Isaiah 8:19

And if they should say to you, Seek those who have in them a divining spirit, and them that speak out of the earth, them that speak vain words, who speak out of their belly: shall not a nation diligently seek to their God? why do they seek to the dead concerning the living?

Updated Brenton Septuagint

In The King James Version

And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead?

In Context

18Behold I and the children which God has given me: and they shall be for signs and wonders in the house of Israel from the Lord of hosts, who dwells in Mount Zion.

20For he has given the law for a help, that they should not speak according to this word, concerning which there are no gifts to give for it.

Read all of Isaiah 8

Cross References

Leviticus 19:31Ye shall not attend to those who have in them divining spirits, nor attach yourselves to enchanters, to pollute yourselves with them: I am the Lord your God.

Deuteronomy 18:10There shall not be found in thee one who purges his son or his daughter with fire, one who uses divination, who deals with omens, and augury,

1 Samuel 28:7Then Saul said to his servants, Seek for me a woman who has in her a divining spirit, and I will go to her, and inquire of her: and his servants said to him, Behold, there is a woman who has in her a divining spirit at En-dor.

1 Samuel 28:11And the woman said, Whom shall I bring up to thee? and he said, Bring up to me Samuel.

2 Kings 1:3And an angel of the Lord called Elijah the Tishbite, saying, Arise, and go to meet the messengers of Ahaziah king of Samaria, and thou shalt say to them, Is it because there is no God in Israel, that ye go to inquire of Baal fly, the god of Ekron? but it shall not be so.

2 Kings 23:24Moreover Josiah removed the sorcerers, and the wizards, and the teraphim, and the idols, and all the abominations that had been set up in the land of Judah and in Jerusalem, that he might keep the words of the law that were written in the book, which Hilkiah the priest found in the house of the Lord.

Matthew Henry on Isaiah 8:17-22

The Importance of the Scriptures. ( b. c. 740.) 16 Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples. 17 And I will wait upon the Lord , that hideth his face from the house of Jacob, and I will look for him. 18 Behold, I and the children whom the Lord hath given me are for signs and for wonders in Israel from the Lord of hosts, which dwelleth in mount Zion. 19 And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto… Read the whole commentary →

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