Nazarene Commentary 2000©
21st Century Paraphrase of the Hebrew Scriptures©
–
21st Century Version of the Christian Scriptures©
[NCMM]
|
Locate verse: Type a verse reference like 'Romans 10:9' or abbreviated 'Rm 10:9'.
By just typing the verse one can jump to the corresponding verse on the active page (only works if the current page displays a chapter).
If a chapter and a verse is entered without a book, the current selected book is assumed.
Providing only the name of a book will bring one to the chapter index of that book.
Examples (without the quotes): '1 Tim 3:16', 'Rv 1:8', 'Matthew 5', '3:16', '8', 'Phm'.
|
THE PROPHET ISAIAH
CHAPTER EIGHT:
CHILDREN AS SIGNS AND WONDERS
Isaiah 8:1-4 – Mahershalalhashbaz
IS8:1 YeHoWaH told me: “Get a large tablet
and write upon it so everyone can read it
– Mahershalalhasbaz.
| 330 | Tablet: Or, KJV: a great roll; JPS: large sheet; LXX: a volume of a great new book. |
| 331 | So everyone can read it: Or, LXX: a man’s pen; RHM: plain characters; NJB: ordinary stylus; JPS: common script. |
| 332 | Mahershalalhasbaz: Or, RHM: Speed-spoil-hurry-prey; LXX: making a rapid plunder of spoils. A cryptic name for Isaiah’s son, similar to Shearjashub and Immanuel. |
IS8:2 Then provide for Me testimony of witnesses – the priest Uriah
and Zechariah
son of Jeberechiah.”
| 333 | Uriah: Meaning “YHWH My Light.” See 2 Kings 16:10. |
| 334 | Zechariah: Meaning “YHWH Remembers”. |
IS8:3 It was then that I came unto the prophetess
and she became pregnant and gave birth to a son. YeHoWaH told me: “Call his name Mahershalalhasbaz.
| 335 | Prophetess: That is, Isaiah’s wife. See notes on Judges 4:4 and Acts 21:9. For details on women in the Bible see the Biblical
Article The Biblical Woman. Many believe there are two fulfillments going on in this portion: one minor and one major, the latter involving Christ. |
IS8:4 Because before the boy is able
to call, ‘My father!’ and ‘My mother!’ the wealth of Damascus and the spoil
of Samaria will be carried away as loot before the king of Assyria. | 336 | Spoil: Or, NJB: booty. Thus, the meaning of the child’s name. |
| 337 |
King of Assyria: Compare 2 Kings 15:29; 16:9; 17:6; Isaiah 17:1. |
Isaiah 8:5-8 – Assria Invades Immanuel’s Land
IS8:5 Again YeHoWaH spoke to me further, saying:
IS8:6 “Because this people have refused the gentle waters of Shiloah
– and are rejoicing with Rezin and the son of Remaliah –
| 338 | Refused the gentle waters of Shiloah: Or, JPS: spurned the gently flowing waters; NJB: which flow smoothly; RHM: flow softly; LXX:
chooses not the water. See John 9:7. |
IS8:7 so now, behold! YeHoWaH is about to bring against them the strong waters and the strong-flow of the river
[Euphrates] – even the king of Assyria in all his glory. He will flood over all the river banks in a powerful current,
| 339 | Strong waters and the strong-flow of the river: Or, LXX: strong and abundant; RHM: strong and many; NJB: mighty, swelling; JPS: mighty,
massive. An allusion to the coming invasion. |
IS8:8 flowing throughout Judah – overflowing and rushing along neck-deep. Then for a certainty he will spread his wings over the breadth of your land, O Immanuel.” | 340 | Your land, O Immanuel: Or, JPS: with us is God. Possibly indicating “Immanuel” was a corporate name for Judah. The names of key historical people are often given to a whole nation. |
Isaiah 8:9-13 – “God Is with Us!”
IS8:9 Become aware,
O you peoples – and be conquered! Listen, all you far away
places – strengthen yourselves but be conquered! Strengthen yourselves
but be conquered!
| 341 | Become aware: Or, KJV: associate yourselves; JPS: band together; NJB: realize this; RHM: rage; LXX: know ye. |
| 342 | Far away: Often referring to the non-Jews or Gentiles. See Ephesians chapter 2. |
| 343 | Strengthen yourselves: Or, KJV: gird yourselves; NJB: arm yourselves. |
IS8:10 Scheme out a plan,
but it will fail. Make any pronouncement,
but it will not succeed – for God is with us!
| 344 | Make any pronouncement: Or, LXX: whatsoever counsel you take; RHM: determine a plan; NJB: devise plans as you may; JPS: hatch a plot;
KJV: take counsel. Human plans fail when opposed to the “eternal purpose.” |
| 345 | For God is with us:
The meaning of Immanuel’s name. |
IS8:11 For YeHoWaH told me when He took me by the hand
and admonished
me not to walk in the way of this people.
He said:
| 346 | He took me by the hand: Or, KJV: strong hand; NJB: hand seized hold of me; RHM: like a firm grasp; LXX: with a strong hand they revolt. |
| 347 | Admonished: Or, NJB: taught me; JPS: charged me; KJV: instructed me. |
| 348 | Not to walk in the way of this people: Or, JPS: not walk in the path. Advice found elsewhere in the Bible. Compare Romans 12:2. |
IS8:12 “Do
not call a conspiracy
everything this people call a conspiracy.
Nor fear what they fear
or regard with awe.
[1 Peter 3:14]
| 349 | Conspiracy: Or, LXX: it is hard; RHM: confederacy. |
| 350 | Nor fear what they fear or regard with awe: Or, KJV: nor be afraid; JPS: nor revere what it reveres, nor hold it in awe; NJB: do not dread what they dread; RHM: or regard as awful; LXX: dismayed.
The LXX Greek is virtually identical to 1 Peter 3:14, a clear allusion to the LXX. Peter does not make an interpretation of Isaiah but merely borrows the language for his own use and context. |
IS8:13 Only
YeHoWaH of [angelic] armies must you sanctify.
Let Him be the One you fear,
and let Him inspire you with awe.” | 351 | Sanctify: Or, RHM: shall ye hallow; NJB: the One you will proclaim holy; JPS: account holy. Compare a major Biblical theme at Matthew 6:9. [Leviticus 10:3; 22:32; Isaiah 29:23] |
| 352 | Let Him be the One you fear: Or, KJV: dread; JPS: give reverence. [Proverbs 8:13; Ecclesiastes 12:13; Matthew 10:28; Luke 12:5; Revelation 15:4 |
| 353 | Let Him inspire you with awe: Or, NJB: he will be a sanctuary. [A possible scribal error.] Compare Philippians 2:12. |
Isaiah 8:14-18 – A Stumbling Stone
IS8:14 Then He will become a holy sanctuary
–
a stone to strike against, and a rock to stumble over
[Romans 9:32; 1 Peter 2:8] by both houses of Israel
– a trap and a snare to everyone living in Jerusalem.
| 354 | He will become a holy sanctuary: Or, RHM: a hallowed asylum. Note Revelation 21:22. |
| 355 | A stone to strike against, and a rock to stumble over: Or, LXX: stumbling-stone; NJB: a rock to trip up; JPS: a stone men strike against; KJV: a stone of stumbling.
Paul quotes the phrase at Romans 9:32 and applies it to Christ over whom the Jews stumbled. [Matthew 13:57] Peter does the same at 1 Peter 2:8. [Isaiah 28:16] |
| 356 | Both houses of Israel: That is, the ten-tribe northern kingdom of Israel and the two-tribe southern kingdom of Judah. Such was the case in the days of Christ also. |
IS8:15 So,
many among them will stumble. They will fall down – cut and snared and captured.
IS8:16 Roll up the testimony
and put a seal on these instructions
among my disciples.
| 357 | Roll up the testimony: Or, KJV: bind up; JPS: the message. See verse 2. |
| 358 | Put a seal on these instructions: Or, LXX: that they may not learn the law; KJV: seal the law. [Isaiah 29:11; Daniel 12:9; Revelation 22:10] |
| 359 | Among my disciples: Or, NJB: in the heart of my disciples; RHM: [footnote: my instructed ones]. |
IS8:17 I will remain expectant
as I wait upon YeHoWaH who hides His face
from the House of Jacob. I will continue to wait on Him.
| 360 | Remain expectant: Or, LXX: wait for; RHM: long for Yahweh; NJB: my trust is in Yahweh. Waiting on Jehovah is a oft-repeated statement
in the Bible. [Psalm 33:20; 39:7] |
| 361 | Hides His face: Or, LXX: turned away His face. As Moses warned in Deuteronomy
31:17; 32:20. Compare Ezekiel 39:23. Includes at least God’s refusal to hear their prayers. [Micah 3:4] |
IS8:18 Behold, I and the children YeHoWaH
has given me
[Hebrews 2:13] are as signs and wonders
in Israel from YeHoWaH of [angelic] armies who dwells in Mount Zion.| 362 | Behold, I and the children YHWH has given me: The phrase is quoted by Paul at Hebrews 2:13 where it is applied to Christ and the members of his Church. In Isaiah’s case this involved the three sons named. [Isaiah 7:16; 8:3] |
| 363 | Signs and wonders: Or, NJB: signs and portents. The Hebrew is MOWPHETH [Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance #4159, miracle, token of future things]. |
Isaiah 8:19-22 – Hard Times for Spiritualists
IS8:19 Now when they tell you: “Look to the spiritualists,
to spirit mediums who talk to the dead, those who chirp and talk in whispers”
– should not a people inquire
of its God? Should such seek the dead
in behalf of the living?
| 364 | Look to the spiritualists: Or, KJV: seek unto them that have familiar spirits; JPS: ghosts; NJB: go and consult ghosts; RHM: necromancers;
LXX: divining spirit [footnote: ventriloquists]. The Hebrew is OWB [Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance #178, one who evokes the dead, ghost, spirit of a dead one]. The Bible condemns those who would inquire of the dead. [Leviticus 20:6; Deuteronomy
18:10, 11] On the condition of the dead see the Biblical Article Where Are the Dead? |
| 365 | Those who chirp and
talk in whispers: Or, LXX: speak out of the earth… who speak out of their own belly; RHM: wizards who chirp and who mutter; NJB: whisper and mutter; JPS: chirp and moan… inquire of its divine beings; KJV: peep. The Hebrew is TSAPHAPH [Strong’s
Exhaustive Concordance #6850, chirp, peep… of ghosts]. See Isaiah 29:4. Some see ventriloquizing. The Hebrew for “whispers” is HAGAH [Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance #1897, moan, growl] as the weird sounds spiritualists make under possession. |
| 366 | Inquire: Or, KJV: seek. Some understand the Hebrew phrase to mean “a people who consult their gods or divine beings.” |
| 367 | Seek the dead: The prevalence of such modern spiritualists who make fortunes by claiming to talk to the dead are numerous. The Bible condemns such sorcery. Note the word “sorcerer” in several versions at Deuteronomy 18:10; Acts 5:9; 8:15; 13:6, 8; 28:31. Search also “astrologers” [Isaiah 47:13] and “fortune-tellers.” |
IS8:20 To the Law and the Testimony!
If these do not speak in harmony with this Word
it is because they possess no dawn illumination.
| 368 | To the Law and the Testimony: Or, LXX: for he has given the law for a help; RHM: footnote: instruction; NJB: as regards instruction
and testimony; JPS: instruction and message. |
| 369 | If these do not speak in harmony with this Word: Or, NJB: this
is how they will talk; RHM: if they speak not according to this word. See notes on 1 John 4:1. |
| 370 | It is because they possess no dawn illumination: Or, LXX: no gifts to give for it; RHM: they have no dawning day; NJB: there will be no dawn for them [footnote: very obscure]; JPS: there will be no dawn; KJV: no light in them. |
IS8:21 Because of this they will all endure hard oppression and hunger.
So when they get hungry they will rant and castigate
their king and their God, turning their faces upward.
| 371 | Endure hard oppression and hunger: Or, KJV: hardly bestead and hungry; JPS: wretched; NJB: starving; RHM: hard pressed; LXX: family.
See the Mosaic curse on the Jews. |
| 372 | Rant and castigate: Or, LXX: speak ill; RHM: rage and revile; NJB: become
frenzied and curse; JPS: rage and revolt; KJV: fret… curse. Some have it as rage against “their god.” |
| 373 |
Turning their faces upward: Or, KJV: look upward; JPS: turn his face upward; NJB: turning his gaze upward. |
IS8:22 They will look to the land,
but, behold, oppression and darkness, a gloomy outlook without hope. | 374 | They will look to the land: Or, [the whole phrase] LXX: they will look to heaven above and they will look on the earth below; RHM: unto the land shall they look hard; NJB: turning his gaze upward, then down to earth; JPS: or he will look below; KJV: they will look unto the earth. No matter where they turn they receive no answers. |
| 375 | A gloomy outlook without hope: Or, KJV: dimness of anguish, driven to darkness; JPS: straightness and gloom, with no dawn [Hebrew uncertain]; NJB: dark as night for a country in distress. |
|
Nazarene Commentary 2000©
Mark Heber Miller
©2000 All Rights Reserved
|
