Isaiah 9:4 (DBY)

Passage

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

Nearby Context

Isaiah 9:2 the people that walked in darkness have seen a great light; they that dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, upon them light hath shone.

Isaiah 9:3 Thou hast multiplied the nation, hast increased its joy: they joy before thee like to the joy in harvest; as [men] rejoice when they divide the spoil.

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

Isaiah 9:5 For every boot of him that is shod for the tumult, and the garment rolled in blood, shall be for burning, fuel for 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 is called Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Father of Eternity, Prince of Peace.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "thou", "hast", "broken", "yoke", "burden", "staff", "shoulder", and "oppressor". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "thou" and "hast", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 3's "Thou hast multiplied the nation hast increased..." into verse 5's "For every boot of him that is...", so "thou" and "hast" 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 "thou" and "hast" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.