The Meaning of Isaiah 8:12 Explained

Isaiah 8:12

KJV: Say ye not, A confederacy, to all them to whom this people shall say, A confederacy; neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid.

YLT: 'Ye do not say, A confederacy, To all to whom this people saith, A confederacy, And its fear ye do not fear, Nor declare fearful.

Darby: Ye shall not say, Conspiracy, of everything of which this people saith, Conspiracy; and fear ye not their fear, and be not in dread.

ASV: Say ye not, A conspiracy, concerning all whereof this people shall say, A conspiracy; neither fear ye their fear, nor be in dread thereof .

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Say  ye not, A confederacy,  to all [them to] whom this people  shall say,  A confederacy;  neither fear  ye their fear,  nor be afraid. 

What does Isaiah 8:12 Mean?

Study Notes

confederacy
The reference is to the attempt to terrify Judah by the confederacy between Syria and Samaria. Isaiah 7:1 ; Isaiah 7:2 .

Context Summary

Isaiah 8:5-18 - Fear God's Power, Not Man's
It seems likely that Syria and Samaria attacked Ahaz because he would not join in a federation against the growing power of Assyria. A strong party seems to have pressed this policy on him, but in all such schemes they repudiated the Divine Protection, Isaiah 8:6. Compare Psalms 46:4. Ahaz and the court party on the other hand, sought to federate with Assyria. But Isaiah never ceased to urge that the true line of defense was to put away whatever was inconsistent with the fear of God. He would be the sanctuary of defense and hiding in the day of trouble, Isaiah 8:13-14. We learn from Hebrews 2:13, how absolutely, when speaking thus, the prophet was being prompted by the Holy Spirit. If men will not build on God's foundation-stone, they fall over it to their hurt. Compare Isaiah 8:15 and Matthew 21:44. Are we not all in danger of substituting human alliances for federation and union with the eternal God? Let our fellowship be with the Father and the Son; and let us wait for Him till the day dawn and the day star shines, 2 Peter 1:19. [source]

Chapter Summary: Isaiah 8

1  In Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz, he prophesies Syria and Israel shall be subdued by Assyria
5  Judah likewise for their infidelity
9  God's judgments shall be irresistible
11  Comfort shall be to those who fear God
19  Great afflictions to idolaters

What do the individual words in Isaiah 8:12 mean?

not do say a conspiracy Concerning all that call people this a conspiracy and their threats nor be troubled nor be afraid of
לֹא־ תֹאמְר֣וּן קֶ֔שֶׁר לְכֹ֧ל אֲשֶׁר־ יֹאמַ֛ר הָעָ֥ם הַזֶּ֖ה קָ֑שֶׁר וְאֶת־ מוֹרָא֥וֹ לֹֽא־ תִֽירְא֖וּ וְלֹ֥א תַעֲרִֽיצוּ

תֹאמְר֣וּן  do  say 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine plural, Paragogic nun
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
קֶ֔שֶׁר  a  conspiracy 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: קֶשֶׁר  
Sense: conspiracy, treason, (unlawful) alliance.
לְכֹ֧ל  Concerning  all 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
אֲשֶׁר־  that 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
יֹאמַ֛ר  call 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
הָעָ֥ם  people 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: עַם 
Sense: nation, people.
הַזֶּ֖ה  this 
Parse: Article, Pronoun, masculine singular
Root: זֶה  
Sense: this, this one, here, which, this … that, the one … the other, another, such.
קָ֑שֶׁר  a  conspiracy 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: קֶשֶׁר  
Sense: conspiracy, treason, (unlawful) alliance.
מוֹרָא֥וֹ  their  threats 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: מֹורָא 
Sense: fear, reverence, terror.
לֹֽא־  nor 
Parse: Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
תִֽירְא֖וּ  be  troubled 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine plural
Root: יָרֵא 
Sense: to fear, revere, be afraid.
וְלֹ֥א  nor 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
תַעֲרִֽיצוּ  be  afraid  of 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, second person masculine plural
Root: מַעֲרָץ 
Sense: to tremble, dread, fear, oppress, prevail, break, be terrified, cause to tremble.