Isaiah 8:14-15

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Isaiah 8:9-15

The prophet here returns to speak of the present distress that Ahaz and his court and kingdom were in upon account of the threatening confederacy of the ten tribes and the Syrians against them. And in these verses, I. He triumphs over the invading enemies, and, in effect, sets them at defiance, and bids them do their worst (Isa. 8:9, 10): ?O you people, you of far countries, give ear to what the prophet says to you in God's name.? 1. ?We doubt not but you will now make your utmost efforts... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 8:14

And he shall be for a sanctuary ,.... Not the king of Assyria, as Aben Ezra, but the Lord of hosts: the Targum rightly interprets it of the word of the Lord, the essential Word; of the Messiah, who is for a sanctuary, or asylum, a place of refuge for his people in all times of distress, and who is their dwelling place in all generations; he dwells in them, and they dwell in him; and where they dwell safely and securely, peaceably and quietly, comfortably and pleasantly, and that always; he... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 8:15

And many among them ,.... Not all, though the greater part; for Christ was set for the falling and rising of many in Israel, Luke 2:34 , shall stumble, and fall, and be broken : stumble at Christ, the stumbling stone; fall by unbelief into other sins and punishment, and be broken in pieces by this stone, Matthew 21:44 , and be snared, and be taken ; and so die in their sins, and perish eternally. The allusion is to birds being taken in a snare or trap, or with bird lime, and... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 8:14

And he shall be for a sanctuary "And he shall be unto you a sanctuary" - The word לכם lachem , unto you, absolutely necessary, as I conceive, to the sense, is lost in this place: it is preserved by the Vulgate, " et erit vobis in sanctificationem ." The Septuagint have it in the singular number: εσται σοι εις ἁγιασμον , it shall be to Thee. Or else, instead of מקדש mikdash , a sanctuary, we must read מוקש mokesh , a snare, which would then be repeated without any propriety... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 8:5-15

God with us. The prophet looks out on the troubled prospect as on a deluge, amidst which the ark of promise carrying the elect, the remnant, the Church of the faithful and chosen, is seen riding. I. TEMPORAL ALLUSIONS . 1. The foreign sympathies of the people . Tired of the inefficient reign of Ahaz, they watch for the approach of the two northern kings with interest. They have forgotten their patriotism, which once rallied round the house of David as a political and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 8:11-15

Our personal relation to God. It is clearly insufficient to know that we are on the same side as that of the majority of the good. The voice of God's people is not always his voice; their way not always his way ( Isaiah 8:11 ). They may call for "a confederacy" when he disapproves of it. They may cry "peace" when he sees only present confusion and future disaster. They may be shaken with fear when they ought to be calm and trustful ( Isaiah 8:12 ). They may be full of complacency when... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 8:11-16

THE GROUNDS OF ISAIAH 'S CONFIDENCE . Having declared his absolute confidence, not only that the attack of Pekah and Rezin will fail ( Isaiah 8:1-4 ), but that Assyria also ( Isaiah 8:8 ), nay, that all the nations of the earth ( Isaiah 8:9 ) will fail, and bring destruction upon themselves, if they "devise devices" against God's true people, the prophet explains the ground of his confidence by relating a special "instruction" which he had received from God some time... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 8:14

He shall be for a Sanctuary (comp. Ezekiel 11:16 , "Yet will I be to them as a little Sanctuary"). A sanctuary is "a refuge" ( Psalms 90:1 ; Psalms 91:9 ), and something more. It is a holy refuge, a place which is a refuge because of its holiness. Its material counterpart in the Mosaic system is, not "the city of refuge," but the altar ( 1 Kings 1:50 ; 1 Kings 2:28 ). Both the houses of Israel ; i.e. "the two reigning houses of Samaria and Judaea," both of which were Israelite.... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 8:14

God's twofold relations with men. To some, a "Sanctuary;" to others. a "Rock of offense." For the Christian form of the same truth, comp. 2 Corinthians 2:1 , 2 Corinthians 2:6 . "To the one we are the savor of death unto death, and to the other the savor of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?" God is to men as men are to him (see Psalms 18:25 , Psalms 18:26 ), But is this saying anything strange? Surely it is the secret of good motherhood and fatherhood. They who... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 8:15

Many among them (so the Vulgate, Ewald, Delitzsch, and Knobel). But most others translate, "Many shall stumble thereon," i.e. on the stone and the rock (Rosenmüller, Gesenius, Vance Smith, Kay, Cheyne). Fall, and be broken. The effect of stumbling against a stone ( Matthew 21:44 ; Luke 20:18 ). Be snared, and be taken. The effect of being caught in a gin ( Psalms 9:15 , Psalms 9:16 ). read more

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