Isaiah 8:20

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

To the law {H8451} and to the testimony {H8584}: if they speak {H559} not according to this word {H1697}, it is because there is no light {H7837} in them.

for teaching and instruction?" For they will indeed give you this unenlightened suggestion.

To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn.

To the law and to the testimony! if they speak not according to this word, surely there is no morning for them.

Isaiah 8:20 serves as a powerful call to spiritual discernment and adherence to God's revealed truth during a time of national crisis for Judah.

Context

In the broader narrative of Isaiah chapter 8, the prophet Isaiah addresses a nation, Judah, that is facing significant geopolitical threats from Assyria and Syria. King Ahaz and the people are tempted to seek supernatural guidance from sources other than God, including mediums and familiar spirits, as highlighted in Isaiah 8:19. This verse, therefore, acts as a divine corrective, redirecting their focus from unreliable, dark sources to the unwavering light of God's word.

Key Themes

  • The Authority of God's Word: The phrase "To the law and to the testimony" emphasizes that God's written revelation is the ultimate standard for truth and spiritual guidance. It is the plumb line against which all teachings and claims must be measured.
  • Warning Against Falsehood: The verse implicitly warns against those who speak contrary to God's word. Any message or teaching that does not align with the "law and the testimony" is deemed untrustworthy and dangerous.
  • Spiritual Darkness: The declaration "if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them" directly links deviation from God's truth with spiritual darkness. It signifies a lack of divine understanding, guidance, and presence.
  • Source of True Light: Conversely, adhering to God's word is presented as the path to true spiritual light, understanding, and wisdom.

Linguistic Insights

The terms "law" (Hebrew: Torah) and "testimony" (Hebrew: Te'udah) are significant. Torah broadly refers to divine instruction, often encompassing the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Old Testament) but also God's entire body of revealed truth. Te'udah refers to a divine witness or decree, emphasizing the authoritative and unchanging nature of God's commands. Together, they represent the complete, divinely inspired written word. The phrase "no light in them" underscores a profound spiritual void, contrasting sharply with the concept of God's word being a "lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path" (Psalms 119:105).

Practical Application

For believers today, Isaiah 8:20 remains profoundly relevant. It calls us to:

  • Discernment: Test all teachings, prophecies, and spiritual claims against the unchanging standard of the Bible. If a message contradicts Scripture, it lacks divine "light." This echoes the New Testament call to "test the spirits" (1 John 4:1).
  • Reliance on Scripture: Prioritize the study and application of God's word as the ultimate source of truth, wisdom, and guidance for life.
  • Warning Against Falsehood: Be wary of spiritual practices or philosophies that draw people away from biblical truth into spiritual confusion or darkness.

This verse serves as a timeless reminder that true spiritual illumination comes solely from adherence to God's revealed word.

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.
  • 2 Peter 1:19

    ¶ We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
  • 2 Timothy 3:15

    And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
  • 2 Timothy 3:17

    That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
  • Isaiah 30:8

    ¶ Now go, write it before them in a table, and note it in a book, that it may be for the time to come for ever and ever:
  • Isaiah 30:11

    Get you out of the way, turn aside out of the path, cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us.
  • Romans 1:22

    Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
  • John 5:46

    For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me.

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