Isaiah 8:17 - Printer Friendly

ESV: I will wait for the LORD, who is hiding his face from the house of Jacob, and I will hope in him.

NIV: I will wait for the LORD, who is hiding his face from the descendants of Jacob. I will put my trust in him.

NASB: And I will wait for the Lord who is hiding His face from the house of Jacob; I will wait eagerly for Him.

CSB: I will wait for the Lord, who is hiding his face from the house of Jacob. I will wait for him.

NLT: I will wait for the Lord, who has turned away from the descendants of Jacob. I will put my hope in him.

KJV: And I will wait upon the LORD, that hideth his face from the house of Jacob, and I will look for him.

NKJV: And I will wait on the Lord, Who hides His face from the house of Jacob; And I will hope in Him.

Isaiah makes a declaration of his continued faith in the Lord. This is despite the Lord's choice to stop blessing Israel and Judah in this season of disobedience. Instead of looking for a new source of salvation, Isaiah will continue to wait for God to keep His promises to those who are faithful to Him. His hope in the Lord is not dependent on the situation surrounding him.

The prophet has a deep understanding of why the Lord's judgment is coming on Judah: the unfaithfulness of the people (Isaiah 8:6). He refuses to abandon the Lord and instead insists that he will continue to hope in the One in whom he has put his faith.

In Hebrews 2:13, the writer quotes Jesus as saying these words from Isaiah, "I will put my trust in him." Jesus experienced the judgment of God on human sinfulness—not through the invading Assyrians but on the Roman cross. Jesus also experienced God hiding His face in that moment (Matthew 27:46). The judgement of God that Jesus experienced was not due to unfaithfulness, it was His choice to go to that cross (2 Corinthians 5:21). Even though no fault of His own, Jesus refused to turn from His father in that time of darkness. Isaiah was not a perfect man, but he chose to hold his hope in the Lord.

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).