Isaiah — Chapter 8

📖 Isaiah — Chapter 8 (KJV)

Read the complete King James Version chapter below, then explore the passage sections, check what you remember, and keep your private study notes.

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Scripture source: Project Gutenberg KJV, ebook 10.

Isaiah 8:1 Moreover the LORD said unto me, ^RTake thee a great roll, and write in it with a man’s pen concerning ^TMahershalalhashbaz.

Isaiah 8:2 And ^RI took unto me faithful witnesses to record, Uriah the priest, and Zechariah the son of Jeberechiah.

Isaiah 8:3 And I ^Twent unto ^Rthe prophetess; and she conceived, and bare a son. Then said the LORD to me, Call his name Mahershalalhashbaz.

Isaiah 8:4 For before the child shall have knowledge to cry, My father, and my mother, ^RTthe riches of Damascus and the spoil of Samaria shall be taken away before the king of Assyria.

Isaiah 8:5 The LORD ^Rspake also unto me again, saying,

Isaiah 8:6 Forasmuch as this people ^Rrefuseth the waters of Shiloah that go softly, and rejoice in Rezin and Remaliah’s son;

Isaiah 8:7 Now therefore, behold, ^Rthe Lord bringeth up upon them the waters of the river, strong and many, even the king of Assyria, and all his glory: and he shall come up over all his channels, and go over all his banks:

Isaiah 8:8 And ^Rhe shall pass through Judah; he shall overflow and go over, he shall reach even to the neck; and the ^Tstretching out of his wings shall fill the breadth of thy land, O Immanuel.

Isaiah 8:9 ^RAssociate yourselves, O ye ^Tpeople, and ye shall be broken in pieces; and give ear, all ye of far countries: gird yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces; gird yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces.

Isaiah 8:10 Take ^Rcounsel together, and it shall come to nought; speak the word, and it shall not stand: for God is with us.

Isaiah 8:11 For the LORD spake thus to me ^RTwith a strong hand, and instructed me that I should not walk in the way of this people, saying,

Isaiah 8:12 Say ye ^Rnot, A confederacy, to all them to whom this people shall say, A confederacy; neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid.

Isaiah 8:13 ^RSanctify the LORD of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.

Isaiah 8:14 And ^Rhe 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.

Isaiah 8:15 And many among them shall ^Rstumble, and fall, and be broken, and be snared, and be taken.

Isaiah 8:16 ^RBind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples.

Isaiah 8:17 And I will wait upon the LORD, that ^Rhideth his face from the house of Jacob, and I will look for him.

Isaiah 8:18 Behold, ^RI and the children whom the LORD hath given me are for signs and for wonders in Israel from the LORD of hosts, which dwelleth in mount Zion.

Isaiah 8:19 And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards ^Rthat peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead?

Isaiah 8:20 To ^Rthe law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is ^Tno light in them.

Isaiah 8:21 And they shall pass ^Rthrough it, hardly bestead and hungry: and it shall come to pass, that when they shall be hungry, they shall fret themselves, and curse their king and their God, and look upward.

Isaiah 8:22 And they shall ^Rlook unto the earth; and behold trouble and darkness, dimness of anguish; and they shall be driven to darkness.

📚 Study This Chapter

📖 What We’re Reading

Isaiah 8:1–8 — A named sign and the Assyrian flood

🌱 What These Verses Teach Us

The recorded sign and child’s name point to swift plunder of Damascus and Samaria. Overflowing waters picture Assyria extending into Judah.

Key Truth: Hear the warning in its historical setting.

Check What You Remember

📖 What We’re Reading

Isaiah 8:9–15 — Fear the Lord rather than shared panic

🌱 What These Verses Teach Us

Hostile counsel cannot overcome God’s purpose. The prophet is told not to share popular fear, but to sanctify the Lord, whose presence confronts unbelief.

Key Truth: Let reverence replace contagious fear.

Check What You Remember

📖 What We’re Reading

Isaiah 8:16–22 — Seek God and his testimony

🌱 What These Verses Teach Us

The testimony is preserved among disciples while the prophet waits. Seeking mediums instead of God leads away from the law and testimony toward darkness.

Key Truth: Seek God through faithful instruction.

Check What You Remember

Related Scripture (KJV)

1 Peter 2:8 — Peter uses the stone-of-stumbling language.

1 Peter 2:8 (KJV) And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.

This related passage is selected for its connection with this chapter. It is separate from the chapter text.

Reflect and Apply

What source of guidance should you reject in favor of God’s word?

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