Isaiah 8:6

Forasmuch as this people refuseth the waters of Shiloah that go softly, and rejoice in Rezin and Remaliah's son;

Forasmuch {H3282} as this people {H5971} refuseth {H3988} the waters {H4325} of Shiloah {H7975} that go {H1980} softly {H328}, and rejoice {H4885} in Rezin {H7526} and Remaliah's {H7425} son {H1121};

"Since this people has rejected the gently flowing waters from Shilo'ach and takes joy in Retzin and the son of Remalyah;

“Because this people has rejected the gently flowing waters of Shiloah and rejoiced in Rezin and the son of Remaliah,

Forasmuch as this people have refused the waters of Shiloah that go softly, and rejoice in Rezin and Remaliah’s son;

Isaiah 8:6 addresses the spiritual condition of the people of Judah during a time of great political turmoil. The prophet Isaiah conveys God’s disappointment and warning to those who reject divine provision and choose to rely on worldly alliances instead.

Context

This verse is set against the backdrop of the Syro-Ephraimite War (circa 735-734 BC). King Ahaz of Judah was threatened by an alliance between King Rezin of Aram (Syria) and King Pekah (Remaliah's son) of Israel (Ephraim). Instead of trusting in God's protection and promised deliverance, Ahaz and many in Judah were filled with fear and sought help from the mighty Assyrian empire, a move God had warned against.

The "waters of Shiloah that go softly" refer to the gentle, steady flow of the Gihon Spring, which provided Jerusalem with its primary water supply, channeled through tunnels like the Pool of Siloam. This quiet, reliable stream symbolizes God's peaceful, sufficient, and ever-present provision and protection for His people. By "refusing" these waters, the people were rejecting God's subtle, gentle way of sustaining them, preferring instead the perceived strength of human alliances or the tumultuous "waters" of foreign powers. Their "rejoicing in Rezin and Remaliah's son" highlights their misplaced trust and fear, turning to the very enemies God had promised to defeat, or seeking alliances that would ultimately bring greater harm.

Key Themes

  • Trust vs. Distrust: The core message is Judah's failure to trust God's gentle and consistent care, opting instead for fear-driven worldly strategies.
  • Divine Provision: God's provision is often quiet and unassuming, like the "softly flowing waters," yet it is entirely sufficient and reliable.
  • Consequences of Disobedience: Rejecting God's way of peace and trust leads to seeking help from hostile forces, which ultimately results in severe judgment, as seen in the coming flood of Assyria (Isaiah 8:7-8).
  • Symbolism of Water: Water here symbolizes God's blessings and presence, contrasting with the destructive imagery of a raging flood (Assyria) that comes as a consequence of their refusal. This echoes the imagery of "a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God" (Psalm 46:4).

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "go softly" translates the Hebrew word le'at (לְאַט), which emphasizes a slow, gentle, or quiet movement. This highlights the contrast between God's peaceful and steady provision, represented by the small but vital stream of Shiloah, and the tumultuous, overwhelming might of the Assyrian army, which is described in the subsequent verses as a "flood" (Isaiah 8:7).

The "waters of Shiloah" are historically significant, connecting to the Pool of Siloam, where Jesus later sent a blind man to wash and receive his sight (John 9:7).

Practical Application

This verse serves as a timeless reminder for believers today. We are often tempted to reject God's quiet and gentle guidance, His subtle provision, and His steady presence in favor of more dramatic, human-devised solutions or perceived worldly strengths. When facing challenges, whether personal, financial, or societal, the temptation is to "rejoice in Rezin and Remaliah's son"—to trust in human power, political alliances, or material wealth—instead of relying on the Lord. Isaiah 8:6 calls us to examine where our true trust lies and to appreciate the profound sufficiency found in God's peaceful and consistent care, even when it seems small or insignificant in the face of overwhelming odds.

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.

  • John 9:7

    And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing.

  • Nehemiah 3:15

    But the gate of the fountain repaired Shallun the son of Colhozeh, the ruler of part of Mizpah; he built it, and covered it, and set up the doors thereof, the locks thereof, and the bars thereof, and the wall of the pool of Siloah by the king's garden, and unto the stairs that go down from the city of David.

  • Jeremiah 2:13

    For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, [and] hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.

  • Judges 9:16

    Now therefore, if ye have done truly and sincerely, in that ye have made Abimelech king, and if ye have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his house, and have done unto him according to the deserving of his hands;

  • Judges 9:20

    But if not, let fire come out from Abimelech, and devour the men of Shechem, and the house of Millo; and let fire come out from the men of Shechem, and from the house of Millo, and devour Abimelech.

  • Isaiah 5:24

    Therefore as the fire devoureth the stubble, and the flame consumeth the chaff, [so] their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust: because they have cast away the law of the LORD of hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.

  • Isaiah 7:6

    Let us go up against Judah, and vex it, and let us make a breach therein for us, and set a king in the midst of it, [even] the son of Tabeal:

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