Isaiah 9:4 (YLT)

Passage

Because the yoke of its burden, And the staff of its shoulder, the rod of its exactor, Thou hast broken as <FI>in<Fi> the day of Midian.

Nearby Context

Isaiah 9:2 The people who are walking in darkness Have seen a great light, Dwellers in a land of death-shade, Light hath shone upon them.

Isaiah 9:3 Thou hast multiplied the nation, Thou hast made great its joy, They have joyed before Thee as the joy in harvest, As <FI>men<Fi> rejoice in their apportioning spoil.

Isaiah 9:4 Because the yoke of its burden, And the staff of its shoulder, the rod of its exactor, Thou hast broken as <FI>in<Fi> the day of Midian.

Isaiah 9:5 For every battle of a warrior <FI>is<Fi> with rushing, and raiment rolled in blood, And it hath been for burning--fuel of fire.

Isaiah 9:6 For a Child hath been born to us, A Son hath been given to us, And the princely power is on his shoulder, And He doth call his name Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Father of Eternity, Prince of Peace.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "yoke", "burden", "staff", "shoulder", "exactor", "thou", "hast", and "broken". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "yoke" and "burden", 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 Thou hast..." into verse 5's "For every battle of a warrior FI...", so "yoke" and "burden" 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 "yoke" and "burden" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.