Isaiah 8:22 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And they will look to the earth, but behold, distress and darkness, the gloom of anguish. And they will be thrust into thick darkness.

NIV: Then they will look toward the earth and see only distress and darkness and fearful gloom, and they will be thrust into utter darkness.

NASB: Then they will look to the earth, and behold, distress and darkness, the gloom of anguish; and they will be driven away into darkness.

CSB: They will look toward the earth and see only distress, darkness, and the gloom of affliction, and they will be driven into thick darkness.

NLT: and down at the earth, but wherever they look, there will be trouble and anguish and dark despair. They will be thrown out into the darkness.

KJV: And they shall look unto the earth; and behold trouble and darkness, dimness of anguish; and they shall be driven to darkness.

NKJV: Then they will look to the earth, and see trouble and darkness, gloom of anguish; and they will be driven into darkness.

The prophet Isaiah is describing those among God's people who have rejected His revelation. These are those who have rejected the truth of the Lord and the truth through the Law and His word. They remain unsatisfied, which is why some seek answers from the dead through illegitimate, dangerous means (Isaiah 8:19). The dead have no real answers. He has described those who reject the Lord as having no dawn, meaning that the light of truth never comes to them (Isaiah 8:20).

Thus, they live out their lives in emptiness and darkness. Their hunger to know without knowing God leads to great frustration and anger (Isaiah 8:21). They shake their fists at both the Lord and their king. They raise their faces but see only darkness. Now Isaiah adds that when they look down to the earth, they will find no answers there, either. They continue to live in despair. The gloom envelopes their lives.

There is only one source of light, and He is the Lord. There is only on source of truth, also the Lord. Those who reject the Lord and remain hungry for light and truth will remain unfilled all their dark days.

Isaiah 8:11–22 follows the prophecy about the coming destruction from the Assyrians. It includes a strong warning from the Lord to Isaiah to not follow the sins of the rest of Judah. He must not fear real or imagined threats. Instead, Isaiah must honor God and find safety in Him. The people will reject God, leading to ruin, and being taken away. Isaiah declares he will wait on the Lord and his family will be a sign that God has not abandoned those who trust Him. Those who reject God's Word, however, will remain in darkness.

Isaiah 8 begins with the Lord telling Isaiah to write a name on a large sign. Then Isaiah conceives a son, with a woman referred to as the "prophetess," likely his wife. The son is given the name on the sign. Before the son can speak, Judah's enemies will be wiped out by Assyria. Assyria will then bring destruction on Judah. Isaiah must not live in fear and dread as the people do. They will stumble over the stone of the Lord instead of trusting in Him. Isaiah will continue to hope in the Lord. Those who reject God's truth will live in darkness.

The prior chapter included a famous prophecy regarding the virgin birth of Jesus. Isaiah 8 continues to prophesy about the coming destruction of Judah's current enemies: Syria and Israel. Isaiah has a son whose name he has written on a sign. Before that son is old enough to talk, Assyria will destroy Judah's enemies and then bring destruction into Judah. The Lord warns Isaiah to honor God, not live in fear. The people will reject God as their foundation, falling into further sin. But Isaiah declares that he and his family will continue to point toward God's faithfulness. Those who reject God's revelation will live in and frustration and despair. This sets up additional prophecies which connect to the ministry of Christ.

Isaiah is among the most important prophetic books in the entire Bible. The first segment details God's impending judgment against ancient peoples for sin and idolatry (Isaiah 1—35). The second part of Isaiah briefly explains a failed assault on Jerusalem during the rule of Hezekiah (Isaiah 36—39). The final chapters predict Israel's rescue from Babylonian captivity (Isaiah 40—48), the promised Messiah (Isaiah 49—57), and the final glory of Jerusalem and God's people (Isaiah 58—66).