Isaiah 8:19
17 I will wait for the LORD, who is hiding His face from the house of Jacob. I will put my trust in Him.
18 Here am I, and the children the LORD has given me as signs and symbols in Israel from the LORD of Hosts, who dwells on Mount Zion.
When men tell you to consult the spirits of the dead and the spiritists who whisper and mutter, shouldn’t a people consult their God instead? Why consult the dead on behalf of the living?
20 To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn.
21 They will roam the land, dejected and hungry. When they are famished, they will become enraged; and looking upward, they will curse their king and their God.
Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- When men tell you to consult the spirits of the dead and the spiritists who whisper and mutter, shouldn’t a people consult their God instead? Why consult the dead on behalf of the living?
- KJV
- And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead?
- WEB
- When they tell you, “Consult with those who have familiar spirits and with the wizards, who chirp and who mutter,” shouldn’t a people consult with their God? Should they consult the dead on behalf of the living?
- ASV
- And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits and unto the wizards, that chirp and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? on behalf of the living [should they seek] unto the dead?
- DARBY
- And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto the necromancers and unto the soothsayers, who chirp and who mutter, [say,] Shall not a people seek unto their God? [Will they go] for the living unto the dead?
- BLB
- And when they say to you⁺, “Seek after the spirits and after the spiritists who whisper and mutter—” a people should not seek after its gods, on behalf of the living unto the dead,
- ÅB
- Og når de sier til dere: Søk til dødningemanerne og sannsigerne, som hvisker og mumler, da skal dere svare: Skal ikke et folk søke til sin Gud? Skal en søke til de døde for de levende?
- OTB
- Når folk sier til deg: «Rådfør deg med medier og åndemanere som hvisker og mumler,» skal ikke et folk spørre sin Gud? Hvorfor rådføre seg med de døde på vegne av de levende?
- B1930
- Og når de sier til eder: Søk til dødningemanerne og sannsigerne, som hvisker og mumler, da skal I svare: Skal ikke et folk søke til sin Gud? Skal en søke til de døde for de levende?
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
1 Chronicles 10:13
So Saul died for his unfaithfulness to the LORD, because he did not keep the word of the LORD and even consulted a medium for guidance,
Read in contextLeviticus 20:6
Whoever turns to mediums or spiritists to prostitute himself with them, I will also set My face against that person and cut him off from his people.
Read in context2 Chronicles 33:6
He sacrificed his sons in the fire in the Valley of Hinnom. He practiced sorcery, divination, and witchcraft, and consulted mediums and spiritists. He did great evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking Him to anger.
Read in contextPsalms 106:28
They yoked themselves to Baal of Peor and ate sacrifices offered to lifeless gods.
Read in contextLeviticus 19:31
You must not turn to mediums or spiritists; do not seek them out, or you will be defiled by them. I am the LORD your God.
Read in contextIsaiah 19:3
Then the spirit of the Egyptians will be emptied out from among them, and I will frustrate their plans, so that they will resort to idols and spirits of the dead, to mediums and spiritists.
Read in context1 Samuel 28:8
So Saul disguised himself by putting on different clothes, and he set out with two of his men. They came to the woman at night, and Saul said, “Consult a spirit for me. Bring up for me the one I name.”
Read in contextIsaiah 29:4
You will be brought low, you will speak from the ground, and out of the dust your words will be muffled. Your voice will be like a spirit from the ground; your speech will whisper out of the dust.
Read in context