Isaiah 8:14 kjv
And he 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 8:14 nkjv
He will be as a sanctuary, But a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense To both the houses of Israel, As a trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
Isaiah 8:14 niv
He will be a holy place; for both Israel and Judah he will be a stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall. And for the people of Jerusalem he will be a trap and a snare.
Isaiah 8:14 esv
And he will become a sanctuary and a stone of offense and a rock of stumbling to both houses of Israel, a trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
Isaiah 8:14 nlt
He will keep you safe.
But to Israel and Judah
he will be a stone that makes people stumble,
a rock that makes them fall.
And for the people of Jerusalem
he will be a trap and a snare.
Isaiah 8 14 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isa 28:16 | "Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone... | God's foundation and stumbling stone |
| Luke 20:17 | And he beheld them, and said, What is this then that is written, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner? | Messiah as rejected cornerstone |
| Romans 9:33 | As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. | Messiah as stumbling stone and rock of offense |
| 1 Peter 2:7 | Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, The stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, | Messiah's preciousness to believers, rejection by disobedient |
| Acts 4:11 | This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. | Messiah's rejection and exaltation |
| Matt 21:42 | Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes? | Jesus as the rejected cornerstone |
| Isa 8:11-13 | For the LORD spake thus to me with a strong hand, and instructed me that I should not walk in the way of this people, saying,... | God instructs Isaiah not to follow the people's ways, highlighting His separateness. |
| Jer 6:21 | Therefore thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will lay stumblingblocks before this people, and the fathers and the children together shall fall upon them: | God laying stumblingblocks for His people |
| Hosea 4:6 | My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee... | Rejection of knowledge leading to destruction |
| Ps 118:22 | The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner. | The rejected stone becoming the cornerstone |
| Mark 4:11-12 | And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without all these things are done in parables: That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them. | Spiritual blindness for those who reject God |
| John 12:40 | He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them. | God blinding eyes and hardening hearts |
| 1 Cor 1:23 | But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Gentiles foolishness; | Christ crucified as a stumblingblock to Jews |
| 2 Cor 4:3 | But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: | The gospel hidden to those who are lost |
| Ps 81:11-12 | But my people would not hearken to my voice; and Israel would none of me. So I gave them up unto their own hearts' lusts: and let them follow their own imaginations. | God giving people over to their own desires |
| Amos 5:26 | But ye have borne the tabernacle of your Moloch and Chiun your images, the star of your god, which ye made to yourselves. | Worship of idols and rejection of God |
| Zeph 1:14 | The great day of the LORD is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly, even the voice of the bitter day of the LORD: the mighty man shall cry there bitterly. | The day of the LORD as a day of judgment |
| Rev 6:16-17 | And say to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand? | Fear of God's wrath on judgment day |
| Mal 3:1 | Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple... | God's coming to His temple |
| John 3:19 | And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. | Men's love for darkness over light |
| Isa 5:20 | Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! | Calling evil good and good evil |
Isaiah 8 verses
Isaiah 8 14 Meaning
Isaiah 8:14 states that the Lord Almighty will be a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense to both houses of Israel. It also indicates that He will be a trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. This verse describes God's judgment falling upon His own people.
Isaiah 8 14 Context
Isaiah 8 centers on a prophetic warning and a call to trust in the Lord amidst impending judgment. In chapters 7 and 8, the Northern Kingdom of Israel (called Ephraim) and Syria are threatening Judah. King Ahaz of Judah is seeking alliances with Assyria, a decision that Isaiah strongly advises against. Instead, Isaiah urges reliance on the Lord. This particular verse, 8:14, comes after God instructs Isaiah to separate himself from the people and to sanctify the Lord of hosts as his fear and dread. The nation is marked by disobedience and idolatry, leading to God's active judgment against them, described here as a snare and stumbling block.
Isaiah 8 14 Word Analysis
- Wə (וְ) - "And." A conjunctive particle, connecting this verse to the preceding one and the overall message.
- yəhôwâ (יְהוָה) - "Yahweh," "LORD." The covenant name of God, emphasizing His personal relationship with Israel.
- ṣəḇā’ōwṯ (צְבָאֹות) - "of hosts," "of armies." Refers to the heavenly armies, highlighting God's supreme power and sovereignty.
- yiheyeh (יִהְיֶה) - "shall be." Future tense, indicating a definite pronouncement of divine action.
- lə·mə·qō·w·wê (לְמִקְשֶׁה) - "as a quarry," "for a quarry," or "a snare," "a trap." Implies something dangerous that lies in wait or is placed deliberately to cause a fall or capture. It speaks of deliberate placement for capture or stumbling.
- lǝʿô·w·lāh (לְעוֹלָה) - "for a quarry," "for a trap." This word is closely related to the previous one, reinforcing the idea of being set as a trap or cause for downfall. Some translations interpret it as "stumbling block."
- qereḇ (קֶרֶב) - "in the midst of," "among." Indicates that the judgment will fall upon the inhabitants within Jerusalem itself.
- yə·rū·šā·lā·yîm (יְרוּשָׁלִַם) - "Jerusalem." The capital city of Judah, the center of religious and political life.
- lə·mə·ṣō·w·wep̱ (לְמֹוקֶשׁ) - "as a trap," "as a snare." A repeated emphasis on the device used for catching.
- wǝ·ṣi·yə·yô·ḇō·wṯ (וְצִיִּצָת) - "and for a snare," "and a snare." This word is often translated as "a snare" or "a stumbling block." It signifies something that catches or entangles.
- bǝ·nê (בְּנֵי) - "sons of," "children of." Denotes the inhabitants or people of a place.
- yiś·rā·’êl (יִשְׂרָאֵל) - "Israel." In this context, it refers to the nation of Israel, encompassing both the Northern and Southern Kingdoms (or specifically Judah due to the mention of Jerusalem), as a collective entity facing divine consequence.
Word Group Analysis:
- "The LORD of hosts": This is a significant title for God, underscoring His absolute authority and power over all creation and cosmic forces. It presents Him not just as a protector but as a supreme ruler whose actions dictate the fate of nations and individuals.
- "a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense": This pairing emphasizes the dual nature of God's interaction with a disobedient people. He becomes a cause for them to fall and to be ensnared. The imagery is potent: a solid, dependable object becomes a hazard due to the people's corrupted vision or misaligned path.
- "a trap and a snare": This further reinforces the idea of entrapment. God's presence and His judgments are not chaotic but deliberate devices that will catch those who are in rebellion or have strayed from His path.
- "both houses of Israel": This reference to the divided kingdom (the Northern Kingdom of Israel and the Southern Kingdom of Judah) shows the comprehensive nature of God's judgment for national apostasy.
- "the inhabitants of Jerusalem": Specifically points to the heart of Judah's religious and political life as the immediate location of this entrapment, signifying that even the people within their fortified capital would not escape.
Isaiah 8 14 Bonus Section
The concept of God becoming a stumbling block is not unique to Isaiah. This is a consistent theme throughout Scripture when individuals or nations turn from God. The Apostle Paul specifically references Isaiah 8:14 in Romans 9:33, applying the prophecy directly to the rejection of Jesus Christ by many of his Jewish contemporaries. This highlights the continuity of God's dealings with His people and the consequences of spiritual blindness. The imagery of a stumbling stone and snare also reflects the reality that God's ultimate plan, particularly through the person and work of Christ, would be met with opposition and rejection by those who did not align with His purposes. This foretells not only national judgment but also individual spiritual assessment.
Isaiah 8 14 Commentary
Isaiah 8:14 presents a solemn paradox: the LORD, who is the Rock of Israel (Deut. 32:4), will become a rock of offense to them. This is because Israel, as a nation, has turned away from Him, embracing sin and unfaithfulness. Consequently, the very foundation of their security becomes the source of their destruction. For those who refuse to acknowledge and rely on God, and who reject His true representatives and His divine order, He will be a cause of stumbling, leading to ruin. This verse anticipates the Messiah, Jesus Christ, who is Himself the "stone of Israel" (Gen. 49:24) and the chief cornerstone (Eph. 2:20). For the believing Jews, He was the rock of their salvation. However, for many Jewish leaders and people who rejected Him, He became the stumbling stone and rock of offense prophesied here and in other Old Testament passages. The judgment is a consequence of the people's willful ignorance and defiance of God's revealed will.