Isaiah 27:9
Therefore by this the guilt of Jacob will be atoned for, and this will be the full fruit of the removal of his sin: when he makes all the stones of the altars like chalkstones crushed to pieces, no Asherim or incense altars will remain standing.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The true "fruit" of God's judgment here isn't just punishment, but a radical cleansing that leaves no trace of idolatry standing. It's about God so breaking down the very stones of false worship that they become like dust, ensuring that the people are utterly freed from the sin that had so long ensnared them.
This verse speaks to the ultimate purpose of God's discipline for His people, Jacob. It explains that the purging and removal of their sin, especially their deep-seated tendency toward idolatry, will be fully realized when they utterly demolish all remnants of false worship. This act of decisively clearing out idolatrous altars and sacred groves signifies a complete repentance and a turning back to God alone, marking the intended fruit of their suffering and exile.
God's discipline isn't about destruction, but transformation. What is the ultimate goal of His chastisements in our lives?
Isaiah 27:9 reveals that God's 'dealing with his people' – their afflictions and exile – has a profound purpose: purging their iniquity. This isn't just about punishment, but about bringing about a sincere repentance. The 'fruit' of this difficult process is the 'taking away of his sin.' This means not necessarily destroying the sinner, but removing the guilt and breaking the power of sin. Through these severe corrections, God aims to turn His people away from what leads them astray.
True repentance isn't just an inner feeling; it demands outward action. What does this look like when we've strayed from God?
The verse powerfully illustrates what this sincere repentance looks like: the complete destruction of idolatry. God's people are called to make the 'stones of the altars like chalkstones crushed to pieces.' This isn't a gentle removal, but a thorough demolition. 'No Asherim or incense altars will remain standing.' This imagery speaks to a decisive, zealous commitment to eradicate anything that has usurped God's rightful place in their lives. It mirrors Moses grinding the golden calf to powder – a visceral rejection of false worship.
Understand the original words
'avon · Hebrew Noun
A state of moral culpability or liability to punishment for an offense against God's law; it requires expiation or atonement to be removed.
kaphar · Hebrew Verb
The act of making reconciliation or covering sin, typically through a sacrifice, to restore a broken relationship between God and humanity.
chatta'th · Hebrew Noun
The moral failure or missing of the mark set by God's standard, resulting in separation from His presence and requiring divine forgiveness.
mizbeach · Hebrew Noun
Structures dedicated to the worship of God in the Old Testament, representing the place of sacrifice, consecration, and encounter with the Lord.
This passage highlights that true atonement for sin, particularly the pervasive sin of idolatry that plagued Israel and Judah, isn't just about ritual sacrifice, but about a radical, internal cleansing evidenced by the complete destruction of all idolatrous objects and places.
Late 8th century BC
King Ahaz's Idolatrous Altar
King Ahaz of Judah sets up an altar in Jerusalem modeled after one he saw in Damascus, symbolizing a turning away from traditional worship and towards foreign deities. This event directly precedes or occurs during Isaiah's prophetic ministry.
722 BC
Fall of Samaria and Assyrian Exile
The Northern Kingdom of Israel falls to the Assyrian Empire, and many of its people are exiled. This event serves as a stark warning to Judah about the consequences of persistent idolatry.
605 BC
First Babylonian Deportation
Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon conquers Judah and deports a portion of the population, including members of the royal family and skilled individuals, to Babylon. This marks the beginning of Judah's decline.
586 BC— this verse
Destruction of Jerusalem and Temple
The Babylonians, under Nebuchadnezzar, destroy Jerusalem and its sacred Temple, exiling the remaining population to Babylon. This devastating event is a direct consequence of Judah's unfaithfulness.
This passage directly commands the destruction of idolatrous altars and sacred pillars, mirroring Isaiah's vision of purging sin through the eradication of these symbols.
Deuteronomy 7:5It reinforces the theme of razing altars and destroying idols, emphasizing that complete removal is necessary for the people of God to be set apart and cleansed from sin.
2 Kings 23:14This chapter details King Josiah's zealous purging of idolatry, including the destruction of altars and Asherah poles, fulfilling the prophetic call found in Isaiah 27:9.
Romans 11:27Quoting from Isaiah (though indirectly through the Septuagint version), this verse speaks of God taking away sins, connecting the act of atonement and cleansing described in Isaiah 27:9 to the ultimate redemption offered through Christ.
Jeremiah 3:6-11This passage also addresses Israel's persistent unfaithfulness and idolatry, highlighting the need for a complete turning away from sin and its external manifestations for true repentance and restoration.
barnesIsaiah 27:9: "By this therefore shall the iniquity of Jacob be purged; and this is all the fruit to take away his sin; when he maketh all the stones of the altar as chalkstones that are beaten in sunder, the groves and images shall not stand up."
By this - This verse states the whole design of the punishment of the Jews. They were taken away from their temple, their city, and their land; they were removed from the groves and altars of idolatry by which they had been so often led into sin; and t…
bensonIsaiah 27:9: "By this therefore shall the iniquity of Jacob be purged; and this is all the fruit to take away his sin; when he maketh all the stones of the altar as chalkstones that are beaten in sunder, the groves and images shall not stand up."
Isaiah 27:9 . By this therefore — By this manner of God’s dealing with his people; shall the iniquity of Jacob be purged — Hebrew, יכפר , expiated, or forgiven: that is, by these chastisements Jacob shall be brought to true repentance, and in consequen…
The true "fruit" of God's judgment here isn't just punishment, but a radical cleansing that leaves no trace of idolatry standing. It's about God so breaking down the very stones of false worship that they become like dust, ensuring that the people are utterly freed from the sin that had so long ensnared them.
This verse speaks to the ultimate purpose of God's discipline for His people, Jacob. It explains that the purging and removal of their sin, especially their deep-seated tendency toward idolatry, will be fully realized when they utterly demolish all remnants of false worship. This act of decisively clearing out idolatrous altars and sacred groves signifies a complete repentance and a turning back to God alone, marking the intended fruit of their suffering and exile.
This verse speaks to the ultimate purpose of God's discipline for His people, Jacob. It explains that the purging and removal of their sin, especially their deep-seated tendency toward idolatry, will be fully realized when they utterly demolish all remnants of false worship. This act of decisively clearing out idolatrous altars and sacred groves signifies a complete repentance and a turning back to God alone, marking the intended fruit of their suffering and exile.
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'asherim · Hebrew Noun
Wooden symbols or poles associated with Canaanite fertility cults and idolatrous worship, explicitly forbidden in the worship of the God of Israel.
chamman · Hebrew Noun
Small structures used for burning incense, which were often associated with idolatrous practices when used outside of the prescribed temple worship of Yahweh.
c. 539 BC
Persian Conquest of Babylon
Cyrus the Great of Persia conquers the Babylonian Empire, paving the way for the return of the Jewish exiles to their homeland.
c. 516 BC
Dedication of the Second Temple
The Jewish exiles, having returned to Jerusalem, complete and dedicate the Second Temple. This signifies a renewed focus on worship, but the memory of past idolatry remains.
"Therefore by this the guilt of Jacob will be atoned for, and this will be the full fruit of the removal of his sin: when he makes all the stones of the altars like chalkstones crushed to pieces, no Asherim or in…" — The true "fruit" of God's judgment here isn't just punishment, but a radical cleansing that leaves no trace of idolatry standing. It's about God so breaking down the very stones of false worship that…
