Isaiah 8:11-18

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

Matthew Henry

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 8:11

For the Lord spake thus to me with a strong hand ,.... In the strength of prophecy, as the Targum explains it; and so all the Jews' interpreters understand it of prophecy, as in Ezekiel 1:3 , or, "the Lord spake thus to me, when he took (me) by the hand" F20 בחזקת היד "apprehensione manus", Piscator; "cum manu me apprehenderit", Tigurine version. ; as parents or masters take hold of the hands of children, while they are advising and instructing them, as expressive of their great... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 8:12

Say ye not, a confederacy ,.... With the king of Assyria, or any other; do not cry it up as a right thing, and express pleasure and satisfaction in it, and encourage others to come into it, and vote for it, and declare an approbation of it; or a "rebellion", as the Targum, that is, against Ahaz; and so deliver up the kingdom of the house of David into the hands of its enemies: to all them to whom this people shall say, a confederacy : who either were for entering into an alliance with... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 8:13

Sanctify the Lord of hosts himself ,.... Christ, Immanuel, God with us, the Lord of the armies above and below, of angels and of men, God over all, the true Jehovah, who is sanctified by his people, when they declare him to be so; as the Targum paraphrases it, "the Lord of hosts, him shall ye say is holy;' for they cannot make him so, nor can he receive any holiness from them, nor does he need any; but they celebrate the perfection of his holiness, and ascribe it to him; yea, they... 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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 8:16

Bind up the testimony ,.... These are not the words of the prophet, as Kimchi thinks, but of the Lord to the prophet, and are part of that instruction given him, Isaiah 8:11 . By "the testimony" is meant the word of prophecy delivered to him; particularly that evangelical part of it respecting Immanuel, who was to be born of a virgin, and would be for a sanctuary to them that believe in him, and a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, to unbelievers; so the Gospel is called the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 8:17

And I will wait upon the Lord ,.... Or "for the Lord" F24 וחכיתי ליהוה "praestolabor Dominum", Montanus; "expectabo Dominum", V. L. ; for the coming of Christ, the Immanuel, who would be a sanctuary to some, and a stone of stumbling to others, and whose doctrine in the meanwhile would be bound up and sealed; faith in, and expectation of the Messiah's coming, are often signified by waiting for him, Isaiah 25:9 , that hideth his face from the house of Jacob ; to whom the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 8:18

Behold, I, and the children whom the Lord hath given me ,.... These are the words of Christ, as is clear from Hebrews 2:13 who, upon the prophet's declaring his resolution to look and wait for him, presents himself and his children to him, as if he was actually come, or else continues his discourse from the preceding verse; for these are not the words of the prophet, speaking of himself and his natural children, Shearjashub and Mahershalalhashbaz; nor of his spiritual children, his... read more

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