Isaiah 8:19

17 And I will wait upon the LORD, that hideth his face from the house of Jacob, and I will look for him.

18 Behold, I and the children whom the LORD hath given me are for signs and for wonders in Israel from the LORD of hosts, which dwelleth in mount Zion.

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?

20 To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.

21 And they shall pass through it, hardly bestead and hungry: and it shall come to pass, that when they shall be hungry, they shall fret themselves, and curse their king and their God, and look upward.

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 transgression which he committed against the LORD, even against the word of the LORD, which he kept not, and also for asking counsel of one that had a familiar spirit, to enquire of it;

    Read in context
  • Leviticus 20:6

    And the soul that turneth after such as have familiar spirits, and after wizards, to go a whoring after them, I will even set my face against that soul, and will cut him off from among his people.

    Read in context
  • 2 Chronicles 33:6

    And he caused his children to pass through the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom: also he observed times, and used enchantments, and used witchcraft, and dealt with a familiar spirit, and with wizards: he wrought much evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.

    Read in context
  • Psalms 106:28

    They joined themselves also unto Baal-peor, and ate the sacrifices of the dead.

    Read in context
  • Leviticus 19:31

    Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the LORD your God.

    Read in context
  • Isaiah 19:3

    And the spirit of Egypt shall fail in the midst thereof; and I will destroy the counsel thereof: and they shall seek to the idols, and to the charmers, and to them that have familiar spirits, and to the wizards.

    Read in context
  • 1 Samuel 28:8

    And Saul disguised himself, and put on other raiment, and he went, and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night: and he said, I pray thee, divine unto me by the familiar spirit, and bring me him up, whom I shall name unto thee.

    Read in context
  • Isaiah 29:4

    And thou shalt be brought down, and shalt speak out of the ground, and thy speech shall be low out of the dust, and thy voice shall be, as of one that hath a familiar spirit, out of the ground, and thy speech shall whisper out of the dust.

    Read in context