The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.
The people who were living in darkness have seen a great light. Those who lived in a land covered by the shadow of death—on them the light has shined.
This verse promises that people living in despair and hopelessness will experience God's salvation and hope breaking into their dark circumstances like a brilliant light.
📚 Historical Context
Isaiah wrote this prophecy around 700 BC when the northern kingdom of Israel was facing invasion and exile by the Assyrians. The regions of Zebulun and Naphtali (mentioned in the previous verse) were among the first to be conquered and taken into captivity. Christians later understood this prophecy to be fulfilled when Jesus began his ministry in these same regions of Galilee.
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