Isaiah 9:5 (ASV)

Passage

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.

Nearby Context

Isaiah 9:3 Thou hast multiplied the nation, thou hast increased their joy: they joy before thee according to the joy in harvest, as men rejoice when they divide the spoil.

Isaiah 9:4 For the yoke of his burden, and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, thou hast broken as in the day of Midian.

Isaiah 9:5 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 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:7 Of the increase of his government and of peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to establish it, and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of Jehovah of hosts will perform this.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "armor", "armed", "tumult", "garments", "rolled", "blood", "shall", and "burning". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "armor" and "armed", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 4's "For the yoke of his burden and..." into verse 6's "For unto us a child is born...", so "armor" and "armed" belong inside that flow. In Isaiah context, the local focus is the Holy One of Israel, judgment and restoration, the servant of the LORD, and Zion's hope.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "armor" and "armed" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.