The Meaning of Isaiah 9:11 Explained

Isaiah 9:11

KJV: Therefore the LORD shall set up the adversaries of Rezin against him, and join his enemies together;

YLT: And Jehovah setteth the adversaries of Rezin on high above him, And his enemies he joineth together,

Darby: And Jehovah will set up the adversaries of Rezin against him, and arm his enemies,

ASV: Therefore Jehovah will set up on high against him the adversaries of Rezin, and will stir up his enemies,

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Therefore the LORD  shall set up  the adversaries  of Rezin  against him, and join  his enemies  together; 

What does Isaiah 9:11 Mean?

Context Summary

Isaiah 9:8-17 - False Leadership Brings Ruin
The grievous sins of the Chosen People are again enumerated. They defied God, Isaiah 8:9-10. They refused to repent; they were blind and deaf and profane, Isaiah 8:13. Their religious and political leaders led them astray, Isaiah 8:16. What could they expect but the letting loose of the judgments of the Almighty!
Isaiah's protests were disregarded, and 2 Kings 15:1-38 tells the sequel. It seems very terrible. But what would the forest-glades become if there were not a perfect machinery for the instant removal of all traces of disease, decay, and death! What is true in the physical is true also in the moral sphere. When a nation has ceased to help, and has commenced to impede the progress of humanity, it must be put out of the way. [source]

Chapter Summary: Isaiah 9

1  What joy shall be in the midst of afflictions, by the birth and kingdom of Christ
8  The judgments upon Israel for their pride
13  For their hypocrisy
18  And for their unrepentance

What do the individual words in Isaiah 9:11 mean?

Therefore shall set up Yahweh - the adversaries of Rezin against him and his enemies spur on
וַיְשַׂגֵּ֧ב יְהוָ֛ה אֶת־ צָרֵ֥י רְצִ֖ין עָלָ֑יו וְאֶת־ אֹיְבָ֖יו יְסַכְסֵֽךְ

וַיְשַׂגֵּ֧ב  Therefore  shall  set  up 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Piel, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שָׂגַב  
Sense: to be high, be inaccessibly high.
יְהוָ֛ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
צָרֵ֥י  the  adversaries 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: צַר 
Sense: narrow, tight.
רְצִ֖ין  of  Rezin 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: רְצִין  
Sense: king of Damascus during the reigns of kings Jotham and Ahaz of Judah.
עָלָ֑יו  against  him 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
אֹיְבָ֖יו  his  enemies 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: אֹיֵב  
Sense: (Qal) enemy.
יְסַכְסֵֽךְ  spur  on 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: סוּךְ 
Sense: (Qal) to hedge, fence about, shut in.