Isaiah 8:12

A Call to Fear God · Isaiah 8:11–18
Read Isaiah 8

Translations

Modern
“Do not call conspiracy everything these people regard as conspiracy. Do not fear what they fear; do not live in dread.
Traditional
Say ye not, A confederacy, to all them to whom this people shall say, A confederacy; neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid.
Literal
“You shall not say conspiracy to everything that this people says is conspiracy; and its fear you should not fear, and you should not dread.
Latin
Non dicatis: Conjuratio; omnia enim quæ loquitur populus iste, conjuratio est: et timorem ejus ne timeatis, neque paveatis.

Original

Hebrew
English
“Do not call conspiracy everything these people regard as conspiracy. Do not fear what they fear; do not live in dread.

Notes

People saw Isaiah’s message of staying out of Assyrian affairs as treason and part of a conspiracy. However, Isaiah was not engaging in political games. He was sharing God’s message.

What scared them was the alliance of Syria and Israel attacking Judah (see Isaiah 7:1, 4).

This text reveals Isaiah's main message. The issue was fear of the Lord versus fear of people (see Isaiah 7:9; 8:6). When someone fears people, the Lord becomes a trap and destruction is certain (compare Proverbs 29:25; see “Fearing People” Theme Note). For those who fear the Lord, he becomes a sanctuary and their salvation is assured.

These prophecies occurred when Assyria rose to power. Syria and Israel formed an alliance against Judah (Isaiah 7:1–2; see 2 Kings 16:5). God used Assyria as a tool to punish Syria, Israel, and Judah (Isaiah 7–10).

Events

Parallels

Ecclesiastes 8:10–13

Glossary

Bible, Quotations of the Old Testament in the New Testament Fear Isaiah, Book of Peter, First Letter of

Topics

Alliances: Political with Idolaters Forbidden Armies: March in Ranks: Confederated Company: Evil Confidence: False Godly Fear: Those Who Have: should not Fear Man Unholy Fear: Exhortations Against