The Meaning of Isaiah 8:16 Explained

Isaiah 8:16

KJV: Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples.

YLT: Bind up the testimony, Seal the law among My disciples.

Darby: Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples.

ASV: Bind thou up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Bind up  the testimony,  seal  the law  among my disciples. 

What does Isaiah 8:16 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Isaiah"s audience needed to return to God"s revelation and recommit themselves to it, which the prophet led the way in doing (cf. Joshua 24:14-15). Those who followed his lead became his disciples and disciples of the Lord.
"Once his [1] message had been rejected by the court ( Isaiah 7:1-17) and the people ( Isaiah 8:1-8), he turned to his disciples ( Isaiah 8:16-18), thus preparing the way for the judgment that God had already pronounced ( Isaiah 6:11-13)." Jesus did the same thing (cf. John 12-16).

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 8:16 mean?

Bind up the testimony Seal the law among my disciples
צ֖וֹר תְּעוּדָ֑ה חֲת֥וֹם תּוֹרָ֖ה בְּלִמֻּדָֽי

צ֖וֹר  Bind  up 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine singular
Root: צָרַר 
Sense: to bind, be narrow, be in distress, make narrow, cause distress, besiege, be straitened, be bound.
תְּעוּדָ֑ה  the  testimony 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: תְּעוּדָה  
Sense: testimony, attestation, confirmation.
חֲת֥וֹם  Seal 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine singular
Root: חָתַם  
Sense: to seal, seal up, affix a seal.
תּוֹרָ֖ה  the  law 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: תֹּורָה  
Sense: law, direction, instruction.
בְּלִמֻּדָֽי  among  my  disciples 
Parse: Preposition-b, Adjective, masculine plural construct, first person common singular
Root: לִמֻּד  
Sense: taught, learned, discipled.