Isaiah 8:19 - When they tell you, “Consult with those who have familiar spirits and with the wizards, who chirp and who mutter:” shouldn’t a people consult with their God? Should they consult the dead on behalf of the living?
Select Bible Verse
Filter Categories
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
R
S
T
U
V
W
What does "Isaiah 8:19" mean?
Isaiah 8:19 is a condemnation of seeking guidance from sources other than God. Let's break it down:
"When they tell you, 'Consult with those who have familiar spirits and with the wizards, who chirp and who mutter:'" This describes the common practice in Isaiah's time of people turning to mediums, spiritists, and sorcerers for answers about the future or solutions to their problems. The "chirping and muttering" likely refers to the strange sounds and incantations these practitioners used to supposedly communicate with the spirit world. It suggests charlatanism and a lack of genuine divine communication.
"shouldn't a people consult with their God?" This is the core of Isaiah's argument. He's posing a rhetorical question: If you have access to the all-knowing, all-powerful God, why would you seek counsel from inferior, unreliable, and potentially deceptive sources? God, through prophets like Isaiah, offered true guidance and wisdom.
"Should they consult the dead on behalf of the living?" This emphasizes the absurdity of necromancy. The dead are dead; they cannot help the living. To seek guidance from them is to abandon reason and faith in the living God.
The verse essentially contrasts two options:
1. Turning to occult practices: Seeking guidance from mediums, wizards, and the supposed spirits of the dead. Isaiah portrays this as foolish and misguided.
2. Turning to God: Consulting with God through prayer, seeking wisdom in His word (the Law and the Prophets), and trusting in His guidance. This is presented as the right and logical path.
In summary, Isaiah 8:19 is a powerful critique of relying on superstition and the occult instead of seeking God's guidance. It highlights the superiority of trusting in God over seeking help from unreliable and potentially malevolent spiritual forces. It questions why anyone would choose a less-than-divine source when a direct relationship with God is available. It is a call to reject pagan practices and return to faithful worship and reliance on God.
Isaiah 8:19 - When they tell you, “Consult with those who have familiar spirits and with the wizards, who chirp and who mutter:” shouldn’t a people consult with their God? Should they consult the dead on behalf of the living?
What does "Isaiah 8:19" mean?
Isaiah 8:19 is a condemnation of seeking guidance from sources other than God. Let's break it down:
"When they tell you, 'Consult with those who have familiar spirits and with the wizards, who chirp and who mutter:'" This describes the common practice in Isaiah's time of people turning to mediums, spiritists, and sorcerers for answers about the future or solutions to their problems. The "chirping and muttering" likely refers to the strange sounds and incantations these practitioners used to supposedly communicate with the spirit world. It suggests charlatanism and a lack of genuine divine communication.
"shouldn't a people consult with their God?" This is the core of Isaiah's argument. He's posing a rhetorical question: If you have access to the all-knowing, all-powerful God, why would you seek counsel from inferior, unreliable, and potentially deceptive sources? God, through prophets like Isaiah, offered true guidance and wisdom.
"Should they consult the dead on behalf of the living?" This emphasizes the absurdity of necromancy. The dead are dead; they cannot help the living. To seek guidance from them is to abandon reason and faith in the living God.
The verse essentially contrasts two options:
1. Turning to occult practices: Seeking guidance from mediums, wizards, and the supposed spirits of the dead. Isaiah portrays this as foolish and misguided.
2. Turning to God: Consulting with God through prayer, seeking wisdom in His word (the Law and the Prophets), and trusting in His guidance. This is presented as the right and logical path.
In summary, Isaiah 8:19 is a powerful critique of relying on superstition and the occult instead of seeking God's guidance. It highlights the superiority of trusting in God over seeking help from unreliable and potentially malevolent spiritual forces. It questions why anyone would choose a less-than-divine source when a direct relationship with God is available. It is a call to reject pagan practices and return to faithful worship and reliance on God.