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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Isaiah 9:8-21

Here are terrible threatenings, which are directed primarily against Israel, the kingdom of the ten tribes, Ephraim and Samaria, the ruin of which is here foretold, with all the woeful confusions that were the prefaces to that ruin, all which came to pass within a few years after; but they look further, to all the enemies of the throne and kingdom of Christ the Son of David, and read the doom of all the nations that forget God, and will not have Christ to reign over them. Observe, I. The... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 9:15

The ancient and honourable, he is the head ,.... The elder in office, not in age; and who, on account of his office, dignity, and riches, is honoured by men, is of a venerable countenance himself, and is reverenced when seen and looked upon by others, and received by persons with pleasure and cheerfulness; as the phrase used signifies. The Septuagint and Arabic versions render it, "who admire", or "have" men's "persons in admiration"; which is the character Jude gives of false teachers, ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 9:8-21

THE PROPHET RETURNS TO THREATS AND WARNINGS , ADDRESSED CHIEFLY TO THE KINGDOM OF ISRAEL . The remainder of this chapter, together with the first four verses of the next, seems to have formed originally a distinct and separate prophecy. The passage is a poem in four stanzas, with the same refrain at the end of each: "For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still." A somewhat early date has been assigned to the prophecy, as; for... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 9:8-21

Persistent impenitence brings repeated chastisements. One would naturally expect that so weak a creature as man, when chastised by the Divine anger, would readily and at once " humble himself under the almighty hand of God," accept the chastisement as deserved, and entreat for mercy and forgiveness. But, weak as he is, man is unwilling to acknowledge his weakness, and, faulty as he is, dislikes nothing so much as acknowledging his faults. God's judgments he will net allow to be judgments,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 9:14-17

Man in God's view. There are three classes among mankind in reference to whom we here learn the thought and feeling of God. We infer from what is stated in the text— I. HIS SPECIAL INTEREST IN THE YOUNG . Things had come to such a state, the natural order of things was so reversed, that "the Lord would have no joy in their young men" ( Isaiah 9:17 ). Hence we may fairly argue that the common and normal condition is that in which God has joy in the young. It is a... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 9:15

Some suppose this verse to be a gloss, or marginal note, which has crept into the text; but it is too pointed and sarcastic for a mere gloss. There is no reason to doubt its being Isaiah's. Having spoken of "the tail," he takes the opportunity of lashing the false prophet, who claimed to be among the "honorable," but was really the lowest of the low, worse than his dupes, the true "tail" (comp. Isaiah 28:7 ; Isaiah 29:10 ; Isaiah 30:10 ). read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 9:15

The ancient - The elder; the old man.And honorable - Hebrew, ‘The man of elevated countenance.’ The man of rank and office.The prophet that teacheth lies - The false prophet. Of those there were many; and probably at this time many in Samaria. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Isaiah 9:13-15

Isaiah 9:13-15. For the people turneth not, &c. We have here the second crime of this refractory people, who, impenitent and stupid, regarded not the chastisement of the Lord, nor turned to him at his reproof. Therefore a total subversion of their state and polity is denounced as the severest punishment upon them. The Lord will cut off, &c., head and tail High and low, honourable and contemptible, as the next verse explains it; branch and rush The goodly branches of tall trees,... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Isaiah 9:8-21

The fall of Israel (9:8-10:4)Isaiah now describes the situation in the northern kingdom Israel, which becomes weakened by enemy attacks and finally is conquered by Assyria. The northerners refuse to acknowledge that God is the one who has brought this catastrophe upon them. They make a show of self-assurance by saying they will rebuild, bigger and better, whatever their enemies have destroyed (8-12).Because the people refuse to repent, God will punish them further. His purpose is to remove the... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Isaiah 9:15

head. tail. Reference to Pentateuch. Only here and Deuteronomy 28:13 , Deuteronomy 28:44 . read more

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