Isaiah 9:14
What does Isaiah 9:14 mean?
A plain-English look at Isaiah 9:14 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Isaiah 9:14 means
Because of their unrepented sin, this verse declares that God will execute a sweeping and comprehensive judgment, cutting off "head and tail, palm-branch and rush" from Israel in a single day. This is an idiom signifying the complete destruction of all levels of society, from the most prominent leaders to the lowliest citizens. The "head" and "palm-branch" represent the powerful and honorable, while the "tail" and "rush" symbolize the base and insignificant. God's judgment will spare no one, indicating a thorough cleansing of the nation.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Therefore Jehovah will cut off from Israel head and tail, palm-branch and rush, in one day.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Therefore the Lord will cut off from Israel head and tail, branch and rush, in one day.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Therefore Jehovah will cut off from Israel head and tail, palm-branch and rush, in one day.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949For this cause the Lord took away from Israel head and tail, high and low, in one day.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862And Jehovah cutteth off from Israel head and tail, Branch and reed--the same day,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And the Lord shall destroy out of Israel the head and the tail, him that bendeth down, and him that holdeth back, in one day.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And Jehovah will cut off from Israel head and tail, palm-branch and rush, in one day:
Context
Building on the people's persistent refusal to turn to God, this verse declares a total and immediate judgment that will affect every part of society. It elaborates on the scale of God's wrath after their unrepentance. This context is essential because it moves from a general statement of judgment to a specific, all-encompassing image of destruction, setting the stage for the identification of who constitutes the "head" and "tail."
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Amos 2:14
And flight shall perish from the swift; and the strong shall not strengthen his force; neither shall the mighty deliver himself;
- 2 Kings 17:6
In the ninth year of Hoshea the king of Assyria took Samaria, and carried Israel away unto Assyria, and placed them in Halah, and on the Habor, the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes.
- Hosea 4:5
And thou shalt stumble in the day, and the prophet also shall stumble with thee in the night; and I will destroy thy mother.
- Hosea 1:4
And Jehovah said unto him, Call his name Jezreel; for yet a little while, and I will avenge the blood of Jezreel upon the house of Jehu, and will cause the kingdom of the house of Israel to cease.
- Amos 7:17
therefore thus saith Jehovah: Thy wife shall be a harlot in the city, and thy sons and thy daughters shall fall by the sword, and thy land shall be divided by line; and thou thyself shalt die in a land that is unclean, and Israel shall surely be led away captive out of his land.
- Revelation 18:10
standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Woe, woe, the great city, Babylon, the strong city! for in one hour is thy judgment come.
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