Isaiah 59:9
Isaiah 59:9 in Multiple Translations
Therefore justice is far from us, and righteousness does not reach us. We hope for light, but there is darkness; for brightness, but we walk in gloom.
¶ Therefore is judgment far from us, neither doth justice overtake us: we wait for light, but behold obscurity; for brightness, but we walk in darkness.
Therefore is justice far from us, neither doth righteousness overtake us: we look for light, but, behold, darkness; for brightness, but we walk in obscurity.
For this cause our right is far from us, and righteousness does not overtake us: we are looking for light, but there is only the dark; for the shining of the sun, but our way is in the night.
So that's why we don't have justice, and we don't do what's right. We look for the light, but only find the dark; we look for bright light, but we walk in deep darkness.
Therefore is iudgement farre from vs, neither doeth iustice come neere vnto vs: we waite for light, but loe, it is darkenesse: for brightnesse, but we walke in darkenesse.
Therefore hath judgment been far from us, And righteousness reacheth us not, We wait for light, and lo, darkness, For brightness — in thick darkness we go,
Therefore justice is far from us, and righteousness doesn’t overtake us. We look for light, but see darkness; for brightness, but we walk in obscurity.
Therefore is judgment far from us, neither doth justice overtake us: we wait for light, but behold obscurity; for brightness, but we walk in darkness.
Therefore is judgment far from us, and justice shall not overtake us. We looked for light, and behold darkness: brightness, and we have walked in the dark.
Because of that, God does not rescue us from our enemies; it seems that he is not acting fairly/righteously toward us. We expect God to give us light, but all he gives us is darkness [DOU].
Berean Amplified Bible — Isaiah 59:9
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Isaiah 59:9 Interlinear (Deep Study)
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Hebrew Word Reference — Isaiah 59:9
Study Notes — Isaiah 59:9
- Context
- Cross References
- Isaiah 59:9 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Isaiah 59:9
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Isaiah 59:9
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Isaiah 59:9
- Trapp's Commentary on Isaiah 59:9
- Ellicott's Commentary on Isaiah 59:9
- Cambridge Bible on Isaiah 59:9
- Barnes' Notes on Isaiah 59:9
- Whedon's Commentary on Isaiah 59:9
- Sermons on Isaiah 59:9
Context — Sin Separates Us from God
9Therefore justice is far from us, and righteousness does not reach us. We hope for light, but there is darkness; for brightness, but we walk in gloom.
10Like the blind, we feel our way along the wall, groping like those without eyes. We stumble at midday as in the twilight; among the vigorous we are like the dead. 11We all growl like bears and moan like doves. We hope for justice, but find none, for salvation, but it is far from us.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Isaiah 5:30 | In that day they will roar over it, like the roaring of the sea. If one looks over the land, he will see darkness and distress; even the light will be obscured by clouds. |
| 2 | Job 30:26 | But when I hoped for good, evil came; when I looked for light, darkness fell. |
| 3 | Lamentations 5:16–17 | The crown has fallen from our head. Woe to us, for we have sinned! Because of this, our hearts are faint; because of these, our eyes grow dim— |
| 4 | 1 Thessalonians 5:3 | While people are saying, “Peace and security,” destruction will come upon them suddenly, like labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. |
| 5 | Amos 5:18–20 | Woe to you who long for the Day of the LORD! What will the Day of the LORD be for you? It will be darkness and not light. It will be like a man who flees from a lion, only to encounter a bear, or who enters his house and rests his hand against the wall, only to be bitten by a snake. Will not the Day of the LORD be darkness and not light, even gloom with no brightness in it? |
| 6 | Jeremiah 8:15 | We hoped for peace, but no good has come, for a time of healing, but there was only terror. |
| 7 | Habakkuk 1:13 | Your eyes are too pure to look upon evil, and You cannot tolerate wrongdoing. So why do You tolerate the faithless? Why are You silent while the wicked swallow up those more righteous than themselves? |
| 8 | Jeremiah 14:19 | Have You rejected Judah completely? Do You despise Zion? Why have You stricken us so that we are beyond healing? We hoped for peace, but no good has come, and for the time of healing, but there was only terror. |
| 9 | Micah 1:12 | For the dwellers of Maroth pined for good, but calamity came down from the LORD, even to the gate of Jerusalem. |
Isaiah 59:9 Summary
[Isaiah 59:9 tells us that when we turn away from God's ways, true justice and righteousness seem very far away, much like a distant dream that we cannot reach. This is because our sinful nature leads us to walk in spiritual darkness, rather than in the light of God's guidance, as seen in Psalm 119:105. As a result, we may feel lost and uncertain, like we are walking in gloom, but the good news is that Jesus is the light of the world, and those who follow Him will have the light of life, as stated in John 8:12. By seeking God and His righteousness, we can find our way out of the darkness and into the light of His love and guidance.]
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean that justice is far from us in Isaiah 59:9?
This phrase indicates that true justice, which is rooted in God's righteousness, seems unattainable to the people, as they have turned away from God's ways, much like it is written in Isaiah 57:12 that their deeds will not profit them, and also as seen in Jeremiah 22:3, where we are reminded to do justice and righteousness.
Why does the verse say we hope for light but there is darkness?
This expression highlights the contrast between the people's expectations of spiritual enlightenment and the reality of their spiritual darkness, which is a result of their sinful nature, as also described in Ephesians 5:8, where we learn to walk as children of light.
What does it mean to walk in gloom?
Walking in gloom signifies a state of confusion, uncertainty, and spiritual blindness, where the people are unable to discern right from wrong, much like the condition described in Psalm 82:5, where the foundations of the earth are out of course due to lack of knowledge of God.
How does this verse relate to our lives today?
This verse serves as a reminder that when we stray from God's path, we can expect to experience spiritual darkness and confusion, but as it is written in John 8:12, Jesus is the light of the world, and those who follow Him will not walk in darkness but have the light of life.
Reflection Questions
- In what ways can I be seeking light and brightness in my life, but still walking in gloom due to unrepented sin or disobedience?
- How does my daily life reflect either the presence of God's justice and righteousness or the absence of it?
- What are some areas in my life where I am hoping for light and guidance from God, and how can I seek His illumination?
- In what ways can I practically apply the principles of justice and righteousness in my relationships and community, as instructed in Micah 6:8?
Gill's Exposition on Isaiah 59:9
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Isaiah 59:9
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Isaiah 59:9
Trapp's Commentary on Isaiah 59:9
Ellicott's Commentary on Isaiah 59:9
Cambridge Bible on Isaiah 59:9
Barnes' Notes on Isaiah 59:9
Whedon's Commentary on Isaiah 59:9
Sermons on Isaiah 59:9
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
God Seeks a Man of Prayer by Alan Redpath | In this sermon, the speaker reflects on the lack of justice and salvation in the world, drawing parallels to historical events such as the Vietnam War, the tragedy of the boat peop |
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Zeal for God's House by Zac Poonen | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of being zealous and passionate for God's glory. He encourages listeners to refocus their vision and recognize the shortness o |
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A Revival Sermon (Compilation) by Compilations | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the negative influence of worldly distractions, particularly television, on one's spiritual life. He argues that giving one's heart to world |
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When the Enemy Comes in Like a Flood - Part 2 by Carter Conlon | This sermon emphasizes the futility of seeking happiness and peace in worldly pursuits, highlighting the emptiness and temporary nature of such endeavors. It delves into the societ |
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(God and Man) Zeal for God's House by Zac Poonen | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of being zealous and passionate in our faith. He encourages listeners to refocus their vision and recognize the shortness of t |
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The Secret of Holiness by Dennis Kinlaw | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of finding just one person who deals honestly and seeks the truth in order to bring salvation and forgiveness to a city. The s |
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Get Ready to Laugh With God by Carter Conlon | This sermon from Psalms 2 emphasizes the importance of trusting in God's sovereignty amidst societal challenges and the need for the Church to be a restraining influence against ev |





