Let’s read through the book of Hebrews one verse at a time in 2023. Every day explore a single verse and its cross references. AI-generated text draws the passages together. RSS feed.
The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.
The cross references for Isaiah 9:2 all relate to the idea of light and darkness. They emphasize the idea of God being a source of light and hope in the midst of darkness and despair. They also draw a connection between God's light and the hope it brings to people who are in darkness and in need of salvation. The references also highlight the importance of following God's light in order to be saved and to have fellowship with Him. Finally, they remind us of our calling as God's chosen people to proclaim His glory and to bring light to the world.
| Passage | How It’s Related (AI-Generated) |
|---|---|
| Isaiah 60:1-3: Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you. And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. | Both passages refer to the coming of light in the midst of darkness. Isaiah 9:2 speaks of a great light coming to those who were in a land of deep darkness, while Isaiah 60:1–3 speaks of the LORD arising and His glory being seen upon those who were in darkness. This light is a symbol of the hope and salvation that is found in the LORD, who is the source of all light. |
| Isaiah 60:19: The sun shall be no more your light by day, nor for brightness shall the moon give you light; but the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory. | Both passages speak to the light that God provides to His people. Isaiah 9:2 speaks of the people who have been living in darkness, but then experience a great light when God comes to them. Isaiah 60:19 speaks of the sun and moon no longer being their source of light, but instead God will be their everlasting light and their glory. |
| Matthew 4:16: the people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned.” | Both passages refer to the same event: the coming of a great light to those who are in darkness. In Isaiah 9:2, the prophet Isaiah foretells the coming of the Messiah, a great light that will shine on those who are in darkness. In Matthew 4:16, Jesus is quoting Isaiah's prophecy, showing that he is the fulfillment of this prophecy. Jesus is the great light that has dawned on those who are in the region and shadow of death. |
| Luke 1:78-79: because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.” | Both passages refer to the same concept of light being brought to those in darkness. Isaiah 9:2 speaks of light being brought to those who have been living in darkness, symbolizing God’s salvation and grace. Luke 1:78–79 emphasizes God’s mercy in providing light to those who are in darkness and the shadow of death, and guiding them to peace. |
| Luke 2:32: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.” | Both passages refer to the coming of a great light that will bring hope and glory. Isaiah 9:2 speaks of a light that will shine on those who have been living in darkness, while Luke 2:32 speaks of a light that will bring revelation to the Gentiles and glory to Israel. This great light is a reference to the birth of Jesus Christ, who is the source of hope and salvation for all people. |
| John 8:12: Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” | Both passages refer to Jesus as the light of the world. Isaiah 9:2 is a prophetic reference to the coming of Jesus, the Messiah, who would bring light to those living in darkness. John 8:12 is a direct statement from Jesus himself, claiming that He is the source of light and that those who follow Him will not walk in darkness. |
| John 12:46: I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness. | Both passages speak to the idea of light in the darkness. Isaiah 9:2 speaks of a great light that has shone on those who dwell in darkness, while John 12:46 references Jesus' presence in the world as light, so that those who believe in Him may not remain in darkness. In Isaiah 9:2, the light is a sign of hope and comfort for those who have been living in darkness, while in John 12:46, Jesus Himself is the light, offering salvation and freedom from darkness to all who believe in Him. |
| Ephesians 5:8: for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light | Both passages refer to a transformation from darkness to light. Isaiah 9:2 describes this transformation as a shift from walking in darkness to seeing a great light, while Ephesians 5:8 describes this transformation as a shift from being darkness to being light in the Lord. Through these passages, we can see that God brings light to those who were once in darkness, and that He calls us to live as children of light. |
| 1 Peter 2:9: But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. | Both passages refer to the power of God's light in the lives of his people. Isaiah 9:2 speaks of the great light that has shone upon a people who have been living in darkness. 1 Peter 2:9 speaks of God's people being called out of darkness into his marvelous light, and being chosen as a royal priesthood and holy nation. This passage reflects the promise of Isaiah 9:2, that the people of God would no longer be in darkness, but that they would be illuminated by the light of God. |
| 1 John 1:5-7: This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. | Both passages refer to the power of light to bring hope and salvation. Isaiah 9:2 speaks of the great light that has come to those dwelling in deep darkness, while 1 John 1:5-7 emphasizes the importance of walking in the light of God, which brings fellowship with one another and cleansing from sin. |
Heavenly Father,
We thank You for the great light that You have brought into our lives. We thank You for the hope, joy, and peace that comes with it. Help us to always remember that You are our everlasting light, and that You have called us out of darkness into Your marvelous light.
We pray that You would give us the courage to walk in the light, even when it is hard, and to never forget that You are our light and our glory. We pray that You would give us the strength to proclaim Your excellencies and to be a light for revelation to the Gentiles.
We also pray for those who still walk in darkness, that they may see Your great light. We pray that You would guide their feet into the way of peace, and that You would give them the courage to accept Your light and follow You.
We thank You for the gift of Your Son, Jesus, who is the light of the world. We ask that You would help us to follow Him and to always keep His light before us.
We pray all these things in the name of Jesus. Amen.
This reading plan reads through a single verse each day, six days a week, paired with the most-popular cross references for the verse. AI-generated (and human-reviewed) text provides an opening thought and concluding prayer along with an explanation for how each cross reference relates to the verse. In 2023, this reading plan works through Hebrews one verse at a time. Every seventh day is a catchup day. Want more info? Try this blog post.
Unless otherwise indicated, all content is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Contact me: openbibleinfo (at) gmail.com.