Isaiah 8:20 kjv
To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.
Isaiah 8:20 nkjv
To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.
Isaiah 8:20 niv
Consult God's instruction and the testimony of warning. If anyone does not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn.
Isaiah 8:20 esv
To the teaching and to the testimony! If they will not speak according to this word, it is because they have no dawn.
Isaiah 8:20 nlt
Look to God's instructions and teachings! People who contradict his word are completely in the dark.
Isaiah 8 20 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isaiah 8:20 | "To the law and to the testimony!..." | Basis for biblical authority |
| John 1:9 | "...the true light that gives light to every person was coming..." | Christ as the true light |
| John 1:14 | "The Word became flesh..." | The ultimate testimony |
| John 5:39 | "You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have... | Scriptures as witness |
| Acts 17:11 | "...receiving the word with great eagerness and examining the Script..." | Bereans' model for study |
| 2 Tim 3:15-17 | "...from childhood you have known the sacred writings..." | Scripture’s sufficiency |
| Heb 1:1-2 | "In the past God spoke... but in these last days he has spoken to..." | God’s final revelation |
| 1 John 4:1 | "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits..." | Testing teachings |
| Gal 1:8-9 | "But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gos..." | Warning against false gospels |
| Ps 19:7 | "The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul..." | Perfection of God's law |
| Ps 119:105 | "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." | Word as guiding light |
| Prov 6:23 | "For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching a light..." | Instruction as light |
| Jer 18:18 | "Then they said, 'Come, let us devise plans against Jeremiah...'" | Opposition to God's word |
| Jer 2:8 | "The priests did not say, 'Where is the LORD?'..." | Failure to seek God's law |
| Hosea 4:6 | "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge..." | Consequences of ignorance |
| Mal 2:7 | "For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and people sho..." | Duty of teachers |
| Luke 16:29-31 | "...they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the de..." | Abraham's response |
| Rom 1:20 | "For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and div..." | God's revelation in creation |
| Rev 1:1 | "The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him..." | Revelation of Jesus Christ |
| Rev 22:18-19 | "I warn everyone who hears the words of this prophecy of this book..." | Warning regarding Revelation |
Isaiah 8 verses
Isaiah 8 20 Meaning
"To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no dawn for them." This verse is a powerful exhortation to adhere strictly to the revealed word of God, the Torah (law) and the prophetic testimonies. It declares that any teaching or practice that deviates from God's established word lacks divine authority and any hope of true spiritual enlightenment or deliverance. It is a standard for discerning truth from error, emphasizing that adherence to God's word is the sole source of light and salvation.
Isaiah 8 20 Context
Isaiah chapter 8 describes the impending Assyrian invasion and the political machinations of the northern kingdom of Israel (often called Ephraim) and Syria (Aram) against Judah. God instructs Isaiah to record a prophecy against these nations, emphasizing his sovereign control and the coming judgment. The chapter also highlights Judah's wavering faith and reliance on foreign powers instead of God. Against this backdrop of political turmoil and spiritual compromise, Isaiah 8:20 serves as a critical directive for the people of Judah to hold fast to God's established word and not be swayed by the false prophecies, political schemes, or sorcery that would inevitably arise during such a crisis. The verse is a clarion call for divine discernment in times of confusion and apostasy.
Isaiah 8 20 Word analysis
Law (Hebrew: torah): This refers specifically to God's divine instruction, primarily the teachings given through Moses. It signifies more than just the Ten Commandments; it encompasses the entirety of God's revealed will, principles, and commands for His people. It represents a blueprint for righteous living and a covenant relationship.
Testimony (Hebrew: tsavah or edut): This refers to the solemn witness or declaration of God, often embodied in the ark of the covenant or prophetic pronouncements. It signifies God's binding pronouncements, His covenants, and the evidence of His truth. Together, "law and testimony" represents the complete body of God's revelation.
Speak (Hebrew: dabar): This verb means to speak, say, or declare. It implies communication, particularly authoritative pronouncements.
According to this word (Hebrew: kimhach la'dabar hazzeh): This phrase emphasizes conformity and alignment. The instruction must precisely match God's revealed word. Any deviation, alteration, or addition renders it invalid.
Because (Hebrew: ki): This introduces a reason or cause. The lack of dawn is a direct consequence of not speaking according to God's word.
No dawn (Hebrew: ein shoacher): Literally, "there is no morning." Dawn signifies the arrival of light, clarity, hope, and salvation. Its absence implies spiritual darkness, confusion, a lost cause, and no prospect of deliverance or divine favor. It suggests being abandoned to a perpetual night of judgment.
Words-group analysis:
- "To the law and to the testimony!": This is a direct, imperative command, an urgent directive to consult and adhere to the established divine revelation. It is a call to anchor oneself in God's immutable truth amidst chaos.
- "If they do not speak according to this word...": This sets a clear conditional criterion for discernment. The truthfulness and divine origin of any teaching are measured by its fidelity to God's revealed word.
- "...it is because there is no dawn for them.": This states the absolute consequence of rejecting or ignoring God's word. It signifies a state of spiritual desolation and permanent darkness, devoid of hope or divine presence.
Isaiah 8 20 Bonus section
The phrase "no dawn" suggests a finality to judgment for those who reject God's established word. It’s not just a temporary setback but a state of perpetual spiritual night. This verse is often seen as a prophecy pointing forward to Jesus Christ, who is the ultimate Word and the True Light (John 1:9, 8:12). The "law and the testimony" ultimately find their fulfillment and deepest meaning in Him. The adherence called for in Isaiah 8:20 is ultimately an embrace of the person and work of Christ, who is the embodiment of God's truth and the source of eternal dawn. Scholars point out that during times of national crisis or spiritual confusion, such as when Judah was threatened by Assyria and Syria, people often turned to sorcery, séances, and pagan divinations for answers. This verse directly condemns those practices and redirects the people back to the reliable, divine source of guidance.
Isaiah 8 20 Commentary
Isaiah 8:20 is a cornerstone verse for biblical authority. It is a vital command to test all teachings, prophecies, and doctrines against the standard of Scripture. When a teaching aligns with God's unchanging word, it brings light, truth, and hope. Conversely, any deviation leads to spiritual darkness and the absence of hope. This principle is crucial for distinguishing true prophecy and sound doctrine from falsehood and spiritual deception, ensuring believers remain grounded in divine truth. It highlights the exclusive authority of Scripture as the final arbiter of truth, and that no other source, human or even seemingly supernatural, can override it.
- Practical Usage: When faced with teachings that claim divine origin or offer profound spiritual insights, compare them carefully with the clear teachings of the Bible. If a teaching contradicts or twists biblical principles, it lacks divine light and should be rejected.