Isaiah 9:19
What does Isaiah 9:19 mean?
A plain-English look at Isaiah 9:19 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Isaiah 9:19 means
This verse vividly depicts the catastrophic outcome of Israel's unchecked wickedness and God's consuming wrath. It declares that the entire land is "burnt up through the wrath of Jehovah of hosts," turning the people themselves into "fuel of fire." This imagery signifies that the internal corruption and external judgments have rendered the nation utterly devastated. A deeply tragic consequence is also noted: "no man spareth his brother," indicating a breakdown of all social bonds and a descent into ruthless self-preservation amidst the widespread devastation. It's a picture of total societal collapse.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Through the wrath of Jehovah of hosts is the land burnt up; and the people are as the fuel of fire: no man spareth his brother.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Through the wrath of the Lord of hosts is the land darkened, and the people shall be as the fuel of the fire: no man shall spare his brother.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Through the wrath of Jehovah of hosts is the land burnt up; and the people are as the fuel of fire: no man spareth his brother.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949The land was dark with the wrath of the Lord of armies: the people were like those who take men's flesh for food.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862In the wrath of Jehovah of Hosts Hath the land been consumed, And the people is as fuel of fire; A man on his brother hath no pity,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752By the wrath of the Lord of hosts the land is troubled, and the people shall be as fuel for the fire: no man shall spare his brother.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Through the wrath of Jehovah of hosts is the land burned up, and the people is as fuel for fire: a man spareth not his brother;
Context
Building on the metaphor of wickedness as a consuming fire, this verse directly attributes the burning up of the land to God's wrath and describes the devastating consequences for the people. It escalates the imagery of destruction. This context is crucial because it connects the internal sin to the external judgment, showing the ultimate self-destruction and internal strife within the nation, leading to a further description of their insatiable hunger.
v.18For wickedness burneth as the fire; it devoureth the briers and thorns; yea, it kindleth in the thickets of the forest, and they roll upward in a column of smoke.
v.19This passage
v.20And one shall snatch on the right hand, and be hungry; and he shall eat on the left hand, and they shall not be satisfied: they shall eat every man the flesh of his own arm:
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Amos 5:18
Woe unto you that desire the day of Jehovah! Wherefore would ye have the day of Jehovah? It is darkness, and not light.
- 2 Peter 2:4
For if God spared not angels when they sinned, but cast them down to hell, and committed them to pits of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;
- Jeremiah 13:16
Give glory to Jehovah your God, before he cause darkness, and before your feet stumble upon the dark mountains, and, while ye look for light, he turn it into the shadow of death, and make it gross darkness.
- Isaiah 13:9
Behold, the day of Jehovah cometh, cruel, with wrath and fierce anger; to make the land a desolation, and to destroy the sinners thereof out of it.
- Isaiah 13:18
Andtheirbows shall dash the young men in pieces; and they shall have no pity on the fruit of the womb; their eye shall not spare children.
- Isaiah 1:31
And the strong shall be as tow, and his work as a spark; and they shall both burn together, and none shall quench them.
Related questions readers ask
Keep reading
Want to dig deeper? Explore Isaiah 9
Hand-picked devotionals, topical studies, and pastoral answers that draw on Isaiah 9.
Topics that quote it
Topic
Bible Verses About the Deity of Christ
The Bible consistently reveals Jesus Christ as truly God, possessing divine attributes, titles, and authority.
Topic
Bible Verses About the Incarnation
The incarnation is the Christian doctrine that Jesus Christ is God and became flesh, dwelling among humanity.
Topic
Bible Verses About Atonement
Atonement, a central doctrine of Christianity, describes how humanity is reconciled to God through Jesus Christ.
What the Bible says about…
Verses for this moment
Verses for
Bible Verses for a Panic Attack at Night
Steady, slow verses to pray when your chest is tight and the house is dark.
Verses for
Bible Verses for Anxiety Before a Job Interview
Quiet your nerves and walk in with steady steps — six verses to pray on the way.
Verses for
Bible Verses for the Fear of Losing a Loved One
When you can't stop imagining the worst — verses to put your loved one back in God's hands.