Isaiah 8:20 Study Bible: Turn to the law and to the testimony. If they do not speak according to this word, surely there is no morning for them.

◄ Isaiah 8:20 ►

To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn.

To the law and to the testimony!

This phrase emphasizes the importance of adhering to the divine revelation given through the Law (Torah) and the testimony of the prophets. In the context of Isaiah, the "law" refers to the Mosaic Law, which was central to Jewish life and worship. The "testimony" likely refers to the prophetic messages that God delivered through His prophets. This call to the law and testimony underscores the authority of Scripture as the ultimate standard for truth and guidance. It reflects the Jewish understanding of the Torah as the foundation of their covenant relationship with God. This phrase also anticipates the New Testament emphasis on the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets in Jesus Christ (Matthew 5:17).

Psa 19:7 The Law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul;…
Deu 4:2 You must not add to or subtract from what I command you…
Deu 12:32 See that you do everything I command you;…

If they do not speak according to this word,

This part of the verse warns against false teachings and prophecies that do not align with God's revealed word. In Isaiah's time, there were many false prophets and diviners who led people astray with messages that contradicted God's commands. The phrase serves as a litmus test for discerning truth from error. It highlights the necessity of measuring all teachings against the established word of God. This principle is echoed in the New Testament, where believers are urged to test the spirits and hold fast to what is good (1 John 4:1, 1 Thessalonians 5:21).

Jer 23:28 Let the prophet who has a dream retell it, …
Deu 18:20-22 But if any prophet dares to speak a message in My name…
1Jn 4:1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test…

they have no light of dawn.

The imagery of "light" and "dawn" symbolizes understanding, truth, and divine revelation. Those who reject or distort God's word are described as being in darkness, lacking the illumination that comes from God's truth. In biblical symbolism, light often represents God's presence and guidance (Psalm 119:105, John 1:4-5). The absence of light signifies spiritual blindness and separation from God. This phrase foreshadows the New Testament revelation of Jesus as the "light of the world" (John 8:12), who brings true understanding and salvation to those who follow Him.

Job 3:9 May its morning stars grow dark; may it wait in vain…
Amo 5:18 Woe to you who long for the Day of the LORD!…
Pro 4:19 But the way of the wicked is like the darkest gloom;…

Persons / Places / Events

1. Isaiah
A major prophet in the Old Testament, Isaiah is the author of the book bearing his name. He prophesied during the reigns of several kings of Judah and is known for his messages of both judgment and hope.

2. Judah
The southern kingdom of Israel during the time of Isaiah. The people of Judah were often warned by Isaiah to return to God and adhere to His commandments.

3. The Law and the Testimony
Refers to the Torah (the first five books of the Bible) and the prophetic testimony. These were the foundational texts for the Israelites, providing guidance and revelation from God.

4. False Prophets
During Isaiah's time, there were many who claimed to speak for God but led the people astray. Isaiah's message in this verse is a call to discernment against such false teachings.

5. The Light of Dawn
Symbolizes understanding, truth, and divine revelation. Those who do not adhere to God's word are described as lacking this light.

Teaching Points

Adherence to Scripture
The Bible is the ultimate authority for faith and practice. Believers are called to measure all teachings against the Word of God.

Discernment Against False Teachings
In a world filled with conflicting messages, Christians must be vigilant and discerning, ensuring that teachings align with biblical truth.

The Role of Scripture in Daily Life
Regular engagement with the Bible is essential for spiritual growth and understanding. It provides guidance and clarity in a dark world.

The Importance of Light
Spiritual enlightenment comes from God's Word. Without it, one remains in darkness, lacking true understanding and direction.

Community and Accountability
Engaging with a community of believers helps in maintaining accountability to the teachings of Scripture and encourages mutual growth.

Bible Study Questions

1. How can we ensure that our beliefs and teachings align with "the law and the testimony" as mentioned in Isaiah 8:20?

2. What are some practical ways to discern false teachings in today's context, and how can we apply Isaiah's warning in our lives?

3. How does the imagery of "light" in Isaiah 8:20 relate to other biblical passages that discuss light and darkness?

4. In what ways can regular Bible study and engagement with Scripture serve as a "light of dawn" in our personal and communal lives?

5. How can we encourage one another within our faith communities to adhere to the teachings of Scripture and avoid the pitfalls of false doctrines?

Connections to Other Scriptures

Deuteronomy 13:1-5
This passage warns against false prophets and emphasizes adherence to God's commandments, similar to Isaiah's call to the law and testimony.

Psalm 119:105
Describes God's word as a lamp and light, paralleling the imagery of light in Isaiah 8:20.

2 Timothy 3:16-17
Highlights the importance of Scripture for teaching, reproof, correction, and training in righteousness, echoing the call to adhere to God's word.

John 1:1-5
Discusses the Word as the true light, connecting to the idea of having the "light of dawn" through adherence to God's word.

Sermons

Exposition of the Doctrines of Grace	Charles Haddon Spurgeon	Isaiah 8:20
Holy Scripture, Man's Sufficient Guide to Salvation	M. H. Seymour, M. A.	Isaiah 8:20
Is Conscience the Supreme Rule of Life	W. Cunningham.	Isaiah 8:20
Search the Scriptures		Isaiah 8:20
Search the Scriptures	Charles Haddon Spurgeon	Isaiah 8:20
The Best Guide Book	Gates of Imagery	Isaiah 8:20
The Bible and Superstition	H. O. Mackey.	Isaiah 8:20
The Evils Resulting from False Principle of Morality	T. Gisborne.	Isaiah 8:20
The Rule of Faith	J. R. Page, M. A.	Isaiah 8:20
The Standard of Truth and Morals	R. Tuck	Isaiah 8:20
The Word of God the Only Rule of Faith and Practice	W. Cunningham.	Isaiah 8:20
The Written Word of God the Only Standard of Truth	W. Curling, M. A.	Isaiah 8:20
The Helplessness of Superstition	E. Johnson	Isaiah 8:16-22
From Light to Darkness: from Darkness to Light	Hugh H. Currie, B. D.	Isaiah 8:19-20
God to be Sought by Nations	J. Hill, B. D.	Isaiah 8:19-20
Gripping Old Truths and Seeing New Visions	J. Thomas, M. A.	Isaiah 8:19-20
Religion and Superstition	Prof. J. Skinner, D. D.	Isaiah 8:19-20
Superstition	A. Freud	Isaiah 8:19-20
The Duty of Seeking unto God	Essex Congregational Remembrancer	Isaiah 8:19-20
Wizards	A. B. Davidson, D. D.	Isaiah 8:19-20
Wizards that Peep and Mutter	Prof. J. Skinner, D. D.	Isaiah 8:19-20
The Confession of Ungodliness, Etc	W. Clarkson	Isaiah 8:19-22

People

Immanuel, Isaiah, Jacob, Jeberechiah, Mahershalalhashbaz, Remaliah, Rezin, Uriah, Urijah, Zechariah

Places

Assyria, Damascus, Euphrates River, Jerusalem, Judah, Mount Zion, Samaria, Shiloah

Topics

Dawn, Daybreak, Faith, Instruction, Law, Manner, Morning, Speak, Surely, Teaching, Testimony, Turn, Wherein, Witness

Dictionary of Bible Themes

Isaiah 8:20

     1690   word of God
     4811   darkness, symbol of sin
     4918   dawn
     8674   study
     8749   false teachers

Isaiah 8:19-20

     4155   divination
     5780   advisers
     8128   guidance, receiving

Isaiah 8:19-22

     4132   demons, malevolence
     4824   famine, spiritual
     5864   futility

Library

Shiloah and Euphrates
Forasmuch as this people refuseth the waters of Shiloah that go softly ... the Lord bringeth up upon them the waters of the river, strong and many.' ISAIAH viii. 6, 7. The kingdom of Judah was threatened with a great danger in an alliance between Israel and Damascus. The cowardly King Ahaz, instead of listening to Isaiah's strong assurances and relying on the help of God, made what he thought a master-stroke of policy in invoking the help of the formidable Assyrian power. That ambitious military …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Search the Scriptures
I feel at this particular crisis of religious affairs, it is imperative upon the Christian minister to urge his people to hold fast the doctrines of the truth--the words of God. This seems likely to become the age of preaching, rather than the age of praying. We now see everywhere large congregations assembling in halls and abbeys to listen to the Word preached; and it is an ominous sign of the times, that these preachings are not only espoused by the orthodox, but even by those whom we have considered …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 4: 1858

Exposition of the Doctrines of Grace
? Perseverance of the Saints--"The Final Perseverance of Believers in Christ Jesus," by William O'Neill (message 5). The Rev. C. H. SPURGEON took the chair at 3 o'clock. The proceedings were commenced by singing the 21st Hymn-- Saved from the damning power of sin, The law's tremendous curse, We'll now the sacred song begin Where God began with us. We'll sing the vast unmeasured grace Which, from the days of old, Did all his chosen sons embrace, As sheep within the fold. The basis of eternal love …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 7: 1861

Prefatory Scripture Passages.
To the Law and to the Testimony; if they speak not according to this Word, it is because there is no light in them.-- Isa. viii. 20. Thus saith the Lord; Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls.--Jer. vi. 16. That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive. But …
G. H. Gerberding—The Way of Salvation in the Lutheran Church

Of the Scriptures
Eph. ii. 20.--"And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone." Believers are "the temple of the living God," in which he dwells and walks, 2 Cor. vi. 16. Every one of them is a little sanctuary and temple to his Majesty, "sanctify the Lord of hosts in your hearts." Though he be "the high and lofty One that inhabits eternity," yet he is pleased to come down to this poor cottage of a creature's heart, and dwell in it. Is not this …
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

Gihon, the Same with the Fountain of Siloam.
I. In 1 Kings 1:33,38, that which is, in the Hebrew, "Bring ye Solomon to Gihon: and they brought him to Gihon"; is rendered by the Chaldee, "Bring ye him to Siloam: and they brought him to Siloam." Where Kimchi thus; "Gihon is Siloam, and it is called by a double name. And David commanded, that they should anoint Solomon at Gihon for a good omen, to wit, that, as the waters of the fountain are everlasting, so might his kingdom be." So also the Jerusalem writers; "They do not anoint the king, but …
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica

Trials of the Christian
AFFLICTION--ITS NATURE AND BENEFITS. The school of the cross is the school of light; it discovers the world's vanity, baseness, and wickedness, and lets us see more of God's mind. Out of dark afflictions comes a spiritual light. In times of affliction, we commonly meet with the sweetest experiences of the love of God. The end of affliction is the discovery of sin; and of that, to bring us to a Saviour. Doth not God ofttimes even take occasion, by the hardest of things that come upon us, to visit …
John Bunyan—The Riches of Bunyan

That it is not Lawful for the Well Affected Subjects to Concur in Such an Engagement in War, and Associate with the Malignant Party.
That It Is Not Lawful For The Well Affected Subjects To Concur In Such An Engagement In War, And Associate With The Malignant Party. Some convinced of the unlawfulness of the public resolutions and proceedings, in reference to the employing of the malignant party, yet do not find such clearness and satisfaction in their own consciences as to forbid the subjects to concur in this war, and associate with the army so constituted. Therefore it is needful to speak something to this point, That it is …
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

The Universality of Actual Grace
The gratuity of grace does not conflict with its universality. Though God distributes His graces freely, He grants them to all men without exception, because He wills all to be saved. This divine "will to save" (voluntas Dei salvifica) may be regarded in relation either to the wayfaring state or to the status termini. Regarded from the first-mentioned point of view it is a merciful will (voluntas misericordiae) and is generally called first or antecedent will (voluntas prima s. antecedens) …
Joseph Pohle—Grace, Actual and Habitual

Jesus' Temporary Residence at Capernaum.
^A Matt. IV. 13-16. ^a 13 And leaving Nazareth [This expression means that Jesus now ceased to make Nazareth his home. For description of Nazareth, see page 60], he came and dwelt in Capernaum [See page 119. Capernaum means city of Nahum, or village of consolation. Its modern name, "Tel-Hum," means hill of Nahum. The word "dwelt" means that Jesus made this town his headquarters. He owned no house there (Matt. viii. 20). He may have dwelt with some of his disciples--for instance, Simon Peter--Matt. …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Of the Character of the Unregenerate.
Ephes. ii. 1, 2. And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience. AMONG all the various trusts which men can repose in each other, hardly any appears to be more solemn and tremendous, than the direction of their sacred time, and especially of those hours which they spend in the exercise of public devotion. …
Philip Doddridge—Practical Discourses on Regeneration

To Pastors and Teachers
To Pastors and Teachers If all who laboured for the conversion of others were to introduce them immediately into Prayer and the Interior Life, and make it their main design to gain and win over the heart, numberless as well as permanent conversions would certainly ensue. On the contrary, few and transient fruits must attend that labour which is confined to outward matters; such as burdening the disciple with a thousand precepts for external exercises, instead of leaving the soul to Christ by the …
Madame Guyon—A Short and Easy Method of Prayer

"But if we Walk in the Light, as He is in the Light, we have Fellowship one with Another, and the Blood of Jesus Christ His
1 John i. 7.--"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin." Art is the imitation of nature, and true religion is a divine art, that consists in the imitation of God himself, the author of nature. Therefore it is a more high and transcendent thing, of a sublimer nature than all the arts and sciences among men. Those reach but to some resemblance of the wisdom of God, expressed in his works, …
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

The Wicked Husbandmen.
"Hear another parable: There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country: and when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, that they might receive the fruits of it. And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another. Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they did unto …
William Arnot—The Parables of Our Lord

Letter xix (A. D. 1127) to Suger, Abbot of S. Denis
To Suger, Abbot of S. Denis He praises Suger, who had unexpectedly renounced the pride and luxury of the world to give himself to the modest habits of the religious life. He blames severely the clerk who devotes himself rather to the service of princes than that of God. 1. A piece of good news has reached our district; it cannot fail to do great good to whomsoever it shall have come. For who that fear God, hearing what great things He has done for your soul, do not rejoice and wonder at the great …
Saint Bernard of Clairvaux—Some Letters of Saint Bernard, Abbot of Clairvaux

First Sunday in Lent
Text: Second Corinthians 6, 1-10. 1 And working together with him we entreat also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain 2 (for he saith, At an acceptable time I hearkened unto thee, and in a day of salvation did I succor thee: behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation): 3 giving no occasion of stumbling in anything, that our ministration be not blamed; 4 but in everything commending ourselves, as ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, …
Martin Luther—Epistle Sermons, Vol. II

Covenanting a Privilege of Believers.
Whatever attainment is made by any as distinguished from the wicked, or whatever gracious benefit is enjoyed, is a spiritual privilege. Adoption into the family of God is of this character. "He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power (margin, or, the right; or, privilege) to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name."[617] And every co-ordinate benefit is essentially so likewise. The evidence besides, that Covenanting …
John Cunningham—The Ordinance of Covenanting

Christ's Prophetic Office
'The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet,' &c. Deut 18:85. Having spoken of the person of Christ, we are next to speak of the offices of Christ. These are Prophetic, Priestly, and Regal. 'The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet.' Enunciatur hic locus de Christo. It is spoken of Christ.' There are several names given to Christ as a Prophet. He is called the Counsellor' in Isa 9:9. In uno Christo Angelus foederis completur [The Messenger of the Covenant appears in Christ alone]. …
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity

A Treatise of the Fear of God;
SHOWING WHAT IT IS, AND HOW DISTINGUISHED FROM THAT WHICH IS NOT SO. ALSO, WHENCE IT COMES; WHO HAS IT; WHAT ARE THE EFFECTS; AND WHAT THE PRIVILEGES OF THOSE THAT HAVE IT IN THEIR HEARTS. London: Printed for N. Ponder, at the Peacock in the Poultry, over against the Stocks market: 1679. ADVERTISEMENT BY THE EDITOR. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom," and "a fountain of life"--the foundation on which all wisdom rests, as well as the source from whence it emanates. Upon a principle …
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

That the Employing Of, and Associating with the Malignant Party, According as is Contained in the Public Resolutions, is Sinful and Unlawful.
That The Employing Of, And Associating With The Malignant Party, According As Is Contained In The Public Resolutions, Is Sinful And Unlawful. If there be in the land a malignant party of power and policy, and the exceptions contained in the Act of Levy do comprehend but few of that party, then there need be no more difficulty to prove, that the present public resolutions and proceedings do import an association and conjunction with a malignant party, than to gather a conclusion from clear premises. …
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

History of the Interpretation.
1. AMONG THE JEWS. This History, as to its essential features, might, a priori, be sketched with tolerable certainty. From the nature of the case, we could scarcely expect that the Jews should have adopted views altogether erroneous as to the subject of the prophecy in question; for the Messiah appears in it, not in His humiliation, but in His glory--rich in gifts and blessings, and Pelagian self-delusion will, a priori, return an affirmative answer to the question as to whether one is …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament

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