Isaiah 59:9 kjv
Therefore is judgment far from us, neither doth justice overtake us: we wait for light, but behold obscurity; for brightness, but we walk in darkness.
Isaiah 59:9 nkjv
Therefore justice is far from us, Nor does righteousness overtake us; We look for light, but there is darkness! For brightness, but we walk in blackness!
Isaiah 59:9 niv
So justice is far from us, and righteousness does not reach us. We look for light, but all is darkness; for brightness, but we walk in deep shadows.
Isaiah 59:9 esv
Therefore justice is far from us, and righteousness does not overtake us; we hope for light, and behold, darkness, and for brightness, but we walk in gloom.
Isaiah 59:9 nlt
So there is no justice among us,
and we know nothing about right living.
We look for light but find only darkness.
We look for bright skies but walk in gloom.
Isaiah 59 9 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isaiah 59:10 | we grope for the wall like the blind, and we grope as if we had no eyes | Isaiah 59:10 (direct echo) |
| Isaiah 59:11 | we all made to roar like bears, and mourn sore like doves | Isaiah 59:11 (direct echo) |
| Jeremiah 8:15 | we looked for peace, but no good came; for a time of healing, but behold, terror! | Jeremiah 8:15 (similar theme) |
| Lamentations 1:22 | see, O Lord, and consider, for I am despised. | Lamentations 1:22 (anguish) |
| Psalm 38:7 | for my loins have inflammation in them, and there is no soundness in my flesh. | Psalm 38:7 (affliction) |
| Job 30:26 | when I looked for good, then evil came, and when I waited for light, then darkness came. | Job 30:26 (similar contrast) |
| Matthew 4:16 | the people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light | Matthew 4:16 (fulfillment) |
| John 1:5 | The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. | John 1:5 (light vs. darkness) |
| John 8:12 | I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness | John 8:12 (Jesus as light) |
| John 12:46 | I have come as light into the world, that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness. | John 12:46 (Jesus as light) |
| Acts 26:18 | to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light | Acts 26:18 (turning from darkness) |
| Romans 1:21 | For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but became futile in their thoughts | Romans 1:21 (moral decay) |
| Ephesians 4:18 | darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God | Ephesians 4:18 (spiritual darkness) |
| 1 Peter 2:9 | But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation | 1 Peter 2:9 (contrast to unrighteousness) |
| 1 John 1:6 | If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie | 1 John 1:6 (walking in darkness) |
| Proverbs 4:19 | The way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know over what they stumble. | Proverbs 4:19 (way of wicked) |
| Isaiah 9:2 | The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light | Isaiah 9:2 (prophecy of light) |
| Isaiah 53:5 | But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities | Isaiah 53:5 (suffering for sin) |
| Psalm 4:6 | Let the lifting up of my hands be the evening sacrifice! | Psalm 4:6 (desire for favor) |
| Galatians 5:6 | For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love. | Galatians 5:6 (faith and love) |
| Micah 3:4 | Then they will cry to the LORD, but he will not answer them | Micah 3:4 (unanswered prayer) |
Isaiah 59 verses
Isaiah 59 9 Meaning
The verse describes the consequence of straying from righteousness, leading to a state of unrighteousness and deep sorrow. The nation or individual, once expectant of light and salvation, finds itself enveloped in darkness and despair.
Isaiah 59 9 Context
Isaiah 59 vividly describes the fallen state of Israel due to their widespread sin and rebellion. This chapter precedes the glorious announcement of God's coming redemption and vindication, highlighting the severity of their apostasy. The people have abandoned righteousness, justice has been pushed aside, and their iniquities have created a gulf between them and God. Verse 9 encapsulates their dire spiritual condition, marked by a profound sense of being lost and unable to find solace or divine favor. It sets the stage for God's intervention as described in the latter half of the chapter, where He arises to save those who turn to Him.
Isaiah 59 9 Word Analysis
- וְקֵרֹב (və·qê·rōḇ): "And we hope" or "And we look for." This Hebrew word implies anticipation and expectation, suggesting a looking forward to a desired outcome or person. In this context, it signifies their looking for light and salvation.
- לְאוֹר (lə·’ō·wr): "for light." Light symbolizes goodness, truth, deliverance, and God's presence or favor. Their looking for light indicates a yearning for these things, a recognition of their current state of darkness.
- וְהִנֵּה־ (wə·hi·nêh-): "and behold" or "but behold." This conjunction marks a sudden turn or contrast, emphasizing the disappointment and unexpected negative reality.
- חֹשֶׁךְ (ḥō·šeḵ): "darkness." This term signifies not just the absence of light but also confusion, ignorance, distress, sin, and spiritual blindness.
- וְלַעֲרָפֶל (wə·la·‘ă·p̄el): "and for cloudiness" or "and for gloom."
Arafelrefers to a dense fog or dark cloud, amplifying the sense of impenetrable darkness and obscuring of vision, both literal and spiritual. - נְגֹהוֹת (nə·gō·w·wōṯ): "brightness" or "clearings of the sky." It represents periods of clear visibility, hope, and prosperity. Their hope for this was replaced by darkness.
Words-group analysis
- "we hope for light, but behold, darkness": This phrase encapsulates the profound irony and dashed expectations of the people. Despite their yearning for God's deliverance and favor (light), they are met with overwhelming spiritual blindness and despair (darkness). This contrast highlights their failure to adhere to God's ways, which would have sustained the light.
- "we look for brightness, but walk in gloom": This reinforces the preceding idea. The expectation of clear skies and hopeful days (brightness) is met with the oppressive, suffocating darkness of gloom and confusion (gloom), illustrating the tangible consequences of their unrighteous path.
Isaiah 59 9 Bonus Section
The imagery of seeking light but finding darkness is a recurring theme in Scripture, often used to denote the spiritual state of individuals or nations estranged from God. The promise of light is intimately connected to obedience and faith in God, while disobedience leads to the experience of profound spiritual darkness, a state from which genuine hope is obscured. This verse underscores that a mere outward longing for divine favor is insufficient if it is not accompanied by a genuine turn towards righteousness and adherence to God's commands. The consequences of persistent unfaithfulness are presented not as arbitrary punishment, but as the natural outcome of a trajectory away from the source of all light and life.
Isaiah 59 9 Commentary
This verse poignantly expresses the spiritual condition of those who have turned away from God and His ways. They anticipate salvation and clarity, yet their unrighteousness blinds them, plunging them into confusion and distress. It is a stark reminder that walking in darkness, marked by sin and deviation from divine truth, inevitably leads to a complete loss of the expected light and well-being. This spiritual blindness prevents them from discerning God's presence or the path to deliverance, leaving them in a state of deep despair and perpetual gloom. This reflects a fundamental spiritual law: proximity to God's light is sustained by adherence to His commands and a life of righteousness. When this is abandoned, the natural consequence is to be lost in spiritual darkness.