The Meaning of Isaiah 8:15 Explained

Isaiah 8:15

KJV: And many among them shall stumble, and fall, and be broken, and be snared, and be taken.

YLT: And many among them have stumbled and fallen, And been broken, and snared, and captured.

Darby: And many among them shall stumble, and fall, and be broken, and snared, and taken.

ASV: And many shall stumble thereon, and fall, and be broken, and be snared, and be taken.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And many  among them shall stumble,  and fall,  and be broken,  and be snared,  and be taken. 

What does Isaiah 8:15 Mean?

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 8:15 mean?

And shall stumble among them many and they shall fall and be broken and Be snared and taken -
וְכָ֥שְׁלוּ בָ֖ם רַבִּ֑ים וְנָפְל֣וּ וְנִשְׁבָּ֔רוּ וְנוֹקְשׁ֖וּ וְנִלְכָּֽדוּ ס

וְכָ֥שְׁלוּ  And  shall  stumble 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person common plural
Root: כָּשַׁל  
Sense: to stumble, stagger, totter.
בָ֖ם  among  them 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine plural
רַבִּ֑ים  many 
Parse: Adjective, masculine plural
Root: רַב 
Sense: much, many, great.
וְנָפְל֣וּ  and  they  shall  fall 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person common plural
Root: נָפַל  
Sense: to fall, lie, be cast down, fail.
וְנִשְׁבָּ֔רוּ  and  be  broken 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Nifal, Conjunctive perfect, third person common plural
Root: שָׁבוּר 
Sense: to break, break in pieces.
וְנוֹקְשׁ֖וּ  and  Be  snared 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Nifal, Conjunctive perfect, third person common plural
Root: יָקַשׁ  
Sense: to lure, entice, snare, lay a snare or lure, set a trap.
וְנִלְכָּֽדוּ  and  taken 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Nifal, Conjunctive perfect, third person common plural
Root: לָכַד  
Sense: to capture, take, seize.
ס  - 
Parse: Punctuation