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

The brick walls have fallen, but we will rebuild with dressed stones; the sycamores have been cut down, but we will replace them with cedars.

Isaiah 9 10 Context

Isaiah 9:10 occurs in the broader context of Isaiah chapters 6-12, which deals with impending judgment on Israel and Judah, interspersed with prophecies of future restoration and the coming of the Messiah. This particular verse follows prophecies concerning God's judgment upon the Northern Kingdom of Israel, particularly the house of Ahab, for their sin and idolatry. Despite the devastation and scattering implied by the fallen structures, the prophecy shifts to a confident declaration of future rebuilding and the certainty of God's promised restoration. The reference to sycamores being cut down and replaced with cedars highlights a movement from commonality to splendor, from the less valuable to the more precious, signifying a significant upgrade in God's rebuilding.

Isaiah 9 10 Word Analysis

• הַבְּרִיחַ (habbĕrîḥ): "the brick" (singular, construct state). From bĕrîḥ (brick). Bricks were common building materials, often sun-dried or kiln-fired. The fallen brickwork signifies a past destruction or downfall.

• נָֽפְלוּ (nāfǝlû): "they have fallen" (Qal perfect, 3rd person masculine plural). Indicates a completed action of falling, referring to the bricks or structures built from them.

• וּבַֽצּוּר: "but with hewn stone". From the preposition bě (with, in, by) and ṣûr (a quarry stone, hewn stone). This contrasts with ordinary brick, indicating stronger, more valuable, and precisely cut stone.

• נִבְנֶה: "we will build" (Niphal imperfect, 1st person common plural). Denotes future construction, undertaken in a passive or receptive sense—implied divine enablement for rebuilding.

• וְשִׁקְמֹ֤ת (wəšiqmōṯ): "and the sycamores" (conjunction wə + šiqmōh sycamore-fig tree, plural). Sycamores were common trees, known for their fruit but made of softer wood, yielding inferior lumber. Their cutting down represents removal of something of lesser value.

• נִגְדָּעוּ (niɡdā‘û): "they have been felled" (Niphal perfect, 3rd person masculine plural). Similar to nāfǝlû, indicating a completed action of cutting down.

• וּֽבַאֲרָזִים: "but with cedars". From the preposition bě and ʾərāzîm (cedars, plural). Cedars were prized for their durability, strength, and beauty, representing high-quality material, often associated with royalty and grandeur (e.g., Solomon's Temple).

• Word Group Analysis: The phrase "bricks have fallen, but we will build with hewn stone" signifies overcoming disaster and opting for superior quality in rebuilding. "Sycamores have been cut down, but we will replace them with cedars" emphasizes a progression from the common and lesser to the distinguished and greater in reconstruction. This reflects a spiritual and material transformation initiated by God.

Isaiah 9 10 Bonus Section

The transition from common materials (bricks, sycamores) to more precious ones (hewn stone, cedars) highlights the transformative nature of God's work. In ancient Near Eastern contexts, the use of carved stone and cedar wood was often associated with royal palaces and temples, signifying prestige and divine dwelling. This imagery points forward to the splendor of Solomon's Temple, and even more significantly, to the spiritual temple of God in Christ and the ultimate glorious dwelling place described in Revelation 21. The sycamore-fig tree was common but produced inferior wood; cedars, particularly the cedar of Lebanon, were highly esteemed for their fragrance and resilience. This replacement underscores a divine upgrade in God's dealings with His people. The active verb "we will build" and "we will replace" suggests the responsive participation of God's people in His restorative plans, empowered by His presence. This theme of divine enablement for human action is consistent throughout Scripture.

Isaiah 9 10 Commentary

This verse serves as a powerful declaration of hope and resilience following devastation. Despite acknowledging the reality of destruction ("the bricks have fallen," "the sycamores have been cut down"), the prophet immediately pivots to a confident affirmation of future rebuilding. This rebuilding is not merely a restoration to the previous state but an advancement to a higher quality ("hewn stone," "cedars"). It signifies that even in the face of ruin, God's plan involves not just recovery but also enhancement and glory. This speaks to God's power to redeem, restore, and transform His people and His dwelling place, leading them from hardship to a more fortified and splendid state. The specific mention of cedars, known for their fragrant and durable wood, points to a rebuilding characterized by beauty and enduring strength, ultimately fulfilled in the spiritual kingdom of the Messiah and the ultimate New Jerusalem.