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Isaiah 8:20

Made Simple — Modern English Translation

Translated by Verse Made Simple Editorial
KJV ORIGINAL
To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.
Close to the original. Clear modern English.
✦ MADE SIMPLE

Go back to God's law and His testimony! If people don't speak in agreement with this word, it's because there is no light in them.

⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE

God is saying that His written word is the standard for truth, and anyone who contradicts it lacks spiritual understanding.

📚 Historical Context

In the 8th century BC, during the reign of King Ahaz in Judah, the prophet Isaiah was warning the people amid political turmoil and the threat of the Assyrian empire, as they were turning to forbidden practices like consulting mediums and false prophets for guidance. This verse emphasizes that God's law, the Torah, and the prophetic testimony were the only reliable sources of truth in a time of widespread deception and spiritual darkness. Isaiah's message served as a call to reject counterfeit wisdom and cling to divine revelation for national and personal direction.

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