The Meaning of Isaiah 8:21 Explained

Isaiah 8:21

KJV: And they shall pass through it, hardly bestead and hungry: and it shall come to pass, that when they shall be hungry, they shall fret themselves, and curse their king and their God, and look upward.

YLT: -- And it hath passed over into it, hardened and hungry, And it hath come to pass, That it is hungry, and hath been wroth, And made light of its king, and of its God, And hath looked upwards.

Darby: And they shall pass through it, hard pressed and hungry; and it shall come to pass when they are hungry, they will fret themselves, and curse their king and their God, and will gaze upward:

ASV: And they shall pass through it, sore distressed and hungry; and it shall come to pass that, when they shall be hungry, they shall fret themselves, and curse by their king and by their God, and turn their faces upward:

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And they shall pass  through it, hardly bestead  and hungry:  and it shall come to pass, that when they shall be hungry,  they shall fret  themselves, and curse  their king  and their God,  and look  upward. 

What does Isaiah 8:21 Mean?

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 8:21 mean?

And they will pass through it hard pressed and hungry and it shall happen when they are hungry that they will be enraged and curse their king and their God and look upward
וְעָ֥בַר בָּ֖הּ נִקְשֶׁ֣ה וְרָעֵ֑ב וְהָיָ֨ה כִֽי־ יִרְעַ֜ב וְהִתְקַצַּ֗ף וְקִלֵּ֧ל בְּמַלְכּ֛וֹ וּבֵאלֹהָ֖יו וּפָנָ֥ה לְמָֽעְלָה

וְעָ֥בַר  And  they  will  pass  through 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: עָבַר 
Sense: to pass over or by or through, alienate, bring, carry, do away, take, take away, transgress.
נִקְשֶׁ֣ה  hard  pressed 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: קָשָׁה  
Sense: to be hard, be severe, be fierce, be harsh.
וְרָעֵ֑ב  and  hungry 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adjective, masculine singular
Root: רָעָב  
Sense: hungry.
וְהָיָ֨ה  and  it  shall  happen 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
יִרְעַ֜ב  they  are  hungry 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: רָעֵב 
Sense: to be hungry, be voracious.
וְהִתְקַצַּ֗ף  that  they  will  be  enraged 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hitpael, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: קָצַף  
Sense: to be displeased, be angry, fret oneself, be wroth.
וְקִלֵּ֧ל  and  curse 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Piel, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: קָלַל  
Sense: to be slight, be swift, be trifling, be of little account, be light.
בְּמַלְכּ֛וֹ  their  king 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: מֶלֶךְ 
Sense: king.
וּבֵאלֹהָ֖יו  and  their  God 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
וּפָנָ֥ה  and  look 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: פֹּונֶה 
Sense: to turn.
לְמָֽעְלָה  upward 
Parse: Preposition-l, Adverb, third person feminine singular
Root: מַעַל 
Sense: higher part, upper part adv.