Isaiah 9:14
New International Version
So the LORD will cut off from Israel both head and tail, both palm branch and reed in a single day;

New Living Translation
Therefore, in a single day the LORD will destroy both the head and the tail, the noble palm branch and the lowly reed.

English Standard Version
So the LORD cut off from Israel head and tail, palm branch and reed in one day—

Berean Standard Bible
So the LORD will cut off Israel’s head and tail, both palm branch and reed in a single day.

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

New King James Version
Therefore the LORD will cut off head and tail from Israel, Palm branch and bulrush in one day.

New American Standard Bible
So the LORD cuts off head and tail from Israel, Both palm branch and bulrush in a single day.

NASB 1995
So the LORD cuts off head and tail from Israel, Both palm branch and bulrush in a single day.

NASB 1977
So the LORD cuts off head and tail from Israel, Both palm branch and bulrush in a single day.

Legacy Standard Bible
So Yahweh cuts off head and tail from Israel, Both palm branch and bulrush in a single day.

Amplified Bible
Therefore the LORD cuts off head and tail [the highest and the lowest] from Israel, Both [the high] palm branch and [the low] bulrush in one day.

Christian Standard Bible
So the LORD cut off Israel’s head and tail, palm branch and reed in a single day.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
So the LORD cut off Israel’s head and tail, palm branch and reed in a single day.

American Standard Version
Therefore Jehovah will cut off from Israel head and tail, palm-branch and rush, in one day.

Contemporary English Version
In one day he cut off their head and tail, their leaves and branches.

English Revised Version
Therefore the LORD will cut off from Israel head and tail, palm-branch and rush, in one day.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
So in one day the LORD will cut off from Israel both head and tail, both palm branches and cattails.

Good News Translation
In a single day the LORD will punish Israel's leaders and its people; he will cut them off, head and tail.

International Standard Version
So the LORD has cut off from Israel head and tail, palm branch and reed in a single day—

Majority Standard Bible
So the LORD will cut off Israel’s head and tail, both palm branch and reed in a single day.

NET Bible
So the LORD cut off Israel's head and tail, both the shoots and stalk in one day.

New Heart English Bible
Therefore the LORD will cut off from Israel head and tail, palm branch and reed, in one day.

Webster's Bible Translation
Therefore the LORD will cut off from Israel head and tail, branch and rush, in one day.

World English Bible
Therefore Yahweh will cut off from Israel head and tail, palm branch and reed, in one day.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And YHWH cuts off head and tail from Israel, "" Branch and reed—the same day.

Young's Literal Translation
And Jehovah cutteth off from Israel head and tail, Branch and reed -- the same day,

Smith's Literal Translation
And Jehovah will cut off from Israel head and tail, palm branch and reed in one day.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And the Lord shall destroy out of Israel the head and the tail, him that bendeth down, and him that holdeth back, in one day.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And so, the Lord will disperse, away from Israel, the head and the tail, he who bows down and he who refrains, in one day.

New American Bible
So the LORD cuts off from Israel head and tail, palm branch and reed in one day.

New Revised Standard Version
So the LORD cut off from Israel head and tail, palm branch and reed in one day—
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Therefore the LORD will cut off from Israel head and tail, tail and head, in one day.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And LORD JEHOVAH destroyed from Israel the head and the tail, and the tail and the head in one day
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Therefore the LORD doth cut off from Israel head and tail, Palm-branch and rush, in one day.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
So the Lord took away from Israel the head and tail, great and small, in one day:

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Judgment Against Israel's Hypocrisy
13But the people did not return to Him who struck them; they did not seek the LORD of Hosts. 14So the LORD will cut off Israel’s head and tail, both palm branch and reed in a single day. 15The head is the elder and honorable man, and the tail is the prophet who teaches lies.…

Cross References
Jeremiah 23:15
Therefore this is what the LORD of Hosts says concerning the prophets: “I will feed them wormwood and give them poisoned water to drink, for from the prophets of Jerusalem ungodliness has spread throughout the land.”

Ezekiel 7:26
Disaster upon disaster will come, and rumor after rumor. Then they will seek a vision from a prophet, but instruction from the priests will perish, as will counsel from the elders.

Hosea 4:5
You will stumble by day, and the prophet will stumble with you by night; so I will destroy your mother—

Micah 3:6-7
Therefore night will come over you without visions, and darkness without divination. The sun will set on these prophets, and the daylight will turn black over them. / Then the seers will be ashamed and the diviners will be disgraced. They will all cover their mouths because there is no answer from God.”

Zechariah 11:8
And in one month I dismissed three shepherds. My soul grew impatient with the flock, and their souls also detested me.

Matthew 15:14
Disregard them! They are blind guides. If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit.”

Matthew 23:16-17
Woe to you, blind guides! You say, ‘If anyone swears by the temple, it means nothing; but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.’ / You blind fools! Which is greater: the gold, or the temple that makes it sacred?

Luke 6:39
Jesus also told them a parable: “Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit?

John 9:39-41
Then Jesus declared, “For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind may see and those who see may become blind.” / Some of the Pharisees who were with Him heard this, and they asked Him, “Are we blind too?” / “If you were blind,” Jesus replied, “you would not be guilty of sin. But since you claim you can see, your guilt remains.”

Romans 11:8-10
as it is written: “God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that could not see, and ears that could not hear, to this very day.” / And David says: “May their table become a snare and a trap, a stumbling block and a retribution to them. / May their eyes be darkened so they cannot see, and their backs be bent forever.”

1 Corinthians 1:19-20
For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.” / Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?

2 Corinthians 4:4
The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

2 Thessalonians 2:10-12
and with every wicked deception directed against those who are perishing, because they refused the love of the truth that would have saved them. / For this reason God will send them a powerful delusion so that they believe the lie, / in order that judgment may come upon all who have disbelieved the truth and delighted in wickedness.

1 Timothy 1:7
They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not understand what they are saying or that which they so confidently assert.

2 Timothy 3:13
while evil men and imposters go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.


Treasury of Scripture

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

will cut

Isaiah 3:2,3
The mighty man, and the man of war, the judge, and the prophet, and the prudent, and the ancient, …

Isaiah 19:15
Neither shall there be any work for Egypt, which the head or tail, branch or rush, may do.

2 Kings 17:6-20
In the ninth year of Hoshea the king of Assyria took Samaria, and carried Israel away into Assyria, and placed them in Halah and in Habor by the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes…

in one day

Isaiah 10:17
And the light of Israel shall be for a fire, and his Holy One for a flame: and it shall burn and devour his thorns and his briers in one day;

Isaiah 30:13
Therefore this iniquity shall be to you as a breach ready to fall, swelling out in a high wall, whose breaking cometh suddenly at an instant.

Hosea 10:15
So shall Bethel do unto you because of your great wickedness: in a morning shall the king of Israel utterly be cut off.

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Branch Bulrush Cause Cut Cuts Cutteth Head High Israel Low Palm Palm-Branch Reed Rush Single Tail
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Branch Bulrush Cause Cut Cuts Cutteth Head High Israel Low Palm Palm-Branch Reed Rush Single Tail
Isaiah 9
1. What joy shall be in the midst of afflictions, by the birth and kingdom of Christ
8. The judgments upon Israel for their pride
13. For their hypocrisy
18. And for their unrepentance














So the LORD
The phrase "So the LORD" emphasizes the divine authority and sovereignty of God. In Hebrew, "LORD" is often represented as "YHWH," the sacred name of God, which signifies His eternal presence and covenantal faithfulness. This introduction sets the stage for a divine action that is both just and inevitable, reminding the reader of God's ultimate control over the affairs of nations and individuals.

will cut off
The Hebrew root for "cut off" is "karath," which conveys a sense of decisive and complete removal. This term is often used in the context of making or breaking covenants, indicating a serious and irrevocable action. The imagery here suggests a surgical precision in God's judgment, highlighting His ability to discern and address the root causes of Israel's unfaithfulness.

from Israel
"Israel" refers to the Northern Kingdom, which had turned away from God through idolatry and injustice. Historically, this period was marked by political instability and moral decline. The mention of Israel serves as a reminder of the chosen people's covenantal relationship with God, which they have neglected, leading to divine correction.

both head and tail
This phrase symbolizes the entirety of the leadership and populace. The "head" represents the leaders, such as kings and priests, while the "tail" signifies the common people. In a broader sense, it underscores the comprehensive nature of God's judgment, affecting all levels of society. The imagery suggests that no one is exempt from accountability, regardless of their status.

both palm branch and reed
The "palm branch" and "reed" are metaphors for strength and weakness, respectively. The palm branch, often associated with victory and prosperity, contrasts with the reed, which is fragile and easily swayed. This juxtaposition highlights the futility of relying on human strength or status, as both will be equally subject to God's judgment.

in a single day
The phrase "in a single day" emphasizes the suddenness and swiftness of God's action. It reflects the idea that divine judgment, when it comes, will be both unexpected and comprehensive. This serves as a warning to remain vigilant and faithful, as the timing of God's intervention is known only to Him.

(14) Head and tail, branch and rush . . .--The "branch" is strictly that of the palm-tree, which in its stately height answered to the nobles of the land, while the "rush," the emblem of a real or affected lowliness (Isaiah 58:5) represented the "mean man" of Isaiah 2:9. The same proverbial formula meets us in Isaiah 19:15.

Verse 14. - Head and tail, branch and rush; i.e. the whole nation, from the highest to the lowest. The "branch" intended is the "palm branch," at once lofty in position and the most glorious form of vegetable life (Psalm 92:12; Song of Solomon 7:7, 8, etc.); the "rush" is the simple "sedge" that grows, not only low on the ground, but in the "mire" (Job 8:11). The same expression occurs again in Isaiah 19:15.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
So the LORD
יְהוָ֜ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

will cut off
וַיַּכְרֵ֨ת (way·yaḵ·rêṯ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3772: To cut, to destroy, consume, to covenant

Israel’s
מִיִּשְׂרָאֵ֗ל (mî·yiś·rā·’êl)
Preposition-m | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc

head
רֹ֧אשׁ (rōš)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7218: The head

and tail,
וְזָנָ֛ב (wə·zā·nāḇ)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2180: Tail, end, stump

[both] palm branch
כִּפָּ֥ה (kip·pāh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 3712: A branch, frond (of a palm tree)

and reed
וְאַגְמ֖וֹן (wə·’aḡ·mō·wn)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 100: A bulrush, a rope of bulrushes

in a single
אֶחָֽד׃ (’e·ḥāḏ)
Number - masculine singular
Strong's 259: United, one, first

day.
י֥וֹם (yō·wm)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3117: A day


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OT Prophets: Isaiah 9:14 Therefore Yahweh will cut off from Israel (Isa Isi Is)
Isaiah 9:13
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