The Meaning of Isaiah 8:17 Explained

Isaiah 8:17

KJV: And I will wait upon the LORD, that hideth his face from the house of Jacob, and I will look for him.

YLT: And I have waited for Jehovah, Who is hiding His face from the house of Jacob, And I have looked for Him.

Darby: And I will wait for Jehovah, who hideth his face from the house of Jacob; and I will look for him.

ASV: And I will wait for Jehovah, that hideth his face from the house of Jacob, and I will look for him.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And I will wait  upon the LORD,  that hideth  his face  from the house  of Jacob,  and I will look  for him. 

What does Isaiah 8:17 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Isaiah committed himself to waiting expectantly for the Lord to act in harmony with His Word, rather than turning to another source for strength and courage (cf. Isaiah 40:31; Hebrews 2:13). Presently God was not doing anything that indicated that He was working. The "house of Jacob" refers to the Northern Kingdom.

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 8:17 mean?

And I will wait on Yahweh who hides His face from the house of Jacob and I will hope in Him
וְחִכִּ֙יתִי֙ לַיהוָ֔ה הַמַּסְתִּ֥יר פָּנָ֖יו מִבֵּ֣ית יַעֲקֹ֑ב וְקִוֵּ֖יתִֽי־ לֽוֹ

וְחִכִּ֙יתִי֙  And  I  will  wait 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Piel, Conjunctive perfect, first person common singular
Root: חָכָה  
Sense: to wait, wait for, await.
לַיהוָ֔ה  on  Yahweh 
Parse: Preposition-l, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
הַמַּסְתִּ֥יר  who  hides 
Parse: Article, Verb, Hifil, Participle, masculine singular
Root: סָתַר  
Sense: to hide, conceal.
פָּנָ֖יו  His  face 
Parse: Noun, common plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: לִפְנֵי 
Sense: face.
מִבֵּ֣ית  from  the  house 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: בַּיִת 
Sense: house.
יַעֲקֹ֑ב  of  Jacob 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יַעֲקֹב  
Sense: son of Isaac, grandson of Abraham, and father of the 2 patriarchs of the tribes of Israel.
וְקִוֵּ֖יתִֽי־  and  I  will  hope 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Piel, Conjunctive perfect, first person common singular
Root: קָוָה 
Sense: to wait, look for, hope, expect.
לֽוֹ  in  Him 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular