And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
He will be a safe place for some people, but he will also be like a stone that causes others to trip and fall. He will be like a rock that offends both kingdoms of Israel, and like a trap that catches the people living in Jerusalem.
This verse is saying that the same person (referring to the Messiah) will be a place of safety for some people, but will cause others to stumble and be offended.
📚 Historical Context
Isaiah wrote this prophecy during a time when the kingdom of Israel was divided into two parts - the northern kingdom (Israel) and the southern kingdom (Judah, with Jerusalem as its capital). The prophet is speaking about how the coming Messiah would be received differently by different people. This was written around 700-740 BC when the Assyrian empire was threatening both kingdoms.
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