Isaiah 9 10

Isaiah 9:10 kjv

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

Isaiah 9:10 nkjv

"The bricks have fallen down, But we will rebuild with hewn stones; The sycamores are cut down, But we will replace them with cedars."

Isaiah 9:10 niv

"The bricks have fallen down, but we will rebuild with dressed stone; the fig trees have been felled, but we will replace them with cedars."

Isaiah 9:10 esv

"The bricks have fallen, but we will build with dressed stones; the sycamores have been cut down, but we will put cedars in their place."

Isaiah 9:10 nlt

They said, "We will replace the broken bricks of our ruins with finished stone,
and replant the felled sycamore-fig trees with cedars."

Isaiah 9 verses

Isaiah 9 10 meaning

Isaiah 9:10 captures a declaration of defiant self-reliance and unyielding pride by the people of the Northern Kingdom of Israel (Ephraim/Samaria) in response to divine judgment. Faced with destruction – symbolized by fallen bricks and cut-down sycamore trees – they reject repentance and refuse to acknowledge God's hand in their calamity. Instead, they boldly proclaim their intention to rebuild with even stronger, more opulent materials: hewn stone instead of mere bricks, and cedar wood instead of sycamores. This statement epitomizes a hardened heart that trusts in human ingenuity and strength rather than returning to the Lord who disciplined them.

Isaiah 9 10 Context

Isaiah 9:10 is embedded within a prophetic message of judgment specifically directed against the Northern Kingdom of Israel (Ephraim and Samaria), found in Isaiah 9:8-21. The preceding verse (9:9) explicitly states the pride and "stoutness of heart" of the people as the reason for their declaration. The "bricks are fallen down" and "sycomores are cut down" refer to actual destruction they had recently experienced, likely from the incursions of the Assyrian Empire under kings like Tiglath-Pileser III in the mid-8th century BC, who had devastated much of the northern territories. This divine discipline was intended to lead Israel to repentance and turn back to God. However, their response in verse 10 is not one of humility or a seeking of God's face, but a boastful resolve to overcome their losses through their own superior building efforts and resources. This defiant attitude indicates a profound misunderstanding of the source of their affliction and a rejection of God's call for their return. Historically, this continued pride and refusal to repent eventually led to the complete subjugation and exile of the Northern Kingdom by Assyria around 722 BC, culminating in Samaria's fall, thereby fulfilling the severe judgments prophesied by Isaiah.

Isaiah 9 10 Word analysis

• Word by word

  • The bricks: (Hebrew: לְבֵנִים, lĕbēnîm) Refers to simple, often sun-dried, mud bricks, common building material for ordinary homes and easily susceptible to damage. It symbolizes the easily broken, mundane elements of their previous societal structure.
  • are fallen down: (Hebrew: נָפְלוּ, nāfᵉlū) Signifies destruction, collapse, ruin. It directly acknowledges the physical devastation that occurred as a result of divine judgment or military incursions.
  • but we will rebuild: (Hebrew: נִבְנֶה, nibneh) A declarative statement of human intent and capability. The "we will" strongly emphasizes self-reliance and defiance, without any mention of God's help or a need for repentance.
  • with hewn stone: (Hebrew: אֲבָנִים גָּזִית, ’ǎbānîm gāzît) Denotes quarried, cut, and dressed stones. These are significantly stronger, more durable, and more expensive than bricks, symbolizing a perceived upgrade in strength, resilience, and wealth through human effort.
  • the sycomores: (Hebrew: שִׁקְמִים, šiqmîm) Sycamore-fig trees (Ficus sycomorus) were common in Israel (cf. 1 Ki 10:27), known for their relatively soft, perishable wood used by the common people. They represent the readily available, less durable resources of their previous state.
  • are cut down: (Hebrew: נִגְדָּעוּ, nigda‘ū) Means to be cut off, severed, or destroyed, emphasizing the complete removal or devastation of these elements.
  • but we will change them: (Hebrew: נַחֲלִיף, nǎḥǎlîp) Indicates an active decision to exchange, replace, or substitute. This further highlights their deliberate choice for human-directed 'improvement' over submitting to God's hand.
  • into cedars: (Hebrew: אֲרָזִים, ’ǎrâzîm) Refers to Cedars of Lebanon, famed for their strength, beauty, durability, and aromatic qualities. This expensive wood was used for royal palaces and the Temple, symbolizing luxury, prestige, and perceived invincibility, showcasing their aspiration to exceed their former state by their own means.

• Words-group by words-group

  • "The bricks are fallen down, but we will rebuild with hewn stone": This phrase directly contrasts past destruction with a future determined by human will. It dismisses the divine cause of the destruction as a mere setback, resolving to improve their material strength (bricks to stone) through their own effort, rather than seeking spiritual or moral renewal. It embodies an upgrade of self-sufficiency.
  • "the sycomores are cut down, but we will change them into cedars": Parallel to the first phrase, this reinforces the defiance and unrepentant attitude. The substitution of common sycamore wood with valuable cedar signifies a boastful determination to restore not just what was lost, but to improve upon it with greater splendor and resilience, all achieved by human hands and resources. It emphasizes replacing simplicity with opulence through their own resolve.
  • Overall declaration (Isaiah 9:10): The verse collectively paints a picture of extreme human hubris and stubborn rebellion against divine correction. It’s a direct challenge to God's authority, indicating a profound spiritual blindness where physical destruction is seen as an opportunity for human enterprise and greater self-glorification, instead of a call to return to their Creator.

Isaiah 9 10 Bonus section

The irony embedded in Israel's defiant boast is profound. Their declaration of rebuilding with superior materials was not met with greater prosperity or enduring strength, but with a more severe and lasting judgment—the complete annihilation of the Northern Kingdom by Assyria and the scattering of its people. This historical outcome highlights the spiritual principle that human ingenuity and pride, when set against God's purposes and warnings, are utterly insufficient. God's ultimate answer to their "hewn stone" and "cedars" was not allowing their upgraded structures to stand, but to shatter their entire nation. This verse powerfully illustrates that genuine security and restoration come from a right relationship with God, characterized by humility and obedience, rather than through material wealth or self-proclaimed strength. It stands as a timeless warning against relying on the "arm of flesh" (Jer 17:5) and resisting God's corrective hand, emphasizing that what appears strong and self-sufficient to human eyes is fragile before the Almighty.

Isaiah 9 10 Commentary

Isaiah 9:10 serves as a stark portrayal of human defiance against divine judgment. It describes the Northern Kingdom of Israel's boastful rejection of repentance despite experiencing destruction, viewing their losses as minor inconveniences to be overcome by their own superior efforts. They declared a material upgrade from humble bricks and sycamores to sturdy hewn stone and magnificent cedars, a tangible expression of their national pride and self-sufficiency. This mindset fundamentally misinterprets the source of their adversity, which was God's hand attempting to turn them back, seeing it instead as a test of their human resilience and skill. This arrogant boast, tragically, only served to harden their hearts further and ultimately hasten their demise at the hands of the Assyrians, demonstrating the futility of relying on human strength when facing divine purpose. True rebuilding and restoration, as taught throughout scripture, must begin with humility, repentance, and a turning back to God. For example, when individuals or communities choose to address societal problems through elaborate human systems or strategies, while neglecting foundational issues of sin, righteousness, and reliance on God's guidance, they often echo this same defiant spirit.