Isaiah 2 · Verse 9

Isaiah 2:9

And the mean man boweth down, and the great man humbleth himself: therefore forgive them not.
Isaiah 2:9, King James Version

Isaiah 2:9 in other translations

BSBSo mankind is brought low, and man is humbled— do not forgive them!
WEBMan is brought low, and mankind is humbled; therefore don’t forgive them.
ASVAnd the mean man is bowed down, and the great man is brought low: therefore forgive them not.
YLTAnd the low boweth down, and the high is humbled, And Thou acceptest them not.
DARBYAnd the mean man shall be bowed down, and the great man shall be brought low: and do not thou forgive them!
BBEAnd the poor man's head is bent, and the great man goes down on his face: for this cause there will be no forgiveness for their sin.
WebsterAnd the mean man boweth down, and the great man humbleth himself: therefore forgive them not.

What does Isaiah 2:9 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
9. mean--in rank: not morally base: opposed to "the great man." The former is in Hebrew, Adam, the latter, ish. boweth--namely, to idols. All ranks were idolaters. forgive ... not--a threat expressed by an imperative. Isaiah so identifies himself with God's will, that he prays for that which he knows God purposes. So Re 18:6.

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 9 Boweth down "Shall be bowed down" - This has reference to the preceding verse. They bowed themselves down to their idols, therefore shall they be bowed down and brought low under the avenging hand of God. Therefore forgive them not - "And thou wilt not forgive them." - L.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Isaiah 2:1-9

The conversion of the Gentiles, Description of the sinfulness of Israel. (Is. 2:1-9) The awful punishment of unbelievers. (Is. 2:10-22) Verses 1-9 The calling of the Gentiles, the spread of the gospel, and that far more extensive preaching of it yet to come, are foretold. Let Christians strengthen one another, and support one another. It is God who teaches his people, by his word and Spirit. Christ promotes peace…

Read the full comment on Isaiah 2:1-9 →

Isaiah 2:9 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.

וַיִּשַּׁ֥חvai.yi.Shachand he has been humbledH7817
אָדָ֖ם'a.DameveryoneH120
וַיִּשְׁפַּל\־vai.yish.pal-and he has become lowH8213
אִ֑ישׁ'IsheveryoneH376
וְאַל\־ve.'al-and may notH408
תִּשָּׂ֖אti.Sa'you forgiveH5375
לָהֶֽם\׃la.Hem<to> them

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

Cross references for Isaiah 2:9

  • Isaiah 5:15

    And the mean man shall be brought down, and the mighty man shall be humbled, and the eyes of the lofty shall be humbled:

  • Mark 3:29

    But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation:

  • Joshua 24:19

    And Joshua said unto the people, Ye cannot serve the Lord: for he is an holy God; he is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions nor your sins.

  • Nehemiah 4:5

    And cover not their iniquity, and let not their sin be blotted out from before thee: for they have provoked thee to anger before the builders.

  • Jeremiah 18:23

    Yet, Lord, thou knowest all their counsel against me to slay me: forgive not their iniquity, neither blot out their sin from thy sight, but let them be overthrown before thee; deal thus with them in the time of thine anger.

  • Romans 3:23

    For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

  • Isaiah 27:11

    When the boughs thereof are withered, they shall be broken off: the women come, and set them on fire: for it is a people of no understanding: therefore he that made them will not have mercy on them, and he that formed them will shew them no favour.

  • Psalms 62:9

    Surely men of low degree are vanity, and men of high degree are a lie: to be laid in the balance, they are altogether lighter than vanity.

  • Colossians 2:23

    Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.

  • Psalms 49:2

    Both low and high, rich and poor, together.

  • Isaiah 57:9

    And thou wentest to the king with ointment, and didst increase thy perfumes, and didst send thy messengers far off, and didst debase thyself even unto hell.

  • Colossians 2:18

    Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
the mean.
5:15; Ps 49:2; Jer 5:4,5; Ro 3:23; Re 6:15-17
humbleth.
57:9; Col 2:18,23
therefore.
27:11; Jos 24:19; Jer 18:23; Mr 3:29

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

Context

  • Isaiah 2:8

    Their land also is full of idols; they worship the work of their own hands, that which their own fingers have made:

  • Isaiah 2:9

    And the mean man boweth down, and the great man humbleth himself: therefore forgive them not.

  • Isaiah 2:10

    Enter into the rock, and hide thee in the dust, for fear of the Lord, and for the glory of his majesty.

Read all of Isaiah 2

Isaiah 2:9 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Y hase inclinado el hombre, y el varón se ha humillado: por tanto no los perdonarás.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Et l’homme du peuple se courbera, et le grand sera abaissé: et ne leur pardonne pas!
German
Elberfelder 1871
Und der Mensch wird gebeugt und der Mann erniedrigt werden; und du wirst ihnen nicht vergeben.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Et incurvavit se homo, et humiliatus est vir; ne ergo dimittas eis.