Isaiah 8:19

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?

And when they shall say {H559} unto you, Seek {H1875} unto them that have familiar spirits {H178}, and unto wizards {H3049} that peep {H6850}, and that mutter {H1897}: should not a people {H5971} seek {H1875} unto their God {H430}? for the living {H2416} to the dead {H4191}?

So when they tell you to consult those squeaking, squawking mediums and fortune-tellers; [you are to answer], "Shouldn't a people seek their God? Must the living ask the dead

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?

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?

Isaiah 8:19 serves as a powerful warning against seeking spiritual guidance from forbidden sources, contrasting such practices with the clear command to seek the one true God. This verse comes at a critical time in Judah's history, emphasizing where true wisdom and help are found.

Context

This verse is situated within a section of Isaiah where the prophet is addressing the spiritual and political turmoil of Judah during the reign of King Ahaz. The nation faced threats from the Assyrian Empire and was tempted to form alliances with other human powers rather than trusting in the Lord. Spiritually, there was a widespread leaning towards pagan practices, including divination and necromancy, which were strictly forbidden by God's law (e.g., Deuteronomy 18:10-12). Isaiah calls the people back to a singular trust in God, warning them against the futility and danger of seeking counsel from those who claim to communicate with the dead or possess special powers.

Key Themes

  • Divine Authority vs. False Guidance: The verse directly challenges the notion that wisdom or help can come from human mediums or spirits, asserting that God alone is the rightful source of truth and guidance.
  • Trust in God Alone: It underscores the fundamental principle of exclusive reliance on the Lord, especially in times of fear or uncertainty, rather than turning to superstitious or occult practices.
  • Life vs. Death: The rhetorical question, "should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead?", powerfully contrasts the living God, who is the source of life, with the realm of the dead, which offers no true help or insight. It highlights the absurdity of seeking life's answers from sources associated with death.
  • Spiritual Discernment: It calls for a clear distinction between genuine divine revelation and deceptive, forbidden spiritualism.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV phrase "familiar spirits" translates the Hebrew word 'oboth (אוֹבֹת), which refers to necromancers or mediums who claimed to conjure the spirits of the dead. These individuals were often associated with guttural or whispering sounds, as if the voices were coming from the ground or from within the medium. The description "wizards that peep, and that mutter" further elaborates on this, depicting the low, chirping, or whispering sounds characteristic of those attempting to mimic communication with disembodied spirits. The prophet emphasizes the stark contrast in the latter part of the verse: why would the living seek answers from the dead when the living God is accessible?

Practical Application

Isaiah 8:19 remains highly relevant for believers today. In a world increasingly open to various forms of spiritualism, astrology, psychics, and New Age practices, this verse serves as a timeless reminder:

  • Seek God's Word: Rather than consulting horoscopes, psychics, or other forms of divination, believers are called to seek guidance from God through His inspired Word, the Bible, and through prayer (Isaiah 8:20).
  • Trust in Divine Providence: When facing difficulties or uncertainties, our trust should be placed firmly in God's wisdom and sovereign plan, not in human predictions or occult practices.
  • Discernment: The passage encourages spiritual discernment, urging us to test all spirits and teachings against the truth of God's revelation (1 John 4:1). Any source of spiritual counsel that does not align with biblical truth or leads one away from God should be rejected.

This verse fundamentally calls us to a singular devotion to God, recognizing Him as the only true source of life, wisdom, and salvation.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • 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];

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Psalms 106:28

    They joined themselves also unto Baalpeor, and ate the sacrifices of the dead.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

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