and Ephraim Manasseh; together they turn against Judah. Despite all this, His anger is not turned away; His hand is still upraised.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 18

Cross-references

Ezekiel 2:6 Classic cross-references Malachi 4:1 Classic cross-references Nahum 1:10 Classic cross-references Psalms 68:2 Classic cross-references Psalms 83:14 Classic cross-references Ephesians 2:14-16 OliveGrove study links Galatians 5:15 OliveGrove study links James 1:14-15 OliveGrove study links

Original words

For כִּֽי־ H3588 Conjunction wickedness רִשְׁעָ֔ה H7564 Noun - feminine singular burns בָעֲרָ֤ה H1197 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular like a fire כָאֵשׁ֙ H784 Preposition-k, Article | Noun - common singular that consumes תֹּאכֵ֑ל H398 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular the thorns וָשַׁ֖יִת H7898 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular and briers שָׁמִ֥יר H8068 Noun - masculine singular and kindles וַתִּצַּת֙ H3341 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular the forest הַיַּ֔עַר H3293 Article | Noun - masculine singular thickets בְּסִֽבְכֵ֣י H5442 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural construct which roll upward וַיִּֽתְאַבְּכ֖וּ H55 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hitpael - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural in billows גֵּא֥וּת H1348 Noun - feminine singular construct of smoke עָשָֽׁן׃ H6227 Noun - masculine singular

Verse 19

Cross-references

Amos 5:18 Classic cross-references Micah 7:2 Classic cross-references Matthew 24:7 Classic cross-references Zechariah 11:6 Classic cross-references Isaiah 51:20 Classic cross-references Ephesians 2:14-16 OliveGrove study links Galatians 5:15 OliveGrove study links James 1:14-15 OliveGrove study links

Original words

By the wrath בְּעֶבְרַ֛ת H5678 Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct of the LORD יְהוָ֥ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular of Hosts צְבָא֖וֹת H6635 Noun - common plural the land אָ֑רֶץ H776 Noun - feminine singular is scorched נֶעְתַּ֣ם H6272 Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person masculine singular and the people הָעָם֙ H5971 Article | Noun - masculine singular are וַיְהִ֤י H1961 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular fuel כְּמַאֲכֹ֣לֶת H3980 Preposition-k | Noun - feminine singular construct for the fire אֵ֔שׁ H784 Noun - common singular No לֹ֥א H3808 Adverb - Negative particle man אִ֥ישׁ H376 Noun - masculine singular even spares יַחְמֹֽלוּ׃ H2550 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural . . . אֶל־ H413 Preposition his brother אָחִ֖יו H251 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular

Verse 20

Cross-references

Isaiah 49:26 Classic cross-references Jeremiah 19:9 Classic cross-references Luke 11:17 Classic cross-references Ecclesiastes 4:5 Classic cross-references Galatians 5:15 Classic cross-references Ephesians 2:14-16 OliveGrove study links James 1:14-15 OliveGrove study links

Original words

They carve out וַיִּגְזֹ֤ר H1504 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular what is on עַל־ H5921 Preposition the right יָמִין֙ H3225 Noun - feminine singular but they are still hungry וְרָעֵ֔ב H7456 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular they eat וַיֹּ֥אכַל H398 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular what is on עַל־ H5921 Preposition the left שְׂמֹ֖אול H8040 Noun - masculine singular but they are still not וְלֹ֣א H3808 Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle satisfied שָׂבֵ֑עוּ H7646 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural Each one אִ֥ישׁ H376 Noun - masculine singular devours יֹאכֵֽלוּ׃ H398 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural the flesh בְּשַׂר־ H1320 Noun - masculine singular construct of his own offspring זְרֹע֖וֹ H2220 Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular

BSB notes

Literally of his own arm

Verse 21

Cross-references

Matthew 12:25 Classic cross-references Psalms 138:7 Classic cross-references Isaiah 5:25 Classic cross-references Jeremiah 21:5 Classic cross-references 2 Chronicles 28:6 Classic cross-references Ephesians 2:14-16 OliveGrove study links Galatians 5:15 OliveGrove study links James 1:14-15 OliveGrove study links

Original words

Manasseh מְנַשֶּׁ֣ה H4519 Noun - proper - masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker [devours] Ephraim אֶפְרַ֗יִם H669 Noun - proper - masculine singular and Ephraim וְאֶפְרַ֙יִם֙ H669 Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker Manasseh מְנַשֶּׁ֔ה H4519 Noun - proper - masculine singular together יַחְדָּ֥ו H3162 Adverb . . . הֵ֖מָּה H1992 Pronoun - third person masculine plural they turn against עַל־ H5921 Preposition Judah יְהוּדָ֑ה H3063 Noun - proper - masculine singular Despite all בְּכָל־ H3605 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct this זֹאת֙ H2063 Pronoun - feminine singular His anger אַפּ֔וֹ H639 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular is not לֹא־ H3808 Adverb - Negative particle turned away שָׁ֣ב H7725 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular His hand יָד֥וֹ H3027 Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular is still וְע֖וֹד H5750 Conjunctive waw | Adverb upraised נְטוּיָֽה׃ס H5186 Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - feminine singular

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