Isaiah 9:14 kjv
Therefore the LORD will cut off from Israel head and tail, branch and rush, in one day.
Isaiah 9:14 nkjv
Therefore the LORD will cut off head and tail from Israel, Palm branch and bulrush in one day.
Isaiah 9:14 niv
So the LORD will cut off from Israel both head and tail, both palm branch and reed in a single day;
Isaiah 9:14 esv
So the LORD cut off from Israel head and tail, palm branch and reed in one day ?
Isaiah 9:14 nlt
Therefore, in a single day the LORD will destroy both the head and the tail,
the noble palm branch and the lowly reed.
Isaiah 9 14 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isa 9:14 | "Therefore the Lord will cut off from Israel head and tail, palm branch and reed in one day." | Prophecy of judgment on Ephraim |
| Isa 9:15 | "The elders and honored men are the head, and the prophets who teach lies are the tail." | Identifies the corrupted leaders |
| Jer 5:30-31 | "An appalling and horrible thing has happened in the land: The prophets prophesy lies, and the priests rule by their own power. But my people love it this way! What will you do in the end?" | Parallel corruption in leadership |
| Jer 14:14-16 | "Then the Lord said to me, “The prophets are prophesying lies in my name. I have not sent them or appointed them or spoken to them. They are prophesying to you false visions, worthless divinations, and the delusions of their own minds." | Prophetic judgment for false prophecy |
| Hos 4:6-7 | "My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I also reject you from being priests to me; because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children." | Consequences of rejecting knowledge |
| Hos 5:1-2 | "Hear this, O priests! Give heed, O house of Israel! And give ear, O royal house! For judgment is against you; for you have been a snare at Mizpah and a net spread upon Tabor." | Judgment against priestly and royal houses |
| Ezek 13:3,10 | "Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: ‘Against your prophets who are prophesying lies in my name, even though I have not sent them, and who say, “My sword will not fall on you and your herds will not be destroyed,”’" ... "‘Because they lead my people astray by saying, “Peace,” when there is no peace, and because, when a flimsy wall is built, they plaster it with whitewash,’" | Condemnation of false prophets |
| Micah 3:5 | "This is what the Lord says: ‘As for the prophets who lead my people astray and who cry out “Peace!” when they have something to eat, but who declare war on those who do not put food in their mouths—" | False prophets promoting false security |
| Matt 15:14 | "Leave them alone; they are blind guides. If the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.”" | Jesus' warning about blind leaders |
| Luke 6:39 | "He also told them a parable: “Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into a pit?" | Similar warning from Jesus |
| Acts 13:10 | "filled with every sort of fraud and mischief, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not stop making crooked the paths of the Lord?" | Paul rebukes Elymas for corrupting God's ways |
| 2 Tim 3:5 | "having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people." | Warning against those with false piety |
| Rev 18:2 | "With a mighty voice he cried out: “Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great! She has become a dwelling for demons and a haunt for every impure spirit, a haunt for every unclean and detested bird." | Figurative fall of a corrupt entity |
| Deut 19:16-19 | "If a false witness rises up against someone to accuse him of wrongdoing, the two witnesses or three witnesses, standing upon the testimony of two or three witnesses shall be put to death." | The consequence for false testimony |
| Ps 1:1 | "Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers." | The righteous path contrasts with wickedness |
| Prov 1:10-16 | "My son, if sinners entice you, consent not. If they say, “Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood; let us lurk secretly for the innocent without cause;" | Warnings against following sinful counsel |
| Isa 3:12 | "My people—infants are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people! Your guides mislead you; they confuse the direction of your paths.”" | Description of oppressive and misleading leaders |
| Isa 10:1-2 | "Woe to those who enact iniquitous decrees, and to the scribes who give the oppressive pronouncements to turn aside the needy from justice and to rob the poor of my people of their right," | Judgment against unjust legislation |
| Isa 22:15-19 | "This is what the Lord, the Lord Almighty, says: "Go, tell that official, Shebna, overseer of the palace, ‘What are you doing here and who authorized you to cut a tomb for yourself here, carving your tomb on the height and hewing your dwelling in the rock?"" | Judgment on a proud and self-serving official |
| Nahum 3:1-4 | "Woe to the bloody city, all full of lies and plunder— no end to the prey! ... The crack of the whip, the rumble of the cart, the galloping of horses, the rattling of the chariot wheels!" | Prophecy against Nineveh's violence and deception |
Isaiah 9 verses
Isaiah 9 14 Meaning
The verse describes a nation that has been deceived and led astray by its leaders, resulting in their being cut off and punished. It highlights the responsibility of leaders for the spiritual and practical state of their people.
Isaiah 9 14 Context
Isaiah 9:14 follows a series of prophecies concerning the judgment and ultimate restoration of Israel. In the preceding verses, Isaiah pronounces judgment on the ungodly leaders of Israel who have led the people astray with lies and false prophecies, fostering a sense of false security. This specific verse pronounces a comprehensive judgment upon the entire nation, stemming from the corrupt leadership. The imagery of "head and tail" signifies the complete dismantling of the social and spiritual structure, from the highest authorities to the most insignificant. The "palm branch and reed" likely symbolize both the esteemed and the common, indicating that no one will be spared.
Historically, this prophecy is directed towards the Northern Kingdom of Israel (often referred to as Ephraim) during a period of political and spiritual corruption, likely before or during the Assyrian invasions. The nation's leadership had turned away from Yahweh, embracing idolatry and false religion, and actively misled the populace.
Isaiah 9 14 Word Analysis
לָכֵן (lakhēn): "Therefore" or "for this reason." This word introduces a consequence, linking the judgment described in this verse to the preceding indictments of the leadership's sin.
יִכְרֹת (yikhrot): "will cut off" or "will prune." This is a verb in the Qal imperfect form, indicating a future action. It signifies a decisive and complete removal or destruction. The idea of pruning also carries connotations of judgment but also the potential for future growth, although the primary sense here is severing.
יְהוָה (YHWH): The Tetragrammaton, the personal covenant name of God. This emphasizes that the judgment is coming from God himself, not just political or military defeat.
מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל (miYisra'el): "from Israel." This specifies the recipient of God's judgment.
רֹאשׁ (rosh): "head." In a societal context, this refers to the leaders, the elite, the vanguards, or those in positions of authority and influence.
וָזָנָב (văzānāv): "and tail." This refers to the lowest ranks, the common people, the followers, or those at the end of a line. The pairing with "head" emphasizes the totality of the judgment—from top to bottom.
אֶפֶר (eper): "palm branch." This term is often associated with celebration and victory (Lev 23:40). Here, it is used metaphorically, possibly representing those of high repute or even the prosperity associated with certain leadership. It could also refer to a specific part of a plant, emphasizing thoroughness.
וָקָנֶה (vĕqāneh): "and reed." The reed is a common plant, often found in marshes. It can represent something common, of little value, or easily broken. It can also refer to something straight and upright that can be used for measurement or construction. Its inclusion signifies that even the seemingly common or unassuming will be cut off.
בְּיוֹם (bĕyōm): "in a day" or "on the day." This indicates a specific time of judgment, a decisive event.
אֶחָד (ĕḥāḏ): "one." Emphasizes the suddenness and completeness of the judgment; it will happen swiftly and all at once.
Group Analysis:
- Head and Tail (רֹאשׁ וָזָנָב): This paired imagery is a powerful metaphor for the complete annihilation of a societal structure. It covers all levels, from the leadership ("head") to the populace ("tail"), leaving no remnant or segment untouched by divine judgment due to the pervasive sin.
- Palm Branch and Reed (אֶפֶר וָקָנֶה): This phrase signifies comprehensiveness, covering both the honored and the humble, the esteemed and the common. It underscores that the judgment is universal within the nation, affecting all strata of society due to the collective failure to uphold God's ways, stemming from leadership's sin.
- In One Day (בְּיוֹם אֶחָד): This highlights the sudden, decisive, and overwhelming nature of God's judgment. It suggests a swift and complete execution of his decree upon the nation, leaving no opportunity for escape or recovery once it begins.
Isaiah 9 14 Bonus Section
The imagery of "head and tail" is also used in Deuteronomy 28:44 to describe the consequence of disobedience: "He will lend to you, and you shall not lend to him; he will be the head, and you shall be the tail." Isaiah's prophecy reverses this desired order of leadership and dependence, showing how apostasy leads to a complete societal inversion and ruin. The "palm branch" and "reed" are chosen for their symbolic meanings, possibly alluding to what was valued (palm for victory/honor) and what was common or foundational (reed, often used in building or for measuring), signifying that everything esteemed or fundamental would be destroyed. The finality conveyed in "in one day" reflects God's righteous sovereignty and His determined action against persistent rebellion.
Isaiah 9 14 Commentary
This verse is a stark declaration of divine retribution upon Israel. The leaders have corrupted God's law and misled the people with falsehoods, and for this, God promises a comprehensive and devastating judgment. The destruction will be absolute, affecting all segments of society, from the highest authority ("head," "palm branch") to the common people ("tail," "reed"). The phrase "in one day" underscores the swiftness and finality of this judgment, indicating that God’s patience has limits, and when His justice is fully executed, it will be thorough and complete. The entire structure of the nation, its leadership and its people, will be dismantled due to the pervasive unfaithfulness.