Testimonia — Early Christian Bible Commentary

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Isaiah 8 · World English Bible

1The LORD said to me, “Take a large tablet, and write on it with a man’s pen, ‘For Maher Shalal Hash Baz’;

2and I will take for myself faithful witnesses to testify: Uriah the priest, and Zechariah the son of Jeberechiah.”

3I went to the prophetess, and she conceived, and bore a son. Then the LORD said to me, “Call his name ‘Maher Shalal Hash Baz.’

4For before the child knows how to say, ‘My father’ and ‘My mother,’ the riches of Damascus and the plunder of Samaria will be carried away by the king of Assyria.”

5The LORD spoke to me yet again, saying,

6“Because this people has refused the waters of Shiloah that go softly, and rejoice in Rezin and Remaliah’s son;

7now therefore, behold, the Lord brings upon them the mighty flood waters of the River: the king of Assyria and all his glory. It will come up over all its channels, and go over all its banks.

8It will sweep onward into Judah. It will overflow and pass through. It will reach even to the neck. The stretching out of its wings will fill the width of your land, O Immanuel.

9Make an uproar, you peoples, and be broken in pieces! Listen, all you from far countries: dress for battle, and be shattered! Dress for battle, and be shattered!

10Take counsel together, and it will be brought to nothing; speak the word, and it will not stand, for God is with us.”

11For the LORD spoke this to me with a strong hand, and instructed me not to walk in the way of this people, saying,

12“Don’t call a conspiracy all that this people call a conspiracy. Don’t fear their threats or be terrorized.

13The LORD of Armies is who you must respect as holy. He is the one you must fear. He is the one you must dread.

14He will be a sanctuary, but for both houses of Israel, he will be a stumbling stone and a rock that makes them fall. For the people of Jerusalem, he will be a trap and a snare.

15Many will stumble over it, fall, be broken, be snared, and be captured.”

16Wrap up the covenant. Seal the law among my disciples.

17I will wait for the LORD, who hides his face from the house of Jacob, and I will look for him.

18Behold, I and the children whom the LORD has given me are for signs and for wonders in Israel from the LORD of Armies, who dwells in Mount Zion.

19When 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?

20Turn to the law and to the covenant! If they don’t speak according to this word, surely there is no morning for them.

21They will pass through it, very distressed and hungry. It will happen that when they are hungry, they will worry, and curse their king and their God. They will turn their faces upward,

22then look to the earth and see distress, darkness, and the gloom of anguish. They will be driven into thick darkness.

World English Bible · World English Bible; source eBible.org.

Notes on Isaiah 8

1868 (English edition) | Historical editor/translator (individual note author unspecified)

Isa. viii. 3.

Editorial footnote · Against Heresies, Book 3 / Chap. xvi. — Proofs from the apostolic writings, that Jesus Christ was one and the same, the only begotten Son of God, perfect God and perfect man., editorial note cite_note-275 · Original source

1868 (English edition) | Historical editor/translator (individual note author unspecified)

Isa. viii. 4.

Editorial footnote · Against Heresies, Book 3 / Chap. xvi. — Proofs from the apostolic writings, that Jesus Christ was one and the same, the only begotten Son of God, perfect God and perfect man., editorial note cite_note-276 · Original source

1868 (English edition) | Historical editor/translator (individual note author unspecified)

Isa. viii. 14.

Editorial footnote · Against Heresies, Book 3 / Chap. xviii. — Continuation of the foregoing argument. Proofs from the writings of St. Paul, and from the words of our Lord, that Christ and Jesus cannot he considered as distinct beings; neither can it be alleged that the Son of God became man merely in appearance, but that He did so truly and actually., editorial note cite_note-326 · Original source

1869 (English edition) | Historical editor/translator (individual note author unspecified)

Isa. viii. 3, ix. 6, vii. 14.

Editorial footnote · Against Heresies, Book 4 / Chap. xxxiii. — Whosoever confesses that one God is the author of both testaments, and diligently reads the Scriptures in company with the presbyters of the church, is a true spiritual disciple; and he will rightly understand and interpret all that the prophets have declared respecting Christ and the liberty of the new testament., editorial note cite_note-480 · Original source

1869 (English edition) | Historical editor/translator (individual note author unspecified)

Isa. viii. 1.

Editorial footnote · The Stromata (Miscellanies), THE WRITINGS OF CLEMENT OF ALEXANDRIA. / BOOK VI. / CHAPTER XV. DIFFERENT DEGREES OF KNOWLEDGE. / Reasons for the meaning of Scripture being veiled., editorial note Footnote_1138 · Original source

1870 (English edition) | Historical editor/translator (individual note author unspecified)

Cod. Sin. has “believe.” Isa. viii. 14, xxviii. 16.

Editorial footnote · Epistle of Barnabas, The Writings of the Apostolic Fathers / THE EPISTLE OF BARNABAS. / THE EPISTLE OF BARNABAS. / Chap. vi.—The sufferings of Christ, and the new covenant, were announced by the prophets., editorial note f509 · Original source

1885 (historical English edition; transcription printing date uncertain) | Historical editor/translator (individual note author unspecified)

Isa. viii. 3, Isa. ix. 6, Isa. vii. 14. [A confusion of texts.]

Editorial footnote · Against Heresies: Book IV, Chapter uncertain (transcription heading: Chapter XXXIII), editorial note cite_note-507 · Original source

1885 (historical English edition; transcription printing date uncertain) | Historical editor/translator (individual note author unspecified)

Isa. vii. 10–17 with Isa. viii. 4 inserted. The last clause may also be translated, “in which He took away from Judah Ephraim, even the king of Assyria.”

Editorial footnote · Dialogue with Trypho, Chapter XLIII.—He concludes that the law had an end in Christ, who was born of the Virgin., editorial note cite_note-129 · Original source

1885 (historical English edition; transcription printing date uncertain) | Historical editor/translator (individual note author unspecified)

Isa. vii. 10–17, with Isa. viii. 4 inserted between vers. 16 and 17.

Editorial footnote · Dialogue with Trypho, Chapter LXVI.—He proves from Isaiah that God was born from a virgin., editorial note cite_note-254 · Original source

1885 (historical English edition; transcription printing date uncertain) | Historical editor/translator (individual note author unspecified)

Cod. Sin. has “believe.” Isa. viii. 14, Isa. xxviii. 16.

Editorial footnote · The Epistle of Barnabas, Chapter VI.—The sufferings of Christ, and the new covenant, were announced by the prophets., editorial note cite_note-53 · Original source

1885 (historical English edition; physical printing year uncertain) | Historical editor/translator (individual note author unspecified)

Isa. viii. 4. Compare adv. Judæos, 9.

Editorial footnote · The Five Books Against Marcion, Book 3, Chapter 12, editorial note cite_note-2 · Original source

1887 (historical English edition; transcription printing date uncertain) | Historical editor/translator (individual note author unspecified)

Isa. viii. 20. See above, 2.

Editorial footnote · On the Proceedings of Pelagius, Chapter 62.—The History Continued. Cœlestius Condemned at Carthage by Episcopal Judgment. Pelagius Acquitted by Bishops in Palestine, in Consequence of His Deceptive Answers; But Yet His Heresy Was Condemned by Them.; original source section: Chapter 62, editorial note cite_note-3 · Original source

1888 (historical English edition; physical printing year uncertain) | Historical editor/translator (individual note author unspecified)

Isa. viii. 8.

Editorial footnote · Tractates on the Gospel of John, Tractate 31, editorial note cite_note-3 · Original source

Date uncertain | Clement of Alexandria

Further, Esaias the prophet is ordered to take “a new book, and write in it” certain things: the Spirit prophesying that through the exposition of the Scriptures there would come afterwards the sacred knowledge, which at that period was still unwritten, because not yet known. For it was spoken from the beginning to those only who understand. Now that the Saviour has taught the apostles, the unwritten rendering of the written [Scripture] has been handed down also to us, inscribed by the power of God on hearts new, according to the renovation of the book. Thus those of highest repute among the Greeks, dedicate the fruit of the pomegranate to Hermes, who they say is speech, on account of its interpretation. For speech conceals much. Rightly, therefore, Jesus the son of Nave saw Moses, when taken up [to heaven], double,—one Moses with the angels, and one on the mountains, honoured with burial in their ravines. And Jesus saw this spectacle below, being elevated by the Spirit, along also with Caleb. But both do not see similarly. But the one descended with greater speed, as if the weight he carried was great; while the other, on descending after him, subsequently related the glory which he beheld, being able to perceive more than the other, as having grown purer; the narrative, in my opinion, showing that knowledge is not the privilege of all. Since some look at the body of the Scriptures, the expressions and the names as to the body of Moses; while others see through to the thoughts and what is signified by the names, seeking the Moses that is with the angels.

Source passage · edition’s verse reference · The Stromata (Miscellanies), THE WRITINGS OF CLEMENT OF ALEXANDRIA. / BOOK VI. / CHAPTER XV. DIFFERENT DEGREES OF KNOWLEDGE. / Reasons for the meaning of Scripture being veiled., source paragraph 831 · Original source

Date uncertain | Clement of Alexandria (historical edition attribution)

Further, Esaias the prophet is ordered to take “a new book, and write in it” certain things:

Source passage · edition’s verse reference · The Stromata, or Miscellanies, Book VI.; Chapter XV.—Different Degrees of Knowledge.; original source section: Book VI, source paragraph 424 · Original source

Date uncertain | Irenaeus of Lyons (historical collection attribution)

3. But who is it that has had fellowship with us in the matter of food? Whether is it he who is conceived of by them as the Christ above, who extended himself through Horos, and imparted a form to their mother; or is it He who is from the Virgin, Emmanuel, who did eat butter and honey, of whom the prophet declared, “He is also a man, and who shall know him?” He was likewise preached by Paul: “For I delivered,” he says, “unto you first of all, that Christ died for our sins, according to the Scriptures; and that He was buried, and rose again the third day, according to the Scriptures.” It is plain, then, that Paul knew no other Christ besides Him alone, who both suffered, and was buried, and rose gain, who was also born, and whom he speaks of as man. For after remarking, “But if Christ be preached, that He rose from the dead,” he continues, rendering the reason of His incarnation, “For since by man came death, by man [came] also the resurrection of the dead.” And everywhere, when [referring to] the passion of our Lord, and to His human nature, and His subjection to death, he employs the name of Christ, as in that passage: “Destroy not him with thy meat for whom Christ died.” And again: “But now, in Christ, ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.” And again: “Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth upon a tree.” And again: “And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died;” indicating that the impassible Christ did not descend upon Jesus, but that He Himself, because He was Jesus Christ, suffered for us; He, who lay in the tomb, and rose again, who descended and ascended,—the Son of God having been made the Son of man, as the very name itself doth declare. For in the name of Christ is implied, He that anoints, He that is anointed, and the unction itself with which He is anointed. And it is the Father who anoints, but the Son who is anointed by the Spirit, who is the unction, as the Word declares by Isaiah, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He hath anointed me,”—pointing out both the anointing Father, the anointed Son, and the unction, which is the Spirit.

Source passage · edition’s verse reference · Against Heresies: Book III, Chapter uncertain (transcription heading: Chapter XVIII), source paragraph 104 · Original source

Date uncertain | John Chrysostom

This indeed he brings forward naturally. But this ( ver. 13 ) “I will put my trust in Him” ( 2 Sam. xxii. 3 ), what does it mean? For what follows this is also [introduced] naturally. “Behold, I and the children which God hath given Me.” ( Isa. viii. 18.) For as here He shows Himself a Father, so before, a Brother. “I will declare Thy name unto My brethren,” He saith.

Source passage · edition’s verse reference · Homilies on the Epistle to the Hebrews, Homily 4, source paragraph 27 · Original source