Isaiah 8:20 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Isaiah 8:16-22

In these verses we have, I. The unspeakable privilege which the people of God enjoy in having the oracles of God consigned over to them, and being entrusted with the sacred writings. That they may sanctify the Lord of hosts, may make him their fear and find him their sanctuary, bind up the testimony, Isa. 8:16. Note, It is a great instance of God's care of his church and love to it that he has lodged in it the invaluable treasure of divine revelation. 1. It is a testimony and a law; not only... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 8:20

To the law, and to the testimony ,.... Kimchi takes this to be an oath, "by the law, and by the testimony", it is so and so; but Aben Ezra observes there is no instance of this kind in Scripture; it is a direction of Christ's to his disciples, to attend to the writings of Moses and the prophets, to search the Scriptures, as in John 5:39 and particularly what is before said in this prophecy concerning himself, the same is meant as on Isaiah 8:16 . if they speak not according to this... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 8:20

To the law and to the testimony "Unto the command, and unto the testimony" - "Is not תעודה teudah here the attested prophecy, Isaiah 8:1-4 ;? and perhaps תורה torah the command, Isaiah 8:11-15 ;? for it means sometimes a particular, and even a human, command; see Proverbs 6:20 , and Proverbs 7:1 , Proverbs 7:2 , where it is ordered to be hid, that is, secretly kept." - Abp. Secker. So Deschamps, in his translation, or rather paraphrase, understands it: " Tenons nous a... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 8:16-22

The helplessness of superstition. Here a mass of thought is found, struggling for expression as the new-lighted fuel struggles into flame. I. THE ORACLE SEALED . 'Tis time to make an end. Let what has been written remain, rolled up and sealed and kept, until the day when those taciturn letters shall find their tongue and burst into flame. And, indeed, every true thing may be said to be "written down for the time to come, forever and ever." It may be lost sight of for a time, but... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 8:19-22

ISAIAH RECOMMENDS LOOKING TO GOD AND THE REVEALED WORD RATHER THAN TO NECROMANCY . AFFLICTION WILL BRING ISRAEL TO GOD . Isaiah returns, in verse 19, to the consideration of his disciples. In the terrible times impending, they will be recommended to have recourse to necromancy; he urges that they should look to God and the Law. He then further suggests that, in the coming affliction which he describes (verses 21, 22), men will generally turn for relief to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 8:19-22

The confession of ungodliness, etc. The prevalence of the evil and sinister arts of necromancy is exceedingly significant. The attempt to supply knowledge for the living by appealing to the dead ( Isaiah 8:19 ) has been made in every latitude and longitude, in every age, in every condition of society. What is the significance of this fact? We have here— I. THE CONFESSION OF UNGODLINESS AND ITS DEGRADATION . When men have thrown off their allegiance to God, when they have... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 8:20

To the Law and to the testimony . A sort of watchword or battle-cry, to be used by the faithful when God's enemies assailed them. Compare Gideon's cry ( 7:18 ), "For the Lord and for Gideon." If they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them ; rather, Surely they will speak according to this word , when there is no dawn for them ; i.e. when they are plunged in darkness ( Isaiah 8:22 ) and distress, and see no prospect of better days, surely... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 8:20

The standard of truth and morals. This text is not merely a Divine declaration. It rests upon the great fact that man can never be satisfied until he gets a standard of truth and duty outside of and apart from himself. No man anywhere can reach an intelligent satisfaction by becoming wholly a law unto himself. The moral sense in every man is vitiated, and its attestations are uncertain. The testimony of conscience is variable; it is not now always prompt, decided, and faithful in its... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 8:20

To the law ... - To the revelation which God has given. This is a solemn call of the prophet to try everything by the revealed will of God; see Isaiah 8:16.If they speak not - If the necromancers - those that pretended to have contact with the dead.According to this word - According to what God has revealed. By this standard all their pretended revelations were to be tried. By this standard all doctrines are still to be tried.It is because - There has been a great variety of criticism upon this... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Isaiah 8:20

Isaiah 8:20. To the law and to the testimony Let this dispute between you and them be determined by God’s word, which is here, and in many other places, called the law, to signify their obligation to believe and obey it; and the testimony, because it is a witness between God and man, of God’s will, and of man’s duty. If they speak not, &c. Your antagonists, who seek to pervert you. No light This proceeds from the darkness of their minds; they are blind, and cannot see. But these... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Isaiah 8:16-22

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 8:20

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 8:20

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 8:16-22

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 8:19-22

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 8:19-22

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 8:20

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 8:20

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 8:20

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Isaiah 8:20

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