6 Wail, for the day of the LORD is at hand! It will come as destruction from the Almighty. 7 Therefore all hands will be limp, Every man’s heart will melt, 8 And they will be afraid. Pangs and sorrows will take hold of them; They will be in pain as a woman in childbirth; They will be amazed at one another; Their faces will be like flames. Isaiah 13:6–8 (NKJV)

6 Wail, for the day of the Lord is near, and a crushing will come from God. 7 Because of this, every hand will be set free, and every soul of humanity will fear. 8 The elders will be troubled, and pangs will take hold of them like those of a woman giving birth, and they will wail one to another; and they will be amazed, and like a flame they will change their face. Isaiah 13:6–8 (LES2) 

9 Behold, the day of the LORD comes, Cruel, with both wrath and fierce anger, To lay the land desolate; And He will destroy its sinners from it. 10 For the stars of heaven and their constellations Will not give their light; The sun will be darkened in its going forth, And the moon will not cause its light to shine. Isaiah 13:9–10 (NKJV)

9 For look! An incurable day of the Lord, of wrath and of anger, is coming to make the inhabited land desolate and to destroy the sinners from it. 10 For the stars of the heavens and Orion and all the world of the heavens will not give light, and it will be darkened when the sun rises, and the moon will not give its light. Isaiah 13:9–10 (LES2)

11 “I will punish the world for its evil, And the wicked for their iniquity; I will halt the arrogance of the proud, And will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible. 12 I will make a mortal more rare than fine gold, A man more than the golden wedge of Ophir. 13 Therefore I will shake the heavens, And the earth will move out of her place, In the wrath of the LORD of hosts And in the day of His fierce anger. Isaiah 13:11–13 (NKJV)

11 And I will command disaster for the whole inhabited land and for the impious people, their sins; and I will destroy lawless people’s insolence, and I will bring low the insolence of arrogant people. 12 And those left behind will be more valued than unsmelted gold, and a person will be more valued than the stone in Ophir. 13 For the heavens will be angry, and the earth will be shaken from its foundations because of Lord Sabaoth’s wrathful anger on the day when his wrath comes. Isaiah 13:11–13 (LES2)

14 It shall be as the hunted gazelle, And as a sheep that no man takes up; Every man will turn to his own people, And everyone will flee to his own land. 15 Everyone who is found will be thrust through, And everyone who is captured will fall by the sword. 16 Their children also will be dashed to pieces before their eyes; Their houses will be plundered And their wives ravished. Isaiah 13:14–16 (NKJV)

14 And those left behind will be like a little gazelle fleeing and like a wandering sheep, and there will be no one who gathers them, so that a person will be turned back to his people, and a person will be chased into his own territory. 15 For whoever is caught will be defeated, and those who are gathered together will fall by the sword. 16 And they will strike their children in front of them, and they will plunder their houses, and they will possess their women. Isaiah 13:14–16 (LES2)

17 “Behold, I will stir up the Medes against them, Who will not regard silver; And as for gold, they will not delight in it. 18 Also their bows will dash the young men to pieces, And they will have no pity on the fruit of the womb; Their eye will not spare children. 19 And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, The beauty of the Chaldeans’ pride, Will be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah. Isaiah 13:17–19 (NKJV)

17 Look, I am rousing against you the Medes, who do not regard silver or have need of gold. 18 They will crush young men’s arrows, and they will surely show no mercy to your children; their eyes will not refrain even at your children. 19 And Babylon, which is called esteemed from the king of the Chaldeans, will be the way God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah. Isaiah 13:17–19 (LES2)

20 It will never be inhabited, Nor will it be settled from generation to generation; Nor will the Arabian pitch tents there, Nor will the shepherds make their sheepfolds there. 21 But wild beasts of the desert will lie there, And their houses will be full of owls; Ostriches will dwell there, And wild goats will caper there. 22 The hyenas will howl in their citadels, And jackals in their pleasant palaces. Her time is near to come, And her days will not be prolonged.” Isaiah 13:20–22 (NKJV)

20 It will not be inhabited for eternity, nor will they enter it for many generations, nor will Arabians go through it, nor will shepherds by any means rest in it. 21 And wild animals will rest there, and the houses will be filled with sound; and Sirens will rest there, and divine beings will dance there. 22 And donkey-centaurs will settle there, and hedgehogs will make dens among their houses. It is coming quickly, and it will not delay. Isaiah 13:20–22 (LES2)

This is about Babylon. The MT often seems to reword what looks like the more literal rendering of the Paleo-Hebrew that is found in the LXX to make it sound or “flow” better, as well as elevate Israel and obscure Christ. 

A siren can also be translated jackal. However, much that is found here in the LXX speaks of evil spiritual beings inhabiting fallen Babylon. For example, what is translated into English as “divine beings” really means demons. No doubt they were there before its fall, too. The MT renders all these inhabitants as animals.

1 For the LORD will have mercy on Jacob, and will still choose Israel, and settle them in their own land. The strangers will be joined with them, and they will cling to the house of Jacob. 2 Then people will take them and bring them to their place, and the house of Israel will possess them for servants and maids in the land of the LORD; they will take them captive whose captives they were, and rule over their oppressors. Isaiah 14:1–2 (NKJV)

1 And the Lord will show mercy to Jacob, and he will again choose Israel; and they will rest in their land, and Gioras will be added to them, and he will be added to the house of Jacob. 2 And nations will take them and lead them into their place, and they will inherit and increase in the land as bondmen and bondwomen; and those who captured them will be captives, and those who dominated them will be dominated. Isaiah 14:1–2 (LES2)

3 It shall come to pass in the day the LORD gives you rest from your sorrow, and from your fear and the hard bondage in which you were made to serve, 4 that you will take up this proverb against the king of Babylon, and say: “How the oppressor has ceased, The golden city ceased! 5 The LORD has broken the staff of the wicked, The scepter of the rulers; 6 He who struck the people in wrath with a continual stroke, He who ruled the nations in anger, Is persecuted and no one hinders. 7 The whole earth is at rest and quiet; They break forth into singing. 8 Indeed the cypress trees rejoice over you, And the cedars of Lebanon, Saying, ‘Since you were cut down, No woodsman has come up against us.’ Isaiah 14:3–8 (NKJV)

3 And this will happen in that day: The Lord will give you rest from your pain and wrath, from your hard servitude with which you served them. 4 And you will take up this dirge over the king of Babylon, and you will say, “How the demander has stopped, and the taskmaster has stopped! 5 The Lord has crushed the yoke of the sinful, the yoke of the rulers. 6 After striking a nation in wrath with an incurable blow, hitting a nation with a blow of wrath that he did not spare, he rested, confident. 7 All the land cries out with cheer. 8 And the trees of Lebanon were cheerful at you, and the cedar of Lebanon: ‘Since you fell asleep, the one who strikes us has not gone up.’ Isaiah 14:3–8 (LES2)

In verse 3, we see the difference in wording that is common when comparing the MT with the LXX. Perhaps the ancient now-dead Phoenician Paleo-Hebrew was difficult to translate into the more modern Aramaic version of Hebrew and into Greek. 

In verse 4, the MT says “proverb,” but the LXX says “dirge,” as would be sung at a funeral. The MT replaces “taskmaster” with “golden city,” which appears to be an editorial insertion.

In verse 5, the LXX uses “yoke” twice, which the MT chooses to render as “staff” and “scepter.”

The MT seems to mix and match verses 6 and 7. The MT rendering of verse 8 seems good.

9 “Hell from beneath is excited about you, To meet you at your coming; It stirs up the dead for you, All the chief ones of the earth; It has raised up from their thrones All the kings of the nations. 10 They all shall speak and say to you: ‘Have you also become as weak as we? Have you become like us? 11 Your pomp is brought down to Sheol, And the sound of your stringed instruments; The maggot is spread under you, And worms cover you.’ Isaiah 14:9–11 (NKJV)

9 Hades below was embittered after meeting you; all the giants who ruled the land, who roused all the kings of the nations from their thrones, rose together with you. 10 All will answer and will say to you, ‘Even you were taken, just as we also were, and you were counted among us.’ 11 Your glory, your abundant cheer, went down into Hades; beneath you they will spread decay, and your covering will be a worm. Isaiah 14:9–11 (LES2)

When I compare passages like this one, it makes me wonder if the Masoretes even used the same source documents. Perhaps they simply took tremendous editorial license. Whatever the case, the two do not match well.

Perhaps “disturbed” would be a better English word to translate the Hebrew “ragaz.” That would more nearly match the LXX’s “embittered.” The next part of verse 9 in the MT bears no resemblance to the LXX. I believe the LXX is the most reliable translation of the ancient Paleo-Hebrew because it was done centuries before Christ, and the early church relied upon it, quoting it in the New Testament. Therefore, I accept the LXX version in this passage. That being so, verse 9 seems to indicate that even hell was upset with Babylon. The “giants” make us think of those offspring of the fallen angels mentioned in Genesis, the nephilim, who seemed to still be around in some form or another. Evil principalities and powers seem to rule over geographical areas. Perhaps there is some connection. By some evil means, the nations joined Babylon in rising up. These kings were amazed that even the great Babylon was eventually brought low and taken.

12 “How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, You who weakened the nations! 13 For you have said in your heart: ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation On the farthest sides of the north; 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.’ 15 Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, To the lowest depths of the Pit. Isaiah 14:12–15 (NKJV)

12 How the dawn-bringer, who rises early, fell from the heavens; the one who sends to all the nations was crushed into the earth. 13 But you said in your mind, ‘I will go up into the heavens; above the stars of the heavens I will set my throne! I will sit on a high mountain, upon the high mountains toward the north. 14 I will go up above the clouds; I will be like the Most High!’ 15 But now you will go down into Hades, and into the foundations of the earth. Isaiah 14:12–15 (LES2)

The Greek word that the LXX translates as “dawn bringer” is eosphoros, which literally means “dawn light bringer.” The Hebrew in the MT literally translates as “shining one, son of the dawn.”

This shining one or light bringer fell from the heavens, which connects to Jesus’ statement about Satan.

18 And He said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Luke 10:18 (NKJV)

Shining one, light bringer, and lightning all refer to Satan, who at one time must have shown with the glory of God. Now his light is deceptive, as Paul warned.

14 And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. 2 Corinthians 11:14 (NKJV)

The MT calls the “high mountains” in verse 13 “the mount of congregation,” apparently wanting to draw attention, once again, to Israel. 

In verse 15, the MT changes the LXX’s “foundations of the earth” into “the lowest depths of the Pit.”

16 “Those who see you will gaze at you, And consider you, saying: ‘Is this the man who made the earth tremble, Who shook kingdoms, 17 Who made the world as a wilderness And destroyed its cities, Who did not open the house of his prisoners?’ Isaiah 14:16–17 (NKJV)

16 Those who see you will be astonished at you and say ‘Is this the person who provokes the land, shaking kings, 17 making the whole inhabited land desolate? And he brought down its cities; he did not release those under attack.’ Isaiah 14:16–17 (LES2)

This passage is mostly in agreement.

18 “All the kings of the nations, All of them, sleep in glory, Everyone in his own house; 19 But you are cast out of your grave Like an abominable branch, Like the garment of those who are slain, Thrust through with a sword, Who go down to the stones of the pit, Like a corpse trodden underfoot. 20 You will not be joined with them in burial, Because you have destroyed your land And slain your people. The brood of evildoers shall never be named. 21 Prepare slaughter for his children Because of the iniquity of their fathers, Lest they rise up and possess the land, And fill the face of the world with cities.” Isaiah 14:18–21 (NKJV)

18 All the nations’ kings fell asleep in honor, each person in his house. 19 But you will be thrown among the mountains like a loathed corpse, along with many dead, stabbed by swords, going down into the netherworld. The way a blood-stained garment will not be clean, 20 so neither will be you clean, for you destroyed my land and you killed my people. You will certainly not remain into eternity, evil seed! 21 Prepare your children to be slaughtered for the sins of their father, so that they might not rise and inherit the land and fill the land with war. Isaiah 14:18–21 (LES2)

Verse 18 agrees for the most part. Verse 19, however, does not. The MT’s “thrown out of the grave” does not resemble the LXX’s “thrown among the mountains,” and “abominable branch” is nothing like “loathesome corpse.” Branch does not even go with something from the grave. “Along with many dead” is not even close to the MT’s “like the garment of those who were slain.” Going “down to the stones of the pit” is not the same as “going down to Hades.” “Like a corpse trodden underfoot” does not match “the way a bloodstained garment will not be clean.” It seems the MT may have switched the order of the metaphors.

In verse 20, the MT’s “You will not be joined with them in burial” does not agree with the LXX’s “neither will you be clean.” Then the MT says the reason is because this evil one destoyed “your” land and people, but the LXX says it was “my” land and people. The MT’s “The brood of evil doers shall never be named” is not even close to the LXX’s “You will certainly not remain for eternity, evil seed.”

Lastly, in verse 21, the unthinkable is that the evil seed would arise and fill the land with “cities” in the MT, but the LXX says with “war.”

22 “For I will rise up against them,” says the LORD of hosts, “And cut off from Babylon the name and remnant, And offspring and posterity,” says the LORD. 23 “I will also make it a possession for the porcupine, And marshes of muddy water; I will sweep it with the broom of destruction,” says the LORD of hosts. Isaiah 14:22–23 (NKJV)

22 And I will rise against them,” says the Lord Sabaoth, “and I will destroy their name and remnant and seed.” This is what the Lord says: 23 “And I will make Babylonia deserted so that hedgehogs will inhabit it, and it will be as nothing; and I will make it a pit of clay for destruction.” Isaiah 14:22–23 (LES2)

The MT waxes poetic in describing God’s judgment upon Babylon, adding words and phrases not found in the LXX. 

24 The LORD of hosts has sworn, saying, “Surely, as I have thought, so it shall come to pass, And as I have purposed, so it shall stand: 25 That I will break the Assyrian in My land, And on My mountains tread him underfoot. Then his yoke shall be removed from them, And his burden removed from their shoulders. 26 This is the purpose that is purposed against the whole earth, And this is the hand that is stretched out over all the nations. 27 For the LORD of hosts has purposed, And who will annul it? His hand is stretched out, And who will turn it back?” Isaiah 14:24–27 (NKJV)

24 This is what the Lord Sabaoth says: “The way I have said, so it will be, and the way I have resolved, so it will remain, 25 to destroy the Assyrians upon my land and upon my mountains. And they will be like that which is trampled, and their yoke will be taken away from them, and their glory will be taken away from their shoulders.” 26 This is the plan that the Lord resolved over the whole inhabited land, and this is the high hand over all the nations. 27 For who will disperse what the holy God has resolved? And who will turn back his high hand? Isaiah 14:24–27 (LES2)

The MT turns a statement into a sworn oath. The MT says that what God “thought” will come to pass, but the LXX says that what God has “spoken” will be. In verse 25, the MT says Assyria’s burden will be removed from Israel’s shoulders, but the LXX uses the word “glory.”

In verse 26, the MT says that this is God’s plan “against the whole earth,” but the LXX says his plan was “resolved over the entire inhabited land.”

The rest of the passage essentially agrees.

32 What will they answer the messengers of the nation? That the LORD has founded Zion, And the poor of His people shall take refuge in it. Isaiah 14:32 (NKJV)

32 And what will the kings of nations answer? That the Lord founded Zion, and through him the low among the people will be saved. Isaiah 14:32 (LES2)

I skipped to verse 32, which shows the pro-Israel / anti-Christ bias of the MT. The MT uses the word “messengers” instead of the LXX’s “kings.” But more importantly, the MT says that “the poor of his people shall take refuge in it,” meaning Zion. The LXX, however, says the humble will be saved “through him,” which points to Jesus. (John 5:39)

1 And in that day you will say: “O LORD, I will praise You; Though You were angry with me, Your anger is turned away, and You comfort me. 2 Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; ‘For YAH, the LORD, is my strength and song; He also has become my salvation.’ ” Isaiah 12:1–2 (NKJV)

1 And on that day you will say, “I will praise you, Lord, for you were angered by me, and you turned back your wrath, and you showed mercy to me. 2 Look, my God is my savior; I will trust him, and I will not be frightened, for the Lord is my glory and my praise, and he has become salvation for me.” Isaiah 12:1–2 (LES2) 

3 Therefore with joy you will draw water From the wells of salvation. 4 And in that day you will say: “Praise the LORD, call upon His name; Declare His deeds among the peoples, Make mention that His name is exalted. 5 Sing to the LORD, For He has done excellent things; This is known in all the earth. Isaiah 12:3–5 (NKJV)

3 And you will draw water with cheer from the streams [Greek – pege] of salvation. 4 And on that day you will say, “Sing of the Lord; shout his name; declare among the nations his glorious deeds; be mindful that his name is exalted! 5 Sing of the Lord’s name, for he has done high things; declare these things in all the land! Isaiah 12:3–5 (LES2)

The MT uses the word “wells” when referring to the source of salvation, but the LXX uses a word that means fountain or spring, which connects with Jesus’ words in John.

14 but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain [Greek – pege] of water springing up into everlasting life.” John 4:14 (NKJV)

In verse 4, the MT says, “Declare his deeds among the peoples,” but the LXX specifically uses the word for “nations” and defines the deeds as glorious. In verse 5, the LXX says, “Sing of the Lord’s name;” whereas, the MT says, “Sing to the Lord.” The name in question is Jesus. (John 5:39)

The MT says the Lord has done “excellent” things, but the LXX says he has done “high,” lofty, or exalted things. This points to Christ’s ascension into heaven and exaltation, where he now sits at God’s right hand as Lord of lords.

The MT passively says “this is known in all the earth,” but the LXX says to actively “declare these things in all the earth,” which is a reference to our responsibility to declare the gospel.

6 Cry out and shout, O inhabitant of Zion, For great is the Holy One of Israel in your midst!” Isaiah 12:6 (NKJV)

6 Rejoice and be cheerful, you who dwell in Zion, for the Holy One of Israel is exalted in her midst!” Isaiah 12:6 (LES2)

1 There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, And a Branch shall grow out of his roots. 2 The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon Him, The Spirit of wisdom and understanding, The Spirit of counsel and might, The Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD. Isaiah 11:1–2 (NKJV)

1 And a rod will emerge from the root of Jesse, and a flower will come up from the root. 2 And God’s spirit will rest on him, a spirit of wisdom and intelligence, a spirit of counsel and strength, a spirit of knowledge and piety. Isaiah 11:1–2 (LES2)

3 His delight is in the fear of the LORD, And He shall not judge by the sight of His eyes, Nor decide by the hearing of His ears; 4 But with righteousness He shall judge the poor, And decide with equity for the meek of the earth; He shall strike the earth with the rod of His mouth, And with the breath of His lips He shall slay the wicked. 5 Righteousness shall be the belt of His loins, And faithfulness the belt of His waist. Isaiah 11:3–5 (NKJV)

3 He will fill him with a spirit of the fear of God; he will not judge according to reputation or reprove according to speech. 4 Rather, he will render fair judgment to a low one, and he will reprove the low of the land; and he will strike the land with the word of his mouth, and with breath through his lips he will destroy ungodly things. 5 And he will be girded at the waist with righteousness and enclosed with truth at his sides. Isaiah 11:3–5 (LES2)

Whereas the MT says that this anointed one will delight in the fear of the Lord, the LXX says that he will be filled with the spirit of the fear of the Lord. Jesus emptied himself of his divinity when he became a man. (Philippians 2:7) Like us, Jesus depended upon the Holy Spirit’s indwelling and empowering to accomplish his work on earth. (Luke 4:18) The fear of the Lord resides in the Holy Spirit. When he fills us, we also have that spiritual quality.

In verse 4, the MT says that this one will strike the earth with “the rod” of his mouth. The LXX says it will be by “the word” of his mouth. This is, no doubt, the correct wording, since Jesus is the divine Word of God. That word resides in him like a sword of the Spirit. (Ephesians 6:15, Revelation 2:16 and 19:21)

The MT says that Jesus will destroy the wicked with the breath of his lips, but the LXX says he will destroy “ungodly things.”

6 “The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, The leopard shall lie down with the young goat, The calf and the young lion and the fatling together; And a little child shall lead them. 7 The cow and the bear shall graze; Their young ones shall lie down together; And the lion shall eat straw like the ox. 8 The nursing child shall play by the cobra’s hole, And the weaned child shall put his hand in the viper’s den. 9 They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain, For the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD As the waters cover the sea. Isaiah 11:6–9 (NKJV)

6 And a wolf will feed together with a lamb, and a leopard will rest with a kid, and a little calf and a bull and a lion will feed together, and a small young child will lead them. 7 And an ox and a bear will feed together, and they will be together with their young, and a lion will eat straw like an ox. 8 And an infant child will lay its hand on an asp’s hole and on a bed of asps’ offspring. 9 And they shall surely do no wrong, nor will they be able to destroy anyone on my holy mountain because the whole land was filled with knowing the Lord, as much water covers the seas. Isaiah 11:6–9 (LES2)

10 “And in that day there shall be a Root of Jesse, Who shall stand as a banner to the people; For the Gentiles shall seek Him, And His resting place shall be glorious.” Isaiah 11:10 (NKJV)

10 And in that day there will be the root of Jesse and the one who rises up to rule nations; nations will put their hope in him, and his rest will be honor. Isaiah 11:10 (LES2)

1 In the LORD I put my trust; How can you say to my soul, “Flee as a bird to your mountain”? 2 For look! The wicked bend their bow, They make ready their arrow on the string, That they may shoot secretly at the upright in heart. 3 If the foundations are destroyed, What can the righteous do? Psalm 11:1–3 (NKJV) 

1 I have trusted in the Lord. How will you say to my soul, “Flee to the mountains as a sparrow”? 2 because, look, the sinners stretched a bow; they prepared arrows for the quiver to strike down the upright in heart on a moonless night, 3 because that which you created they took down. But the righteous, what did he do? Psalm 10:1–3 (LES2)

4 The LORD is in His holy temple, The LORD’s throne is in heaven; His eyes behold, His eyelids test the sons of men. 5 The LORD tests the righteous, But the wicked and the one who loves violence His soul hates. 6 Upon the wicked He will rain coals; Fire and brimstone and a burning wind Shall be the portion of their cup. Psalm 11:4–6 (NKJV)

4 The Lord is in his holy temple. The Lord, his throne is in the heavens. His eyes gaze steadily upon the poor one. His eyes examine well the sons of humans. 5 The Lord examines well the righteous one and the ungodly one. But the one who loves injustice hates his own soul. 6 He will rain snares upon the sinners. Fire and sulphur and wind of a storm will be the portion of their cup, Psalm 10:4–6 (LES2)

7 For the LORD is righteous, He loves righteousness; His countenance beholds the upright. Psalm 11:7 (NKJV)

7 because the Lord is righteous and he loved righteous actions. His face saw uprightness. Psalm 10:7 (LES2)

1 Nevertheless the gloom will not be upon her who is distressed, As when at first He lightly esteemed The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, And afterward more heavily oppressed her, By the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, In Galilee of the Gentiles. 2 The people who walked in darkness Have seen a great light; Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, Upon them a light has shined. Isaiah 9:1–2 (NKJV)

1 Drink this first; act swiftly, territory of Zebulun, land of Naphtali, and the rest who are on the coast and across the Jordan, Galilee of the nations! 2 People going in darkness, see a great light! Those inhabiting a territory, a shadow of death, light will shine on you! Isaiah 9:1–2 (LES2)

How do I even compare the two versions of the opening verse? In this case, it is hard for me to follow the thought process in the LXX. The MT seems to have a better flow. Could this be because the Paleo-Hebrew was difficult? The end of verse 1 and verse 2 are quoted in the New Testament; confirming that this passage points to Jesus.

12 Now when Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, He departed to Galilee. 13 And leaving Nazareth, He came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the regions of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14 that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: 15 “The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, By the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles: 16 The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, And upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death Light has dawned.” Matthew 4:12–16 (NKJV)

3 You have multiplied the nation And increased its joy; They rejoice before You According to the joy of harvest, As men rejoice when they divide the spoil. 4 For You have broken the yoke of his burden And the staff of his shoulder, The rod of his oppressor, As in the day of Midian. 5 For every warrior’s sandal from the noisy battle, And garments rolled in blood, Will be used for burning and fuel of fire. Isaiah 9:3–5 (NKJV)

3 The greatest part of the people that you led down in your cheer will also be cheerful before you, like those cheerful during the harvest and just like those who divide up the spoils, 4 because the yoke laid on them and the rod on their neck has been taken away. For he shattered the rod of those demanding payment as in the day in the time of Midian, 5 because they will return as an exchange every robe and garment collected by trickery, and they will be willing, if they became burnt. Isaiah 9:3–5 (LES2)

6 For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this. Isaiah 9:6–7 (NKJV)

6 Because a child was born to us; a son was given to us whose leadership came upon his shoulder; and his name is called “Messenger (Greek – angel, messenger) of the Great Council (Greek – counsel, will, purpose),” for I will bring peace upon the rulers and health to him. 7 His leadership is great, and there is no boundary to his peace on the throne of David and his kingdom, to establish and take hold of it by justice and by righteousness, from now to eternity. The eagerness of the Lord Sabaoth will do these things. Isaiah 9:6–7 (LES2)

This passage points to Christ. It was quoted in Luke 1:31-32 and 2:11-12.

10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” Luke 2:10–12 (NKJV)

30 Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS. 32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. 33 And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.” Luke 1:30–33 (NKJV)

With that in mind, we will compare the MT and LXX texts.

In verse 6, the MT (left) makes extraordinary claims about this person, which are somewhat different from what the LXX (right) says. 

MT – Wonderful Counselor vs. LXX – Messenger of the Great Council or Purpose (of God presumably)

MT – Mighty God vs LXX,  Followers of Christ recognize the divinity of Christ, but the title is not in the LXX.

MT – Everlasting Father vs This is not mentioned in LXX and would not apply to Jesus who clearly referred to his Father as a different person.

MT – Prince of Peace vs LXX – I will bring peace upon the rulers and health to him

In verse 7 the MT and LXX basically agree.

11 For the LORD spoke thus to me with a strong hand, and instructed me that I should not walk in the way of this people, saying: 12 “Do not say, ‘A conspiracy,’ Concerning all that this people call a conspiracy, Nor be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled. 13 The LORD of hosts, Him you shall hallow; Let Him be your fear, And let Him be your dread. 14 He will be as a sanctuary, But a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense To both the houses of Israel, As a trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 15 And many among them shall stumble; They shall fall and be broken, Be snared and taken.” Isaiah 8:11–15 (NKJV)

11 This is what the Lord says: “By the strong hand they resist the way of the path of this people, saying, 12 ‘Lest they say, “It is hard.” ’ For anything that this people might say is hard; but do not be frightened with its fear, neither be troubled.” 13 Sanctify the Lord himself, and he will be your fear. 14 And if you trust him, he will become a sanctuary for you, and you will not encounter him as an obstacle of stone or like a fall from a rock. But the houses of Jacob are in a snare, and those who sit in Jerusalem are in a pit. 15 Because of this, many among them will be powerless, and they will fall and be shattered, and people will approach and be taken in security. Isaiah 8:11–15 (LES2)

This passage requires us to make a choice between the MT and LXX starting at the first verse. Either the MT is correct and the Lord spoke to Isaiah with a strong hand warning him not to believe or follow a supposed conspiracy, or the LXX is right when it has God warning the prophet not to be frightened by what the people say is difficult.

Once we see that this passage clearly points to Jesus, which the Masoretes undoubtedly knew, the use of the word “conspiracy” makes sense. Either way, whether the unbelieving Jews saw Jesus’ resurrection as a supposed conspiracy (Matthew 28:13), or it was simply too difficult to believe, as many still claim, Jesus became a stumbling block to the unbelieving Jews (and Gentiles), as we shall see below.

In verse 13, the MT and LXX agree. In verse 14, the LXX qualifies the promise that God will be Jeremiah’s (our) his “holy place” by saying, “If you (we) trust him.” Faith is the key to receiving from God. (James 1:6-8)

The next part clearly applies to Christ. Continuing the thought in the LXX, if we trust God, we will not encounter him, Jesus, as an obstacle of stone (stumbling block) or like a fall from a rock (rock of offense). Next the prophet says, “but the houses of Jacob are in a snare, and those who sit in Jerusalem are in a pit.” In other words, they are trapped in unbelief.

The MT, on the other hand, words things differently, stating without qualification that God will become “a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense to both houses of Israel” and “a trap and snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.” Said another way, the MT offers no path of escape through faith.

If we apply this to the Jews response to Jesus, it is clear that some believed and escaped God’s judgment, but those who rejected Christ were crushed in 70 AD. 

This verse is quoted or referenced in the New Testament.

34 Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, “Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against 35 (yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.” Luke 2:34–35 (NKJV)

31 but Israel, pursuing the law of righteousness, has not attained to the law of righteousness. 32 Why? Because they did not seek it by faith, but as it were, by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumbling stone. 33 As it is written: “Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and rock of offense, And whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” Romans 9:31–33 (NKJV)

7 Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient, “The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone,” 8 and “A stone of stumbling And a rock of offense.” They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed. 1 Peter 2:7–8 (NKJV)

Those who rejected Christ were shattered and taken. This was fulfilled twice – in 70 AD and 135 AD in the fall of Jerusalem to the Romans and the defeat of Bar Kohkba by the Romans, respectively. In the first tragedy, Jerusalem and the temple were destroyed, along with many thousands of unbelieving Jews. In the second, many thousands were killed, and the Jews were expelled from the land, which was renamed Palestine.

How we respond to Jesus determines our destiny. Remember, according to Jesus, all scripture points to him. (John 5:39)

16 Bind up the testimony, Seal the law among my disciples. 17 And I will wait on the LORD, Who hides His face from the house of Jacob; And I will hope in Him. 18 Here am I and the children whom the LORD has given me! We are for signs and wonders in Israel From the LORD of hosts, Who dwells in Mount Zion. Isaiah 8:16–18 (NKJV)

16 Then those who seal the law not to learn will be evident. 17 And he will say, “I will wait for God, who turned back his face from the house of Jacob, and I will trust him. 18 Look, here am I, along with the children whom God has given me, and in the house of Israel they will become signs and wonders from the Lord Sabaoth, who dwells on Mount Zion.” Isaiah 8:16–18 (LES2)

Now that we have established that the verses above point to Christ, it is appropriate to view the following verses in the same light. We see subtle differences in wording that amount to quite a contrast in meaning. Verse 16 in the MT means something very different from what the LXX says. 

Jesus accused the Jewish lawyers of keeping God’s people away from the truth.

52 “Woe to you lawyers! For you have taken away the key of knowledge. You did not enter in yourselves, and those who were entering in you hindered.” Luke 11:52 (NKJV)

This seems to be what Isaiah prophesied in verse 16, according to the LXX. The MT takes the verse in an entirely different direction, which does not reflect poorly on the rabbis. 

In verse 17, the MT has the prophet saying, “I will wait on the Lord,” but the LXX makes the subject “he,” who then says, “I will wait on the Lord.” We must ask ourselves, who is the “he?” Verse 18 reveals that person must be Jesus, the one to whom God has given spiritual children through the process of the new birth. (Isaiah 53:8) The Christian believers would become signs and wonders from God. This happened when they performed miracles while preaching the gospel. (Romans 15:19, Hebrews 2:4)

The beginning of the church age at Pentecost transferred the meaning of Mt. Zion from the geographical location of Jerusalem on earth to the new Jerusalem in heaven (Hebrews 12:22), where Christ is seated at God’s right hand (Ephesians 1:20), waiting for his enemies to be made his footstool (Psalm 110:1, Acts 2:35).

19 And when they say to you, “Seek those who are mediums and wizards, who whisper and mutter,” should not a people seek their God? Should they seek the dead on behalf of the living? 20 To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them. Isaiah 8:19–20 (NKJV)

19 And if they say to you, “Seek the ventriloquists and those who speak from the earth, the empty talkers who speak from the belly,” shall not a nation seek after its own god? Why do they ask the dead about the living? 20 For he gave a law to be a help, so that they might not speak like this, about which there are no gifts to give. Isaiah 8:19–20 (LES2)

Continuing the direction given in the above verses, I think the basic thought here is that when the Jews rejected Christ, they also rejected God. (1 John 2:22-23) Ever since, except for the remnant who have come to faith in Christ, the Jews have worshiped another “god” and consulted that which is dead instead of the living God.

The law, which was meant to be a help in leading them to Christ (Galatians 3:24), has nothing more to offer those who reject the Lord, except condemnation.

21 They will pass through it hard-pressed and hungry; and it shall happen, when they are hungry, that they will be enraged and curse their king and their God, and look upward. 22 Then they will look to the earth, and see trouble and darkness, gloom of anguish; and they will be driven into darkness. Isaiah 8:21–22 (NKJV)

21 And a severe famine will come upon you, and this will happen: As you hunger, you will be grieved, and you will speak badly regarding the ruler and your fathers; and they will look up into the heavens above. 22 And they will look to the earth below, and look, severe distress and darkness—oppression and straits and darkness—so that one cannot see; and the one who is in distress will not be at a loss for a time. Isaiah 8:21–22 (LES2)

1 Now it came to pass in the days of Ahaz the son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, king of Judah, that Rezin king of Syria and Pekah the son of Remaliah, king of Israel, went up to Jerusalem to make war against it, but could not prevail against it. 2 And it was told to the house of David, saying, “Syria’s forces are deployed in Ephraim.” So his heart and the heart of his people were moved as the trees of the woods are moved with the wind. Isaiah 7:1–2 (NKJV)

1 And this happened in the days of Ahaz, the son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, king of Judah: Rezin, king of Aram, went up with Pekah, son of Remaliah, king of Israel, to Jerusalem to fight against it, and they were not able to besiege it. 2 And it was reported to the house of David, saying, “Aram has come to an agreement with Ephraim!” And his soul was confounded, along with the soul of his people, the way a tree in a forest is shaken by the wind. Isaiah 7:1–2 (LES2)

3 Then the LORD said to Isaiah, “Go out now to meet Ahaz, you and Shear-Jashub your son, at the end of the aqueduct from the upper pool, on the highway to the Fuller’s Field, 4 and say to him: ‘Take heed, and be quiet; do not fear or be fainthearted for these two stubs of smoking firebrands, for the fierce anger of Rezin and Syria, and the son of Remaliah. 5 Because Syria, Ephraim, and the son of Remaliah have plotted evil against you, saying, 6 “Let us go up against Judah and trouble it, and let us make a gap in its wall for ourselves, and set a king over them, the son of Tabel”— Isaiah 7:3–6 (NKJV)

3 And the Lord said to Isaiah, “Go out for a meeting with Ahaz, you and your remaining son Jashub, to the reservoir of the high road of the fuller’s field. 4 And you shall say to him, ‘Be careful to be still and do not be frightened or let your soul be weak because of these two smoking firebrand timbers, for when my wrathful anger comes, I will heal again. 5 And as for the son of Aram and the son of Remaliah, because they planned an evil plan: 6 “We shall go up into Judea and, talking with them, we shall return them to us, and we shall rule it by the son of Tabeel.” Isaiah 7:3–6 (LES2)

The MT calls Isaiah’s son, Shear-Jashub. Shear means remnant. The LXX calls him, “your remaining son, Jashub.” Interesting. The MT adds the word, “aqueduct.” 

In verse 4, the two translations diverge quite a bit, beginning in the last part of the verse. The MT tells Ahaz not to fear the wrath of Rezin and Remaliah. The LXX says when God’s wrathful anger comes, he will heal again. 

The MT says that Jerusalem’s enemies planned to make a gap in the wall, but the LXX says they planned to talk them into surrender. Both agree that their goal is to set their own king over Jerusalem.

7 thus says the Lord GOD: “It shall not stand, Nor shall it come to pass. 8 For the head of Syria is Damascus, And the head of Damascus is Rezin. Within sixty-five years Ephraim will be broken, So that it will not be a people. 9 The head of Ephraim is Samaria, And the head of Samaria is Remaliah’s son. If you will not believe, Surely you shall not be established.” ’ ” Isaiah 7:7–9 (NKJV)

7 Thus says the Lord Sabaoth, “This plan will certainly not stand nor will it be. 8 But the head of Aram is Damascus, and the head of Damascus is Rezin; and yet within sixty-five years, the kingdom of Ephraim will cease being a people. 9 And the head of Ephraim is Samaria, and the head of Samaria is the son of Remaliah, and if you do not trust, neither will you understand.” ’ ” Isaiah 7:7–9 (LES2)

The prophet Isaiah delivered a prophetic word to calm the fears of the people. He told them that the evil conspiracy would not stand or take place. Instead, Ephraim would cease to be a people!

The final exhortation was to have faith, without which one cannot comprehend God’s promises. Fear causes our ability to think critically to shut down.

10 Moreover the LORD spoke again to Ahaz, saying, 11 “Ask a sign for yourself from the LORD your God; ask it either in the depth or in the height above.” 12 But Ahaz said, “I will not ask, nor will I test the LORD!” 13 Then he said, “Hear now, O house of David! Is it a small thing for you to weary men, but will you weary my God also? 14 Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel. Isaiah 7:10–14 (NKJV)

10 And the Lord continued to speak to Ahaz, saying, 11 “Ask for yourself a sign from the Lord your God, up to a depth or up to a height.” 12 And Ahaz said, “I will not ask, and I will not test the Lord.” 13 And he said, “Hear now, house of David! Is it not a small thing for you to put up a fight with human? And how do you put up a fight with the Lord? 14 Because of this, the Lord himself will give you a sign: Look, the virgin will conceive in the womb and will bear a son, and you will call his name Immanuel. Isaiah 7:10–14 (LES2)

The false humility of Ahaz is exposed as resistance against God. The Lord decided to give the messianic sign of a virgin conceiving and giving birth to a son named Immmanuel or “God with us,” which was fulfilled when Jesus was born.

I believe the messianic sign was given because the attack upon Jerusalem by the combined forces of apostate Israel and the world resembles the combined attack upon God’s chosen by those who reject the gospel and the devil. Only Jesus could save us.

The MT used the word “almah,” which means young woman. The LXX used the word, “parthenos,” which means virgin. The translators of the MT chose the English word “virgin,” knowing that the New Testament agrees with the LXX.

22 So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: 23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.” Matthew 1:22–23 (NKJV)