Isaiah 8 17

Isaiah 8:17 kjv

And I will wait upon the LORD, that hideth his face from the house of Jacob, and I will look for him.

Isaiah 8:17 nkjv

And I will wait on the LORD, Who hides His face from the house of Jacob; And I will hope in Him.

Isaiah 8:17 niv

I will wait for the LORD, who is hiding his face from the descendants of Jacob. I will put my trust in him.

Isaiah 8:17 esv

I will wait for the LORD, who is hiding his face from the house of Jacob, and I will hope in him.

Isaiah 8:17 nlt

I will wait for the LORD,
who has turned away from the descendants of Jacob.
I will put my hope in him.

Isaiah 8 verses

Isaiah 8 17 meaning

Isaiah 8:17 expresses the prophet Isaiah's personal and steadfast resolve to remain loyal to the Lord, even amidst national apostasy and divine judgment. When God's "face is hidden" from the nation of Jacob – signifying His withdrawal of favor, protection, and manifest presence due to their rebellion – Isaiah declares his commitment to patiently wait and eagerly hope in Yahweh. This statement positions the prophet and his faithful disciples in stark contrast to the unfaithful majority who turn to divination and human wisdom.

Isaiah 8 17 Context

Isaiah chapter 8 is a continuation of the prophet's warnings and prophetic signs concerning the Syro-Ephraimite war and the impending Assyrian invasion. King Ahaz of Judah has rejected God's sign (Isa 7:10-12) and instead sought alliance with Assyria, directly contradicting divine instruction and leading Judah down a path of judgment.

In the immediate context, verses 11-15 detail God's command to Isaiah not to follow the ways of the people, who are in league with Syria and Ephraim against Judah, and who view the Lord's coming judgment as a "conspiracy." God reiterates that He is the true object of fear and holiness, not human alliances or threats. He warns that for those who do not revere Him, He will become a "stone of stumbling and a rock of offense" (v. 14). Following this, verse 16 indicates that Isaiah is to "bind up the testimony" and "seal the teaching among his disciples," suggesting a preservation of divine truth among a faithful remnant. This sets the stage for Isaiah's personal declaration in verse 17. The wider historical context is the late 8th century BCE, a period of immense political instability and spiritual decline for both Israel and Judah, leading to the fall of the Northern Kingdom and severe judgment upon Judah.

Isaiah 8 17 Word analysis

• And I will wait (וְחִכִּיתִי - vəḥikkitî): From the Hebrew verb חָכָה (ḥāḵâ), meaning "to wait, to tarry, to be patient, to hope." This is an emphatic statement, showing Isaiah's personal, deliberate, and sustained posture. It signifies patient endurance and confident expectation. The repetition with "I will look for" strengthens this commitment.
• upon the LORD (לַֽיהוָה - laYHWH): The personal, covenantal name of God. This indicates that Isaiah's hope and patience are directed specifically toward the sovereign Creator, not a general deity or human power. It underscores the personal relationship and covenant fidelity.
• that hideth (הַמַּסְתִּיר - hammastîr): From the verb סָתַר (sātar), "to hide, conceal." This is an active participle, emphasizing God as the one presently and intentionally engaged in hiding His face. It's not passive absence but a deliberate action as a response to sin.
• his face (פָּנִים - pānîm): The "face of God" in Hebrew thought is synonymous with His manifest presence, favor, blessing, and benevolent attention. When His face is hidden, it indicates a withdrawal of favor, a time of disfavor, judgment, or perceived absence due to the people's rebellion and broken covenant. It signifies the removal of divine light and protection.
• from the house of Jacob (מִבֵּית יַֽעֲקֹב - mibbêt yaʿaqōḇ): Refers to the nation of Israel as a whole, representing God's covenant people. The hidden face is specifically directed from them, emphasizing that they are the object of divine discipline, rather than other nations. This highlights the severity of their unfaithfulness.
• and I will look for him (וְקִוֵּיתִי לֽוֹ׃ - vəqivvêtî lô): From the verb קָוָה (qāvâ), which also means "to wait, to hope, to expect," but often carries a stronger sense of eager longing and looking forward with active hope and confidence, like straining toward an expected goal. It often implies a waiting with endurance, anticipating a future salvation or intervention. The repetition with "wait" (חָכָה) forms a strong rhetorical pair, signifying resolute trust and patient expectation. The suffix "for Him" again points to Yahweh as the sole object of this profound hope.
• "And I will wait upon the LORD... and I will look for him": This doubling of verbs emphasizing waiting and hoping expresses the prophet's profound personal commitment and unwavering trust in God, despite the dire circumstances and God's apparent hiddenness. It’s an active, patient, and expectant faith.
• "that hideth his face from the house of Jacob": This phrase directly identifies the object of God's displeasure and clarifies that His withdrawal is specific to His own people, a direct consequence of their disobedience. It sets a clear boundary between God's disposition towards the unfaithful nation and Isaiah's faithful stance.

Isaiah 8 17 Bonus section

The active participation of God in "hiding His face" (הַמַּסְתִּיר - hammastîr) is significant. It's not a passive retreat but a deliberate act of divine judgment. This hiddenness serves as a call for repentance; it creates a spiritual vacuum that should draw people back to Him, but often drives the unfaithful to false refuges. Isaiah's response is the antithesis of this; his patient waiting is an act of defiance against the current of despair and spiritual rebellion, pointing to an enduring hope found only in God, even when He disciplines. This personal commitment from the prophet serves as a paradigm for all believers enduring times of divine hiddenness or perceived silence – a call to remain steadfastly anchored in the character and promises of God, anticipating His eventual revelation. This echoes the concept of a "seed of promise" or a faithful remnant who maintain their covenant loyalty amidst widespread disloyalty, serving as the preservers of divine truth until God's restoration.

Isaiah 8 17 Commentary

Isaiah 8:17 is a pivotal verse, serving as a powerful declaration of prophetic resolve and faithfulness. It immediately follows the divine command for Isaiah to sequester the true teaching among his disciples, isolating them from the national apostasy. The "hidden face" of the LORD signifies not absence, but an active, judicial withdrawal of favor, protection, and manifest blessing due to the "house of Jacob's" spiritual defection. This withdrawal of divine light and presence plunges the nation into a time of darkness, both literally through impending invasion and spiritually through moral corruption and turning to forbidden practices like divination (as described in the following verses).

Amidst this profound spiritual crisis and impending judgment, Isaiah chooses a different path. His dual affirmation – "I will wait" (ḥāḵâ) and "I will look for him" (qāvâ) – signifies a deep, unwavering, and active hope. It's a defiant act of faith, refusing to join the popular despair or resort to syncretism and human remedies. Isaiah's commitment represents the faithful remnant, a minority who clings to the covenant promises even when God seems to be against His own people. It underscores that true spiritual insight and deliverance are found not in immediate answers from the unseen or in human ingenuity, but in patient, resolute trust in Yahweh's ultimate purposes, even when those purposes involve temporary, severe discipline. This stance implicitly challenges the prevailing mindset of seeking comfort in immediate, illicit means rather than patiently enduring and returning to the sovereign God.