Isaiah 9:1

Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those in distress. In the past He humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future He will honor the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations:

2 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death, a light has dawned.

3 You have enlarged the nation and increased its joy. The people rejoice before You as they rejoice at harvest time, as men rejoice in dividing the plunder.

Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those in distress. In the past He humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future He will honor the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations:
KJV
Nevertheless the dimness shall not be such as was in her vexation, when at the first he lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, and afterward did more grievously afflict her by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, in Galilee of the nations.
WEB
But there shall be no more gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time, he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali; but in the latter time he has made it glorious, by the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.
ASV
But there shall be no gloom to her that was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali; but in the latter time hath he made it glorious, by the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.
DARBY
Nevertheless the darkness shall not be as when the distress was in the [land], at the time he at first lightly, and afterwards heavily, visited the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations:
BLB
But there is no gloom for the one who [is in] distress herself. In an earlier time He treated lightly the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, and afterward He will honor the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.
ÅB
For det skal ikke alltid være mørke for det land hvor det nå er trengsel; tidligere førte han[^1] vanære over Sebulons land og over Naftalis land, men i fremtiden skal han føre ære over det, over veien ved havet, landet på andre siden av Jordan, hedningenes Galilea[^2].
OTB
Men det skal ikke være mer mørke for dem som var i angst. I tidligere tider fornedret han landet Sebulon og landet Naftali, men i fremtiden skal han bringe ære til Galilea, ved havets vei, bortenfor Jordan.
B1930
For det skal ikke alltid være mørke for det land hvor det nu er trengsel; tidligere førte han vanære over Sebulons land og over Naftalis land, men i fremtiden skal han føre ære over det, over veien ved havet, landet på hin side Jordan, hedningenes Galilea. / < Herren.> / < Øvre Galilea, grenselandet mot hedningene. MTT 4, 15 fg.>

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Matthew 4:15–16

    “Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—

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  • 2 Kings 15:29

    In the days of Pekah king of Israel, Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria came and captured Ijon, Abel-beth-maacah, Janoah, Kedesh, Hazor, Gilead, and Galilee, including all the land of Naphtali, and he took the people as captives to Assyria.

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  • Isaiah 8:22

    Then they will look to the earth and see only distress and darkness and the gloom of anguish. And they will be driven into utter darkness.

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  • 1 Chronicles 5:26

    So the God of Israel stirred up the spirit of Pul king of Assyria (that is, Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria) to take the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh into exile. And he brought them to Halah, Habor, Hara, and the river of Gozan, where they remain to this day.

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  • 2 Chronicles 16:4

    And Ben-hadad listened to King Asa and sent the commanders of his armies against the cities of Israel, conquering Ijon, Dan, Abel-maim, and all the store cities of Naphtali.

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  • 2 Kings 17:5–6

    Then the king of Assyria invaded the whole land, marched up to Samaria, and besieged it for three years.

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  • 1 Kings 15:19–20

    “Let there be a treaty between me and you, between my father and your father. See, I have sent you a gift of silver and gold. Now go and break your treaty with Baasha king of Israel, so that he will withdraw from me.”

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  • Leviticus 26:28

    then I will walk in fury against you, and I, even I, will punish you sevenfold for your sins.

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