Isaiah 9:15
13 But the people did not return to Him who struck them; they did not seek the LORD of Hosts.
14 So the LORD will cut off Israel’s head and tail, both palm branch and reed in a single day.
The head is the elder and honorable man, and the tail is the prophet who teaches lies.
16 For those who guide this people mislead them, and those they mislead are swallowed up.
17 Therefore the Lord takes no pleasure in their young men; He has no compassion on their fatherless and widows. For every one of them is godless and wicked, and every mouth speaks folly. Despite all this, His anger is not turned away; His hand is still upraised.
This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- The head is the elder and honorable man, and the tail is the prophet who teaches lies.
- KJV
- The ancient and honourable, he is the head; and the prophet that teacheth lies, he is the tail.
- WEB
- The elder and the honorable man is the head, and the prophet who teaches lies is the tail.
- ASV
- The elder and the honorable man, he is the head; and the prophet that teacheth lies, he is the tail.
- DARBY
- the ancient and honourable, he is the head; and the prophet that teacheth lies, he is the tail.
- BLB
- The elder and the uplifted of face—he [is] the head; and the prophet teaching lies—he [is] the tail.
- ÅB
- Eldste og aktet mann er hodet, og en profet som lærer løgn, er halen.
- OTB
- Den eldste og ærefulle mannen er hodet, og profeten som lærer løgn er halen.
- B1930
- Eldste og aktet mann er hodet, og en profet som lærer løgn, er halen.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Matthew 24:24
For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders that would deceive even the elect, if that were possible.
Read in contextIsaiah 29:10
For the LORD has poured out on you a spirit of deep sleep. He has shut your eyes, O prophets; He has covered your heads, O seers.
Read in context2 Timothy 4:2–3
Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and encourage with every form of patient instruction.
Read in contextIsaiah 3:2–3
the mighty man and the warrior, the judge and the prophet, the soothsayer and the elder,
Read in context1 Samuel 9:6
“Look,” said the servant, “in this city there is a man of God who is highly respected; everything he says surely comes to pass. Let us go there now. Perhaps he will tell us which way to go.”
Read in contextJeremiah 29:21–22
This is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says about Ahab son of Kolaiah and Zedekiah son of Maaseiah, who are prophesying to you lies in My name: “I will deliver them to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and he will kill them before your very eyes.
Read in contextEzekiel 13:19
You have profaned Me among My people for handfuls of barley and scraps of bread. By lying to My people who would listen, you have killed those who should not have died and spared those who should not have lived.
Read in contextIsaiah 3:5
The people will oppress one another, man against man, neighbor against neighbor; the young will rise up against the old, and the base against the honorable.
Read in context