Study notes

Isaiah 8

Introducing IsaiahWho wrote it, when, why, and what to look for as you read

6:1–8:18 Section

Isaiah had been set apart by God. This is clear through the story told in chapter 6. Isaiah was in the temple but was able to see more than what was around him. He was allowed to see things in the heavenly world. In a vision he saw God ruling as King. Isaiah recognised how holy God is. This made him recognise how he and his people were full of sin.

God sent Isaiah to speak messages to the people and leaders of Israel. Isaiah shared these messages over and over again in many different ways. He spoke them out loud when talking to King Ahaz. He spoke them to the leaders and people through poems and songs. He wrote them down on large pieces of paper for everyone to see. He also wrote them on scrolls he closed with seals and gave to his followers. Some messages he shared through an action of prophecy. One example of this was having a son and naming him what God commanded.

Isaiah didn’t serve as a prophet by himself. His wife was also a prophet and their children were an important part of his work. The messages that Isaiah spoke were true because they were from God. This became clear when things he announced happened later. One example of this was when Isaiah prophesied to Ahaz about a child named Immanuel. This child was a sign for Ahaz that God would save the southern kingdom. God would save them from the armies of Aram and of the northern kingdom. The story about this is recorded in 2 Kings 16:5–9.

Many years later Matthew understood something about Isaiah’s prophecy about Immanuel. It was also a prophecy about Jesus (Matthew 1:22–23).

8:1

The name Maher-shalal-hash-baz means “Swift to plunder and quick to carry away.” This name applies to both Judah's enemies (Isaiah 8:4) and Judah itself (8:7–8). Judah trusted Assyria instead of God, and now Assyria would turn against them and nearly destroy them. God was with them (Immanuel; see Isaiah 7:14), but his presence would be harmful if they refused to trust him (see 8:14).

8:4

  • before the boy knows how to cry: See also Isaiah 7:16.

  • Damascus and Samaria were ruined and destroyed in 732 BC. This event fulfilled this verse along with Isaiah 7:8, 19–20.

8:5–10

This prophecy connects the sign of Maher-shalal-hash-baz with the sign of Immanuel (Isaiah 8:8, 10).

8:6

  • The gently flowing waters of Shiloah provided Jerusalem with water. They symbolize God's loving presence and care (see Psalm 46:4).

  • Ahaz rejected God's sign and promise of protection. He lacked faith (Isaiah 7:9). Now the people followed his example by hoping Assyria would save them from King Rezin and King Pekah (compare Isaiah 7:7–9, 16).

8:7

The mighty flood from the Euphrates River symbolizes the invading Assyrian army (see Jeremiah 47:2). The river would overflow its channels when the Assyrians advanced into Judah. This was a stark contrast to the gently flowing waters of Shiloah (Isaiah 8:6).

8:8

  • up to the neck: Judah barely survived the Assyrian attacks in 701 BC (see Isaiah 36–37).

  • its spreading streams will cover your entire land: From north to south, Judah was almost destroyed, except for Jerusalem (see Isaiah 1:8–9; chapters 36–37).

  • Immanuel: Despite their lack of trust and the resulting disaster, God remained with his people (see Isaiah 7:14).

8:9–10

God's plan to save his stubborn people would eventually succeed. God intended to destroy Assyria, just as he does with any proud nation that rejects him or brags about its own power.

8:11–15

This text reveals Isaiah's main message. The issue was fear of the Lord versus fear of people (see Isaiah 7:9; 8:6). When someone fears people, the Lord becomes a trap and destruction is certain (compare Proverbs 29:25; see “Fearing People” Theme Note). For those who fear the Lord, he becomes a sanctuary and their salvation is assured.

8:12

People saw Isaiah’s message of staying out of Assyrian affairs as treason and part of a conspiracy. However, Isaiah was not engaging in political games. He was sharing God’s message.

What scared them was the alliance of Syria and Israel attacking Judah (see Isaiah 7:1, 4).

8:13

you shall regard as holy: This means to give God first place in life and recognize that nothing is greater than he is.

He should be feared: This means honoring God with deep respect (Proverbs 1:7). The people of Judah were not to fear Israel and Syria or the Assyrians (Isaiah 7:9; 10:24).

8:14

  • He will be a sanctuary: God is a place of refuge.

  • stone … stumbling … rock … offense: By trusting Assyria instead of God, the people of Jerusalem would fall into a trap as the Assyrians turned against them. However, for those who trust in the Lord, he is faithful and strong (Isaiah 28:16; see Psalm 118:22–23; Luke 2:34; Romans 9:32–33; 1 Peter 2:6–8).

8:16

law (Hebrew torah): The Torah described how Israel was to live in covenant with God. However, the people quickly forgot these instructions (see also Isaiah 1:10).

8:16–17

The command to preserve Isaiah’s teaching suggests that many people did not accept his message. Some may have wanted to silence him and stop his words from spreading.

However, faithful disciples kept his messages safe. They protected and passed on the prophet’s words to future generations.

8:17

  • I will wait for the LORD … I will put my trust in Him: Isaiah’s message about Syria, Israel, and Assyria came true in later historical events. This fulfillment encouraged the faithful to wait for the end of all unjust power structures (see Isaiah 8:9–10).

    Waiting for the Lord involves submission, prayer, hope, and faith (see Isaiah 25:9; 26:8; 33:2). This leads to a calm spirit and renewed inner strength (40:31).

    The book of Hebrews connects these words to Jesus Christ (Hebrews 2:13).

  • God had turned away. The people of Israel and Judah were separated from the Lord because of their sin.

8:18

Here am I, and the children the LORD has given me as (see the reference to Jesus Christ in Hebrews 2:13): The names of the prophet Isaiah and his children held important meanings as signs and warnings.

Shear-jashub (a remnant will return; Isaiah 7:3) symbolized God's faithfulness to Judah.

Maher-shalal-hash-baz (swift to plunder and quick to carry away) indicated the destruction of Damascus and Samaria (Isaiah 8:1–4) and the desolation of unfaithful Judah (8:5–8).

The name of Isaiah (Yahweh is salvation) itself signifies that salvation is from the Lord alone. These three names also represent major themes in the book:

  • the remnant (the small group of people who remain faithful),

  • the coming desolation of Judah (the land becoming empty and ruined), and

  • salvation (God’s rescue of his people).

Immanuel (God is with us) brings together all of these themes. It also shows that Judah would be protected if the people trusted in the Lord. God’s presence with them was their true safety.

8:19–22

  • Isaiah contrasted his message with the advice of ungodly people around him. His message brought light and truth. The message of spiritists led to darkness and death.

  • Mediums tried to discover the future through divination (seeking hidden knowledge through rituals). Some claimed to speak with the dead (see Isaiah 19:3). However, God had forbidden these practices because they were empty and harmful (Isaiah 47:9; Deuteronomy 18:9–11).

8:19–12:6 Section

The judgement messages in these chapters are against Jacob’s people and against Assyria. Jacob’s people included the northern kingdom. The northern kingdom was also called Israel and Ephraim. Jacob’s people included the southern kingdom as well. The southern kingdom was also called Judah. God was very angry with his people because they were proud.

The prophets, judges and kings didn’t follow God’s instructions for leaders. These instructions were recorded in Deuteronomy 13:1–5 and Deuteronomy 17:8–20. The leaders made laws that were unfair and they took away people’s rights. God used the Assyrian army as his tool to bring judgement against his people. That is how Assyria was the war club that carried out God’s anger. But Assyria’s king didn’t recognise that he had success in battles because God allowed him to. He was proud. He claimed that his own power and strength made him successful. That is why God would bring judgement against Assyria as well.

The messages of hope in these chapters are about a ruler and king who wasn’t proud. In chapter 9, Isaiah prophesied about a child from David’s family line. This child would become a ruler who did what was fair and right. His rule would last for ever. He would be called Wonderful Adviser and Mighty God. He would be called Father Who Lives For Ever and Prince Who Brings Peace.

In chapter 11, Isaiah prophesied again about this ruler. He was called a Branch like the Branch of the Lord in Isaiah 4:2. He would rule with the help of the Spirit of the Lord. That is another name for the Holy Spirit. Life in the kingdom of this ruler would be very different. It wouldn’t be like life in the world that people were used to. Everyone everywhere on earth would know who God is and would serve him. No one and nothing would cause harm to anyone or anything. Isaiah described this by talking about how children would play with animals that are usually dangerous. No harm would come to them. This was a picture of the peace that this ruler would bring.

Jews came to understand these messages of hope as prophecies about the messiah. New Testament writers came to understand them as prophecies about Jesus. Isaiah wrote out songs of praise that God’s people would sing one day. They would sing them after God finished bringing judgement against them. They would sing them once God brought them comfort. Isaiah chapters 40 to 66 talk about this comfort. In the songs in chapter 12 the Israelites recognise that God is their Saviour. They tell everyone about him. They help all nations on earth know God and honour him. These joyful songs celebrate God as the Holy One of Israel.

8:20

God gave instructions and teachings through the law and through his prophets, such as Isaiah (see Isaiah 8:16).

Verse notes: Adapted by Mission Mutual (Aquifer Open Study Notes) from Tyndale Open Study Notes © 2023 Tyndale House Publishers. CC BY-SA 4.0. Section notes: Biblica Study Notes © 2023 Biblica, Inc. CC BY-SA 4.0, via BibleAquifer. About the sources