Isaiah 8:10 kjv
Take counsel together, and it shall come to nought; speak the word, and it shall not stand: for God is with us.
Isaiah 8:10 nkjv
Take counsel together, but it will come to nothing; Speak the word, but it will not stand, For God is with us."
Isaiah 8:10 niv
Devise your strategy, but it will be thwarted; propose your plan, but it will not stand, for God is with us.
Isaiah 8:10 esv
Take counsel together, but it will come to nothing; speak a word, but it will not stand, for God is with us.
Isaiah 8:10 nlt
Call your councils of war, but they will be worthless.
Develop your strategies, but they will not succeed.
For God is with us! "
Isaiah 8 10 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isa 7:7 | Thus says the LORD GOD, "It shall not stand, nor shall it come to pass." | Isaiah 7:7 (Purpose stated) |
| Ps 2:1-4 | Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain?... The LORD mocks them. | Psalm 2:1-4 (Opposing counsel fails) |
| Prov 19:21 | Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand. | Proverbs 19:21 (God's purpose prevails) |
| Jer 5:21-22 | But they do not consider in their hearts that I, the LORD their God, remember all their deeds... the LORD has formed it. | Jeremiah 5:21-22 (Futility of opposing God) |
| Acts 4:25-28 | "...for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place." | Acts 4:25-28 (Human plots against Christ) |
| Ps 46:1-3 | God is our refuge and strength... Though its waters roar and foam... nations were moved, he lifted his voice. | Psalm 46:1-3 (God's strength and presence) |
| Zech 8:3 | ... Jerusalem shall be called the city of truth, and the mountain of the LORD of hosts, the holy mountain. | Zechariah 8:3 (God's presence in Zion) |
| Isa 7:9 | "...If you are not firm in faith, you will not be firm at all." | Isaiah 7:9 (Faith required for standing) |
| Heb 11:6 | And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. | Hebrews 11:6 (Pleasing God through faith) |
| Matt 1:23 | "Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel," which means God with us. | Matthew 1:23 (Immanuel fulfilled) |
| Rom 8:31 | What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? | Romans 8:31 (God's presence and victory) |
| 1 John 4:4 | Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. | 1 John 4:4 (Greater One within) |
| 2 Cor 13:8 | For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. | 2 Corinthians 13:8 (Against truth is impossible) |
| Josh 1:9 | Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not fear, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go. | Joshua 1:9 (God's presence with the faithful) |
| 1 Sam 17:45-47 | ... David said to the Philistine, "You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts..." | 1 Samuel 17:45-47 (God's name brings victory) |
| Matt 28:20 | "...and behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." | Matthew 28:20 (Jesus' presence with believers) |
| Acts 18:9-10 | And the Lord said to Paul one night in a vision, “Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not be silent, for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city who are my people.” | Acts 18:9-10 (God's assurance of presence) |
| John 16:33 | I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world. | John 16:33 (Jesus' victory) |
| Ps 37:35-36 | I have seen the wicked in great power, spreading like a green laurel tree, but he passed, and behold, he was no more; I sought for him, but he could not be found. | Psalm 37:35-36 (Wickedness eventually fails) |
| Isa 14:24, 27 | The LORD of hosts has sworn: “As I have planned, so shall it be, and as I have purposed, so shall it stand... For the LORD of hosts has purposed, and who can frustrate him? And his outstretched hand, who can turn it back?” | Isaiah 14:24, 27 (God's unfrustratable purpose) |
Isaiah 8 verses
Isaiah 8 10 Meaning
"Take counsel together, but it shall come to nought; speak a word, but it shall not stand: for God is with us." This verse proclaims the ultimate futility of any plans or words that oppose God's will. Regardless of how many people agree or how eloquently their plans are expressed, if they are contrary to the divine purpose, they will ultimately fail. The reason for this inevitable failure is God's presence. His presence signifies His power and authority, ensuring that His counsel and actions will prevail.
Isaiah 8 10 Context
This verse is found within Isaiah chapter 8, which records prophetic messages given during a critical period in Judah's history. The reigning king is Ahaz, who faces a military threat from the allied kings of Syria (Damascus) and Israel (Samaria). This coalition, often referred to as the Syro-Ephraimite coalition, intended to depose Ahaz and install their own ruler in Jerusalem. In this dire situation, Isaiah is commanded to take his son Maher-shalal-hash-baz as a sign and to write on a large tablet, "Maher-shalal-hash-baz," meaning "the spoil speeds, the prey hastes." This inscription was a prophetic declaration of the swift destruction of Damascus and Samaria by the Assyrian Empire. Chapter 8 begins with a prophecy of invasion and emphasizes trust in God, not in alliances with foreign powers or in occult practices. Isaiah is to gather witnesses to these prophecies. The verse in question serves as a divine assurance and a warning against relying on human machinations over God's will and protection.
Isaiah 8 10 Word Analysis
- Take counsel (עִצָּתִי — ‘itsath)|( Yā‘əṣū– ‘yətsô) ): From the root meaning "to plan," "to take counsel," "to advise." This refers to deliberate planning and forming strategies together.
- together (יַחְדָּו — yachad (yach-daw) ): Denotes unity and acting in concert, signifying a combined effort or agreement.
- but it shall come to nought (וְהֶבֶל ( hebel) ,וְלֹא־תִקּוֹמ)( tish-qaq)|( wə-lô' - tiq-qōm) ): The word "hebel" means "vapor," "vanity," "emptiness," "worthlessness." The second part implies "shall not stand" or "shall not establish itself." Combined, it powerfully signifies that their plans will be utterly empty and unable to materialize or be established.
- speak a word (דָּבָר — dabari (daw-bahr) ): "Dabar" means "word," "utterance," "command," "promise," or "matter." It signifies any communication or decree.
- but it shall not stand (כִּי־אִתָּנוּ אֵל) ( ki 'ith-taw-nu 'el) ): This signifies the word will not be established, it will not hold true or have effect. The reasoning given is God's presence.
- for God is with us (כִּי־אִתָּנוּ אֵל) ( ki-'ith-taw-nu 'el) ): Literally "because with us [is] God." This is the divine assurance, the anchor of the verse. The name "Immanuel" (God with us) given in the previous chapter directly resonates here.
Words-group Analysis
- "Take counsel together, but it shall come to nought": This phrase encapsulates the essence of futility in human endeavors that oppose God's overarching plan. It highlights the futility of human schemes and alliances, emphasizing that any concerted effort against God's decree is destined for failure, like a puff of smoke that vanishes.
- "speak a word, but it shall not stand": This part emphasizes the impotence of human words, decrees, or promises when they are contrary to God's will. Human words lack the divine authority to establish themselves against God's purposes.
- "for God is with us": This is the crucial divine pronouncement and the basis for the preceding declarations of failure for opposition. God's presence signifies His power, His sovereign rule, and His commitment to His people, guaranteeing that His plans will succeed. This is not merely a statement of presence, but a statement of divine backing and victory.
Isaiah 8 10 Bonus Section
The specific phrasing "God is with us" is not merely a passive observation of God's omnipresence but a declaration of active engagement and divine support. This assurance is directly linked to the prophetic name "Immanuel" given to Jesus in Matthew 1:23, connecting this Old Testament prophecy to the ultimate fulfillment in Christ. The strength of this statement is amplified by the contrast drawn between fragile human plans and God's immutable purpose. Furthermore, the original context implies that for those who do not have God with them (like the enemies of Judah), their counsel might seem to succeed for a time, but their ultimate defeat is assured, whereas for those aligned with God, His presence provides strength and guarantees their ultimate standing.
Isaiah 8 10 Commentary
This verse powerfully assures the listener that any collective human planning or declaration that goes against the will and purpose of God will ultimately prove to be in vain. Human wisdom, alliances, and decrees are fundamentally limited and powerless when they stand in opposition to the omnipotent Creator. The bedrock of this assurance is the divine presence, epitomized by the name Immanuel ("God with us"). When God is "with us" in terms of His will and His power, human opposition is rendered ineffective. This principle has broad application, not only to political or military strategies but to any endeavor, personal or corporate, that strays from God's divine order. It calls for reliance on faith and trust in God's sovereignty, recognizing that His purposes are unstoppable. The verse contrasts the fleeting nature of human plans with the eternal, unyielding nature of God's counsel.
Optional: Practical Usage Examples
- When facing discouragement due to setbacks in ministry that are aligned with God's word, remember that human opposition or worldly strategies will not ultimately succeed.
- In personal life, if efforts are made that compromise biblical principles in the pursuit of success or acceptance, this verse reminds that such endeavors lack lasting substance.
- When witnessing the seeming success of ungodly schemes, recall that their ultimate end is futility because God is with the faithful.