Isaiah 9:2

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.

Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

הִרְבִּ֣יתָ הַגּ֔וֹי *לא **ל֖וֹ הִגְדַּ֣לְתָּ הַשִּׂמְחָ֑ה שָׂמְח֤וּ לְפָנֶ֙יךָ֙ כְּשִׂמְחַ֣ת בַּקָּצִ֔יר כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר יָגִ֖ילוּ בְּחַלְּקָ֥ם שָׁלָֽל׃

Transliteration

You hirbîtā the gôy [lō (not)/lô (to him)] you higdaltā the śimḥāh they śāməḥû before you like śimḥat in the qāṣîr as when they yāgîlû in their ḥalləqām šālāl.

Grammar Details

*hirbîtā*: verb, Hiphil, perfect, 2nd person, masculine, singular - you have multiplied/increased
*gôy*: noun, masculine, singular, absolute - nation
*lō/lô*: textual variant - either 'not' (לא) or 'to him' (לו)
*higdaltā*: verb, Hiphil, perfect, 2nd person, masculine, singular - you have made great/magnified
*śimḥāh*: noun, feminine, singular, absolute - joy/gladness
*śāməḥû*: verb, Qal, perfect, 3rd person, plural - they rejoiced
*śimḥat*: noun, feminine, singular, construct - joy of
*qāṣîr*: noun, masculine, singular, absolute - harvest
*yāgîlû*: verb, Qal, imperfect, 3rd person, masculine, plural - they rejoice/exult
*ḥalləqām*: verb, Piel, infinitive construct with 3rd person masculine plural suffix - their dividing
*šālāl*: noun, masculine, singular, absolute - spoil/plunder

Word Meanings

*hirbîtā*: multiplied/increased/made numerous
*gôy*: nation/people/gentiles
*lō/lô*: textual uncertainty - either 'not' or 'to him'
*śimḥāh*: joy/gladness/mirth
*yāgîlû*: rejoice/exult/be glad
*šālāl*: spoil/plunder/booty

ℹ️

About this Translation

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

Formal EquivalenceSource: American Standard VersionBest for: Word studies and original-language research

🎯 Translation Approach

A highly literal, word-for-word translation (ASV, 1901) augmented with Strong's numbering to connect English words to underlying Hebrew and Greek terms for study.

Word-for-word

5/5

Readability

2/5

💎 Distinctive Features

Integrated Strong's numbering: Links English terms to underlying Hebrew and Greek words for deeper lexical study.
Formal equivalence: Prioritizes close alignment with source-language forms and structures.
Divine name rendering: Frequently renders the Tetragrammaton as Jehovah in the Old Testament, following ASV tradition.
Study-focused formatting: Optimized for reference and research rather than casual reading.

✅ Strengths

High fidelity to original languages
Includes Strong's numbers for precise word study
Consistent lexical choices aid exegesis
Stable, longstanding scholarly text

⚠️ Considerations

Archaic language reduces readability
Older textual basis compared to some modern translations
Strong's numbers are a concordance index, not full lexical definitions

👥 Who is this for?

Ideal for

Pastors and teachers
Seminary students
Serious Bible students
Readers conducting word studies
Those referencing Hebrew/Greek tools

Consider alternatives for

Casual readers
Children and early teens
ESL learners seeking simple English
Readers preferring contemporary language

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Additional Resources

Referenced Verses

Matt 4:16 : 16 the people that sat in darkness saw a great light, and to them that sat in the region and shadow of death, to them did light spring up.
Eph 5:8 : 8 For ye were once darkness, but are now light in the Lord: walk as children of light
Luke 1:78-79 : 78 Because of the tender mercy of our God, Whereby the dayspring from on high shall visit us, 79 To shine upon them that sit in darkness and the shadow of death; To guide our feet into the way of peace.
Luke 2:32 : 32 A light for revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of thy people Israel.
John 8:12 : 12 Again therefore Jesus spake unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not {G3361} walk in the darkness, but shall have the light of life.
Job 10:21 : 21 Before I go whence I shall not return, [Even] to the land of darkness and of the shadow of death;
John 12:46 : 46 I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me may not abide in the darkness.
Ps 23:4 : 4 Yea, thou I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for thou art with me; Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me.
Ps 107:10 : 10 Such as sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, Being bound in affliction and iron,
Isa 9:1 : 1 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.
Isa 50:10 : 10 Who is among you that feareth Jehovah, that obeyeth the voice of his servant? he that walketh in darkness, and hath no light, let him trust in the name of Jehovah, and rely upon his God.
Isa 60:1-3 : 1 Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of Jehovah is risen upon thee. 2 For, behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the peoples; but Jehovah will arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. 3 And nations shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.
Isa 60:19 : 19 The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but Jehovah will be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory.
1 Pet 2:9 : 9 But ye are an elect race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a {G1519} people for [God's] own possession, that ye may show forth the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
1 John 1:5-7 : 5 And this is the message which we have heard from him and announce unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with him and walk in the darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 7 but if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus {G5547} his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
Eph 5:13-14 : 13 But all things when they are reproved are made manifest by the light: for everything that is made manifest is light. 14 Wherefore [he] saith, Awake, thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall shine upon thee.
John 12:35 : 35 Jesus therefore said unto them, Yet a little while is the light among you. Walk while ye have the light, that darkness overtake you not: and he that walketh in the darkness knoweth not whither he goeth.
Amos 5:8 : 8 [ seek him] that maketh the Pleiades and Orion, and turneth the shadow of death into the morning, and maketh the day dark with night; that calleth for the waters of the sea, and poureth them out upon the face of the earth (Jehovah is his name);
Mic 7:8-9 : 8 Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, Jehovah will be a light unto me. 9 I will bear the indignation of Jehovah, because I have sinned against him, until he plead my cause, and execute judgment for me: he will bring me forth to the light, [and] I shall behold his righteousness.
Ps 107:14 : 14 He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, And brake their bonds in sunder.

Similar Verses (AI)

These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.

Matt 4:14-16
3 verses
90%
14that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through Isaiah the prophet, saying,
15The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, Toward the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles,
16the people that sat in darkness saw a great light, and to them that sat in the region and shadow of death, to them did light spring up.
Isa 9:1
86%
1But 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.
Luke 1:78-79
2 verses
83%
78Because of the tender mercy of our God, Whereby the dayspring from on high shall visit us,
79To shine upon them that sit in darkness and the shadow of death; To guide our feet into the way of peace.
Luke 2:30-32
3 verses
78%
30For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,
31Which thou hast prepared before the face of all peoples;
32A light for revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of thy people Israel.
Isa 60:1-3
3 verses
78%
1Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of Jehovah is risen upon thee.
2For, behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the peoples; but Jehovah will arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.
3And nations shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.
Isa 9:3
76%
3Thou hast multiplied the nation, thou hast increased their joy: they joy before thee according to the joy in harvest, as men rejoice when they divide the spoil.
Isa 8:22
75%
22and they shall look unto the earth, and behold, distress and darkness, the gloom of anguish; and into thick darkness [they shall be] driven away.
Isa 2:5
74%
5O house of Jacob, come ye, and let us walk in the light of Jehovah.
John 1:5
74%
5And the light shineth in the darkness; and the darkness apprehended it not.
John 12:35-36
2 verses
74%
35Jesus therefore said unto them, Yet a little while is the light among you. Walk while ye have the light, that darkness overtake you not: and he that walketh in the darkness knoweth not whither he goeth.
36While ye have the light, believe on the light, that ye may become sons of light. These things spake Jesus, and he departed and hid himself from them.
John 1:9
73%
9There was the true light, [even the light] which lighteth every man, coming into the world.
Isa 49:9
73%
9saying to them that are bound, Go forth; to them that are in darkness, Show yourselves. They shall feed in the ways, and on all bare heights shall be their pasture.
Isa 29:18
73%
18And in that day shall the deaf hear the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity and out of darkness.
Job 10:22
73%
22The land dark as midnight, [The land] of the shadow of death, without any order, And where the light is as midnight.
Jer 13:16
72%
16Give glory to Jehovah your God, before he cause darkness, and before your feet stumble upon the dark mountains, and, while ye look for light, he turn it into the shadow of death, and make it gross darkness.
Isa 9:8
72%
8The Lord sent a word into Jacob, and it hath lighted upon Israel.
John 3:19
72%
19And this is the judgment, that the light is come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light; for their works were evil.
John 8:12
72%
12Again therefore Jesus spake unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not {G3361} walk in the darkness, but shall have the light of life.
Ps 89:15
72%
15Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: They walk, O Jehovah, in the light of thy countenance.
Luke 2:9
72%
9And {G2400} an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
Ps 107:10
71%
10Such as sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, Being bound in affliction and iron,
John 12:46
71%
46I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me may not abide in the darkness.
Isa 59:9
71%
9Therefore is justice far from us, neither doth righteousness overtake us: we look for light, but, behold, darkness; for brightness, but we walk in obscurity.
Isa 42:7
71%
7to open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, and them that sit in darkness out of the {H3608} prison-house.
Prov 13:9
70%
9The light of the righteous rejoiceth; But the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.
Ps 139:12
70%
12Even the darkness hideth not from thee, But the night shineth as the day: The darkness and the light are both alike [to thee].
Joel 2:2
70%
2a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness, as the dawn spread upon the mountains; a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after them, even to the years of many generations.
Isa 50:10
70%
10Who is among you that feareth Jehovah, that obeyeth the voice of his servant? he that walketh in darkness, and hath no light, let him trust in the name of Jehovah, and rely upon his God.
Lam 3:2
70%
2He hath led me and caused me to walk in darkness, and not in light.
Matt 2:9-10
2 verses
70%
9And they, having heard the king, went their way; and lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.
10And when they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
Luke 11:33
70%
33No man, when he hath lighted a lamp, putteth it in a cellar, neither under the bushel, but on the stand, that they which enter in may see the light.
Eph 5:8
70%
8For ye were once darkness, but are now light in the Lord: walk as children of light
Job 24:17
70%
17For the morning is to all of them as thick darkness; For they know the terrors of the thick darkness.
2 Cor 4:6
70%
6Seeing it is God, that said, Light shall shine out of darkness, who shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
Zech 14:6
70%
6And it shall come to pass in that day, that there shall not be light; the bright ones shall withdraw themselves:
Isa 8:20
70%
20To the law and to the testimony! if they speak not according to this word, surely there is no morning for them.
Matt 5:16
69%
16Even so let your light shine before men; that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
Isa 60:19
69%
19The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but Jehovah will be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory.
Luke 11:36
69%
36If therefore thy whole body be full of light, having no {G5100} part dark, it shall be wholly full of light, as when the lamp with its bright shining doth give thee light.
Isa 9:6
69%
6For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Ps 107:14
69%
14He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, And brake their bonds in sunder.