Isaiah 8:18 kjv
Behold, I and the children whom the LORD hath given me are for signs and for wonders in Israel from the LORD of hosts, which dwelleth in mount Zion.
Isaiah 8:18 nkjv
Here am I and the children whom the LORD has given me! We are for signs and wonders in Israel From the LORD of hosts, Who dwells in Mount Zion.
Isaiah 8:18 niv
Here am I, and the children the LORD has given me. We are signs and symbols in Israel from the LORD Almighty, who dwells on Mount Zion.
Isaiah 8:18 esv
Behold, I and the children whom the LORD has given me are signs and portents in Israel from the LORD of hosts, who dwells on Mount Zion.
Isaiah 8:18 nlt
I and the children the LORD has given me serve as signs and warnings to Israel from the LORD of Heaven's Armies who dwells in his Temple on Mount Zion.
Isaiah 8 18 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isa 8:17 | I will wait for the LORD, who is hiding his face from the house of Jacob. I will put my trust in him. | Isa 8:17 (Immediate context, the LORD's hiding) |
| Heb 2:13 | Again he said, "Here am I, and the children God has given me." | Heb 2:13 (Echoes the familial aspect as sign) |
| 1 Cor 1:24 | but Christ, the power of God and the wisdom of God. | 1 Cor 1:24 (Christ as divine sign/wonder) |
| Rom 8:29 | For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he too may be the firstborn among many brothers. | Rom 8:29 (Conformity to a divine pattern) |
| 2 Thess 1:10 | on the day he comes to be glorified in his holy people who have believed—for our testimony among you was believed. | 2 Thess 1:10 (Believers as object of glorification) |
| Ps 91:1 | Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. | Ps 91:1 (Divine protection for the faithful) |
| Jer 1:5 | "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations." | Jer 1:5 (Pre-ordination as prophet) |
| Acts 4:12 | Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved. | Acts 4:12 (Exclusive source of salvation) |
| John 1:14 | The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. | John 1:14 (The Incarnation as a divine sign) |
| Isa 7:14 | Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. | Isa 7:14 (Prior prophetic sign) |
| Isa 9:6 | For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. | Isa 9:6 (Prophecy of a wondrous child) |
| Ezek 12:11 | Then say, "I am a sign for you. Whatever I have done, they will do. They will go into exile, into captivity." | Ezek 12:11 (Prophets as signs of judgment) |
| 1 Sam 2:8 | He raises up the poor from the dust and lifts the beggar from the ash heap; he seats them with princes and gives them an inheritance of greater worth. For the pillars of the earth are the LORD’s; on them he has set the world. | 1 Sam 2:8 (God's exaltation of the humble) |
| Rev 1:8 | "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty." | Rev 1:8 (Almighty Lord) |
| Mark 10:45 | For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. | Mark 10:45 (Son of Man as servant) |
| Acts 3:15 | you killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this. | Acts 3:15 (Christ as author of life, resurrected) |
| 1 Cor 15:45 | So it is written: "The first man Adam became a living being"; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit. | 1 Cor 15:45 (Adam typology) |
| Gal 3:20 | Now an intermediary is not for one party; but God is one. | Gal 3:20 (God's singular nature) |
| Rom 11:34 | "Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?" | Rom 11:34 (Incomprehensibility of God's counsel) |
| Isa 55:8 | "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. | Isa 55:8 (Divine wisdom transcends human) |
Isaiah 8 verses
Isaiah 8 18 Meaning
This verse describes Isaiah and his children as signs and wonders from the LORD Almighty. This divine designation signifies a profound prophetic role, highlighting their importance and the messages they embody. It points to God's direct involvement and communication through them, setting them apart for a specific purpose within His plan.
Isaiah 8 18 Context
This verse appears in Isaiah chapter 8, following pronouncements of judgment and impending invasion by Assyria. The prophet Isaiah is instructed to take symbolic actions and names to illustrate God's judgment upon the unfaithful northern kingdom of Israel and to comfort Judah. The preceding verses speak of God hiding His face from His people due to their sin, leading to fear and seeking guidance from spirits and the dead. Isaiah 8:18 situates the prophet and his children within this turbulent context, signifying their unique relationship with God amidst national crisis. They are to be living testimonies of God's faithfulness and prophetic plan, even as they witness His judgment unfold.
Isaiah 8 18 Word Analysis
For (Kee / כִּי): Conjunction introducing a reason or explanation.
Behold (Hinnēh / הִנֵּה): Interjection calling attention, indicating presence or appearance. It emphasizes that what follows is significant and meant to be seen.
I (ʼănī / אֲנִי): First-person singular pronoun. Refers to Isaiah.
and (Wĕ·yā·ḏə·āq): Conjunction.
my (ă·nî / אָנִי): Possessive pronoun. Refers to Isaiah.
children (Yĕla·ḏîm / יְלָדִים): Plural noun for offspring, children.
are (Yih·yū / יִהְיוּ): Verb "to be."
for (lĕ·ʼō·ṯō·ṯ): Preposition, meaning "for" or "as."
signs (ʼō·ṯō·ṯ / אֹתֹת): Plural of 'owth, meaning sign, wonder, miracle, token. It signifies something supernatural or extraordinary that points to God's power or purpose.
and (ū·mō·p̄ĕ·ṯîm / וּמוֹפְתִים): Conjunction.
for (mĕ·ʼāḏ): Preposition, indicating "from" or "for."
signs (wə·mō·p̄ə·ṯîm / וּמוֹפְתִים): Plural of mopheth, meaning wonder, sign, portent. It implies something astonishing or remarkable.
from (mî·‘aḏ / מֵעַד): Preposition meaning "from" or "among."
the (ʼĕ·lō·hîm): Definite article.
LORD (Yă·hô·wâ / יְהוָה): The covenant name of God, Yahweh.
of (ṣə·ḇā·‘ō·wṯ / צְבָאוֹת): The verb "to serve" or "to muster"; in this construct, "hosts" or "armies," indicating God's supreme power and sovereignty over all heavenly and earthly powers.
hosts. (ṣə·ḇā·‘ō·wṯ / צְבָאוֹת): See above.
Grouped Analysis:
- "I and my children are for signs": This phrase emphasizes that Isaiah's entire household, not just himself, is set apart for divine purpose. Their very existence and relationship within the prophecy become divine signals.
- "Signs and wonders": The repetition and use of two similar words, 'owth and mopheth, reinforces the extraordinary and divinely orchestrated nature of the prophetic messages embodied by Isaiah and his children. It suggests a dual aspect of pointing to God (signs) and eliciting astonishment (wonders).
- "From the LORD of hosts": This attribute of God underscores His supreme authority and power, assuring that these "signs and wonders" originate from the ultimate Commander of all powers, both seen and unseen, giving them profound divine weight.
Isaiah 8 18 Bonus Section
The specific names given to Isaiah's children earlier in chapter 7, such as Shear-jashub ("a remnant shall return") and Maher-shalal-hash-baz ("to the spoil, hasten; the prey speeds"), already exemplify this concept of being living signs. This verse, however, broadens that to include Isaiah's entire family as symbols in a general sense. This underscores a pattern in Scripture where prophets were often called to embody their message through their personal lives and families, making their spiritual realities physically manifest. The phrase "LORD of hosts" (Yahweh Sabaoth) is a frequent descriptor of God in Isaiah, emphasizing His role as the commander of heavenly armies and thus the ultimate power behind the events of history and the prophetic declarations.
Isaiah 8 18 Commentary
Isaiah and his children are presented as divine markers, designated by God Almighty. This indicates their life and their circumstances were to serve as tangible, observable evidence of God's presence, purpose, and judgment within a critical historical moment. Their prophetic role was deeply personal and familial, highlighting that God's redemptive and judgment plans involve and are often declared through His faithful servants and their households. This designation provides assurance that despite the unfolding turmoil and divine withdrawal indicated in the preceding verses, God remains sovereign and is actively working through chosen instruments, even within the intimate sphere of the family. Their existence is a testament to God's unfolding plan amidst the nation's unfaithfulness, a visible message to those with eyes to see and hearts to understand.