Isaiah 8:19

KJV1611 – Modern English

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

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

וְכִֽי־יֹאמְר֣וּ אֲלֵיכֶ֗ם דִּרְשׁ֤וּ אֶל־הָאֹבוֹת֙ וְאֶל־הַיִּדְּעֹנִ֔ים הַֽמְצַפְצְפִ֖ים וְהַמַּהְגִּ֑ים הֲלוֹא־עַם֙ אֶל־אֱלֹהָ֣יו יִדְרֹ֔שׁ בְּעַ֥ד הַחַיִּ֖ים אֶל־הַמֵּתִֽים׃

Transliteration

And-when-yōʾmərû to-you diršû to-hā-ʾōbôt and-to-ha-yiddəʿōnîm ha-məṣapṣəpîm and-ha-mahgîm should-not-ʿam to-ʾĕlōhāyw yidrōš on-behalf-of ha-ḥayyîm to-ha-mētîm

Grammar Details

• *yōʾmərû*: qal imperfect 3rd masculine plural - they will say
• *diršû*: qal imperative masculine plural - seek/inquire of
• *hā-ʾōbôt*: definite article + noun masculine plural - the mediums/spirits of the dead
• *ha-yiddəʿōnîm*: definite article + noun masculine plural - the familiar spirits/wizards
• *ha-məṣapṣəpîm*: definite article + pilpel participle masculine plural - the whisperers/chirpers
• *ha-mahgîm*: definite article + qal participle masculine plural - the muttering ones
• *ʿam*: noun masculine singular - people
• *ʾĕlōhāyw*: noun masculine plural + 3rd masculine singular suffix - his God
• *yidrōš*: qal imperfect 3rd masculine singular - he should seek
• *ha-ḥayyîm*: definite article + adjective masculine plural - the living
• *ha-mētîm*: definite article + qal participle masculine plural - the dead

Word Meanings

• *hā-ʾōbôt*: mediums/spirits of the dead/necromancers
• *ha-yiddəʿōnîm*: familiar spirits/wizards/those who claim special knowledge
• *ha-məṣapṣəpîm*: whisperers/chirpers/those who make bird-like sounds
• *ha-mahgîm*: mutterers/those who mumble/those who make unintelligible sounds
• *bəʿad ha-ḥayyîm ʾel-ha-mētîm*: on behalf of the living (consult) the dead

Other Translations

• Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

  When they say to you, 'Consult the mediums and the spiritists who whisper and mutter,' shouldn’t a people consult their God? Should they inquire of the dead on behalf of the living?

• King James Version 1769 (Standard 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?

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  And when they shall say{H559} unto you, Seek{H1875} unto them that have familiar spirits{H178} and unto the wizards,{H3049} that chirp{H6850} and that mutter:{H1897} should not a people{H5971} seek{H1875} unto their God?{H430} on behalf of the living{H2416} [should they seek] unto the dead?{H4191}

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  And when they shall say{H559}{(H8799)} unto you, Seek{H1875}{(H8798)} unto them that have familiar spirits{H178}, and unto wizards{H3049} that peep{H6850}{(H8772)}, and that mutter{H1897}{(H8688)}: should not a people{H5971} seek{H1875}{(H8799)} unto their God{H430}? for the living{H2416} to the dead{H4191}{(H8801)}?

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  And therfore yf they saye vnto you: aske councel at the soythsayers, witches, charmers and coniurers, then make them this answere: Is there a people enywhere, that axeth not councel at his God: whether it be concernynge the dead, or the lyuynge?

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  And when they shal say vnto you, Enquire at them that haue a spirit of diuination, and at the soothsayers, which whisper and murmure, Should not a people enquire at their God? from the liuing to the dead?

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  And if they say vnto you, Aske counsayle at the Soothsayers, Witches, Charmers, and Coniurers: then make them this aunswere, Is there a people any where that asketh not counsayle at his God? shoulde men runne vnto the dead for the liuing?

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  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?

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  When they shall tell you, "Consult with those who have familiar spirits and with the wizards, who chirp and who mutter:" shouldn't a people consult with their God? on behalf of the living [should they consult] with the dead?

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  And when they say unto you, `Seek unto those having familiar spirits, And unto wizards, who chatter and mutter, Doth not a people seek unto its God? -- For the living unto the dead!

• American Standard Version (1901)

  And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits and unto the wizards, that chirp and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? on behalf of the living `should they seek' unto the dead?

• American Standard Version (1901)

  And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits and unto the wizards, that chirp and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? on behalf of the living [should they seek] unto the dead?

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  And when they say to you, Make request for us to those who have control of spirits, and to those wise in secret arts, who make hollow bird-like sounds; is it not right for a people to make request to their gods, to make request for the living to the dead?

• World English Bible (2000)

  When they tell you, "Consult with those who have familiar spirits and with the wizards, who chirp and who mutter:" shouldn't a people consult with their God? Should they consult the dead on behalf of the living?

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  Darkness Turns to Light as an Ideal King Arrives They will say to you,“Seek oracles at the pits used to conjure up underworld spirits, from the magicians who chirp and mutter incantations. Should people not seek oracles from their gods, by asking the dead about the destiny of the living?”

Referenced Verses

• Isa 19:3 : 3 The spirit of Egypt shall fail in its midst; I will destroy its counsel, and they shall seek the idols, the charmers, those with familiar spirits, and the wizards.
• Isa 29:4 : 4 And you shall be brought down, and shall speak out of the ground, and your speech shall be low out of the dust, and your voice shall be, as one that has a familiar spirit, out of the ground, and your speech shall whisper out of the dust.
• 2 Chr 33:6 : 6 And he caused his children to pass through the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom; also he observed times, used enchantments, used witchcraft, and dealt with a familiar spirit and with wizards; he did much evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.
• 1 Sam 28:8 : 8 And Saul disguised himself, and put on different clothing, and he went with two men, and they came to the woman by night. And he said, Please, divine for me by the familiar spirit, and bring up for me the one whom I shall name to you.
• Lev 20:6 : 6 And the soul that turns after such as have familiar spirits, and after wizards, to go whoring after them, I will set my face against that soul, and will cut him off from among his people.
• 1 Chr 10:13 : 13 So Saul died for his transgression which he committed against the LORD, even against the word of the LORD, which he did not keep; and also for asking counsel of one that had a familiar spirit, to inquire of it;
• Ps 106:28 : 28 They joined themselves also to Baalpeor, and ate the sacrifices of the dead.
• Jer 10:10 : 10 But the LORD is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting king: at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to endure his indignation.
• 1 Thess 1:9 : 9 For they themselves declare concerning us what manner of entrance we had to you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God;
• 2 Pet 2:1 : 1 But there were false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who secretly will bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
• Lev 19:31 : 31 Do not turn to those who have familiar spirits, nor seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the LORD your God.
• Deut 18:11 : 11 Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer.
• 1 Sam 28:11 : 11 Then the woman said, Whom shall I bring up for you? And he said, Bring up Samuel for me.
• 1 Sam 28:16 : 16 Then Samuel said, Why do you ask me, seeing the LORD has departed from you and has become your enemy?
• 2 Kgs 1:3 : 3 But the angel of the LORD said to Elijah the Tishbite, Arise, go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria, and say to them, Is it not because there is no God in Israel that you go to inquire of Baalzebub, the god of Ekron?
• 2 Kgs 21:6 : 6 And he made his son pass through the fire, practiced divination, sought omens, and dealt with mediums and spiritists: he did much evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking him to anger.
• 2 Kgs 23:24 : 24 Moreover, the mediums and the sorcerers, and the images and idols, and all the abominations that were spotted in the land of Judah and in Jerusalem, Josiah put away, that he might perform the words of the law which were written in the book that Hilkiah the priest found in the house of the LORD.