Isaiah 8:13 kjv
Sanctify the LORD of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.
Isaiah 8:13 nkjv
The LORD of hosts, Him you shall hallow; Let Him be your fear, And let Him be your dread.
Isaiah 8:13 niv
The LORD Almighty is the one you are to regard as holy, he is the one you are to fear, he is the one you are to dread.
Isaiah 8:13 esv
But the LORD of hosts, him you shall honor as holy. Let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.
Isaiah 8:13 nlt
Make the LORD of Heaven's Armies holy in your life.
He is the one you should fear.
He is the one who should make you tremble.
Isaiah 8 13 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isaiah 8:13 | Sanctify the LORD of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread. | Isa 5:24 (judgment) |
| Genesis 9:6 | Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man. | Ps 99:9 (holiness) |
| Deuteronomy 6:5 | And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. | Jer 10:7 (kingship) |
| Psalm 111:9 | He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend is his name. | Luke 12:5 (fear God) |
| Isaiah 29:23 | He shall sanctify his name through Jacob, and shall glorify himself through Israel. | Isa 29:14 (man's works) |
| Matthew 10:28 | And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. | Deut 10:12 (love, fear) |
| Jeremiah 17:5 | Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD. | Prov 18:10 (refuge) |
| Isaiah 40:31 | But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. | Heb 12:28 (kingdom) |
| Joshua 1:9 | Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest. | 1 Peter 3:14-15 (attitude) |
| Isaiah 8:12 | Say ye not, A confederacy, to all those of this land, whereof they shall speak, A confederacy; neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid. | Isa 41:10 (no fear) |
| Psalm 27:1 | The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? | Isa 7:9 (stand fast) |
| Malachi 2:15 | And did not he make one? Yet had he the residue of the spirit. And wherefore one? That he might seek a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth. | John 17:19 (sanctified) |
| Revelation 14:7 | Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters. | Josh 24:14 (serve) |
| Psalm 89:7 | God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about him. | Isa 6:3 (holy) |
| Luke 1:49 | For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name. | Neh 9:32 (awe) |
| Isaiah 30:15 | For thus saith the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not. | Ps 46:10 (stillness) |
| Acts 5:29 | Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. | Acts 4:19 (disobey men) |
Isaiah 8 verses
Isaiah 8 13 Meaning
The verse instructs the people not to fear or be dismayed by the impending judgment and destruction threatened by hostile nations. Instead, they are to regard the Lord Almighty as the One to be feared and held as holy, for He alone is the source of true security and salvation.
Isaiah 8 13 Context
This verse is part of Isaiah chapter 8, a prophecy delivered during the reign of King Ahaz of Judah. At this time, the Northern Kingdom of Israel and Syria were threatening Judah. Ahaz, instead of trusting in God, sought alliances with the Assyrian Empire, an act of spiritual infidelity and political folly. The chapter contains a prophecy of judgment upon the nations and upon Judah for their unfaithfulness. The immediate preceding verses (8:11-12) warn the people not to conform to the alliance (“confederacy”) or fear the fearful (“fear ye their fear”), implying that a popular fear was gripping the populace regarding the invading nations. Isaiah 8:13 provides the divine counter-command: direct their fear and reverence not towards the human threats but towards God Almighty Himself.
Isaiah 8 13 Word Analysis
“and sanctify the LORD of hosts himself”:
- Sanctify (Hebrew: קִדְּשׁוּ - qiddəšu): From the root קָדַשׁ (qadash), meaning to set apart, to make holy, to hallow. Here it's a command in the Piel stem, implying a call to treat God as holy, to acknowledge His distinctiveness, sovereignty, and sacredness. This is not about making God holy, but about a human response of treating Him as holy.
- LORD (Hebrew: יְהוָה - YHWH): The personal covenant name of God, often translated as "LORD." It conveys His eternal existence and His covenant relationship with His people.
- of hosts (Hebrew: צְבָאוֹת - tsəḇā’ōṯ): This epithet for God, "Sabaoth" or "Sabaoth," refers to heavenly armies or multitudes. It emphasizes God's supreme power and authority over all powers, celestial and earthly.
- himself (Hebrew: הוּא - hu’): This adds emphasis, underlining that the Lord of Hosts is the true object of their allegiance and fear, not any other power or human alliance.
“and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.”:
- fear (Hebrew: מֹרָא - morā’): This word denotes awe, reverence, or that which is the object of dread. It is distinct from sheer terror.
- dread (Hebrew: חֲתִיף - ḥăṯîp̄): A word that can convey trembling or alarm, again highlighting a profound respect mingled with apprehension stemming from God's awesome power. It suggests a recognition of His formidable presence.
Word-Group Analysis
- "Sanctify the LORD of hosts himself": This phrase encapsulates a theological imperative: recognize and respond to God's absolute holiness and supreme authority. It's a call to shift the focus from external threats to internal devotion, seeing God as the ultimate power behind all circumstances. This counters the tendency to find security in human pacts or strength.
- "Let him be your fear, and let him be your dread": This segment clarifies the desired disposition. Instead of succumbing to the "fear of the people" (v. 12), they should internalize a reverential fear of God. This fear is not debilitating panic but a wholesome respect and awe that guides their actions and commitments. It implies a separation of what deserves fear from what does not, prioritizing the divine over the temporal.
Isaiah 8 13 Bonus Section
This verse sets the stage for the prophetic sign that follows in Isaiah 8:14-18, where the Lord Himself becomes a "stone of stumbling" and a "rock of offense" for both kingdoms, but a "sanctuary" for those who fear Him. The dual nature of Christ (mentioned in the New Testament) resonates here, as He is both a cause of judgment for the disobedient and a source of salvation for the faithful. The exhortation to fear God above men is a recurring theme throughout Scripture, emphasizing God's ultimate authority and the danger of compromising faith for the sake of appeasing human powers. It challenges the natural human inclination to seek security in the visible and the tangible rather than in the invisible and eternal.
Isaiah 8 13 Commentary
Isaiah 8:13 stands as a profound call to prioritize spiritual orientation amidst earthly turmoil. The prophet urges the people of Judah, facing invasion and political uncertainty, to re-evaluate their source of security. They are tempted to fear the powerful invading armies or the potential consequences of defying them. However, God, through Isaiah, commands them to fear Him—the LORD of Hosts. This isn't a fear born of terror or despair, but a holy awe. It is about acknowledging God's ultimate sovereignty, His righteous power, and His control over all circumstances. To "sanctify" Him means to treat Him as distinct, sacred, and supreme. This involves revering Him, setting Him apart from all other objects of trust and devotion. The nation was aligning itself with Assyria, implicitly trusting human strength over divine protection. This verse redirects that misplaced trust and fear back to the Almighty. It underscores a core biblical principle: true safety and deliverance come from acknowledging and obeying God, not from human alliances or political maneuvering. It's a reminder that what man fears most is often trivial compared to the eternal power and holiness of God. This redirection of fear and reverence is essential for Israel to stand firm and ultimately find salvation.