16 Bind up this testimony of warning and seal up God's instruction among my disciples.
16 Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples.
16 Bind up the testimony; seal the teaching
16 Gather up the testimony, preserve the teaching for my followers,
16 Bind up the testimony, Seal the law among my disciples.
16 Preserve the teaching of God; entrust his instructions to those who follow me.
20 Consult God's instruction and the testimony of warning. If anyone does not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn.
20 To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word,
20 To the teaching and to the testimony! If they will not speak according to this word, it is because they have no dawn.
20 Tell them, "No, we're going to study the Scriptures." People who try the other ways get nowhere - a dead end!
20 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.
20 Look to God's instructions and teachings! People who contradict his word are completely in the dark.
(Read Isaiah 8:17-22)
The prophet foresaw that the Lord would hide his face; but he would look for his return in favour to them again. Though not miraculous signs, the children's names were memorials from God, suited to excite attention. The unbelieving Jews were prone to seek counsel in difficulties, from diviners of different descriptions, whose foolish and sinful ceremonies are alluded to. Would we know how we may seek to our God, and come to the knowledge of his mind? To the law and to the testimony; for there you will see what is good, and what the Lord requires. We must speak of the things of God in the words which the Holy Ghost teaches, and be ruled by them. To those that seek to familiar spirits, and regard not God's law and testimony, there shall be horror and misery. Those that go away from God, go out of the way of all good; for fretfulness is a sin that is its own punishment. They shall despair, and see no way of relief, when they curse God. And their fears will represent every thing as frightful. Those that shut their eyes against the light of God's word, will justly be left to darkness. All the miseries that ever were felt or witnessed on earth, are as nothing, compared with what will overwhelm those who leave the words of Christ, to follow delusions.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Isaiah 8:16
Commentary on Isaiah 8:9-16
(Read Isaiah 8:9-16)
The prophet challenges the enemies of the Jews. Their efforts would be vain, and themselves broken to pieces. It concerns us, in time of trouble, to watch against all such fears as put us upon crooked courses for our own security. The believing fear of God preserves against the disquieting fear of man. If we thought rightly of the greatness and glory of God, we should see all the power of our enemies restrained. The Lord, who will be a Sanctuary to those who trust in him, will be a Stone of stumbling, and a Rock of offence, to those who make the creature their fear and their hope. If the things of God be an offence to us, they will undo us. The apostle quotes this as to all who persisted in unbelief of the gospel of Christ, 1 Peter 2:8. The crucified Emmanuel, who was and is a Stumbling-stone and Rock of offence to unbelieving Jews, is no less so to thousands who are called Christians. The preaching of the cross is foolishness in their esteem; his doctrines and precepts offend them.