Isaiah 8:21
Isaiah 8:21 in Multiple Translations
They will roam the land, dejected and hungry. When they are famished, they will become enraged; and looking upward, they will curse their king and their God.
And they shall pass through 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.
And they shall pass through it, sore distressed and hungry; and it shall come to pass that, when they shall be hungry, they shall fret themselves, and curse by their king and by their God, and turn their faces upward:
And he will go through the land in bitter trouble and in need of food; and when he is unable to get food, he will become angry, cursing his king and his God, and his eyes will be turned to heaven on high;
They will wander around the country, depressed and hungry. When they are starving they will become furious, and looking up they will curse their king and their God.
Then he that is afflicted and famished, shall go to and from in it: and when he shalbe hungry, he shall euen freat himselfe, and curse his King and his gods, and shall looke vpward.
— And it hath passed over into it, hardened and hungry, And it hath come to pass, That it is hungry, and hath been wroth, And made light of its king, and of its God, And hath looked upwards.
They will pass through it, very distressed and hungry. It will happen that when they are hungry, they will worry, and curse their king and their God. They will turn their faces upward,
And they shall pass through it, distressed 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.
And they shall pass by it, they shall fall, and be hungry: and when they shall be hungry, they will be angry, and curse their king, and their God, and look upwards.
They will wander through the land, worried/discouraged and hungry. And when they become very hungry, they will become very angry. They will look up toward heaven and curse God and will also curse their king.
Berean Amplified Bible — Isaiah 8:21
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Isaiah 8:21 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
וְ/עָ֥בַר
בָּ֖/הּ
נִקְשֶׁ֣ה
וְ/רָעֵ֑ב
וְ/הָיָ֨ה
כִֽי
יִרְעַ֜ב
וְ/הִתְקַצַּ֗ף
וְ/קִלֵּ֧ל
בְּ/מַלְכּ֛/וֹ
וּ/בֵ/אלֹהָ֖י/ו
וּ/פָנָ֥ה
לְ/מָֽעְלָ/ה
וְ/עָ֥בַר
ʻâbar
H5674
to pass
Conj | V-Qal-3ms
בָּ֖/הּ
Prep | Suff
נִקְשֶׁ֣ה
qâshâh
H7185
to harden
V-Niphal
וְ/רָעֵ֑ב
râʻêb
H7457
hungry
Conj | Adj
וְ/הָיָ֨ה
hâyâh
H1961
to be
Conj | V-Qal-3ms
כִֽי
kîy
H3588
for
Conj
יִרְעַ֜ב
râʻêb
H7456
be hungry
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms
וְ/הִתְקַצַּ֗ף
qâtsaph
H7107
be angry
Conj | V-Hithpael-3ms
וְ/קִלֵּ֧ל
qâlal
H7043
to lighten
Conj | V-Piel-3ms
בְּ/מַלְכּ֛/וֹ
melek
H4428
King's
Prep | N-ms | Suff
וּ/בֵ/אלֹהָ֖י/ו
ʼĕlôhîym
H430
God
Conj | Prep | N-mp | Suff
וּ/פָנָ֥ה
pânâh
H6437
Corner (Gate)
Conj | V-Qal-3ms
לְ/מָֽעְלָ/ה
maʻal
H4605
above
Prep | Adv | Suff
Hebrew Word Study
Select any word above to explore its original meaning, root, and usage across Scripture.
Use ← → arrow keys to navigate between words.
Hebrew Word Reference — Isaiah 8:21
וְ/עָ֥בַר
ʻâbar
H5674
"to pass"
Conj | V-Qal-3ms
This verb can mean to cross over or transition from one thing to another, and is sometimes used to describe being arrogant or crossing a boundary.
Definition: 1) to pass over or by or through, alienate, bring, carry, do away, take, take away, transgress 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to pass over, cross, cross over, pass over, march over, overflow, go over 1a2) to pass beyond 1a3) to pass through, traverse 1a3a) passers-through (participle) 1a3b) to pass through (the parts of victim in covenant) 1a4) to pass along, pass by, overtake and pass, sweep by 1a4a) passer-by (participle) 1a4b) to be past, be over 1a5) to pass on, go on, pass on before, go in advance of, pass along, travel, advance 1a6) to pass away 1a6a) to emigrate, leave (one's territory) 1a6b) to vanish 1a6c) to perish, cease to exist 1a6d) to become invalid, become obsolete (of law, decree) 1a6e) to be alienated, pass into other hands 1b) (Niphal) to be crossed 1c) (Piel) to impregnate, cause to cross 1d) (Hiphil) 1d1) to cause to pass over, cause to bring over, cause to cross over, make over to, dedicate, devote 1d2) to cause to pass through 1d3) to cause to pass by or beyond or under, let pass by 1d4) to cause to pass away, cause to take away 1e) (Hithpael) to pass over
Usage: Occurs in 493 OT verses. KJV: alienate, alter, [idiom] at all, beyond, bring (over, through), carry over, (over-) come (on, over), conduct (over), convey over, current, deliver, do away, enter, escape, fail, gender, get over, (make) go (away, beyond, by, forth, his way, in, on, over, through), have away (more), lay, meddle, overrun, make partition, (cause to, give, make to, over) pass(-age, along, away, beyond, by, -enger, on, out, over, through), (cause to, make) [phrase] proclaim(-amation), perish, provoke to anger, put away, rage, [phrase] raiser of taxes, remove, send over, set apart, [phrase] shave, cause to (make) sound, [idiom] speedily, [idiom] sweet smelling, take (away), (make to) transgress(-or), translate, turn away, (way-) faring man, be wrath. See also: Genesis 8:1; Deuteronomy 27:2; 1 Samuel 25:19.
בָּ֖/הּ
""
Prep | Suff
נִקְשֶׁ֣ה
qâshâh
H7185
"to harden"
V-Niphal
In the Bible, this word means to be hard or severe, like when Pharaoh's heart was hardened against the Israelites in Exodus.
Definition: 1) to be hard, be severe, be fierce, be harsh 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to be hard, be difficult 1a2) to be hard, be severe 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be ill-treated 1b2) to be hard pressed 1c) (Piel) to have severe labour (of women) 1d) (Hiphil) 1d1) to make difficult, make difficulty 1d2) to make severe, make burdensome 1d3) to make hard, make stiff, make stubborn 1d3a) of obstinacy (fig) 1d4) to show stubbornness
Usage: Occurs in 28 OT verses. KJV: be cruel, be fiercer, make grievous, be ((ask a), be in, have, seem, would) hard(-en, (labour), -ly, thing), be sore, (be, make) stiff(-en, (-necked)). See also: Genesis 35:16; 2 Chronicles 10:4; Psalms 95:8.
וְ/רָעֵ֑ב
râʻêb
H7457
"hungry"
Conj | Adj
A person who is hungry is described by this Hebrew word, which appears in books like Deuteronomy and Amos. Hunger can be a physical or emotional state, and the Bible addresses both aspects.
Definition: 1) hungry 1a) hungry 1b) hungry man (subst) 1c) of failing strength (fig)
Usage: Occurs in 20 OT verses. KJV: hunger bitten, hungry. See also: 1 Samuel 2:5; Psalms 146:7; Psalms 107:5.
וְ/הָיָ֨ה
hâyâh
H1961
"to be"
Conj | V-Qal-3ms
The Hebrew word for to be means to exist or come into being. It is used to describe something that happens or comes to pass, like in Genesis where God creates the world.
Definition: 1) to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out 1a) (Qal) 1a1) --- 1a1a) to happen, fall out, occur, take place, come about, come to pass 1a1b) to come about, come to pass 1a2) to come into being, become 1a2a) to arise, appear, come 1a2b) to become 1a2b1) to become 1a2b2) to become like 1a2b3) to be instituted, be established 1a3) to be 1a3a) to exist, be in existence 1a3b) to abide, remain, continue (with word of place or time) 1a3c) to stand, lie, be in, be at, be situated (with word of locality) 1a3d) to accompany, be with 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to occur, come to pass, be done, be brought about 1b2) to be done, be finished, be gone
Usage: Occurs in 3131 OT verses. KJV: beacon, [idiom] altogether, be(-come), accomplished, committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), do, faint, fall, [phrase] follow, happen, [idiom] have, last, pertain, quit (one-) self, require, [idiom] use. See also: Genesis 1:2; Genesis 17:4; Genesis 36:11.
כִֽי
kîy
H3588
"for"
Conj
A conjunction used to show cause or connection, as in Genesis 2:23 where Adam says the woman is bone of his bone because she was taken out of him. It is often translated as 'for', 'because', or 'since'.
Definition: 1) that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since 1a) that 1a1) yea, indeed 1b) when (of time) 1b1) when, if, though (with a concessive force) 1c) because, since (causal connection) 1d) but (after negative) 1e) that if, for if, indeed if, for though, but if 1f) but rather, but 1g) except that 1h) only, nevertheless 1i) surely 1j) that is 1k) but if 1l) for though 1m) forasmuch as, for therefore
Usage: Occurs in 3910 OT verses. KJV: and, + (forasmuch, inasmuch, where-) as, assured(-ly), + but, certainly, doubtless, + else, even, + except, for, how, (because, in, so, than) that, + nevertheless, now, rightly, seeing, since, surely, then, therefore, + (al-) though, + till, truly, + until, when, whether, while, whom, yea, yet. See also: Genesis 1:4; Genesis 26:16; Genesis 42:15.
יִרְעַ֜ב
râʻêb
H7456
"be hungry"
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms
To be hungry is what this Hebrew verb means, and it is used in stories like Exodus and Matthew to describe physical need. Hunger is a basic human experience, and the Bible often uses it to illustrate spiritual longing.
Definition: 1) to be hungry, be voracious 1a) (Qal) to be hungry 1b) (Hiphil) to allow one to be hungry, allow to hunger
Usage: Occurs in 13 OT verses. KJV: (suffer to) famish, (be, have, suffer, suffer to) hunger(-ry). See also: Genesis 41:55; Proverbs 19:15; Psalms 34:11.
וְ/הִתְקַצַּ֗ף
qâtsaph
H7107
"be angry"
Conj | V-Hithpael-3ms
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means to be angry or furious, like God's wrath in Psalm 2:12. It describes intense rage or displeasure, often used to warn against provoking God's anger. This word appears in various forms throughout the Old Testament.
Definition: 1) to be displeased, be angry, fret oneself, be wroth 1a) (Qal) to be wroth, to be full of wrath, to be furious 1b) (Hiphil) to provoke to wrath or anger 1c) (Hithpael) to put oneself in a rage, anger oneself Aramaic equivalent: qe.tsaph (קְצַף "be angry" H7108)
Usage: Occurs in 32 OT verses. KJV: (be) anger(-ry), displease, fret self, (provoke to) wrath (come), be wroth. See also: Genesis 40:2; Esther 1:12; Psalms 106:32.
וְ/קִלֵּ֧ל
qâlal
H7043
"to lighten"
Conj | V-Piel-3ms
The Hebrew word qalal means to make something light or easy, but it can also mean to curse or bring into contempt. It appears in various forms throughout the Old Testament, including in the books of Exodus and Psalms.
Definition: 1) to be slight, be swift, be trifling, be of little account, be light 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to be slight, be abated (of water) 1a2) to be swift 1a3) to be trifling, be of little account 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be swift, show oneself swift 1b2) to appear trifling, be too trifling, be insignificant 1b3) to be lightly esteemed 1c) (Piel) 1c1) to make despicable 1c2) to curse 1d) (Pual) to be cursed 1e) (Hiphil) 1e1) to make light, lighten 1e2) to treat with contempt, bring contempt or dishonour 1f) (Pilpel) 1f1) to shake 1f2) to whet 1g) (Hithpalpel) to shake oneself, be moved to and fro
Usage: Occurs in 79 OT verses. KJV: abate, make bright, bring into contempt, (ac-) curse, despise, (be) ease(-y, -ier), (be a, make, make somewhat, move, seem a, set) light(-en, -er, -ly, -ly afflict, -ly esteem, thing), [idiom] slight(-ly), be swift(-er), (be, be more, make, re-) vile, whet. See also: Genesis 8:8; 2 Kings 3:18; Psalms 37:22.
בְּ/מַלְכּ֛/וֹ
melek
H4428
"King's"
Prep | N-ms | Suff
This word refers to a king or royal person, like King David or King Saul. It can also describe something related to a king, like the King's Valley in Genesis. The Bible often uses this word to talk about the rulers of Israel.
Definition: King's (Valley) (Gen.14.17)
Usage: Occurs in 1919 OT verses. KJV: king, royal. See also: Genesis 14:1; Joshua 10:39; 1 Samuel 16:1.
וּ/בֵ/אלֹהָ֖י/ו
ʼĕlôhîym
H430
"God"
Conj | Prep | N-mp | Suff
The Hebrew word for God, elohim, refers to the one supreme God, and is sometimes used to show respect to judges or magistrates. It is also used to describe angels or mighty beings. This word is closely related to the name of the Lord, Yahweh, and is often translated as God or gods in the Bible.
Definition: This name means "gods" (plural intensive-singular meaning), "God" Another name of ye.ho.vah (יהוה "LORD" H3068G)
Usage: Occurs in 2246 OT verses. KJV: angels, [idiom] exceeding, God (gods) (-dess, -ly), [idiom] (very) great, judges, [idiom] mighty. See also: Genesis 1:1; Genesis 22:12; Exodus 3:11.
וּ/פָנָ֥ה
pânâh
H6437
"Corner (Gate)"
Conj | V-Qal-3ms
This Hebrew word means to turn or face something, like looking at a corner or a gate. It appears in descriptions of daily life and interactions, like in Genesis and Psalms. It's about changing direction or focus.
Definition: This name means corner, to turn, to turn back Another spelling of pin.nah (פִּנָּה "Corner( Gate)" H6438)
Usage: Occurs in 128 OT verses. KJV: appear, at (even-) tide, behold, cast out, come on, [idiom] corner, dawning, empty, go away, lie, look, mark, pass away, prepare, regard, (have) respect (to), (re-) turn (aside, away, back, face, self), [idiom] right (early). See also: Genesis 18:22; 2 Kings 13:23; Psalms 25:16.
לְ/מָֽעְלָ/ה
maʻal
H4605
"above"
Prep | Adv | Suff
Means above or higher, used to describe something's location or position. In the Bible, it appears in passages like Genesis 1:7, where God separates the waters above from the waters below. This word helps us understand God's creation.
Definition: subst 1) higher part, upper part adv 1a) above prep 1b) on the top of, above, on higher ground than with locative 1c) upwards, higher, above
Usage: Occurs in 134 OT verses. KJV: above, exceeding(-ly), forward, on ([idiom] very) high, over, up(-on, -ward), very. See also: Genesis 6:16; 1 Samuel 30:25; Psalms 74:5.
Study Notes — Isaiah 8:21
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Isaiah 8:21 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Isaiah 8:21
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Isaiah 8:21
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Isaiah 8:21
- Trapp's Commentary on Isaiah 8:21
- Ellicott's Commentary on Isaiah 8:21
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Isaiah 8:21
- Cambridge Bible on Isaiah 8:21
- Barnes' Notes on Isaiah 8:21
- Whedon's Commentary on Isaiah 8:21
- Sermons on Isaiah 8:21
Context — Darkness and Light
19When men tell you to consult mediums and spiritists who whisper and mutter, shouldn’t a people consult their God instead? Why consult the dead on behalf of the living?
20To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn.
21They will roam the land, dejected and hungry. When they are famished, they will become enraged; and looking upward, they will curse their king and their God.
22Then they will look to the earth and see only distress and darkness and the gloom of anguish. And they will be driven into utter darkness.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Isaiah 9:20 | They carve out what is on the right, but they are still hungry; they eat what is on the left, but they are still not satisfied. Each one devours the flesh of his own offspring. |
| 2 | Proverbs 19:3 | A man’s own folly subverts his way, yet his heart rages against the LORD. |
| 3 | Lamentations 4:4–5 | The nursing infant’s tongue clings in thirst to the roof of his mouth. Little children beg for bread, but no one gives them any. Those who once ate delicacies are destitute in the streets; those brought up in crimson huddle in ash heaps. |
| 4 | Jeremiah 52:6 | By the ninth day of the fourth month, the famine in the city was so severe that the people of the land had no food. |
| 5 | Revelation 9:20–21 | Now the rest of mankind who were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the works of their hands. They did not stop worshiping demons and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone, and wood, which cannot see or hear or walk. Furthermore, they did not repent of their murder, sorcery, sexual immorality, and theft. |
| 6 | Lamentations 4:9–10 | Those slain by the sword are better off than those who die of hunger, who waste away, pierced with pain because the fields lack produce. The hands of compassionate women have cooked their own children, who became their food in the destruction of the daughter of my people. |
| 7 | Job 2:5 | But stretch out Your hand and strike his flesh and bones, and he will surely curse You to Your face.” |
| 8 | Deuteronomy 28:33–34 | A people you do not know will eat the produce of your land and of all your toil. All your days you will be oppressed and crushed. You will be driven mad by the sights you see. |
| 9 | Deuteronomy 28:53–57 | Then you will eat the fruit of your womb, the flesh of the sons and daughters whom the LORD your God has given you, in the siege and distress that your enemy will inflict on you. The most gentle and refined man among you will begrudge his brother, the wife he embraces, and the rest of his children who have survived, refusing to share with any of them the flesh of his children he will eat because he has nothing left in the siege and distress that your enemy will inflict on you within all your gates. The most gentle and refined woman among you, so gentle and refined she would not venture to set the sole of her foot on the ground, will begrudge the husband she embraces and her son and daughter the afterbirth that comes from between her legs and the children she bears, because she will secretly eat them for lack of anything else in the siege and distress that your enemy will inflict on you within your gates. |
| 10 | 2 Kings 25:3 | By the ninth day of the fourth month, the famine in the city was so severe that the people of the land had no food. |
Isaiah 8:21 Summary
[Isaiah 8:21 describes a situation where people are so desperate and hungry that they become angry and curse their leaders and God. This happens when people reject God's word and ways, and instead seek guidance from false sources, as warned in Isaiah 8:19-20. As seen in Deuteronomy 28:15, rejecting God's word can lead to severe consequences, but as described in 2 Chronicles 7:14, humble repentance can lead to forgiveness and healing. By seeking God's guidance and following His word, we can avoid such darkness and find true hope and light.]
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the context of Isaiah 8:21 and how does it relate to the surrounding verses?
Isaiah 8:21 is a continuation of the warning in Isaiah 8:19-20, where the prophet urges people to consult God's law and testimony instead of seeking guidance from spirits of the dead, and now describes the consequences of rejecting God's word, as seen in Isaiah 8:20, where it says 'To the law and to the testimony!'
What does it mean to 'curse their king and their God' in Isaiah 8:21?
Cursing their king and God means that the people will become so desperate and angry that they will reject and blaspheme their leaders and the one true God, similar to the rebellion described in Romans 1:21, where it says 'For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him'
How does Isaiah 8:21 relate to the idea of God's judgment and discipline?
Isaiah 8:21 illustrates the consequences of rejecting God's word and ways, which can lead to spiritual and physical hunger, and ultimately, God's judgment, as seen in Deuteronomy 28:15, where it says 'However, if you do not obey the Lord your God and do not carefully follow all his commands and decrees I am giving you today, all these curses will come on you and overtake you'
What is the significance of the people 'looking upward' in Isaiah 8:21?
The people looking upward in Isaiah 8:21 may indicate a sense of desperation and a cry for help, but instead of turning to God in repentance, they curse Him, which is a stark contrast to the humble and repentant heart described in 2 Chronicles 7:14, where it says 'if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land'
Reflection Questions
- What are some ways that I may be rejecting God's word and ways in my own life, and what are the potential consequences of doing so?
- How can I cultivate a heart of humility and repentance, like the one described in 2 Chronicles 7:14, especially when faced with difficult circumstances?
- What does it mean to truly 'consult God' and seek His guidance, as urged in Isaiah 8:19, and how can I apply this in my daily life?
- In what ways can I be a beacon of hope and light in a world that may be experiencing spiritual and physical darkness, as described in Isaiah 8:22?
Gill's Exposition on Isaiah 8:21
And they shall pass through it,.... The land, as the Targum and Kimchi supply it; that is, the land of Judea, as Aben Ezra interprets it.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Isaiah 8:21
And they shall pass through 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.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Isaiah 8:21
And they, the idolatrous and apostatical Israelites, shall pass through it, or, in it, to wit, their own land, which is easily understood out of the context, and from the phrase itself; the pronoun relative being put without an antecedent, as it is in other places, which have been formerly noted. They shall either pass through it into captivity, or wander hither and thither in it, like distracted men, not knowing whither to go, nor what to do; whereas if they had not forsaken God, they might have had a quiet and settled abode in it. Hardly bestead; sorely distressed, as this word is used, ; and hungry; destitute of food, and of all necessaries, which are oft signified by food. Curse their king; either because he doth not relieve them, or because by his foolish counsels and courses he brought them into these miseries. Their God; either, 1. The true God; or rather, 2. Their idols, to whom they trusted, and whom they now find too late unable to help them. Look upward to heaven for help, as men of all nations and religions in great calamities use to do.
Trapp's Commentary on Isaiah 8:21
Isaiah 8:21 And they shall pass through 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.Ver. 21. And they shall pass through it.] To and again, as uncertain of their way, and even at their wit’ s end. When they shall be hungry.] Cum esurierit et efferbuerit, as a pot boiling casteth up scum. And curse their king.] Ahaz, say some; Zedekiah, say others. And their God.] As those Antichristians. The Chinese whip their gods when they please them not. And look upward.] As the hunger bitten wolf howls against heaven.
Ellicott's Commentary on Isaiah 8:21
(21) And they shall pass through it . . .—i.e., through the land over which hangs the sunless gloom. The abruptness with which the verse opens, the absence of any noun to which the pronoun “it” may refer, has led some critics (Cheyne) to transpose the two verses. So arranged, the thought of the people for whom there is no dawning passes naturally into the picture of their groping in that thick darkness. and then the misery of that midnight wandering is aggravated by the horrors of starvation. The words may point to the horrors of a literal famine (Isaiah 2:11); but as the darkness is clearly figurative, so probably is the hunger—not a famine of bread, but of hearing the word of the Lord. The Authorised version rightly translates the indefinite singular by the plural. When they shall be hungry, they shall fret themselves.—The faithful who waited for the Lord might bear even that darkness and that hunger, as soldiers bear their night-march fasting before the battle. Not so with the panic-stricken and superstitious crowd. With them despair would show itself in curses. (Comp. Revelation 16:11; Revelation 16:21.) They would curse at once the king who had led them to destruction, and the God whom they had neglected.
Possibly the words may mean, “the king who is also their God,” as in Amos 5:26 (Heb.) and Zephaniah 1:5; but the analogy of 1 Kings 21:13 is in favour of the more literal meaning. The “upward” look is, we must remember, that of despair and defiance, not of hope. Upwards, downwards, behind, before, there is nothing for them but the darkness in which they are driven, or drifting onward. All seems utterly hopeless. Like Dante, they find themselves in a land “where silent is the sun.”
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Isaiah 8:21
Verse 21. Hardly bestead - "Distressed"] Instead of נקשה niksheh, distressed, the Vulgate, Chaldee, and Symmachus manifestly read נכשל nichshal, stumbling, tottering through weakness, ready to fall; a sense which suits very well with the place. And look upward - "And he shall cast his eyes upward."] The learned professor Michaelis, treating of this place (Not. in de Sacr. Poes. Hebr. Prael. ix.) refers to a passage in the Koran which is similar to it. As it is a very celebrated passage, and on many accounts remarkable, I shall give it here at large, with the same author's farther remarks upon it in another place of his writings. It must be noted here that the learned professor renders נבט nibbat, הביט hibbit, in this and the parallel place, Isaiah 5:30, which I translate he looketh by it thundereth, from Schultens, Orig. Ling. Hebr.
Lib. i. cap. 2, of the justness of which rendering I much doubt. This brings the image of Isaiah more near in one circumstance to that of Mohammed than it appears to be in my translation: - "Labid, contemporary with Mohammed, the last of the seven Arabian poets who had the honour of having their poems, one of each, hung up in the entrance of the temple of Mecca, struck with the sublimity of a passage in the Koran, became a convert to Mohammedism; for he concluded that no man could write in such a manner unless he were Divinely inspired. "One must have a curiosity to examine a passage which had so great an effect upon Labid. It is, I must own, the finest that I know in the whole Koran: but I do not think it will have a second time the like effect, so as to tempt any one of my readers to submit to circumcision. It is in the second chapter, where he is speaking of certain apostates from the faith. 'They are like,' saith he, 'to a man who kindles a light. As soon as it begins to shine, God takes from them the light, and leaves them in darkness that they see nothing. They are deaf, dumb, and blind; and return not into the right way. Or they fare as when a cloud, full of darkness, thunder, and lightning, covers the heaven. When it bursteth, they stop their ears with their fingers, with deadly fear; and God hath the unbelievers in his power. The lightning almost robbeth them of their eyes: as often as it flasheth they go on by its light; and when it vanisheth in darkness, they stand still.
If God pleased, they would retain neither hearing nor sight.' That the thought is beautiful, no one will deny; and Labid, who had probably a mind to flatter Mohammed, was lucky in finding a passage in the Koran so little abounding in poetical beauties, to which his conversion might with any propriety be ascribed.
Cambridge Bible on Isaiah 8:21
21, 22. Another scene, representing the utter desolation of the land, and the miseries of the survivors.
Barnes' Notes on Isaiah 8:21
And they shall pass - The people who have been consulting necromancers. This represents the condition of these who have sought for counsel and direction, and who have not found it.
Whedon's Commentary on Isaiah 8:21
21. They shall pass through it — “They” — the king, the court, and their supporters among the people, who have gone to necromancers for light. Hardly bestead — In great straits — disappointed, oppressed with anxiety.
Sermons on Isaiah 8:21
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
Mute Christian Under the Smarting Rod -Part 2 by Thomas Brooks | Thomas Brooks emphasizes the necessity for Christians to remain mute and silent during afflictions, drawing from Psalm 39:9 to illustrate that silence allows believers to hear the |
|
|
He Dares Spit in the Very Face of God Himself! by Thomas Brooks | Thomas Brooks emphasizes the folly of fretting against God during times of distress, illustrating how individuals often blame God for their suffering instead of recognizing their o |
|
Hell - Part 2 by Norman Grubb | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of seeing the negative aspects of life and embracing change. He uses the example of Jesus, who was seen as a fool by the worl |
|
The Illogic of Complaining by A.W. Tozer | A.W. Tozer addresses the detrimental effects of complaining on the soul and the Christian testimony, emphasizing that this sin is often overlooked despite its prevalence. He argues |
|
And When the People Complained, by A.B. Simpson | A.B. Simpson addresses the subtlety of murmuring among the children of Israel in the wilderness, emphasizing how people often express their discontent 'as it were' without openly s |
|
Submission, Not Fretting by Mary Wilder Tileston | Mary Wilder Tileston preaches about the importance of meek submission and worshiping God in every sorrow, highlighting that impatience and fretting under trial do not increase our |
|
The Hatred of God in the Human Heart by William MacDonald | William MacDonald addresses the theme of human folly and its consequences, emphasizing how individuals often blame God for the ruin brought upon themselves by their own sinful choi |