The Meaning of Isaiah 8:14 Explained

Isaiah 8:14

KJV: And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

YLT: And He hath been for a sanctuary, And for a stone of stumbling, and for a rock of falling, To the two houses of Israel, For a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

Darby: And he will be for a sanctuary; and for a stone of stumbling, and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

ASV: And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And he shall be for a sanctuary;  but for a stone  of stumbling  and for a rock  of offence  to both  the houses  of Israel,  for a gin  and for a snare  to the inhabitants  of Jerusalem. 

What does Isaiah 8:14 Mean?

Context Summary

Isaiah 8:5-18 - Fear God's Power, Not Man's
It seems likely that Syria and Samaria attacked Ahaz because he would not join in a federation against the growing power of Assyria. A strong party seems to have pressed this policy on him, but in all such schemes they repudiated the Divine Protection, Isaiah 8:6. Compare Psalms 46:4. Ahaz and the court party on the other hand, sought to federate with Assyria. But Isaiah never ceased to urge that the true line of defense was to put away whatever was inconsistent with the fear of God. He would be the sanctuary of defense and hiding in the day of trouble, Isaiah 8:13-14. We learn from Hebrews 2:13, how absolutely, when speaking thus, the prophet was being prompted by the Holy Spirit. If men will not build on God's foundation-stone, they fall over it to their hurt. Compare Isaiah 8:15 and Matthew 21:44. Are we not all in danger of substituting human alliances for federation and union with the eternal God? Let our fellowship be with the Father and the Son; and let us wait for Him till the day dawn and the day star shines, 2 Peter 1:19. [source]

Chapter Summary: Isaiah 8

1  In Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz, he prophesies Syria and Israel shall be subdued by Assyria
5  Judah likewise for their infidelity
9  God's judgments shall be irresistible
11  Comfort shall be to those who fear God
19  Great afflictions to idolaters

What do the individual words in Isaiah 8:14 mean?

And He will be as a sanctuary but a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense to the two houses of Israel as a trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem
וְהָיָ֖ה לְמִקְדָּ֑שׁ וּלְאֶ֣בֶן נֶ֠גֶף וּלְצ֨וּר מִכְשׁ֜וֹל לִשְׁנֵ֨י בָתֵּ֤י יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ לְפַ֣ח וּלְמוֹקֵ֔שׁ לְיוֹשֵׁ֖ב יְרוּשָׁלִָֽם

וְהָיָ֖ה  And  He  will  be 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
לְמִקְדָּ֑שׁ  as  a  sanctuary 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מִקְדָּשׁ  
Sense: sacred place, sanctuary, holy place.
וּלְאֶ֣בֶן  but  a  stone 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: אֶבֶן  
Sense: stone (large or small).
נֶ֠גֶף  of  stumbling 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: נֶגֶף  
Sense: blow, striking, plague.
וּלְצ֨וּר  and  a  rock 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: צוּר 
Sense: rock, cliff.
מִכְשׁ֜וֹל  of  offense 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: מִכְשֹׁול  
Sense: a stumbling, means or occasion of stumbling, stumbling block.
לִשְׁנֵ֨י  to  the  two 
Parse: Preposition-l, Number, mdc
Root: שְׁנַיִם  
Sense: two.
בָתֵּ֤י  houses 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: בַּיִת 
Sense: house.
יִשְׂרָאֵל֙  of  Israel 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יִשְׂרָאֵל  
Sense: the second name for Jacob given to him by God after his wrestling with the angel at Peniel.
לְפַ֣ח  as  a  trap 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular
Root: פַּח 
Sense: bird trap, trap, snare.
וּלְמוֹקֵ֔שׁ  and  a  snare 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מֹוקֵשׁ  
Sense: bait, lure, snare.
לְיוֹשֵׁ֖ב  to  the  inhabitants 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular construct
Root: יָשַׁב 
Sense: to dwell, remain, sit, abide.
יְרוּשָׁלִָֽם  of  Jerusalem 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: יְרוּשָׁלַםִ  
Sense: the chief city of Palestine and capital of the united kingdom and the nation of Judah after the split.