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Isaiah 9:15

Old Testament Major Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Isaiah 9:15 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “The elder and the honorable man, he is the head; and the prophet that teacheth lies, he is the tail.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

The elder and the honorable man, he is the head; and the prophet that teacheth lies, he is the tail.
Isaiah 9:15 — American Standard Version

Context — Isaiah 9

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
12the Syrians before, and the Philistines behind; and they shall devour Israel with open mouth. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.
13Yet the people have not turned unto him that smote them, neither have they sought Jehovah of hosts.
14Therefore Jehovah will cut off from Israel head and tail, palm-branch and rush, in one day.
15The elder and the honorable man, he is the head; and the prophet that teacheth lies, he is the tail.
16For they that lead this people cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed.
17Therefore the Lord will not rejoice over their young men, neither will he have compassion on their fatherless and widows; for every one is profane and an evil-doer, and every mouth speaketh folly. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.
18For wickedness burneth as the fire; it devoureth the briers and thorns; yea, it kindleth in the thickets of the forest, and they roll upward in a column of smoke.
← Isaiah 9:14Isaiah 9:16 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“The ancient and honourable, he [is] the head, &c.] The elder in office, not in age; and who, on account of his office, dignity, and riches, is honoured by men, is of a venerable countenance himself, and is reverenced when seen and looked upon by others, and received by persons with pleasure and cheerfulness; as the phrase used signifies. The Septuagint and Arabic versions render it, “who admire”, or “have” men’s “persons in admiration”; which is the character Jude gives of false teachers, (<650116>Jude 1:16) who are next described: and the prophet that teacheth lies, he [is] the tail; so called from their low extract, being often of a mean original and descent; or rather from the meanness of…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“ancient--the older. honourable--the man of rank. prophet . . . lies, . . . tail--There were many such in Samaria (Kg1 22:6, Kg1 22:22-23; compare as to "tail," Rev 9:19).”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“The ancient - The elder; the old man. And honorable - Hebrew, ‘The man of elevated countenance.’ The man of rank and office. The prophet that teacheth lies - The false prophet. Of those there were many; and probably at this time many in Samaria. return to 'Top of Page'”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“The prophet - Whose destruction he mentions, not as if it were a punishment to them to be deprived of such persons, but partly to shew the extent of the calamity, that it should reach all sorts of persons; and partly to beat down their vain presumptions of peace and prosperity, by shewing that those false prophets, which had fed their vain hopes, should perish, and their false prophecies with them. Tail - The basest part of the whole people. Isaiah 9:16”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“ancient: Isa 3:5, Isa 5:13; Sa1 9:6 the prophet: Isa 28:17, Isa 29:10; Kg1 13:18, Kg1 22:22-24; Jer 5:31, Jer 14:14, Jer 14:15; Jer 23:9, Jer 23:14, Jer 23:15, Jer 23:25-27, Jer 27:9, Jer 27:10, Jer 27:14, Jer 27:15, Jer 28:15, Jer 28:16, Jer 29:21, Jer 29:22; Ezek. 13:1-16, Eze 13:19, Eze 13:22; Hos 9:8; Mal 2:9; Mat 7:15, Mat 24:24; Co2 11:13-15; Gal 1:8, Gal 1:9; Th2 2:9-12; Ti2 4:2, Ti2 4:3; Pe2 2:1-3; Jo1 4:1; Rev 19:20 Isaiah 9:16”
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Sources and verification