Isaiah 9:1
Nevertheless the dimness shall not be such as was in her vexation, when at the first he lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, and afterward did more grievously afflict her by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, in Galilee of the nations.
Original Language Analysis
כִּ֣י
H3588
כִּ֣י
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
1 of 21
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
לֹ֣א
H3808
לֹ֣א
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
2 of 21
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
מוּעָף֮
Nevertheless the dimness
H4155
מוּעָף֮
Nevertheless the dimness
Strong's:
H4155
Word #:
3 of 21
properly, covered, i.e., dark; abstractly, obscurity, i.e., distress
לַאֲשֶׁ֣ר
H834
לַאֲשֶׁ֣ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
4 of 21
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
מוּצָ֣ק
shall not be such as was in her vexation
H4164
מוּצָ֣ק
shall not be such as was in her vexation
Strong's:
H4164
Word #:
5 of 21
narrowness; figuratively, distress
כָּעֵ֣ת
when
H6256
כָּעֵ֣ת
when
Strong's:
H6256
Word #:
7 of 21
time, especially (adverb with preposition) now, when, etc
הָרִאשׁ֗וֹן
at the first
H7223
הָרִאשׁ֗וֹן
at the first
Strong's:
H7223
Word #:
8 of 21
first, in place, time or rank (as adjective or noun)
הֵקַ֞ל
he lightly afflicted
H7043
הֵקַ֞ל
he lightly afflicted
Strong's:
H7043
Word #:
9 of 21
to be (causatively, make) light, literally (swift, small, sharp, etc.) or figuratively (easy, trifling, vile, etc.)
זְבֻלוּן֙
of Zebulun
H2074
זְבֻלוּן֙
of Zebulun
Strong's:
H2074
Word #:
11 of 21
zebulon, a son of jacob; also his territory and tribe
נַפְתָּלִ֔י
of Naphtali
H5321
נַפְתָּלִ֔י
of Naphtali
Strong's:
H5321
Word #:
13 of 21
naphtali, a son of jacob, with the tribe descended from him, and its territory
וְהָאַחֲר֖וֹן
and afterward
H314
וְהָאַחֲר֖וֹן
and afterward
Strong's:
H314
Word #:
14 of 21
hinder; generally, late or last; specifically (as facing the east) western
הִכְבִּ֑יד
did more grievously afflict
H3513
הִכְבִּ֑יד
did more grievously afflict
Strong's:
H3513
Word #:
15 of 21
to be heavy, i.e., in a bad sense (burdensome, severe, dull) or in a good sense (numerous, rich, honorable); causatively, to make weighty (in the same
דֶּ֤רֶךְ
her by the way
H1870
דֶּ֤רֶךְ
her by the way
Strong's:
H1870
Word #:
16 of 21
a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverb
הַיָּם֙
of the sea
H3220
הַיָּם֙
of the sea
Strong's:
H3220
Word #:
17 of 21
a sea (as breaking in noisy surf) or large body of water; specifically (with the article), the mediterranean sea; sometimes a large river, or an artif
עֵ֣בֶר
beyond
H5676
עֵ֣בֶר
beyond
Strong's:
H5676
Word #:
18 of 21
properly, a region across; but used only adverbially (with or without a preposition) on the opposite side (especially of the jordan; ususally meaning
Cross References
2 Kings 15:29In the days of Pekah king of Israel came Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria, and took Ijon, and Abel-beth-maachah, and Janoah, and Kedesh, and Hazor, and Gilead, and Galilee, all the land of Naphtali, and carried them captive to Assyria.Isaiah 8:22And they shall look unto the earth; and behold trouble and darkness, dimness of anguish; and they shall be driven to darkness.2 Chronicles 16:4And Ben-hadad hearkened unto king Asa, and sent the captains of his armies against the cities of Israel; and they smote Ijon, and Dan, and Abel-maim, and all the store cities of Naphtali.1 Chronicles 5:26And the God of Israel stirred up the spirit of Pul king of Assyria, and the spirit of Tilgath-pilneser king of Assyria, and he carried them away, even the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh, and brought them unto Halah, and Habor, and Hara, and to the river Gozan, unto this day.Leviticus 26:24Then will I also walk contrary unto you, and will punish you yet seven times for your sins.Leviticus 26:28Then I will walk contrary unto you also in fury; and I, even I, will chastise you seven times for your sins.
Historical Context
Tiglath-Pileser III conquered northern Israel in 732 BC, devastating Zebulun and Naphtali (2 Kings 15:29). These tribal territories became Assyrian provinces, ethnically mixed with foreign settlers, and scorned by southern Jews as 'Galilee of the Gentiles.' Yet God chose this despised region for Messiah's primary ministry 700 years later. Jesus's headquarters in Capernaum and ministry throughout Galilee fulfilled this prophecy precisely, demonstrating God's sovereign plan across centuries.
Questions for Reflection
- How does God often choose the humbled and despised places and people for His greatest works?
- What does this teach about God's long-range planning and sovereign orchestration of history?
- How does Jesus's ministry in despised Galilee demonstrate God's heart for the marginalized?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
This verse transitions from judgment to hope. The regions 'vexed' and 'afflicted'—Zebulun and Naphtali in Galilee—would be honored afterward. The 'way of the sea' (Via Maris trade route), 'beyond Jordan,' and 'Galilee of the nations' (Gentiles) identify the specific geographic area. What was first humiliated (by Assyrian conquest in 732 BC) would later be glorified. This prepares for verse 2's great light—Matthew 4:13-16 identifies Jesus's Galilean ministry as the fulfillment. God's redemptive pattern: He glorifies what was humbled.