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 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.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Isaiah 8:20
Commentary on Isaiah 8:17-22
(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.