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But there shall be no more gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time, he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali; but in the latter time he has made it glorious, by the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.

    The light has shined on those who lived in the land of the shadow of death.
You have multiplied the nation.
    You have increased their joy.

They rejoice before you according to the joy in harvest, as men rejoice when they divide the plunder. For the yoke of his burden, and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, you have broken as in the day of Midian. For all the armor of the armed man in the noisy battle, and the garments rolled in blood, will be for burning, fuel for the fire. For a child is born to us. A son is given to us; and the government will be on his shoulders. His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there shall be no end, on David’s throne, and on his kingdom, to establish it, and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from that time on, even forever. The zeal of Yahweh of Armies will perform this.

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New Light: The Birth of a King

[a] But there will be no gloom for those who were in distress.[b]

In former times he[c] treated the land of Zebulun and Naphtali with contempt, but in the future he will honor the way of the sea beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light;
    light has shined on those who lived in a land of darkness.
You have made the nation numerous;
    you have not[d] made the joy great.
They rejoice in your presence as with joy at the harvest,
    as they rejoice when they divide plunder.
For you have shattered the yoke of its burden
    and the stick of its shoulder,
    the rod of its oppressor, on[e] the day of Midian.
For every boot that marches and shakes the earth[f]
    and garment rolled in blood
will[g] be for burning—fire fuel.
For a child has been born for us;
    a son has been given to us.
And the dominion will be on his shoulder,
    and his name is called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
        Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
His dominion will grow continually,
    and to peace there will be no end[h]
on[i] the throne of David and over[j] his kingdom,
    to establish it[k] and sustain it
with justice and righteousness
    now and forever.
The zeal of Yahweh of hosts will do this.

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 9:1 Isaiah 9:1–21 in the English Bible is 8:23–9:20 in the Hebrew Bible
  2. Isaiah 9:1 Literally “Indeed there is no gloom for the one to whom there was anxiety for her”
  3. Isaiah 9:1 That is, Yahweh
  4. Isaiah 9:3 The written text (Kethib) is “not,” but the reading tradition (Qere) is “for it”
  5. Isaiah 9:4 Hebrew “like”; the Hebrew letters for “like” and “on” look alike
  6. Isaiah 9:5 Literally “marching with shaking,” which might mean “marching is with shaking”
  7. Isaiah 9:5 Literally “and it will”
  8. Isaiah 9:7 Literally “There is no end to the increase of the dominion and to peace”
  9. Isaiah 9:7 Or “for”
  10. Isaiah 9:7 Or “for”
  11. Isaiah 9:7 That is, the kingdom