Isaiah 8:2

THE MESSAGE

I got two honest men, Uriah the priest and Zechariah son of Jeberekiah, to witness the document. Then I went home to my wife, the prophetess. She conceived and gave birth to a son. God told me, "Name him Maher-shalal-hash-baz. Before that baby says ‘Daddy' or ‘Mamma' the king of Assyria will have plundered the wealth of Damascus and the riches of Samaria." God spoke to me again, saying: "Because this people has turned its back on the gently flowing stream of Shiloah And gotten all excited over Rezin and the son of Remaliah, I'm stepping in and facing them with the wild floodwaters of the Euphrates, The king of Assyria and all his fanfare, a river in flood, bursting its banks, Pouring into Judah, sweeping everything before it, water up to your necks, A huge wingspan of a raging river, O Immanuel, spreading across your land." But face the facts, all you oppressors, and then wring your hands. Listen, all of you, far and near. Prepare for the worst and wring your hands. Yes, prepare for the worst and wring your hands! Plan and plot all you want—nothing will come of it. All your talk is mere talk, empty words, Because when all is said and done, the last word is Immanuel—God-With-Us. God spoke strongly to me, grabbed me with both hands and warned me not to go along with this people. He said: "Don't be like this people, always afraid somebody is plotting against them. Don't fear what they fear. Don't take on their worries. If you're going to worry, worry about The Holy. Fear God -of-the-Angel-Armies. The Holy can be either a Hiding Place or a Boulder blocking your way, The Rock standing in the willful way of both houses of Israel, A barbed-wire Fence preventing trespass to the citizens of Jerusalem. Many of them are going to run into that Rock and get their bones broken, Get tangled up in that barbed wire and not get free of it." Gather up the testimony, preserve the teaching for my followers, While I wait for God as long as he remains in hiding, while I wait and hope for him. I stand my ground and hope, I and the children God gave me as signs to Israel, Warning signs and hope signs from God -of-the-Angel-Armies, who makes his home in Mount Zion. When people tell you, "Try out the fortunetellers. Consult the spiritualists. Why not tap into the spirit-world, get in touch with the dead?" Tell them, "No, we're going to study the Scriptures." People who try the other ways get nowhere—a dead end! Frustrated and famished, they try one thing after another. When nothing works out they get angry, cursing first this god and then that one, Looking this way and that, up, down, and sideways—and seeing nothing, A blank wall, an empty hole. They end up in the dark with nothing.

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
I have appointed trustworthy witnesses—the priest Uriah and Zechariah son of Jeberechiah.”

Hebrew Names Version
and I will take to me faithful witnesses to record, Uriyah the Kohen, and Zekharyah the son of Yeverekhyahu.

King James Version
And I took unto me faithful witnesses to record, Uriah the priest, and Zechariah the son of Jeberechiah.

English Standard Version
And I will get reliable witnesses, Uriah the priest and Zechariah the son of Jeberechiah, to attest for me."

New American Standard Bible
"And I will take to Myself faithful witnesses for testimony, Uriah the priest and Zechariah the son of Jeberechiah."

New Century Version
I will gather some men to be reliable witnesses: Uriah the priest and Zechariah son of Jeberekiah."

Amplified Bible
"And I will get faithful witnesses to attest [to this prophecy] for me, Uriah the priest and Zechariah the son of Jeberechiah."

World English Bible
and I will take to me faithful witnesses to record, Uriah the priest, and Zechariah the son of Jeberechiah.

Geneva Bible (1587)
Then I tooke vnto me faithfull witnesses to recorde, Vriah the Priest, and Zechariah the sonne of Ieberechiah.

Legacy Standard Bible
And I will take to Myself faithful witnesses for testimony, Uriah the priest and Zechariah the son of Jeberechiah."

Berean Standard Bible
And I will appoint for myself trustworthy witnesses-Uriah the priest and Zechariah son of Jeberekiah."

Contemporary English Version
I will have Uriah the priest and Zechariah son of Jeberechiah serve as witnesses to this."

Complete Jewish Bible
I had it witnessed for me by reliable witnesses — Uriyah the cohen and Z'kharyahu the son of Y'verekhyahu.

Darby Translation
And I took unto me to witness, sure witnesses, Urijah the priest, and Zechariah the son of Jeberechiah.

Easy-to-Read Version
I found some men who could be trusted to serve as witnesses: Uriah the priest and Zechariah son of Jeberekiah. They watched me write those words.

George Lamsa Translation
And I took to me faithful witnesses to record, Uriah the priest and Zechariah the son of Berechiah.

Good News Translation
Get two reliable men, the priest Uriah and Zechariah son of Jeberechiah, to serve as witnesses."

Lexham English Bible
And I will require reliable witnesses as a witness for me: Uriah the priest and Zechariah son of Jeberekiah."

Literal Translation
And I took faithful witnesses to record for me, Uriah the priest, and Zechariah the son of Jeberechiah.

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
And Inmediatly I called vnto me faithful wytnesses: Vrias the prest, and Zacharias ye sonne of Barachias.

American Standard Version
and I will take unto me faithful witnesses to record, Uriah the priest, and Zechariah the son of Jeberechiah.

Bible in Basic English
And take true witnesses to the writing, Uriah the priest, and Zechariah, the son of Jeberechiah.

JPS Old Testament (1917)
and I will take unto Me faithful witnesses to record, Uriah the priest, and Zechariah the son of Jeberechiah.'

King James Version (1611)
And I tooke vnto mee faithfull witnesses to record, Uriah the Priest, and Zechariah the sonne of Ieberechiah.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
And I called vnto me faythfull witnesses to recorde, Uriah the priest, and Zachariah the sonne of Barachiah.

Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And make me witnesses of faithful men, Urias, and Zacharias the son of Barachias.

English Revised Version
and I will take unto me faithful witnesses to record, Uriah the priest, and Zechariah the son of Jeberechiah.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And Y yaf to me faithful witnessis, Vrie, the prest, and Sacarie, the sone of Barachie.

Update Bible Version
and I will take to me faithful witnesses to record, Uriah the priest, and Zechariah the son of Jeberechiah.

Webster's Bible Translation
And I took to me faithful witnesses to record, Uriah the priest, and Zechariah the son of Jeberechiah.

New English Translation
Then I will summon as my reliable witnesses Uriah the priest and Zechariah son of Jeberekiah."

New King James Version
And I will take for Myself faithful witnesses to record, Uriah the priest and Zechariah the son of Jeberechiah."

New Living Translation
I asked Uriah the priest and Zechariah son of Jeberekiah, both known as honest men, to witness my doing this.

New Life Bible
And I took men who could be trusted to watch the writing, Uriah the religious leader and Zechariah the son of Jeberechiah.

New Revised Standard
and have it attested for me by reliable witnesses, the priest Uriah and Zechariah son of Jeberechiah.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
That I may take in attestation, faithful witnesses, - even Uriah the priest, and Zechariah son of Jeberechiah.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And I took unto me faithful witnesses, Urias the priest, and Zacharias the son of Barachias.

Revised Standard Version
And I got reliable witnesses, Uri'ah the priest and Zechari'ah the son of Jeberechi'ah, to attest for me.

Young's Literal Translation
And I cause faithful witnesses to testify to me, Uriah the priest, and Zechariah son of Jeberechiah.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
"And I will take to Myself faithful witnesses for testimony, Uriah the priest and Zechariah the son of Jeberechiah."

Contextual Overview

¹ Then God told me, "Get a big sheet of paper and write in indelible ink, ‘This belongs to Maher-shalal-hash-baz (Spoil-Speeds-Plunder-Hurries).'" ²I got two honest men, Uriah the priest and Zechariah son of Jeberekiah, to witness the document. Then I went home to my wife, the prophetess. She conceived and gave birth to a son. God told me, "Name him Maher-shalal-hash-baz. Before that baby says ‘Daddy' or ‘Mamma' the king of Assyria will have plundered the wealth of Damascus and the riches of Samaria." God spoke to me again, saying: "Because this people has turned its back on the gently flowing stream of Shiloah And gotten all excited over Rezin and the son of Remaliah, I'm stepping in and facing them with the wild floodwaters of the Euphrates, The king of Assyria and all his fanfare, a river in flood, bursting its banks, Pouring into Judah, sweeping everything before it, water up to your necks, A huge wingspan of a raging river, O Immanuel, spreading across your land." But face the facts, all you oppressors, and then wring your hands. Listen, all of you, far and near. Prepare for the worst and wring your hands. Yes, prepare for the worst and wring your hands! Plan and plot all you want—nothing will come of it. All your talk is mere talk, empty words, Because when all is said and done, the last word is Immanuel—God-With-Us. God spoke strongly to me, grabbed me with both hands and warned me not to go along with this people. He said: "Don't be like this people, always afraid somebody is plotting against them. Don't fear what they fear. Don't take on their worries. If you're going to worry, worry about The Holy. Fear God -of-the-Angel-Armies. The Holy can be either a Hiding Place or a Boulder blocking your way, The Rock standing in the willful way of both houses of Israel, A barbed-wire Fence preventing trespass to the citizens of Jerusalem. Many of them are going to run into that Rock and get their bones broken, Get tangled up in that barbed wire and not get free of it." Gather up the testimony, preserve the teaching for my followers, While I wait for God as long as he remains in hiding, while I wait and hope for him. I stand my ground and hope, I and the children God gave me as signs to Israel, Warning signs and hope signs from God -of-the-Angel-Armies, who makes his home in Mount Zion. When people tell you, "Try out the fortunetellers. Consult the spiritualists. Why not tap into the spirit-world, get in touch with the dead?" Tell them, "No, we're going to study the Scriptures." People who try the other ways get nowhere—a dead end! Frustrated and famished, they try one thing after another. When nothing works out they get angry, cursing first this god and then that one, Looking this way and that, up, down, and sideways—and seeing nothing, A blank wall, an empty hole. They end up in the dark with nothing. ⁴ Then God told me, "Get a big sheet of paper and write in indelible ink, ‘This belongs to Maher-shalal-hash-baz (Spoil-Speeds-Plunder-Hurries).'" I got two honest men, Uriah the priest and Zechariah son of Jeberekiah, to witness the document. Then I went home to my wife, the prophetess. She conceived and gave birth to a son. God told me, "Name him Maher-shalal-hash-baz. Before that baby says ‘Daddy' or ‘Mamma' the king of Assyria will have plundered the wealth of Damascus and the riches of Samaria." ⁵ God spoke to me again, saying: "Because this people has turned its back on the gently flowing stream of Shiloah And gotten all excited over Rezin and the son of Remaliah, I'm stepping in and facing them with the wild floodwaters of the Euphrates, The king of Assyria and all his fanfare, a river in flood, bursting its banks, Pouring into Judah, sweeping everything before it, water up to your necks, A huge wingspan of a raging river, O Immanuel, spreading across your land."

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

I took: Ruth 4:2, Ruth 4:10, Ruth 4:11, 2 Corinthians 13:1

Uriah: 2 Kings 16:10, 2 Kings 16:11, 2 Kings 18:2

Reciprocal: 2 Chronicles 29:1 - Zechariah Jeremiah 32:10 - and took

Cross-References

Genesis 7:11
It was the six-hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, on the seventeenth day of the month that it happened: all the underground springs erupted and all the windows of Heaven were thrown open. Rain poured for forty days and forty nights.

Genesis 8:13
In the six-hundred-first year of Noah's life, on the first day of the first month, the flood had dried up. Noah opened the hatch of the ship and saw dry ground. By the twenty-seventh day of the second month, the Earth was completely dry.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And I took unto me faithful witnesses to record,.... Not his marriage, nor the birth of his son, nor the name he gave him, but the prophecy written in the roll, concerning the spoiling of Syria and Israel, in a very short time; that so, when it came to pass, it might be a clear and certain point that it had been foretold by him:

Uriah the priest; of whom mention is made in 2 Kings 16:10 which some object to, because he proved a wicked man, and obeyed the king's command, contrary to the law of God, in building an altar according to the form of one at Damascus; but to this it is replied, that it was before this happened that Isaiah took him to be a witness; and besides, because of the authority of his office, and his familiarity with Ahaz, he must be allowed to be a proper and pertinent person to bear testimony in this case. Some indeed, and so the Jewish commentators, Jarchi, Aben Ezra, Kimchi, and Abarbinel, would have Uriah the prophet meant, who prophesied in the times of Jehoiakim, and was slain by him,

Jeremiah 26:20 to which it is objected, that he was no priest, as this was and, besides, was not born at this time; it was a hundred and forty years after that he lived:

and Zechariah the son of Jeberechiah; this was Zechariah the prophet, as the Targum, and all the Jewish writers, say o; who lived in the times of Darius, which was two hundred and forty years after this; but most likely this Zechariah is he who was Ahaz's wife's father, 2 Kings 18:2 or rather, as Vitringa thinks, Zechariah a Levite, a son of Asaph, 2 Chronicles 29:13 though there are some learned men p, who think the two prophets Uriah and Zechariah are meant, though then unborn; who prophesied of the like or same things as Isaiah did; and so were faithful witnesses of his prophecy, as of the calamities that should come on the land, the restitution of it to its former fruitfulness, and the coming of the Messiah; nor is the observation of Abarbinel to be despised, taken from the ancient Jews, that these are the words, not of the prophet, but of God himself; as also that they are to be read in the future tense, "and I will take to me", &c.

o T. Bab. Maccot, fol. 24. 2. p Cocceius, Witsius, Miscel. Sacr. tom. 1. l. 1. c. 20. sect. 8, 9, 10.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

And I took unto me faithful witnesses - What was the precise object in calling in these witnesses is not known. Some have supposed that it was to bear testimony to the marriage of the prophet at that time. But it may have been for the purpose of a public record of the prophecy; a record so made, that the precise time when it was delivered could be attested without dispute. The prophecy was an important one; and it was important to know, in the most authentic and undisputed manner, that such a prophecy had been delivered. It is probable that the prophecy, attested by the names of those two men, was suspended in some public place in the temple, so that it might be seen by the people, and allay their fears; and in order to remove from the multitude every suspicion that it was a prophecy after the event. That this was a real, and not a symbolic transaction, is perfectly manifest, not only from the narrative itself, but from Isaiah 8:18. They are called ‘faithful,’ not off account of their private character, but because their public testimony would be credited by the people.

To record - To bear witness.

Uriah the priest - This is, doubtless, the same man that is mentioned in 2 Kings 16:10. He was a man of infamous character; the accomplice of Ahaz in corrupting the true religion; but still his testimony might be the more valuable to Ahaz, as he was associated with him in his plans.

And Zechariah ... - It is not certainly known who this was. Perhaps he was one of the Levites whose name is mentioned in 2 Chronicles 29:13.