Isaiah 9:5

Old Testament Major Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Isaiah 9:5 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “For all the armor of the armed man in the tumult, and the garments rolled in blood, shall be for burning, for fuel of fire.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

For all the armor of the armed man in the tumult, and the garments rolled in blood, shall be for burning, for fuel of fire.
Isaiah 9:5 — American Standard Version

Context — Isaiah 9

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
5For all the armor of the armed man in the tumult, and the garments rolled in blood, shall be for burning, for fuel of fire.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“For every battle of the warrior [is] with confused noise, &c.] With the sound of the trumpet and as now with beating of drums, and the huzzas and shoutings of the soldiers, the stamping and neighing of horses, the rushing of chariots, and rumbling of wheels, and the clashing of swords, spears, and shields, and these sometimes striking one against anotherf156: and garments rolled in blood; of them that were slain in battle: but [this] shall be with burning [and] fuel of fire; which refers either to the sudden destruction of the Midianites, or rather to the quick and easy conquest that Christ obtained over sin, Satan, the world, and death; which was as soon over as any combustible matter is…”
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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
“every battle, &c.--rather, "every greave of (the warrior who is) armed with greaves in the din of battle, and the martial garment (or cloak, called by the Latins sagum) rolled in blood, shall be for burning, (and) fuel for fire" [MAURER]. All warlike accoutrements shall be destroyed, as no longer required in the new era of peace (Isa 2:4; Isa 11:6-7; Psa 46:9; Eze 39:9; Mic 5:5, Mic 5:10; Zac 9:9-10). Compare Mal 4:1, as to the previous burning up of the wicked.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“For every battle of the warrior - The expression used here has caused great difficulty, from the fact that it occurs nowhere else in the Scriptures. The word סאון se'ôn, rendered here battle, is supposed to mean rather greaves, or the armor of the warrior which covered the feet and the legs. It would be literally translated, ‘Every greave of those armed with greaves.’ - Gesenius. The Chaldee renders it, ‘Forevery gift of theirs is for evil.’ The Syriac, ‘Forevery tumult (of battle) is heard with terror.’ Hengstenberg renders it, ‘For all war-shoes put on at the noise of battle, all garments dipped in blood, shall be burnt, shall be the food of fire.’ The idea, according to him, is, that the…”
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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
“Noise - With the triumphant exclamations of the conqueror, and the bitter lamentations of the conquered, and the different cries of the same persons, sometimes conquering, and sometimes conquered. Blood - With great difficulty and slaughter. But - But this victory which God's people shall have over all their enemies, shall be more terrible to their adversaries, whom God will utterly consume, as it were by fire. Isaiah 9:6”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“9:5 Burning the boots and uniforms marked the end of the need for instruments of war.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“For every battle: etc. or, When the whole battle of the warrior was, etc confused noise: Isa 13:4; Sa1 14:19; Jer 47:3; Joe 2:5; Nah 3:2 but this shall be: or, and it was, etc burning: Isa 4:4, Isa 10:16, Isa 10:17, Isa 30:33, Isa 37:36, Isa 66:15, Isa 66:16; Psa 46:9; Eze 39:8-10; Mal 3:2, Mal 3:3; Mat 3:11; Act 2:3, Act 2:19; Th2 1:8 fuel: Heb. meat, Lev 3:11, Lev 3:16 Isaiah 9:6”
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Keil & Delitzsch
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · Commentary on the Old Testament · 19th-century historical commentary
“"For every boot of those who tramp with boots in the tumult of battle, and cloak rolled in blood, shall be for burning, a food of fire." That which is the food of fire becomes at the same time a sĕrēphâh, inasmuch as the devouring fire reduces it to ashes, and destroys its previous existence. This closing statement requires for סאון the concrete sense of a combustible thing; and this precludes such meanings as business (Handel und Wandel), noise, or din (= שׁאון, Jerome, Syriac, Rashi, and others). On the other hand, the meaning "military equipment," adopted by Knobel and others - a meaning derived from a comparison of the derivatives of the Aramaean zūn, ăzan, and the Arabic zâna,…”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification