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Judgment against Israel’s Hypocrisy
Isaiah 9:13–17 is a serious warning about people who would not return to God. The passage explains why judgement is coming and points to the damage caused by false leadership, sinful speech, and stubborn refusal to seek Yahweh.
Understanding the passage
The setting of this message
In these verses, Isaiah speaks as prophecy and teaching about Israel. The passage begins by saying the people have not turned to the one who struck them or sought Yahweh of Armies. It then describes coming judgement, explains picture language about head and tail, and ends with a statement that God’s anger is not turned away.
Isaiah 9:13–17Main takeaway
This passage teaches that refusing to turn to Yahweh, while following false leaders and continuing in evil, brings God’s serious judgement.
Explore the message
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01Refusing to turn backThe passage opens with the central problem: the people have not turned to the one who struck them, and they have not sought Yahweh of Armies.
Explanation
The passage opens with the central problem: the people have not turned to the one who struck them, and they have not sought Yahweh of Armies. The issue is not only suffering, but their response to it. Instead of returning to God, they remain unchanged and do not seek him.
02Head and tailVerse 14 says Yahweh will cut off “head and tail, palm branch and reed, in one day”. Verse 15 explains part of this picture.
Explanation
Verse 14 says Yahweh will cut off “head and tail, palm branch and reed, in one day”. Verse 15 explains part of this picture. The “head” is the elder and honourable man, while the “tail” is the prophet who teaches lies. The image shows judgement reaching from prominent leaders to deceptive teachers.
03Misleading leadersThe passage gives a reason for this judgement. Those who lead the people lead them astray, and those who follow them are destroyed.
Explanation
The passage gives a reason for this judgement. Those who lead the people lead them astray, and those who follow them are destroyed. Isaiah does not treat leadership as a small matter. False guidance harms others, and being led in the wrong direction has serious consequences for the whole people.
04Widespread guilt and ongoing angerThe final verse widens the charge beyond leaders alone. The Lord says he will not rejoice over the young men or have compassion on fatherless and widows, because everyone is profane and an evildoer, and every mouth speaks folly.
Explanation
The final verse widens the charge beyond leaders alone. The Lord says he will not rejoice over the young men or have compassion on fatherless and widows, because everyone is profane and an evildoer, and every mouth speaks folly. The passage ends by saying his anger is not turned away and his hand is still stretched out.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01According to this passage, what had the people failed to do when they were struck?
Look carefully at the two actions named in verse 13: they had not turned to God and had not sought Yahweh of Armies.
02What do “head” and “tail” represent in this prophecy?
Verse 15 explains the picture by identifying the head as the elder and honourable man, and the tail as the prophet who teaches lies.
03Why is God’s judgement described as so wide-reaching in verse 17?
The verse says the problem is widespread: everyone is profane and an evildoer, and every mouth speaks folly.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Isaiah 9:13–17
13Yet the people have not turned to him who struck them, neither have they sought Yahweh of Armies.
14Therefore Yahweh will cut off from Israel head and tail, palm branch and reed, in one day.
15The elder and the honorable man is the head, and the prophet who teaches lies is the tail.
16For those who lead this people lead them astray; and those who are led by them are destroyed.
17Therefore the Lord will not rejoice over their young men, neither will he have compassion on their fatherless and widows; for everyone is profane and an evildoer, and every mouth speaks folly. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.