Isaiah 8 19

Isaiah 8:19 kjv

And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead?

Isaiah 8:19 nkjv

And when they say to you, "Seek those who are mediums and wizards, who whisper and mutter," should not a people seek their God? Should they seek the dead on behalf of the living?

Isaiah 8:19 niv

When someone tells you to consult mediums and spiritists, who whisper and mutter, should not a people inquire of their God? Why consult the dead on behalf of the living?

Isaiah 8:19 esv

And when they say to you, "Inquire of the mediums and the necromancers who chirp and mutter," should not a people inquire of their God? Should they inquire of the dead on behalf of the living?

Isaiah 8:19 nlt

Someone may say to you, "Let's ask the mediums and those who consult the spirits of the dead. With their whisperings and mutterings, they will tell us what to do." But shouldn't people ask God for guidance? Should the living seek guidance from the dead?

Isaiah 8 verses

Isaiah 8 19 Meaning

This verse describes the practices of seeking guidance from mediums and spiritists. It labels them as unnatural, distasteful, and a departure from what is right. The implication is that such practices are viewed negatively and are considered a deviation from the Lord's intended way of seeking counsel.

Isaiah 8 19 Context

Chapter 8 of Isaiah shifts in tone and focus. After pronouncements of judgment upon Syria and Israel, Isaiah is instructed by God to write on a large scroll concerning the impending destruction of Damascus and the occupation of Samaria by Assyria (8:1-4). He then prophesies the devastation that the Assyrians, as God's instrument of judgment, will bring upon Judah (8:5-10).

This verse, 8:19, emerges in a section where Isaiah is instructed to prophesy against the people of Judah who are turning away from God. Specifically, they are relying on pagan divination and occult practices for guidance instead of seeking the Lord. This is presented as a symptom of their faithlessness and rebellion. The surrounding verses (8:18, 8:20-22) further emphasize that true guidance and instruction are to be found in God's word and in His prophets, not in the whispers of the dead or demonic spirits. The broader context is one of God’s persistent judgment and call to repentance amidst national crisis and spiritual decay.

Isaiah 8 19 Word Analysis

• And: Conjunction, linking this action to what might precede or follow.
• when: Temporal conjunction, setting a condition.
• they: Refers to the people of Judah who are turning away from God.
• say: To speak, to utter words.
• “Seek: Imperative verb; a command to search for or consult. The people actively pursue this forbidden knowledge.
• out: Preposition indicating origin or source, emphasizing reaching into forbidden realms.
• the: Definite article, pointing to specific entities.
• mediums: Hebrew: ’ōḇōṯ (אוֹבוֹת). The plural form, often translated as "python spirits" or "ventriloquists," referring to those who practiced necromancy, or speaking with the dead, or had familiar spirits. This refers to consulting the spirits of deceased individuals for divination. These practitioners were often associated with producing sounds from the lower parts of their bodies (hence "belly," 'ōḇ).
• and: Conjunction.
• the: Definite article.
• familiar: Hebrew: yədeʿōnîm (יִדְּעֹנִים). The plural of yədeʿā, meaning "knowledge" or "skill." These were practitioners of divination, often associated with having a familiar spirit or an acquired "knowledge" from supernatural sources, distinct from divine revelation. They were adept at spirit-communing and possibly prognostication.
• spirits: Hebrew: ruḥōṯ (רוּחֹת). Generally refers to "spirits" or "winds," here implying spirits, likely malevolent or those associated with the dead.
• who: Relative pronoun, introducing a descriptive clause.
• whisper: Hebrew: lāḥəḥîm (לַחַשׁ). Implies speaking softly, murmuring, often associated with incantations, spells, or secretive utterances. It suggests a clandestine and possibly seductive form of communication.
• and: Conjunction.
• mutter: Hebrew: wəʾāmîm (וְאָמוּ). Similar to whisper, it suggests speaking in a low, indistinct, or repetitive manner, conveying the secretive and low-frequency nature of these consultations. It might imply mumbling of spells or divinatory phrases.

Word-group Analysis:

• "Seek out the mediums and the familiar spirits": This phrase directly names the forbidden practitioners and their alleged source of knowledge. The parallel structure emphasizes two related but distinct types of forbidden occult arts: necromancy (through 'ōḇōṯ) and spirit-communing/divination (through yədeʿōnîm).
• "who whisper and mutter": This descriptive phrase portrays the nature of their communication – subtle, secretive, and possibly deceptive. It contrasts with the clear and authoritative word of God delivered through true prophets. The sounds described are unnatural and perhaps mimic or mimic the sounds from within a person (as per the root of 'ōḇ).

Isaiah 8 19 Bonus Section

The phrase "whisper and mutter" could also allude to the eerie sounds produced by those claiming to be possessed by spirits or by ventriloquists who were associated with the practices described by 'ōḇ and yədeʿōnîm. The origin of the word 'ōḇ is sometimes linked to the word for "waterskin" or "bottle," suggesting the sound produced might have been through hollow or resonating means. This casts a peculiar and uncanny light on the methods employed by these forbidden consultants, emphasizing their unnaturalness. This verse also lays groundwork for later New Testament passages that address demonic possession and the need to discern spirits, urging believers to rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment rather than spiritualistic practices.

Isaiah 8 19 Commentary

Isaiah 8:19 condemns the practice of consulting mediums and spiritists. This means seeking wisdom or future knowledge from individuals who claim to commune with the dead or possess supernatural insight through other means, rather than from God. The verse highlights the deceptive nature of these practices, describing their communication as "whispering and muttering," suggesting clandestine and perhaps mesmerizing utterances. It is a warning against spiritualism and divination, which were strictly forbidden in ancient Israel.

The prophet contrasts this with the proper way of seeking guidance, which is through God's Law and His prophets. The verse implies that these forbidden consultations are inherently wrong and lead away from divine truth and protection. It calls people to reject such influences and turn back to the Lord for authentic counsel and direction. This practice was considered abhorrent because it attributed power and knowledge to sources other than the Almighty, thereby challenging God's sovereignty and unique role as the source of all wisdom and guidance.