Isaiah 8:19

But, when they say unto you—Seek ye unto the necromancers and unto the wizards, who chirp, and who mutter, Should not a people seek, unto its God? In behalf of the living, [should it seek] unto the dead?

The Emphasised Bible by J. B. Rotherham

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

18Lo! I and the children whom Yahweh hath given me, are for signs and for wonders in Israel,—from Yahweh of hosts, who is making his habitation in Mount Zion.

20To the law and to the testimony! If they speak not according to this word, [It is], because they have no dawning day.

Read all of Isaiah 8

Cross References

Leviticus 19:31Do not turn unto mediums, Nor, for oracles, make search, To render yourselves unclean with them, I—Yahweh, am your God.

Deuteronomy 18:10There shall not be found in thy midst—One who causeth his son or his daughter to pass through fire,—Or who useth divination, hidden arts or enchantments Or who muttereth incantations;

1 Samuel 28:7Then said Saul unto his servants—Seek me out a woman that owneth a familiar spirit, that I may even go unto her, and enquire of her. And his servants said unto him, Lo! there is a woman that owneth a familiar spirit in En-dor.

1 Samuel 28:11Then said the woman, Whom shall I bring up for thee? And he said, Samuel, bring thou up for me.

2 Kings 1:3But, the messenger of Yahweh, spake unto Elijah the Tishbite, Rise, go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria,—and say unto them—Is it, because there is no God in Israel, that, ye, are going to enquire of Baalzebub, god of Ekron?

2 Kings 23:24Moreover also, them who had familiar spirits, and the wizards, and the household gods, and the manufactured gods, and the abominations which were to be seen in the land of Judah, and in Jerusalem, did Josiah consume,—that he might confirm the words of the law which were written in the book that Hilkiah the priest had found in the house of Yahweh.

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 →

This Verse In Other Editions

Study Isaiah 8:19