The Meaning of Isaiah 8:18 Explained

Isaiah 8:18

KJV: 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.

YLT: Lo, I, and the children whom Jehovah hath given to me, Are for signs and for wonders in Israel, From Jehovah of Hosts, who is dwelling in Mount Zion.

Darby: Behold, I and the children that Jehovah hath given me are for signs and for wonders in Israel, from Jehovah of hosts, who dwelleth in mount Zion.

ASV: Behold, I and the children whom Jehovah hath given me are for signs and for wonders in Israel from Jehovah of hosts, who dwelleth in mount Zion.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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. 

What does Isaiah 8:18 Mean?

Study Notes

signs
The primary application here is to the two sons of Isaiah, Maher-shalal-hash-baz= "haste ye, haste ye to the spoil," a "sign" of the coming judgment of the captivity of Judah; Shear-jashub= "a remnant shall return," a "sign" of the return of a remnant of Judah at the end of the seventy years, Jeremiah 25:11 ; Jeremiah 25:12 ; Daniel 9:2 . The larger and final reference is to our Lord Hebrews 2:13 ; Hebrews 2:14 .

Verse Meaning

Nevertheless the prophet"s own name, and the names of his two sons, were signs from "Yahweh of armies" that He would do what those names signified. Judah"s enemies would descend on her soon, a remnant would return, and Yahweh would save. Even though He was presently silent, God was still on His throne.
"The Epistle to the Hebrews (ch. ii13) quotes these words as the distinct words of Jesus, because the spirit of Jesus was in Isaiah ,-the spirit of Jesus, which in the midst of this holy family, bound together as it was only by the bands of "the shadow," pointed forward to that church of the New Testament which would be bound together by the bands of the true substance." [1]

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 8:18 mean?

Here [am] I and the sons whom has given me Yahweh [We are] for signs and wonders in Israel from Yahweh of hosts who dwells in Mount Zion -
הִנֵּ֣ה אָנֹכִ֗י וְהַיְלָדִים֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר נָֽתַן־ לִ֣י יְהוָ֔ה לְאֹת֥וֹת וּלְמוֹפְתִ֖ים בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל מֵעִם֙ יְהוָ֣ה צְבָא֔וֹת הַשֹּׁכֵ֖ן בְּהַ֥ר צִיּֽוֹן ס

הִנֵּ֣ה  Here 
Parse: Interjection
Root: הִנֵּה  
Sense: behold, lo, see, if.
אָנֹכִ֗י  [am]  I 
Parse: Pronoun, first person common singular
Root: אָנׄכִי  
Sense: I (first pers.
וְהַיְלָדִים֙  and  the  sons 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: יֶלֶד  
Sense: child, son, boy, offspring, youth.
אֲשֶׁ֣ר  whom 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
נָֽתַן־  has  given 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יָתַן 
Sense: to give, put, set.
לִ֣י  me 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular
יְהוָ֔ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
לְאֹת֥וֹת  [We  are]  for  signs 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, common plural
Root: אֹות  
Sense: sign, signal.
וּלְמוֹפְתִ֖ים  and  wonders 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Noun, masculine plural
Root: מֹופֵת  
Sense: wonder, sign, miracle, portent.
בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל  in  Israel 
Parse: Preposition-b, 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.
יְהוָ֣ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
צְבָא֔וֹת  of  hosts 
Parse: Noun, common plural
Root: צָבָא 
Sense: that which goes forth, army, war, warfare, host.
הַשֹּׁכֵ֖ן  who  dwells 
Parse: Article, Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: שָׁכַן  
Sense: to settle down, abide, dwell, tabernacle, reside.
בְּהַ֥ר  in  Mount 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: הַר  
Sense: hill, mountain, hill country, mount.
צִיּֽוֹן  Zion 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: צִיּׄון  
Sense: another name for Jerusalem especially in the prophetic books.
ס  - 
Parse: Punctuation