Isaiah 9:10

Authorized King James Version

The bricks are fallen down, but we will build with hewn stones: the sycomores are cut down, but we will change them into cedars.

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
לְבֵנִ֥ים
The bricks
a brick (from the whiteness of the clay)
#2
נָפָ֖לוּ
are fallen down
to fall, in a great variety of applications (intransitive or causative, literal or figurative)
#3
וְגָזִ֣ית
with hewn stones
something cut, i.e., dressed stone
#4
נִבְנֶ֑ה
but we will build
to build (literally and figuratively)
#5
שִׁקְמִ֣ים
the sycomores
a sycamore (usually the tree)
#6
גֻּדָּ֔עוּ
are cut down
to fell a tree; generally, to destroy anything
#7
וַאֲרָזִ֖ים
them into cedars
a cedar tree (from the tenacity of its roots)
#8
נַחֲלִֽיף׃
but we will change
properly, to slide by, i.e., (by implication) to hasten away, pass on, spring up, pierce or change

Analysis

Within the broader context of Isaiah, this passage highlights salvation through universal language and absolute statements. The theological weight of divine revelation connects to fundamental Christian doctrine about divine revelation, contributing to our understanding of God's nature and relationship with humanity. This verse contributes to the book's overall argument by building upon previous themes while advancing the overall message of Isaiah.

Historical Context

This passage must be understood within the political and social structures of the biblical period. The author writes to address believers seeking to understand God's will and purposes, making the emphasis on salvation particularly relevant. Historical documents from this period show cultural practices and social structures that would have been familiar to the original readers, illuminating the verse's original impact.

Questions for Reflection

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