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

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

19By 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.

20They 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.

21Manasseh 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 2:6Classic cross-references Malachi 4:1Classic cross-references Nahum 1:10Classic cross-references Psalms 68:2Classic cross-references Psalms 83:14Classic cross-references Ephesians 2:14-16OliveGrove study links Galatians 5:15OliveGrove study links James 1:14-15OliveGrove study links

Original words

Forכִּֽי־H3588Conjunctionwickednessרִשְׁעָ֔הH7564Noun - feminine singularburnsבָעֲרָ֤הH1197Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singularlike a fireכָאֵשׁ֙H784Preposition-k, Article | Noun - common singularthat consumesתֹּאכֵ֑לH398Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singularthe thornsוָשַׁ֖יִתH7898Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singularand briersשָׁמִ֥ירH8068Noun - masculine singularand kindlesוַתִּצַּת֙H3341Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singularthe forestהַיַּ֔עַרH3293Article | Noun - masculine singularthicketsבְּסִֽבְכֵ֣יH5442Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural constructwhich roll upwardוַיִּֽתְאַבְּכ֖וּH55Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hitpael - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralin billowsגֵּא֥וּתH1348Noun - feminine singular constructof smokeעָשָֽׁן׃H6227Noun - masculine singular

Verse 19

Cross-references

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

Original words

By the wrathבְּעֶבְרַ֛תH5678Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular constructof the LORDיְהוָ֥הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularof Hostsצְבָא֖וֹתH6635Noun - common pluralthe landאָ֑רֶץH776Noun - feminine singularis scorchedנֶעְתַּ֣םH6272Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person masculine singularand the peopleהָעָם֙H5971Article | Noun - masculine singularareוַיְהִ֤יH1961Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularfuelכְּמַאֲכֹ֣לֶתH3980Preposition-k | Noun - feminine singular constructfor the fireאֵ֔שׁH784Noun - common singularNoלֹ֥אH3808Adverb - Negative particlemanאִ֥ישׁH376Noun - masculine singulareven sparesיַחְמֹֽלוּ׃H2550Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural. . .אֶל־H413Prepositionhis brotherאָחִ֖יוH251Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular

Verse 20

Cross-references

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

Original words

They carve outוַיִּגְזֹ֤רH1504Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularwhat is onעַל־H5921Prepositionthe rightיָמִין֙H3225Noun - feminine singularbut they are still hungryוְרָעֵ֔בH7456Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singularthey eatוַיֹּ֥אכַלH398Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularwhat is onעַל־H5921Prepositionthe leftשְׂמֹ֖אולH8040Noun - masculine singularbut they are still notוְלֹ֣אH3808Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particlesatisfiedשָׂבֵ֑עוּH7646Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common pluralEach oneאִ֥ישׁH376Noun - masculine singulardevoursיֹאכֵֽלוּ׃H398Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine pluralthe fleshבְּשַׂר־H1320Noun - masculine singular constructof his own offspringזְרֹע֖וֹH2220Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular

BSB notes

Literally of his own arm

Verse 21

Cross-references

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

Original words

Manassehמְנַשֶּׁ֣הH4519Noun - proper - masculine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object marker[devours] Ephraimאֶפְרַ֗יִםH669Noun - proper - masculine singularand Ephraimוְאֶפְרַ֙יִם֙H669Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markerManassehמְנַשֶּׁ֔הH4519Noun - proper - masculine singulartogetherיַחְדָּ֥וH3162Adverb. . .הֵ֖מָּהH1992Pronoun - third person masculine pluralthey turn againstעַל־H5921PrepositionJudahיְהוּדָ֑הH3063Noun - proper - masculine singularDespite allבְּכָל־H3605Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular constructthisזֹאת֙H2063Pronoun - feminine singularHis angerאַפּ֔וֹH639Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singularis notלֹא־H3808Adverb - Negative particleturned awayשָׁ֣בH7725Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularHis handיָד֥וֹH3027Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singularis stillוְע֖וֹדH5750Conjunctive waw | Adverbupraisedנְטוּיָֽה׃סH5186Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - feminine singular

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