Isaiah 8:21

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.

And they shall pass {H5674} through it, hardly bestead {H7185} and hungry {H7457}: and it shall come to pass, that when they shall be hungry {H7456}, they shall fret {H7107} themselves, and curse {H7043} their king {H4428} and their God {H430}, and look {H6437} upward {H4605}.

Distressed and hungry they will pass through the land; and because of their hunger they will grow angry and curse by their king and by their God. But whether they look up [to God]

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.

And they shall pass through it, sore distressed and hungry; and it shall come to pass that, when they shall be hungry, they shall fret themselves, and curse by their king and by their God, and turn their faces upward:

Isaiah 8:21 KJV Commentary

Context of Isaiah 8:21

Isaiah chapter 8, along with chapter 7, describes the prophet Isaiah's warnings to the kingdom of Judah concerning the impending Assyrian invasion. King Ahaz of Judah was faced with a coalition of Israel (Ephraim) and Syria (Aram) and chose to seek help from Assyria rather than trusting in God's protection. This verse is part of a stark prophecy detailing the severe consequences of rejecting God's counsel and turning to other sources for security and guidance. The people are described as being in a state of spiritual and physical destitution, leading to desperation and rebellion.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Severe Distress and Famine: The phrase "hardly bestead and hungry" vividly portrays extreme hardship, a state of being utterly destitute and starving. This suffering is presented as a direct result of their disobedience and lack of faith in God's provision and protection.
  • Rebellion and Blasphemy: In their desperation, the people "fret themselves, and curse their king and their God." This highlights a profound spiritual decay, where instead of turning to God in repentance or seeking wisdom from their earthly leaders, they turn against both human and divine authority. It signifies a complete breakdown of faith and societal order.
  • Spiritual Darkness: This verse leads directly into the imagery of deep darkness and gloom described in Isaiah 8:22, symbolizing not just physical suffering but a profound spiritual blindness and separation from God's light. It depicts a people lost in the consequences of their choices.
  • Consequences of Unbelief: The passage serves as a solemn warning that rejecting God's word and seeking counsel from false sources (as mentioned in Isaiah 8:19 regarding consulting mediums and necromancers) leads to dire outcomes, including physical suffering and spiritual rebellion against the very source of their help.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV phrase "hardly bestead" is an archaic expression meaning to be in a very difficult or distressed situation, facing extreme pressure. The Hebrew word for "fret themselves" (hitḥammu) implies a burning or raging anger, indicating intense frustration and agitation. The act of "curse" (Hebrew: qalal) signifies treating with contempt or reviling, which is a severe act of defiance against both human and divine authority, reflecting deep-seated bitterness and despair.

Practical Application

Isaiah 8:21 offers a timeless caution against the dangers of unbelief and misdirected blame. When facing hardship, it's easy to become frustrated and even angry, but this verse warns against turning that anger towards God or those in authority. Instead, it calls believers to remember the importance of faith and repentance, even in the midst of suffering. The solution to spiritual and physical hunger is not to curse, but to seek the true source of life and light. This dark prophecy ultimately sets the stage for the glorious promise of hope that follows, as highlighted in Isaiah 9:2, which speaks of a great light dawning for those who walk in darkness, pointing to the coming Messiah.

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.

  • Proverbs 19:3

    ¶ The foolishness of man perverteth his way: and his heart fretteth against the LORD.

  • Isaiah 9:20

    And he shall snatch on the right hand, and be hungry; and he shall eat on the left hand, and they shall not be satisfied: they shall eat every man the flesh of his own arm:

  • 2 Kings 25:3

    And on the ninth [day] of the [fourth] month the famine prevailed in the city, and there was no bread for the people of the land.

  • Job 2:5

    But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face.

  • Lamentations 4:4

    The tongue of the sucking child cleaveth to the roof of his mouth for thirst: the young children ask bread, [and] no man breaketh [it] unto them.

  • Lamentations 4:5

    They that did feed delicately are desolate in the streets: they that were brought up in scarlet embrace dunghills.

  • Jeremiah 14:18

    If I go forth into the field, then behold the slain with the sword! and if I enter into the city, then behold them that are sick with famine! yea, both the prophet and the priest go about into a land that they know not.

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