The Meaning of Isaiah 8:20 Explained

Isaiah 8:20

KJV: To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.

YLT: To the law and to the testimony! If not, let them say after this manner, 'That there is no dawn to it.'

Darby: To the law and the testimony! If they speak not according to this word, for them there is no daybreak.

ASV: To the law and to the testimony! if they speak not according to this word, surely there is no morning for them.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

To the law  and to the testimony:  if they speak  not according to this word,  [it is] because [there is] no light  in them. 

What does Isaiah 8:20 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Back to the Bible, Isaiah preached. If the predictions of the false prognosticators did not harmonize with written Revelation , their counsel was darkness rather than light. The "law" probably refers to the Torah, and the "testimony" to royal tradition and theory. This "testimony" comprised the oral and written traditions passed down from former generations, which, while not inspired, were nevertheless important reliable sources of information.
"More than anything else today there is need that all our thinking be based upon and in conformity with the Holy Scriptures." [1]

Context Summary

Isaiah 8:19-22 - The Prince Of Peace
When men cease to trust in God and rely on the help of man, they often turn to necromancy and spirit-rapping. The medium takes the place of the Mediator. The séance is sought after instead of the Law and the Testimony. What have God's children to do with back-stair gossip, when their Father's presence-chamber is open to them? What He does not tell us is not worth our knowing.
The land of Galilee was destined to suffer sorely, but better days would dawn on its mountains and lakes. The joy that was in store is compared to the daybreak, Isaiah 8:2; to the joy of harvest, Isaiah 8:3; and to the gladness of the harried tribes when Gideon broke the power of Midian, Isaiah 8:4. The implements of battle would become fuel for the peasants' cottage-fires. What titles are these for our Lord! They befit no human babe! Let us place the government of our lives on His shoulders; and as it extends so shall our peace. Ask God's zeal to do this for thee! In the power of His grace, put the government of all on the wonderful Son of God. [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 8:20 mean?

to the law and to the testimony if not they do speak according to word this [it is] because [there is] no in them light
לְתוֹרָ֖ה ! וְלִתְעוּדָ֑ה אִם־ לֹ֤א יֹֽאמְרוּ֙ כַּדָּבָ֣ר הַזֶּ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר אֵֽין־ ל֖וֹ שָֽׁחַר

לְתוֹרָ֖ה  to  the  law 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, feminine singular
Root: תֹּורָה  
Sense: law, direction, instruction.
! וְלִתְעוּדָ֑ה  and  to  the  testimony 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Noun, feminine singular
Root: תְּעוּדָה  
Sense: testimony, attestation, confirmation.
יֹֽאמְרוּ֙  they  do  speak 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
כַּדָּבָ֣ר  according  to  word 
Parse: Preposition-k, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: דָּבָר  
Sense: speech, word, speaking, thing.
הַזֶּ֔ה  this 
Parse: Article, Pronoun, masculine singular
Root: זֶה  
Sense: this, this one, here, which, this … that, the one … the other, another, such.
אֲשֶׁ֥ר  [it  is]  because 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
אֵֽין־  [there  is]  no 
Parse: Adverb
Root: אַיִן 
Sense: nothing, not, nought n.
ל֖וֹ  in  them 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular
שָֽׁחַר  light 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: שַׁחַר  
Sense: dawn.