Isaiah 23 9

Isaiah 23:9 kjv

The LORD of hosts hath purposed it, to stain the pride of all glory, and to bring into contempt all the honourable of the earth.

Isaiah 23:9 nkjv

The LORD of hosts has purposed it, To bring to dishonor the pride of all glory, To bring into contempt all the honorable of the earth.

Isaiah 23:9 niv

The LORD Almighty planned it, to bring down her pride in all her splendor and to humble all who are renowned on the earth.

Isaiah 23:9 esv

The LORD of hosts has purposed it, to defile the pompous pride of all glory, to dishonor all the honored of the earth.

Isaiah 23:9 nlt

The LORD of Heaven's Armies has done it
to destroy your pride
and bring low all earth's nobility.

Isaiah 23 verses

Isaiah 23 9 meaning

Isaiah 23:9 declares that the Almighty God, referred to as "the LORD of hosts," has sovereignly determined to humble and defile the excessive pride and worldly glory of nations, specifically highlighting the prominent trading city of Tyre. His ultimate purpose is to bring into contempt all human achievements, esteemed positions, and honor on earth that originate from human arrogance rather than from Him. It asserts God's ultimate authority over human boasts and achievements, proving that all worldly splendor is subject to His divine will and judgment.

Isaiah 23 9 Context

Isaiah chapter 23 contains a prophetic oracle specifically against Tyre, a prominent Phoenician maritime city, renowned for its immense wealth, expansive trade networks, and skilled craftsmanship. It was a jewel of the ancient world, representing the pinnacle of human commercial and naval power. The chapter describes Tyre's impending downfall, bringing shock and lament to its trading partners across the sea, and subsequently alludes to a future, altered state of existence. This particular verse, Isaiah 23:9, functions as the divine explanation behind Tyre's coming humiliation. It reveals that the city's ruin is not merely an outcome of geopolitical conflicts but is the direct, deliberate "purpose" of the Almighty God, who seeks to demonstrate that all human-derived glory and pride are ultimately subject to His divine will and can be stripped of their esteem by Him. The prophecy sets a stage where human arrogance, even in its most impressive manifestations like Tyre, faces ultimate reckoning with God's sovereignty.

Isaiah 23 9 Word analysis

• The LORD of hosts (יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת, YHWH Tz’va’ot): This significant divine title emphasizes God's supreme sovereignty and power. "YHWH" (the tetragrammaton) points to His self-existence and covenant-keeping nature, while "Tz’va’ot" (hosts, armies) signifies Him as the commander of all heavenly and earthly armies, forces, and powers. This title highlights that the decree against Tyre comes from the highest authority, irresistible and unchallengeable.
• has purposed it (יָעַץ, ya'ats): From the root meaning "to counsel, advise, plan, decide." This is not a sudden or whimsical decision but a deliberate, considered, and predetermined divine counsel or plan. It signifies God's immutable intention and active role in shaping events.
• to defile (לְחַלֵּל, leḥallel): From "chalal," meaning "to profane, desecrate, violate, make common." It implies treating something sacred or honored as unholy or contemptible. Here, it means to strip the pride of Tyre of its esteemed and magnificent status, bringing it down to a state of dishonor and disgrace, as something no longer worthy of respect.
• the pride (גְּאוֹן, ge'on): This word means "pride, majesty, exaltation, arrogance, magnificence." While it can describe God's majesty (Ps 47:4), in the context of humanity, it often refers to haughty self-exaltation or the pompous display of power and wealth that forgets God. Here, it is the arrogant splendor of Tyre.
• of all glory (כָּל-הָדָר, kol-hadar): "Hadar" means "splendor, majesty, beauty, honor, adornment." Combined with "kol" (all), it signifies every facet of human greatness, beauty, prestige, and worldly grandeur that commands admiration. God intends to debase every aspect of human self-exaltation.
• and to bring into contempt (וּלְהַקֵּל, ulehaqqel): From "qalal," meaning "to be light, slight, swift, bring into contempt, despise, dishonor, make light of." It's to diminish value, reduce significance, and treat something once weighty or honored as utterly worthless.
• all the honorable (כָּל-נִכְבָּדֵי, kol-nikhbedei): From "kabad," meaning "to be heavy, weighty, glorious, honored, respected." In this form, it refers to those who are esteemed, highly regarded, or hold weighty positions in human society. Combined with "kol" (all), it targets every person or institution that society holds in high regard due to their earthly power, wealth, or status.
• of the earth: This phrase universalizes the judgment. While specifically targeting Tyre, it applies the principle to all nations and humanity, indicating that this divine intention of humbling pride extends across the entire world, impacting anyone who exalts themselves apart from God.

• "The LORD of hosts has purposed it": This phrase unequivocally establishes the source of judgment as divine and sovereign. It's not human conflict or accident, but God's deliberate, unchangeable will. The use of "LORD of hosts" emphasizes His absolute power to execute this purpose against even the most formidable earthly powers.
• "to defile the pride of all glory": This highlights the target: human pride rooted in self-glorification and worldly splendor. "Defile" suggests stripping away any perceived holiness, worth, or esteem, exposing its common, vulnerable nature when judged by God. It specifically challenges the self-proclaimed magnificence that sets itself against divine authority.
• "and to bring into contempt all the honorable of the earth": This reinforces the humbling process. "Contempt" signifies devaluation, making what was weighty and respected seem light and despicable. It implies a reversal of worldly status, where those who are highly esteemed by human standards are utterly discredited in God's eyes, thus showing the ultimate worthlessness of human achievements apart from Him.

Isaiah 23 9 Bonus section

The strong imagery used in "defile" (strip of sacredness) and "bring into contempt" (make light, despicable) underscores the radical reversal of perceived value. What was once the object of human admiration becomes a byword for shame and emptiness, signaling a complete rejection of human glory as rival to God's own. This divine action also serves as a pedagogical warning for all time, teaching humanity that authentic honor and lasting glory are not self-generated but flow from submission to and exaltation of the One true God. The passage establishes a universal principle applicable to any nation or individual that succumbs to pride and places its trust in transient worldly power or splendor.

Isaiah 23 9 Commentary

Isaiah 23:9 articulates a fundamental theological truth: God's supreme sovereignty over all human endeavor and ambition. Tyre, as a global hub of wealth, power, and human ingenuity, serves as an archetype for any entity that bases its glory and security on its own achievements. The verse reveals that the city's impending fall is not an arbitrary event but a calculated divine act, driven by the "LORD of hosts" to challenge the inherent pride ("ge'on") and superficial glory ("hadar") that arise from human self-sufficiency. By purposing to "defile" and "bring into contempt" all that humanity esteems as honorable, God underscores the fleeting and fragile nature of worldly power and honor when juxtaposed with His eternal majesty. His purpose is to demonstrate that only His glory endures, and all that elevates itself against Him will inevitably be brought low. This decree asserts that the true measure of worth comes from God, not from earthly accolades.