KJV King James Version
And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead?
VERSE STUDY • KJV
Isaiah 8:19
And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead?
Read it in 5 translations
BSB Berean Standard Bible
When men tell you to consult mediums and spiritists who whisper and mutter, shouldn’t a people consult their God instead? Why consult the dead on behalf of the living?
WEB World English Bible
When they tell you, “Consult with those who have familiar spirits and with the wizards, who chirp and who mutter:” shouldn’t a people consult with their God? Should they consult the dead on behalf of the living?
ASV American Standard Version
And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits and unto the wizards, that chirp and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? on behalf of the living should they seek unto the dead?
YLT Young’s Literal Translation
And when they say unto you, ‘Seek unto those having familiar spirits, And unto wizards, who chatter and mutter, Doth not a people seek unto its God?—For the living unto the dead!
Surrounding context — Isaiah 8
16 Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples.
17 And I will wait upon the LORD, that hideth his face from the house of Jacob, and I will look for him.
18 Behold, I and the children whom the LORD hath given me [are] for signs and for wonders in Israel from the LORD of hosts, which dwelleth in mount Zion.
19 And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead?
20 To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, [it is] because [there is] no light in them.
21 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.
22 And they shall look unto the earth; and behold trouble and darkness, dimness of anguish; and [they shall be] driven to darkness.
Topics connected to this verse
Original-language word links
These Hebrew/Greek tokens are linked by Strong's number. Click one for its lexicon definition and other occurrences.
וְכִֽי־H3588 · kiforיֹאמְר֣וּH559 · a.marto sayאֲלֵיכֶ֗םH413 · elto(wards)דִּרְשׁ֤וּH1875 · da.rashto seekאֶל־H413 · elto(wards)הָאֹבוֹת֙H178 · ovmediumוְאֶל־H413 · elto(wards)הַיִּדְּעֹנִ֔יםH3049 · yid.d.o.nispiritistהַֽמְצַפְצְפִ֖יםH6850 · tsa.phaphto whisperוְהַמַּהְגִּ֑יםH1897 · ha.gahto mutterהֲלוֹא־H3808 · lonotעַם֙H5971 · ampeopleאֶל־H413 · elto(wards)אֱלֹהָ֣יוH430 · e.lo.himGodיִדְרֹ֔שׁH1875 · da.rashto seekבְּעַ֥דH1157 · be.adabout/through/forהַחַיִּ֖יםH2416 · chayaliveאֶל־H413 · elto(wards)הַמֵּתִֽים׃H4191 · mutto die
Cross-references
1 Chronicles 10:13So Saul died for his transgression which he committed against the LORD, [even] against the word of the LORD, which he kept not, and also for asking [counsel] of [one that had] a familiar spirit, to inquire [of it];Leviticus 20:6And the soul that turneth after such as have familiar spirits, and after wizards, to go a whoring after them, I will even set my face against that soul, and will cut him off from among his people.2 Chronicles 33:6And he caused his children to pass through the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom: also he observed times, and used enchantments, and used witchcraft, and dealt with a familiar spirit, and with wizards: he wrought much evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.Psalm 106:28They joined themselves also unto Baalpeor, and ate the sacrifices of the dead.Leviticus 19:31Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I [am] the LORD your God.Deuteronomy 18:11Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer.Isaiah 29:4And thou shalt be brought down, [and] shalt speak out of the ground, and thy speech shall be low out of the dust, and thy voice shall be, as of one that hath a familiar spirit, out of the ground, and thy speech shall whisper out of the dust.Isaiah 19:3And the spirit of Egypt shall fail in the midst thereof; and I will destroy the counsel thereof: and they shall seek to the idols, and to the charmers, and to them that have familiar spirits, and to the wizards.1 Samuel 28:8And Saul disguised himself, and put on other raiment, and he went, and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night: and he said, I pray thee, divine unto me by the familiar spirit, and bring me [him] up, whom I shall name unto thee.Jeremiah 10:10But the LORD [is] the true God, he [is] the living God, and an everlasting king: at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation.2 Kings 1:3But the angel of the LORD said to Elijah the Tishbite, Arise, go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria, and say unto them, [Is it] not because [there is] not a God in Israel, [that] ye go to inquire of Baalzebub the god of Ekron?2 Kings 23:24Moreover the [workers with] familiar spirits, and the wizards, and the images, and the idols, and all the abominations that were spied in the land of Judah and in Jerusalem, did Josiah put away, that he might perform the words of the law which were written in the book that Hilkiah the priest found in the house of the LORD.2 Kings 21:6And he made his son pass through the fire, and observed times, and used enchantments, and dealt with familiar spirits and wizards: he wrought much wickedness in the sight of the LORD, to provoke [him] to anger.1 Samuel 28:16Then said Samuel, Wherefore then dost thou ask of me, seeing the LORD is departed from thee, and is become thine enemy?2 Peter 2:1But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.1 Samuel 28:11Then said the woman, Whom shall I bring up unto thee? And he said, Bring me up Samuel.1 Thessalonians 1:9For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God;
HISTORICAL INTERPRETATION
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