CINXE.COM

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Isaiah 9:2 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death, a light has dawned.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/isaiah/9-2.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/13/23_Isa_09_02.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Isaiah 9:2 - Unto Us a Child is Born" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death, a light has dawned." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script> <script src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/biblehub.js' type='text/javascript'></script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/isaiah/9-2.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/isaiah/9-2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/isaiah/">Isaiah</a> > <a href="/isaiah/9.htm">Chapter 9</a> > Verse 2</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad1.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/isaiah/9-1.htm" title="Isaiah 9:1">◄</a> Isaiah 9:2 <a href="/isaiah/9-3.htm" title="Isaiah 9:3">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Study Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Crossref </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Hebrew </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/isaiah/9.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/isaiah/9.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/isaiah/9.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />The people who walk in darkness will see a great light. For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/isaiah/9.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/isaiah/9.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death, a light has dawned.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/isaiah/9.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/isaiah/9.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />The people who walked in darkness Have seen a great light; Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, Upon them a light has shined.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/isaiah/9.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />The people who walk in darkness Will see a great light; Those who live in a dark land, The light will shine on them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/isaiah/9.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />The people who walk in darkness Will see a great light; Those who live in a dark land, The light will shine on them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/isaiah/9.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />The people who walk in darkness Will see a great light; Those who live in a dark land, The light will shine on them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/isaiah/9.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />The people who walk in darkness Will see a great light; Those who live in the land of the shadow of death, The light will shine on them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/isaiah/9.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />The people who walk in [spiritual] darkness Will see a great Light; Those who live in the dark land, The Light will shine on them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/isaiah/9.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; a light has dawned on those living in the land of darkness.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/isaiah/9.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; a light has dawned on those living in the land of darkness. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/isaiah/9.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/isaiah/9.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />Those who walked in the dark have seen a bright light. And it shines upon everyone who lives in the land of darkest shadows. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/isaiah/9.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/isaiah/9.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />The people who walk in darkness will see a bright light. The light will shine on those who live in the land of death's shadow.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/isaiah/9.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light. They lived in a land of shadows, but now light is shining on them. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/isaiah/9.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br /> The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; for those living in a land of deep darkness, a light has shined upon them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/isaiah/9.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death, a light has dawned.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/isaiah/9.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />The people walking in darkness see a bright light; light shines on those who live in a land of deep darkness. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/isaiah/9.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />The people sitting in darkness have seen a great light. Those living in the land and shadow of death, on them a light has shined. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/isaiah/9.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shades of death, upon them hath the light shined.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/isaiah/9.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />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. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/isaiah/9.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />The people who are walking in darkness "" Have seen a great light, "" Dwellers in a land of death-shade, "" Light has shone on them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/isaiah/9.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> The people who are walking in darkness Have seen a great light, Dwellers in a land of death-shade, Light hath shone upon them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/isaiah/9.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />The people going in darkness saw a great light: they dwelling in the land of the shadow of death, light shone upon them.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/isaiah/9.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />The people that walked in darkness, have seen a great light: to them that dwelt in the region of the shadow of death, light is risen. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/isaiah/9.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light. A light has risen for the inhabitants of the region of the shadow of death.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/isaiah/9.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; Upon those who lived in a land of gloom a light has shone. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/isaiah/9.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness— on them light has shined.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/isaiah/9.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, upon them has the light shined.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/isaiah/9.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />The people who walk in darkness have seen great light, and light has risen upon those dwelling in the land of the shadows of death<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/isaiah/9.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />The people that walked in darkness Have seen a great light; They that dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, Upon them hath the light shined.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/isaiah/9.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />O people walking in darkness, behold a great light: ye that dwell in the region <i>and</i> shadow of death, a light shall shine upon you.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/isaiah/9-2.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Xv9bHT-nr9s?start=1860" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/isaiah/9.htm">Unto Us a Child is Born</a></span><br><span class="reftext">1</span>Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those in distress. In the past He humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future He will honor the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations: <span class="reftext">2</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/5971.htm" title="5971: hā·‘ām (Art:: N-ms) -- From amam; a people; specifically, a tribe; hence troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock.">The people</a> <a href="/hebrew/1980.htm" title="1980: ha·hō·lə·ḵîm (Art:: V-Qal-Prtcpl-mp) -- To go, come, walk. Akin to yalak; a primitive root; to walk.">walking</a> <a href="/hebrew/2822.htm" title="2822: ba·ḥō·šeḵ (Prep-b, Art:: N-ms) -- From chashak; the dark; hence darkness; figuratively, misery, destruction, death, ignorance, sorrow, wickedness.">in darkness</a> <a href="/hebrew/7200.htm" title="7200: rā·’ū (V-Qal-Perf-3cp) -- To see. A primitive root; to see, literally or figuratively.">have seen</a> <a href="/hebrew/1419.htm" title="1419: gā·ḏō·wl (Adj-ms) -- Great. Or gadol; from gadal; great; hence, older; also insolent.">a great</a> <a href="/hebrew/216.htm" title="216: ’ō·wr (N-cs) -- A light. From 'owr; illumination or luminary.">light;</a> <a href="/hebrew/5921.htm" title="5921: ‘ă·lê·hem (Prep:: 3mp) -- Properly, the same as al used as a preposition; above, over, upon, or against in a great variety of applications.">on</a> <a href="/hebrew/3427.htm" title="3427: yō·šə·ḇê (V-Qal-Prtcpl-mpc) -- A primitive root; properly, to sit down; by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry.">those living</a> <a href="/hebrew/776.htm" title="776: bə·’e·reṣ (Prep-b:: N-fsc) -- Earth, land. From an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth.">in the land</a> <a href="/hebrew/6757.htm" title="6757: ṣal·mā·weṯ (N-ms) -- Death-like shadow, deep shadow. From tsel and maveth; shade of death, i.e. The grave.">of the shadow of death,</a> <a href="/hebrew/216.htm" title="216: ’ō·wr (N-cs) -- A light. From 'owr; illumination or luminary.">a light</a> <a href="/hebrew/5050.htm" title="5050: nā·ḡah (V-Qal-Perf-3ms) -- To shine. A primitive root; to glitter; causatively, to illuminate.">has dawned.</a> </span><span class="reftext">3</span>You have enlarged the nation and increased its joy. The people rejoice before You as they rejoice at harvest time, as men rejoice in dividing the plunder.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/4-16.htm">Matthew 4:16</a></span><br />the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death, a light has dawned.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/1-4.htm">John 1:4-5</a></span><br />In Him was life, and that life was the light of men. / The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/1-78.htm">Luke 1:78-79</a></span><br />because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the Dawn will visit us from on high, / to shine on those who live in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/8-12.htm">John 8:12</a></span><br />Once again, Jesus spoke to the people and said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_corinthians/4-6.htm">2 Corinthians 4:6</a></span><br />For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ephesians/5-8.htm">Ephesians 5:8</a></span><br />For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_peter/2-9.htm">1 Peter 2:9</a></span><br />But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, to proclaim the virtues of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/26-18.htm">Acts 26:18</a></span><br />to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those sanctified by faith in Me.’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/colossians/1-13.htm">Colossians 1:13</a></span><br />He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of His beloved Son,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/revelation/21-23.htm">Revelation 21:23-24</a></span><br />And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, because the glory of God illuminates the city, and the Lamb is its lamp. / By its light the nations will walk, and into it the kings of the earth will bring their glory.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/27-1.htm">Psalm 27:1</a></span><br />Of David. The LORD is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life—whom shall I dread?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/micah/7-8.htm">Micah 7:8</a></span><br />Do not gloat over me, my enemy! Though I have fallen, I will arise; though I sit in darkness, the LORD will be my light.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/malachi/4-2.htm">Malachi 4:2</a></span><br />“But for you who fear My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings, and you will go out and leap like calves from the stall.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/42-6.htm">Isaiah 42:6-7</a></span><br />“I, the LORD, have called you for a righteous purpose, and I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and appoint you to be a covenant for the people and a light to the nations, / to open the eyes of the blind, to bring prisoners out of the dungeon and those sitting in darkness out from the prison house.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/60-1.htm">Isaiah 60:1-3</a></span><br />Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you. / For behold, darkness covers the earth, and thick darkness is over the peoples; but the LORD will rise upon you, and His glory will appear over you. / Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, on them has the light shined.</p><p class="hdg">walked</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/isaiah/50-10.htm">Isaiah 50:10</a></b></br> Who <i>is</i> among you that feareth the LORD, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh <i>in</i> darkness, and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the LORD, and stay upon his God.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/isaiah/60-1.htm">Isaiah 60:1-3,19</a></b></br> Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/micah/7-8.htm">Micah 7:8,9</a></b></br> Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the LORD <i>shall be</i> a light unto me… </p><p class="hdg">in the land</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/job/10-21.htm">Job 10:21</a></b></br> Before I go <i>whence</i> I shall not return, <i>even</i> to the land of darkness and the shadow of death;</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/23-4.htm">Psalm 23:4</a></b></br> Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou <i>art</i> with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/107-10.htm">Psalm 107:10,14</a></b></br> Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, <i>being</i> bound in affliction and iron; … </p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/isaiah/8-22.htm">Dark</a> <a href="/isaiah/8-22.htm">Darkness</a> <a href="/2_samuel/2-32.htm">Dawned</a> <a href="/isaiah/6-1.htm">Death</a> <a href="/psalms/107-14.htm">Death-Shade</a> <a href="/isaiah/7-11.htm">Deep</a> <a href="/isaiah/7-11.htm">Deepest</a> <a href="/isaiah/6-5.htm">Dwell</a> <a href="/isaiah/5-3.htm">Dwellers</a> <a href="/proverbs/8-12.htm">Dwelt</a> <a href="/isaiah/8-1.htm">Great</a> <a href="/isaiah/5-20.htm">Light</a> <a href="/isaiah/8-22.htm">Night</a> <a href="/proverbs/21-16.htm">Shades</a> <a href="/isaiah/4-6.htm">Shadow</a> <a href="/ecclesiastes/8-1.htm">Shine</a> <a href="/psalms/50-2.htm">Shined</a> <a href="/songs/6-5.htm">Shone</a> <a href="/isaiah/8-11.htm">Walk</a> <a href="/ecclesiastes/4-15.htm">Walked</a> <a href="/isaiah/8-11.htm">Walking</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/isaiah/9-18.htm">Dark</a> <a href="/isaiah/29-15.htm">Darkness</a> <a href="/matthew/4-16.htm">Dawned</a> <a href="/isaiah/13-18.htm">Death</a> <a href="/luke/1-79.htm">Death-Shade</a> <a href="/isaiah/14-16.htm">Deep</a> <a href="/jonah/2-2.htm">Deepest</a> <a href="/isaiah/10-24.htm">Dwell</a> <a href="/isaiah/18-3.htm">Dwellers</a> <a href="/isaiah/13-20.htm">Dwelt</a> <a href="/isaiah/9-3.htm">Great</a> <a href="/isaiah/10-17.htm">Light</a> <a href="/isaiah/10-29.htm">Night</a> <a href="/isaiah/14-9.htm">Shades</a> <a href="/isaiah/16-3.htm">Shadow</a> <a href="/isaiah/13-10.htm">Shine</a> <a href="/ezekiel/43-2.htm">Shined</a> <a href="/ezekiel/43-2.htm">Shone</a> <a href="/isaiah/23-16.htm">Walk</a> <a href="/isaiah/20-3.htm">Walked</a> <a href="/isaiah/20-2.htm">Walking</a><div class="vheading2">Isaiah 9</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/isaiah/9-1.htm">What joy shall be in the midst of afflictions, by the birth and kingdom of Christ</a></span><br><span class="reftext">8. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/isaiah/9-8.htm">The judgments upon Israel for their pride</a></span><br><span class="reftext">13. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/isaiah/9-13.htm">For their hypocrisy</a></span><br><span class="reftext">18. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/isaiah/9-18.htm">And for their unrepentance</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <script type="text/javascript"> </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"> </script><br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading"><a href="/study/isaiah/9.htm">Berean Study Bible</a></div><b>The people walking in darkness</b><br />This phrase refers to the Israelites who were experiencing spiritual and moral darkness due to their rebellion against God. The Hebrew word for "darkness" (חֹשֶׁךְ, choshek) often symbolizes ignorance, sin, and separation from God. Historically, this period was marked by Assyrian oppression and internal strife. Theologically, it represents humanity's state without divine revelation and guidance. The imagery of "walking" suggests a continuous state of living in this darkness, emphasizing the need for divine intervention.<p><b>have seen a great light</b><br />The "great light" symbolizes hope, salvation, and divine revelation. In Hebrew, "light" (אוֹר, or) is often associated with God's presence and truth. This prophetic vision foretells the coming of the Messiah, who is the ultimate source of spiritual illumination. In the New Testament, Jesus Christ is identified as this "great light" (<a href="/john/8-12.htm">John 8:12</a>), bringing clarity, truth, and redemption to those in darkness. The use of "have seen" indicates a prophetic certainty, as if the future event has already occurred, underscoring the reliability of God's promises.<p><b>on those living in the land of the shadow of death</b><br />This phrase evokes a sense of deep despair and danger, akin to the "valley of the shadow of death" in <a href="/psalms/23-4.htm">Psalm 23:4</a>. The Hebrew word for "shadow of death" (צַלְמָוֶת, tsalmaveth) conveys extreme peril and hopelessness. Historically, it reflects the dire circumstances faced by the Israelites under foreign domination and spiritual decay. Spiritually, it represents the human condition under the curse of sin and mortality. The "land" signifies a place or state of existence, highlighting the pervasive nature of this darkness.<p><b>a light has dawned</b><br />The imagery of "dawn" suggests the beginning of a new era, filled with hope and renewal. The Hebrew verb for "dawned" (נָגַהּ, nagah) implies the breaking forth of light, dispelling darkness. This prophetic declaration points to the coming of Christ, who inaugurates the kingdom of God and offers salvation to all. The dawn signifies the transition from despair to joy, from death to life, and from bondage to freedom. It is a powerful reminder of God's faithfulness and the transformative power of His presence in the world.<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/isaiah/9.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(2) <span class= "bld">The people that walked in darkness . . .</span>--The words throw us back upon <a href="/context/isaiah/8-21.htm" title="And they shall pass through it, hardly bestead and hungry: and it shall come to pass, that when they shall be hungry, they shall fret themselves, and curse their king and their God, and look upward.">Isaiah 8:21-22</a>. 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 <a href="/psalms/23-4.htm" title="Yes, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for you are with me; your rod and your staff they comfort me.">Psalm 23:4</a>; <a href="/job/3-5.htm" title="Let darkness and the shadow of death stain it; let a cloud dwell on it; let the blackness of the day terrify it.">Job 3:5</a>), 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 (<a href="/2_chronicles/30-11.htm" title="Nevertheless divers of Asher and Manasseh and of Zebulun humbled themselves, and came to Jerusalem.">2Chronicles 30:11</a>; <a href="/2_chronicles/30-13.htm" title="And there assembled at Jerusalem much people to keep the feast of unleavened bread in the second month, a very great congregation.">2Chronicles 30:13</a>) may have been the starting point of the prophet's hopes. The words have to the Christian student a special interest, as having been quoted by St. Matthew (<a href="/context/matthew/4-15.htm" title="The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles;">Matthew 4:15-16</a>) in connection with our Lord's ministry in Galilee, perhaps with His being "of Nazareth," which was in the tribe of Zebulun. We cannot positively say that such a fulfilment as that was in the prophet's thoughts. The context shows in that he was thinking of Assyrian invasions, and the defeat of Assyrian armies, of a nation growing strong in numbers and prosperity. In this, as in other cases, the Evangelist adapts the words of prophecy to a further meaning than that which apparently was in the mind of the writer, and interprets them by his own experience. When he compared the state of Galilee, yet more, perhaps, that of his own soul, before and after the Son of man had appeared as the light of the world, Isaiah's words seemed the only adequate expression of the change.<span class= "bld"> . . . <div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/isaiah/9.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 2.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">The people that walked in darkness</span> (comp. <a href="/isaiah/8-22.htm">Isaiah 8:22</a>). All the world was "in darkness" when Christ came; but here the Jews especially seem to be intended. It was truly a dark time with them when Christ came (see Dollinger's 'Judenthum and Heidenthum,' vol. 2. pp. 301-335). <span class="cmt_word">Have seen</span>; rather, <span class="accented">saw</span>. The "prophetic" preterit is used throughout the whole passage. <span class="cmt_word">A great light.</span> "The Light of the world," "the Sun of righteousness," "the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world, "first broke on man in that northern tract" by the way of the sea, "when Jesus came forward to teach and to preach in "Galilee of the Gentiles." For thirty years he had dwelt at Nazareth, in Zebulon. There he had first come forward to teach in a synagogue (<a href="/luke/4-16.htm">Luke 4:16-21</a>); in Galilee he had done his first miracles (<a href="/john/2-11.htm">John 2:11</a>; <a href="/john/4-54.htm">John 4:54</a>); at Capernaum. "Upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim," he commenced his preaching of repentance (<a href="/matthew/4-13.htm">Matthew 4:13-17</a>). The "light" first streamed forth in this quarter, glorifying the region on which contempt had long been poured. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/isaiah/9-2.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">The people</span><br /><span class="heb">הָעָם֙</span> <span class="translit">(hā·‘ām)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5971.htm">Strong's 5971: </a> </span><span class="str2">A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock</span><br /><br /><span class="word">walking</span><br /><span class="heb">הַהֹלְכִ֣ים</span> <span class="translit">(ha·hō·lə·ḵîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1980.htm">Strong's 1980: </a> </span><span class="str2">To go, come, walk</span><br /><br /><span class="word">in darkness</span><br /><span class="heb">בַּחֹ֔שֶׁךְ</span> <span class="translit">(ba·ḥō·šeḵ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2822.htm">Strong's 2822: </a> </span><span class="str2">The dark, darkness, misery, destruction, death, ignorance, sorrow, wickedness</span><br /><br /><span class="word">have seen</span><br /><span class="heb">רָא֖וּ</span> <span class="translit">(rā·’ū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7200.htm">Strong's 7200: </a> </span><span class="str2">To see</span><br /><br /><span class="word">a great</span><br /><span class="heb">גָּד֑וֹל</span> <span class="translit">(gā·ḏō·wl)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adjective - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1419.htm">Strong's 1419: </a> </span><span class="str2">Great, older, insolent</span><br /><br /><span class="word">light;</span><br /><span class="heb">א֣וֹר</span> <span class="translit">(’ō·wr)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_216.htm">Strong's 216: </a> </span><span class="str2">Illumination, luminary</span><br /><br /><span class="word">on</span><br /><span class="heb">עֲלֵיהֶֽם׃</span> <span class="translit">(‘ă·lê·hem)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition | third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5921.htm">Strong's 5921: </a> </span><span class="str2">Above, over, upon, against</span><br /><br /><span class="word">those living</span><br /><span class="heb">יֹשְׁבֵי֙</span> <span class="translit">(yō·šə·ḇê)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3427.htm">Strong's 3427: </a> </span><span class="str2">To sit down, to dwell, to remain, to settle, to marry</span><br /><br /><span class="word">in the land</span><br /><span class="heb">בְּאֶ֣רֶץ</span> <span class="translit">(bə·’e·reṣ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_776.htm">Strong's 776: </a> </span><span class="str2">Earth, land</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of the shadow of death,</span><br /><span class="heb">צַלְמָ֔וֶת</span> <span class="translit">(ṣal·mā·weṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6757.htm">Strong's 6757: </a> </span><span class="str2">Death-like shadow, deep shadow</span><br /><br /><span class="word">a light</span><br /><span class="heb">א֖וֹר</span> <span class="translit">(’ō·wr)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_216.htm">Strong's 216: </a> </span><span class="str2">Illumination, luminary</span><br /><br /><span class="word">has dawned.</span><br /><span class="heb">נָגַ֥הּ</span> <span class="translit">(nā·ḡah)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5050.htm">Strong's 5050: </a> </span><span class="str2">To glitter, to illuminate</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/isaiah/9-2.htm">Isaiah 9:2 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/isaiah/9-2.htm">Isaiah 9:2 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/isaiah/9-2.htm">Isaiah 9:2 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/isaiah/9-2.htm">Isaiah 9:2 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/isaiah/9-2.htm">Isaiah 9:2 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/isaiah/9-2.htm">Isaiah 9:2 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/isaiah/9-2.htm">Isaiah 9:2 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/isaiah/9-2.htm">Isaiah 9:2 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/isaiah/9-2.htm">Isaiah 9:2 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/isaiah/9-2.htm">Isaiah 9:2 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/isaiah/9-2.htm">OT Prophets: Isaiah 9:2 The people who walked in darkness have (Isa Isi Is)</a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/isaiah/9-1.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Isaiah 9:1"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Isaiah 9:1" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/isaiah/9-3.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Isaiah 9:3"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Isaiah 9:3" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>