Isaiah 9 17

Isaiah 9:17 kjv

Therefore the LORD shall have no joy in their young men, neither shall have mercy on their fatherless and widows: for every one is an hypocrite and an evildoer, and every mouth speaketh folly. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.

Isaiah 9:17 nkjv

Therefore the Lord will have no joy in their young men, Nor have mercy on their fatherless and widows; For everyone is a hypocrite and an evildoer, And every mouth speaks folly. For all this His anger is not turned away, But His hand is stretched out still.

Isaiah 9:17 niv

Therefore the Lord will take no pleasure in the young men, nor will he pity the fatherless and widows, for everyone is ungodly and wicked, every mouth speaks folly. Yet for all this, his anger is not turned away, his hand is still upraised.

Isaiah 9:17 esv

Therefore the Lord does not rejoice over their young men, and has no compassion on their fatherless and widows; for everyone is godless and an evildoer, and every mouth speaks folly. For all this his anger has not turned away, and his hand is stretched out still.

Isaiah 9:17 nlt

That is why the Lord takes no pleasure in the young men
and shows no mercy even to the widows and orphans.
For they are all wicked hypocrites,
and they all speak foolishness.
But even then the LORD's anger will not be satisfied.
His fist is still poised to strike.

Isaiah 9 verses

Isaiah 9 17 meaning

Isaiah 9:17 declares God's deliberate withholding of joy and mercy from His people, even from the vulnerable young men, fatherless, and widows. This severe judgment stems from their pervasive and universal sinfulness: everyone is morally corrupt, an evildoer, and speaks wicked folly. The verse concludes by emphasizing the unappeased nature of God's anger, indicating that His judgment continues and is far from over.

Isaiah 9 17 Context

Isaiah 9:17 falls within a major section (chapters 7-12) known as the "Book of Immanuel," which juxtaposes prophecies of a coming Messiah and hope for God's people with stark pronouncements of judgment against the northern kingdom of Israel (often referred to as Ephraim or Samaria). Chapters 9:8-21 detail God's series of escalating judgments due to Israel's unrepentant pride and pervasive moral decay. Despite suffering initial setbacks, the people had defiantly declared, "The bricks have fallen, but we will build with hewn stone; the sycamores have been cut down, but we will replace them with cedars" (9:10). This hubris and refusal to turn back to God after initial divine warnings intensified God's wrath. Verse 17 directly continues this theme of judgment, highlighting its thoroughness by even encompassing the most vulnerable, whom God typically protects. Historically, this period was characterized by political instability and threats from the rising Assyrian empire, which God used as an instrument of His judgment against a disobedient Israel. The moral landscape of the nation was riddled with injustice, false worship, and corruption, prompting God's severe response.

Isaiah 9 17 Word analysis

• Therefore (לָכֵ֗ן - laken): A transitional conjunction, signaling a logical consequence or outcome derived from the preceding narrative (verses 8-16), which details Israel's arrogance and sin. It underscores the deliberateness of God's action as a just response.

• The Lord (אֲדֹנָי֙ - Adonai): This divine title emphasizes God's sovereign authority and mastery, especially in judgment. Unlike Yahweh, which emphasizes God's covenant faithfulness, Adonai highlights His position as the ultimate ruler who justly punishes sin.

• will not rejoice over (לֹא־יִשְׂמַח - lo-yismah): A strong negative. It signifies a complete withdrawal of divine pleasure, favor, or delight. God's normal inclination towards joy and blessing is absent because of their actions.

• their young men (בְּבַחוּרָ֑יו - bavahurav): Refers to the vigorous and hopeful segment of society. Their loss or suffering is a grave indicator of national decay and the loss of future potential.

• neither will he have mercy on (לֹא יְרַחֵ֧ם - lo yerachem): Another emphatic negative. Rachem conveys deep emotional compassion or pity. Its denial is particularly poignant, as God is often described as merciful. It implies a hardened stance against persistent, unrepentant sin.

• their fatherless and widows (יְתֹמָ֕יו וְאַלְמְנֹתָ֖יו - yetomav ve'almenotav): These are the classic examples of society's most vulnerable, whom God explicitly commands to protect and shows special care for in His law (e.g., Exod 22:22). Their inclusion in the judgment highlights the depth of societal corruption, where even those who normally warrant divine compassion are affected, implying either corporate guilt or the extent of judgment impacting all.

• for (כִּי - ki): Introduces the justification or reason for God's harsh judgment.

• every one (כֻּלּ֖וֹ - kulo): Emphasizes the universal and pervasive nature of the corruption, indicating that the sin is not limited to a few but has infected the entire social fabric.

• is a hypocrite (חָנֵ֥ף - hanef): Often translated as "godless," "profane," or "impious." It refers to moral corruption and spiritual uncleanness, rather than just outward pretense. It indicates a heart that is not true to God.

• and an evildoer (וּמֵרַ֑ע - u'mera): Signifies one who actively commits wicked deeds. Ra often denotes moral evil, wickedness, or adversity.

• and every mouth (וְכָל־פֶּה - vekhol-peh): Signifies the universal corruption extending to their speech and communication, reflecting the internal depravity.

• speaks folly (דֹבֵ֥ר נִבְלָֽה - dover nivlah): To utter or declare nivlah, which refers to disgraceful, senseless, profane, or morally repulsive speech. It implies a lack of wisdom, truth, and respect for God's ways.

• Words-Group Analysis:

  • "Therefore the Lord will not rejoice over their young men, neither will he have mercy on their fatherless and widows": This phrase dramatically illustrates the extreme severity and total reach of God's judgment. By including the traditionally most vulnerable groups (young men representing future strength, and the fatherless/widows representing those usually under God's special protection), it signifies that the judgment is comprehensive and no segment of society is spared due to the pervasive sin.
  • "For every one is a hypocrite and an evildoer, and every mouth speaks folly": This clarifies the reason for such a drastic divine response. It's the universality of sin—not just actions, but also inner corruption ("hypocrite," "evildoer") and outward expression ("every mouth speaks folly"). This points to deep moral and spiritual decay within the entire nation.
  • "For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still": This recurring refrain throughout Isaiah 9 and 10 powerfully communicates the persistence and continuing nature of God's wrath. It means that prior judgments have not led to repentance, and God's judgment will continue to fall. The "stretched out hand" symbolizes God's active, continuous power, not for protection here, but for punitive action.

Isaiah 9 17 Bonus section

• The phrase "his hand is stretched out still" appears multiple times in Isaiah (Isa 5:25, 9:12, 9:17, 10:4), forming a literary device that underscores the unrelenting and persistent nature of God's judgment against an unrepentant Israel. Each instance serves as a tragic reminder that the previous blows have not yielded a change of heart, and more judgment is yet to come. This emphasizes a progressive revelation of wrath.
• The choice of "Adonai" rather than "Yahweh" for "the Lord" in this context is significant. While Yahweh highlights God's covenant relationship and faithfulness, Adonai (Master, Lord) emphasizes His ultimate authority and right to judge. In moments of severe judgment like this, using Adonai strengthens the message of divine sovereignty and justice over the covenant people.
• The withholding of mercy from the fatherless and widows implicitly challenges any superficial understanding of Israel's covenant relationship as a guaranteed shield from judgment, regardless of behavior. It polemicizes against the idea that God's inherent compassion overrides His justice in the face of widespread, unrepentant sin, even in the most protected categories. It shows that even those normally shown compassion will be caught up in the corporate consequences of a sin-riddled society.

Isaiah 9 17 Commentary

Isaiah 9:17 unveils a somber reality of divine judgment. God, acting as the sovereign Adonai, deliberately withholds His usual favor and deep compassion from His people. This denial is profound because it extends even to "young men," who represent a nation's future and strength, and strikingly, to the "fatherless and widows"—groups specifically commanded protection and consistently portrayed as recipients of God's special care and mercy. The justification for this unprecedented severity lies in the nation's profound and universal depravity: "everyone is a hypocrite and an evildoer," meaning their hearts are godless and their actions wicked. Moreover, their corruption permeates their speech, as "every mouth speaks folly"—uttering profane and morally vile things. The repeated refrain, "For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still," highlights that prior manifestations of divine displeasure have not led to national repentance. Therefore, the judgment is not just a singular event but an ongoing, unappeasable consequence of persistent rebellion, a continuing state of divine retribution. It underscores the profound seriousness of corporate sin and the inevitable consequences when a covenant people, despite warnings and a promise of a future Messiah, persist in deep moral decay.