Isaiah 9:14 (KJV)

Passage

Therefore the LORD will cut off from Israel head and tail, branch and rush, in one day.

Nearby Context

Isaiah 9:12 The 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.

Isaiah 9:13 For the people turneth not unto him that smiteth them, neither do they seek the LORD of hosts.

Isaiah 9:14 Therefore the LORD will cut off from Israel head and tail, branch and rush, in one day.

Isaiah 9:15 The ancient and honourable, he is the head; and the prophet that teacheth lies, he is the tail.

Isaiah 9:16 For the leaders of this people cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "therefore", "lord", "israel", "head", "tail", "branch", and "rush". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "therefore" and "lord", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 13's "For the people turneth not unto him..." into verse 15's "The ancient and honourable he is the...", so "therefore" and "lord" 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 "therefore" and "lord" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.