E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Isaiah 9:2
that walked in darkness = the walkers in darkness. have men = saw. Quoted in Matthew 4:14-16 . read more
Isaiah 9:2
E.W. Bullinger
Thomas Coke
Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Isaiah 9:1-2
Isaiah 9:1-2. Nevertheless the dimness, &c.— The prophet having said, in the 20th verse of the preceding chapter, that they who directed not themselves according to the canon of the divine law should have no light; two things were involved in his discourse: The first, that there would be very many among the Jews, to whom the Messiah, arising with his new light, would be an offence; who would reject his salutary doctrine, and should therefore fall into the most grievous calamities, and thick... read more
Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 9:2
2. the people—the whole nation, Judah and Israel. shadow of death—the darkest misery of captivity. read more
Thomas Constable
Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Isaiah 9:1-7
1. Signs of God’s presence 7:1-9:7A unifying theme in this subsection is children. The children were understandably a major concern of the Israelites, threatened as they were with invasion. However, the children also embodied qualities that the adult Israelites needed to adopt to survive, such as innocence, trust, and acknowledged weakness (cf. Matthew 18:1-7). Indeed, a child promised in this passage, who turned out to be Jesus, would eventually save them. As Jesus appealed for an attitude of... read more
Thomas Constable
Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Isaiah 9:2
Light would come to those walking in darkness-the Israelites-as they lived in a dark land (Isaiah 9:1). Many prophetic perfects in this section assure the certainty of the things predicted. In Hebrew, a writer sometimes described as past what was really in the future. He used this verb tense to emphasize that what was future was as sure to happen as if it had happened already. God would enlighten those in darkness by bringing new light to them, even though they did not deserve it (cf. Matthew... read more
Thomas Constable
Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Isaiah 9:2-7
The faithful king to come 9:2-7In contrast to Ahaz, who refused to listen to and obey God, the Lord would raise up a faithful king who would be born and reign in the future (the Millennium). This pericope climaxes the present section (Isaiah 7:1 to Isaiah 9:7) dealing with the signs of God’s presence. Again a child is the centerpiece of the prophecy and provides a sign and hope for the future. Isaiah 9:2 begins chapter 9 in the Hebrew text. read more
John Dummelow
John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 9:1-7
1. RV ’But there shall be no gloom to her that 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 hath he made it glorious, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the nations.’ By the contempt brought upon the land of Zebulun and Naphtali the prophet signifies the spoiling of the country and deportation of the inhabitants by Tiglath-pileser (narrated 2 Kings 15:29). Galilee of the nations] lit. ’the... read more
John Dummelow
John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 9:1-21
(continued)8. Jacob.. Israel] Both names here stand for the northern kingdom, as is made clear by what follows in the next v. 9. Shall know] i.e. shall be taught by experience (Numbers 14:34).10. If the language is to be understood literally, the allusion is to the way in which the people set themselves to repair, and more than make up for, the devastation caused by invasion. But it is more likely that the prophet refers in a figure to the frequent changes of dynasty in the N. kingdom; no... read more
Charles John Ellicott
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Isaiah 9:2
(2) The people that walked in darkness . . .—The words throw us back upon Isaiah 8:21-22. The prophet sees in his vision a light shining on the forlorn and weary wanderers. They had been wandering in the “valley of the shadow of death” (the phrase comes from Psalms 23:4; Job 3:5), almost as in the gloom of Sheol itself. Now there breaks in the dawn of a glorious day. Historically the return of some of the inhabitants of that region to their allegiance to Jehovah and the house of David (2... read more
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Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Isaiah 9:1-7
Messiah, Prince of Peace (9:1-7)The southern kingdom under Ahaz was about to enter a time of increasing distress and darkness (see 8:21-22). The northern kingdom was about to be attacked by Assyria, and the tribes of Zebulun and Naphtali in the far north Galilean region were about to be taken into captivity (2 Kings 15:29). Yet out of this darkness and from this conquered northern area will come the great deliverer, the Messiah, to lead his people to victory and to introduce an era of light,... read more