Isaiah 8


Isaiah 8 is the eighth chapter of the Book of Isaiah in the Hebrew Bible, which is broadly the base of the Old Testament of the Christian Bible. This book contains the prophecies attributed to the prophet Isaiah and is one of the Books of the Prophets.

Text

The original text was written in Hebrew language. [Chapters and verses of the Bible|This chapter is divided into] 22 verses in many translations, but in Hebrew texts and some English versions Isaiah 9:1 appears as verse 8:23.

Textual witnesses

Some early manuscripts containing the text of this chapter in Hebrew are of the Masoretic Text tradition, which includes the Codex Cairensis, the Petersburg Codex of the Prophets, Aleppo Codex, Codex Leningradensis.
Fragments containing parts of this chapter were found among the Dead Sea Scrolls :
  • 1QIsaa: complete
  • 1QIsab: extant: verses 1, 8-12
  • 4QIsae : extant: verses 2‑14
  • 4QIsaf : extant: verses 1, 4‑11
  • 4QIsah : extant: verses 11‑14
There is also a translation into Koine Greek known as the Septuagint, made in the last few centuries BCE. Extant ancient manuscripts of the Septuagint version include Codex Vaticanus, Codex Sinaiticus, Codex Alexandrinus and Codex Marchalianus.

Parashot

The parashah sections listed here are based on the Aleppo Codex. Isaiah 8 is a part of the Prophecies about Judah and Israel . : open parashah; : closed parashah.

The sign of Maher-shalal-hash-baz (8:1–4)

Since the sign of Immanuel gives an undisclosed time in the future, another sign is given to deal with the contemporary scene, in the form of a child with an ordinary birth and a name which would be a standing witness to the prophecy both about 'the enemy at the gate' and about the next victim of the Assyrians, which is Judah itself.

Verse 1

Verse 3

The striking similarity with Isaiah 7:14-15 raises an argument that this is a variant version of the same story, but 'the heavily symbolic name given to the unsuspecting child has markedly different overtone'.

God's gentle flow and Assyria's torrent (8:5–8)

Using evil to fight evil would bring Judah to the path of the torrent/flood which would jeopardize herself as the land of Immanuel, but for Immanuel's sake, there is a limit set.

God our refuge or our ruin (8:9–15)

This part contains Isaiah's defiant response to the meaning of "Immanuel" and to God's insistence that people should reshape their thinking and emotional attitudes round God himself.

Verse 12

  • "Their threats" : or "terror".
Verses 12b–13a are cited in 1 Peter 3:14–15 which identifies Christ with the "Lord of hosts" as Jesus himself alluded Isaiah 8:14–15 in Luke 20:18a.

Verse 13

As the oracle of judgement in this part gives clear warning to all conspiring against the community that the presence of Immanuel will overthrow their plans: There is no political solutions to the community's problems, but the people are to trust in YHWH.

Verse 14

Verse [|15]

The light withdrawn (8:16–22)

This part indicates that Israel is losing God's teaching and blessing, because Israel is refusing the light, so is only left with signs and can only expect darkness.

Verse 16

This verse relates to the completion of the scroll initiated in verse 1. The expression my disciples is God's new definition for his people in their relation to him.

Verse 23

The Jerusalem Bible suggests that this line "seems to be a gloss".
This text, which appears as Isaiah 9:1 in most modern Christian translations, forms [|verse 8:23] in Hebrew texts and some English versions.

Jewish

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Christian

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