The Meaning of Isaiah 8:9 Explained

Isaiah 8:9

KJV: Associate yourselves, O ye people, and ye shall be broken in pieces; and give ear, all ye of far countries: gird yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces; gird yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces.

YLT: Be friends, O nations, and be broken, And give ear, all ye far off ones of earth, Gird yourselves, and be broken, Gird yourselves, and be broken.

Darby: Rage, ye peoples, and be broken in pieces! And give ear, all ye distant parts of the earth: Gird yourselves, and be broken in pieces; gird yourselves, and be broken in pieces!

ASV: Make an uproar, O ye peoples, and be broken in pieces; and give ear, all ye of far countries: gird yourselves, and be broken in pieces; gird yourselves, and be broken in pieces.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Associate  yourselves, O ye people,  and ye shall be broken in pieces;  and give ear,  all  ye of far  countries:  gird  yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces;  gird  yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces. 

What does Isaiah 8:9 Mean?

Context Summary

Isaiah 8:5-18 - Fear God's Power, Not Man's
It seems likely that Syria and Samaria attacked Ahaz because he would not join in a federation against the growing power of Assyria. A strong party seems to have pressed this policy on him, but in all such schemes they repudiated the Divine Protection, Isaiah 8:6. Compare Psalms 46:4. Ahaz and the court party on the other hand, sought to federate with Assyria. But Isaiah never ceased to urge that the true line of defense was to put away whatever was inconsistent with the fear of God. He would be the sanctuary of defense and hiding in the day of trouble, Isaiah 8:13-14. We learn from Hebrews 2:13, how absolutely, when speaking thus, the prophet was being prompted by the Holy Spirit. If men will not build on God's foundation-stone, they fall over it to their hurt. Compare Isaiah 8:15 and Matthew 21:44. Are we not all in danger of substituting human alliances for federation and union with the eternal God? Let our fellowship be with the Father and the Son; and let us wait for Him till the day dawn and the day star shines, 2 Peter 1:19. [source]

Chapter Summary: Isaiah 8

1  In Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz, he prophesies Syria and Israel shall be subdued by Assyria
5  Judah likewise for their infidelity
9  God's judgments shall be irresistible
11  Comfort shall be to those who fear God
19  Great afflictions to idolaters

What do the individual words in Isaiah 8:9 mean?

Be shattered you peoples and be broken in pieces and Give ear all you from far countries Gird yourselves but be broken in pieces Gird yourselves but be broken in pieces
רֹ֤עוּ עַמִּים֙ וָחֹ֔תּוּ וְהַֽאֲזִ֔ינוּ כֹּ֖ל מֶרְחַקֵּי־ אָ֑רֶץ הִתְאַזְּר֣וּ וָחֹ֔תּוּ הִֽתְאַזְּר֖וּ וָחֹֽתּוּ

רֹ֤עוּ  Be  shattered 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine plural
Root: מֵרֵעַ 
Sense: to be bad, be evil.
עַמִּים֙  you  peoples 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: עַם 
Sense: nation, people.
וָחֹ֔תּוּ  and  be  broken  in  pieces 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine plural
Root: חָתַת  
Sense: to be shattered, be dismayed, be broken, be abolished, be afraid.
וְהַֽאֲזִ֔ינוּ  and  Give  ear 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Imperative, masculine plural
Root: אָזַן  
Sense: to hear, listen.
מֶרְחַקֵּי־  you  from  far 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: מֶרְחָק  
Sense: distant place, distance, far country.
אָ֑רֶץ  countries 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.
הִתְאַזְּר֣וּ  Gird  yourselves 
Parse: Verb, Hitpael, Imperative, masculine plural
Root: אָזַר  
Sense: gird, encompass, equip, clothe.
וָחֹ֔תּוּ  but  be  broken  in  pieces 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine plural
Root: חָתַת  
Sense: to be shattered, be dismayed, be broken, be abolished, be afraid.
הִֽתְאַזְּר֖וּ  Gird  yourselves 
Parse: Verb, Hitpael, Imperative, masculine plural
Root: אָזַר  
Sense: gird, encompass, equip, clothe.
וָחֹֽתּוּ  but  be  broken  in  pieces 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine plural
Root: חָתַת  
Sense: to be shattered, be dismayed, be broken, be abolished, be afraid.