What Does Isaiah 9:15 Mean in the King James?
The ancient and honourable, he is the head; and the prophet that teacheth lies, he is the tail.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
A prophet’s lie is directional: the word for “teacheth” carries the force of pointing, and this verse places that voice at the tail of the people’s order.
THE MEANING
The verse names two places in a people’s order now: the old and honored figure is head, and the prophet teaching falsehood is tail. Its image shows that teaching shapes direction; a respected place or sacred title does not make a false message true.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
The verse dissolves the belief that age, honor, or the title “prophet” guarantees a trustworthy voice: it names the honored elder as head and the lying prophet as tail.
THE ROOT
מוֹרֶה
moreh
GROWS FROM
ירה
To throw or shoot; by extension, to point or direct.
“teacheth” in this verse is moreh. The word for teaching grows from a root of aiming and directing. So the prophet’s lie is not only false content: it is instruction that points somewhere, and this verse places that voice at the tail.
ALSO GROWS
torah: Instruction, teaching
תּוֹרָה
This branch shares the same root and carries the sense of guidance that directs a way.
moreh: Teacher; one who directs
מוֹרֶה
The verse uses this word for the one doing the directing, making the falsehood an act of guidance.
yarah: To shoot, throw, or point
יָרָה
Its concrete sense reveals the directional force hidden inside “teacheth.”
נְשׂוּא פָנִים
nesu panim
GROWS FROM
נשא
To lift, carry, or bear.
The phrase translated “honourable” is literally “lifted of face,” an image of someone raised in public esteem. That elevated figure is called the head, while the prophet teaching lies is called the tail.
ALSO GROWS
nasi: A prince, leader, or elevated one
נָשִׂיא
The leader’s title shares the root of being lifted up, echoing the honored figure’s place as head.
nasa: To lift, carry, or bear
נָשָׂא
This verb preserves the physical image beneath the honorific: a face lifted up before others.
THE PATTERN
False guidance directs those who follow it into error.
For the leaders of this people cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed.Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the LORD.Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.THE THREAD
I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths.“Taught” in Proverbs comes from the same root, ירה, as “teacheth” in Isaiah. Proverbs makes the root’s directional force plain: instruction points toward wisdom and right paths, while Isaiah shows that the same act of teaching can point through falsehood.
Read the SDV Bible.
Every verse has a Deep Dive in the app.
The iPhone Bible app with the Selah Decoded Version.
Does something in this reading look wrong? Tell us