Isaiah 1 · Verse 9

Isaiah 1:9

Except the Lord of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, and we should have been like unto Gomorrah.
Isaiah 1:9, King James Version

Isaiah 1:9 in other translations

BSBUnless the LORD of Hosts had left us a few survivors, we would have become like Sodom, we would have resembled Gomorrah.
WEBUnless the LORD of Armies had left to us a very small remnant, we would have been as Sodom. We would have been like Gomorrah.
ASVExcept Jehovah of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, we should have been like unto Gomorrah.
YLTUnless Jehovah of Hosts had left to us a remnant, Shortly--as Sodom we had been, To Gomorrah we had been like!
DARBYUnless Jehovah of hosts had left us a very small residue, we should have been as Sodom, we should have been like unto Gomorrah.
BBEIf the Lord of armies had not kept some at least of us safe, we would have been like Sodom, and the fate of Gomorrah would have been ours.
WebsterExcept the LORD of hosts had left to us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom; we should have been like Gomorrah.

What does Isaiah 1:9 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
9. Jehovah of Sabaoth, that is, God of the angelic and starry hosts (Psa 59:5; 147:4; 148:2). The latter were objects of idolatry, called hence Sabaism (2Ki 17:16). God is above even them (1Ch 16:26). "The groves" were symbols of these starry hosts; it was their worship of Sabaoth instead of the Lord of Sabaoth, which had caused the present desolation (2Ch 24:18). It needed no less a power than His, to preserve even a "remnant." Condescending grace for the elect's sake, since He has no need of us, seeing that He has countless hosts to serve Him.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 9 The Lord of hosts "Jehovah God of hosts" - As this title of God, יהוה צבאות Yehovah tsebaoth, "Jehovah of hosts, occurs here for the first time, I think it proper to note, that I translate it always, as in this place, "Jehovah God of hosts;" taking it as an elliptical expression for יהוה אלהי צבאות Yehovah Elohey tsebaoth. This title imports that Jehovah is the God or Lord of hosts or armies; as he is the Creator and Supreme Governor of all beings in heaven and earth, and disposeth and ruleth them all in their several orders and stations; the almighty, universal Lord. We should have been as Sodom - As completely and finally ruined as that and the cities of the plain were, no vestige of which remains at this day.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Isaiah 1:1-9

The corruptions prevailing among the Jews. (Is. 1:1-9) Severe censures. (Is. 1:10-15) Exhortations to repentance. (Is. 1:16-20) The state of Judah is lamented; with gracious promises of the gospel times. (Is. 1:21-31) Verses 1-9 Isaiah signifies, "The salvation of the Lord;" a very suitable name for this prophet, who prophesies so much of Jesus the Saviour, and his salvation. God's professing people did not know or…

Read the full comment on Isaiah 1:1-9 →

Isaiah 1:9 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

לוּלֵי֙lu.Leiif notH3884
יְהוָ֣הYah.wehYahwehH3068
צְבָא֔וֹתtze.va.'otof hostsH6635
הוֹתִ֥ירho.Tirhe had leftH3498
לָ֛נוּLa.nuto us
שָׂרִ֖ידsa.Ridsurvivor[s]H8300
כִּמְעָ֑טkim.'Atlike a littleH4592
כִּסְדֹ֣םkis.Domlike SodomH5467
הָיִ֔ינוּha.Yi.nuwe wereH1961
לַעֲמֹרָ֖הla.'a.mo.Rah<to> GomorrahH6017
דָּמִֽינוּ\׃\ \סda.Mi.nuwe were likeH1819

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Isaiah 1:9

  • Romans 9:29

    And as Esaias said before, Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, we had been as Sodoma, and been made like unto Gomorrha.

  • Isaiah 37:31-32

    And the remnant that is escaped of the house of Judah shall again take root downward, and bear fruit upward: For out of Jerusalem shall go forth a remnant, and they that escape out of mount Zion: the zeal of the Lord of hosts shall do this.

  • Genesis 19:24

    Then the Lord rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the Lord out of heaven;

  • Lamentations 3:22

    It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.

  • Romans 11:4-6

    But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal. Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.

  • Amos 4:11

    I have overthrown some of you, as God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, and ye were as a firebrand plucked out of the burning: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the Lord.

  • Isaiah 10:20-22

    And it shall come to pass in that day, that the remnant of Israel, and such as are escaped of the house of Jacob, shall no more again stay upon him that smote them; but shall stay upon the Lord, the Holy One of Israel, in truth. The remnant shall return, even the remnant of Jacob, unto the mighty God. For though thy people Israel be as the sand of the sea, yet a remnant of them shall return: the consumption decreed shall overflow with righteousness.

  • Genesis 18:32

    And he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak yet but this once: Peradventure ten shall be found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for ten’s sake.

  • Isaiah 37:4

    It may be the Lord thy God will hear the words of Rabshakeh, whom the king of Assyria his master hath sent to reproach the living God, and will reprove the words which the Lord thy God hath heard: wherefore lift up thy prayer for the remnant that is left.

  • Isaiah 17:6

    Yet gleaning grapes shall be left in it, as the shaking of an olive tree, two or three berries in the top of the uppermost bough, four or five in the outmost fruitful branches thereof, saith the Lord God of Israel.

  • Isaiah 24:13

    When thus it shall be in the midst of the land among the people, there shall be as the shaking of an olive tree, and as the gleaning grapes when the vintage is done.

  • Isaiah 6:13

    But yet in it shall be a tenth, and it shall return, and shall be eaten: as a teil tree, and as an oak, whose substance is in them, when they cast their leaves: so the holy seed shall be the substance thereof.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
left.
La 3:22; Hab 3:2; Ro 9:29
a very.
6:13; 10:22; 17:6; 24:13; 37:4,31,32; 1Ki 19:18; Eze 6:8; 14:22
Joe 2:32; Zec 13:8,9; Mt 7:14; Ro 9:27; 11:4-6
we should.
Ge 18:26,32; 19:24; De 29:23; La 4:6; Am 4:11; Zep 2:9; Lu 17:29,30
2Pe 2:6

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Isaiah 1:8

    And the daughter of Zion is left as a cottage in a vineyard, as a lodge in a garden of cucumbers, as a besieged city.

  • Isaiah 1:9

    Except the Lord of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, and we should have been like unto Gomorrah.

  • Isaiah 1:10

    Hear the word of the Lord, ye rulers of Sodom; give ear unto the law of our God, ye people of Gomorrah.

Read all of Isaiah 1

Isaiah 1:9 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Si Jehová de los ejércitos no hubiera hecho que nos quedasen muy cortos residuos, como Sodoma fuéramos, y semejantes á Gomorra.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Si l’ Éternel des armées ne nous avait laissé un bien petit résidu, nous aurions été comme Sodome, nous ressemblerions à Gomorrhe.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Wenn Jehova der Heerscharen uns nicht einen gar kleinen Überrest gelassen hätte, wie Sodom wären wir, Gomorra gleich geworden.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Nisi Dominus exercituum reliquisset nobis semen, quasi Sodoma fuissemus, et quasi Gomorrha similes essemus.