The Waters of Shiloam
Isaiah 8
Isaiah is told to name his newborn son Spoil Quickly, Plunder Speedily, a sign that Damascus and Samaria will soon fall to Assyria, because the people rejected the gently flowing waters of Shiloam in favor of trusting foreign kings. The Lord warns that Assyria will overflow the land like a flood, yet calls his people not to fear but to sanctify the Lord as their true refuge and to reject those who seek guidance from mediums rather than from God, ending with the promise of a light dawning even in a time of deep darkness.
About these editions
The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.
Thomson 1808Septuagint
Brenton 1851Septuagint
Greek · BrentonSeptuagint
KJV 1769Masoretic
JPS 1917Masoretic
1
ThomsonAGAIN the Lord said to me, Take thee a strip of a large new roll and write thereon with a man’s pen, Speed quickly to the plunder of the spoil, for it is at hand.
BrentonAnd the Lord said to me, Take to thyself a volume of a great new book, and write in it with a man's pen concerning the making a rapid plunder of spoils; for it is near at hand.
GreekΚαὶ εἶπε Κύριος πρὸς μὲ, λάβε σεαυτῷ τόμον καινοῦ μεγαλοῦ, καὶ γράψον εἰς αὐτὸν γραφίδι ἀνθρώπου, τοῦ ὀξέως προνομὴν ποιῆσαι σκύλων·
KJVMoreover the LORD said unto me, Take thee a great roll, and write in it with a man’s pen concerning Mahershalalhashbaz.
JPSAnd the LORD said unto me: ‘Take thee a great tablet, and write upon it in common script: The spoil speedeth, the prey hasteth;
2
ThomsonAnd let faithful men, Ourias and Zacharias son of Barachias be witnesses for me [that the Lord thus spoke].
BrentonAnd make me witnesses of faithful men, Urias, and Zacharias the son of Barachias.
GreekΠάρεστι γάρ· καὶ μάρτυράς μοι ποίησον πιστοὺς ἀνθρώπους, τὸν Οὐρίαν καὶ Ζαχαρίαν υἱὸν Βαραχίου.
KJVAnd I took unto me faithful witnesses to record, Uriah the priest, and Zechariah the son of Jeberechiah.
JPSand I will take unto Me faithful witnesses to record, Uriah the priest, and Zechariah the son of Jeberechiah.’
3
ThomsonNow I had approached to the prophetess and she had conceived; and when she brought forth a son, the Lord said to me, Call his name Speed to the spoil—haste to the prey:
BrentonAnd I went in to the prophetess; and she conceived, and bore a son. And the Lord said to me, Call his name, Spoil quickly, plunder speedily.
GreekΚαὶ προσῆλθον πρὸς τὴν προφῆτιν, καὶ ἐν γαστρὶ ἔλαβε, καὶ ἔτεκεν υἱόν· καὶ εἶπε Κύριός μοι, κάλεσον τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ, Ταχέως σκύλευσον, ὀξέως προνόμευσον·
KJVAnd I went unto the prophetess; and she conceived, and bare a son. Then said the LORD to me, Call his name Mahershalalhashbaz.
JPSAnd I went unto the prophetess; and she conceived, and bore a son. Then said the LORD unto me: ‘Call his name Maher-shalal-hashbaz.
4
Thomsonfor before this child shall know to pronounce father or mother, the van of the king of Assyria will take the army of Damascus and the spoils of Samaria.
BrentonFor before the child shall know how to call his father or his mother, one shall take the power of Damascus and the spoils of Samaria before the king of the Assyrians.
GreekΔιότι πρινὴ γνῶναι τὸ παιδίον καλεῖν πατέρα ἢ μητέρα, λήψεται δύναμιν Δαμασκοῦ, καὶ τὰ σκῦλα Σαμαρείας ἔναντι βασιλέως Ἀσσυρίων.
KJVFor before the child shall have knowledge to cry, My father, and my mother, the riches of Damascus and the spoil of Samaria shall be taken away before the king of Assyria.
JPSFor before the child shall have knowledge to cry: My father, and: My mother, the riches of Damascus and the spoil of Samaria shall be carried away before the king of Assyria.’
5
ThomsonAgain the Lord spoke yet further to me saying,
BrentonAnd the Lord spoke to me yet again, saying,
GreekΚαὶ προσέθετο Κύριος λαλῆσαί μοι ἔτι·
KJVThe LORD spake also unto me again, saying,
JPSAnd the LORD spoke unto me yet again, saying:
6
ThomsonBecause this people reject the water of Siloam which floweth gently and choose to have Rasin and the son of Romelias to rule over them;
BrentonBecause this people chooses not the water of Siloam that goes softly, but wills to have Rassin, and the son of Romelias to be king over you;
GreekΔιὰ τὸ μὴ βούλεσθαι τὸν λαὸν τοῦτον τὸ ὕδωρ τοῦ Σιλωὰμ τὸ πορευόμενον ἡσυχῆ, ἀλλὰ βούλεσθαι ἔχειν τὸν Ῥασσὶν καὶ τὸν υἱὸν Ῥομελίου βασιλέα ἐφʼ ὑμῶν,
KJVForasmuch as this people refuseth the waters of Shiloah that go softly, and rejoice in Rezin and Remaliah’s son;
JPSForasmuch as this people hath refused The waters of Shiloah that go softly, And rejoiceth with Rezin and Remaliah’s son;
7
Thomsontherefore behold, the Lord will bring upon you the water of the river which is strong and abundant—even the king of Assyria and His glory; and He will rise over all your channels, and overflow all your banks;
Brentontherefore, behold, the Lord brings up upon you the water of the river, strong and abundant, even the king of the Assyrians, and his glory: and he shall come up over every valley of yours, and shall walk over every wall of yours:
Greekδιατοῦτο ἰδοὺ Κύριος ἀνάγει ἐφʼ ὑμᾶς τὸ ὕδωρ τοῦ ποταμοῦ, τὸ ἰσχυρὸν καὶ τὸ πολὺ, τὸν βασιλέα τῶν Ἀσσυρίων, καὶ τὴν δόξαν αὐτοῦ· καὶ ἀναβήσεται ἐπὶ πᾶσαν φάραγγα ὑμῶν, καὶ περιπατήσει ἐπὶ πᾶν τεῖχος ὑμῶν,
KJVNow therefore, behold, the Lord bringeth up upon them the waters of the river, strong and many, even the king of Assyria, and all his glory: and he shall come up over all his channels, and go over all his banks:
JPSNow therefore, behold, the Lord bringeth up upon them The waters of the River, mighty and many, Even the king of Assyria and all his glory; And he shall come up over all his channels, And go over all his banks;
8
Thomsonand sweep away from Judea every man who can raise his head, or is capable of executing anything. And the circuit of his camp shall be such as to fill the breadth of thy country, O Emmanuel.
Brentonand he shall take away from Juda every man who shall be able to lift up his head, and every one able to accomplish anything; and his camp shall fill the breadth of thy land, O God with us.
Greekκαὶ ἀφελεῖ ἀπὸ τῆς Ιουδαίας ἄνθρωπον, ὃς δυνήσεται κεφαλὴν ἆραι, ἢ δυνατὸν συντελέσασθαί τι· καὶ ἔσται ἡ παρεμβολὴ αὐτοῦ ὥστε πληρῶσαι τὸ πλάτος τῆς χώρας σου, μεθʼ ἡμῶν ὁ Θεός.
KJV—
JPS—
9
ThomsonKnow this, O nations, and be struck with consternation. Hearken, ye who are in the remotest parts of the earth; be struck with consternation, ye who have made yourselves strong; for though you should again become strong, with consternation you shall again be stricken;
BrentonKnow, ye Gentiles, and be conquered; hearken ye, even to the extremity of the earth: be conquered, after ye have strengthened yourselves; for even if ye should again strengthen yourselves, ye shall again be conquered.
GreekΓνῶτε ἔθνη καὶ ἡττᾶσθε, ἐπακούσατε ἕως ἐσχάτου τῆς γῆς· ἰσχυκότες ἡττᾶσθε· ἐὰν γὰρ πάλιν ἰσχύσητε, πάλιν ἡττηθήσεσθε.
KJV—
JPS—
10
Thomsonand what counsel soever you may take, the Lord will defeat it; and what word soever you may speak shall not take effect among you, because God is with us.
BrentonAnd whatsoever counsel ye shall take, the Lord shall bring it to nought; and whatsoever word ye shall speak, it shall not stand among you: for God is with us.
GreekΚαὶ ἣν ἂν βουλεύσησθε βουλὴν, διασκεδάσει Κύριος· καὶ λόγον ὃν ἐὰν λαλήσητε, οὐ μὴ ἐμμείνῃ ἐν ὑμῖν, ὅτι μεθʼ ἡμῶν ὁ Θεός.
KJVTake counsel together, and it shall come to nought; speak the word, and it shall not stand: for God is with us.
JPSTake counsel together, and it shall be brought to nought; Speak the word, and it shall not stand; For God is with us.
11
ThomsonThus saith the Lord with the strong hand, to them who refuse to walk in the way of this people saying,
BrentonThus saith the Lord, With a strong hand they revolt from the course of the way of this people, saying,
GreekΟὕτω λέγει Κύριος, Τῇ ἰσχυρᾷ χειρὶ ἀπειθοῦσι τῇ πορεὶᾳ τῆς ὁδοῦ τοῦ λαοῦ τούτου, λέγοντες,
KJVFor the LORD spake thus to me with a strong hand, and instructed me that I should not walk in the way of this people, saying,
JPSFor the LORD spoke thus to me with a strong hand, admonishing me that I should not walk in the way of this people, saying:
12
ThomsonPerhaps they may demand what is hard—(for whatever this people order is hard):
BrentonLet them not say, It is hard, for whatsoever this people says, is hard: but fear not ye their fear, neither be dismayed.
Greekμήποτε εἴπωσι, σκληρόν· πᾶν γὰρ ὃ ἐὰν εἴπῃ ὁ λαὸς οὕτος, σκληρόν ἐστι· τὸν δὲ φόβον αὐτοῦ οὐ μὴ φοβηθῆτε οὐδὲ μὴ ταραχθῆτε.
KJVSay ye not, A confederacy, to all them to whom this people shall say, A confederacy; neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid.
JPS’Say ye not: A conspiracy, concerning all whereof this people do say: A conspiracy; neither fear ye their fear, nor account it dreadful.
13
ThomsonBe not ye terrified with the fear of them, nor dismayed; hallow the Lord Himself, and let Him be thy fear:
BrentonSanctify ye the Lord himself; and he shall be thy fear.
GreekΚύριον αὐτὸν ἁγιάσατε, καὶ αὐτὸς ἔσται σου φόβος.
KJVSanctify the LORD of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.
JPSThe LORD of hosts, Him shall ye sanctify; and let Him be your fear, and let Him be your dread.
14
Thomsonfor if thou hast put trust in Him, He will be to thee a sanctuary, and you shall not run against a stumbling stone, nor as under a falling rock. But as for the houses of Jacob, they are in a trap, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem are in a pit:
BrentonAnd if thou shalt trust in him, he shall be to thee for a sanctuary; and ye shall not come against him as against a stumbling-stone, neither as against the falling of a rock: but the houses of Jacob are in a snare, and the dwellers in Jerusalem in a pit.
Greekκᾂν ἐπʼ αὐτῷ πεποιθὼς ᾖς, ἔσται σοι εἰς ἁγίασμα, καὶ οὐχ ὡς λίθου προσκόμματι συναντήσεσθε, οὐδὲ ὡς πέτρας πτώματι· οἱ δὲ οἶκοι Ἰακὼβ ἐν παγίδι, καὶ ἐν κοιλάσματι ἐγκαθήμενοι ἐν Ἱερουσαλήμ.
KJVAnd 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.
JPSAnd 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.
15
Thomsonfor this cause many among them shall be weak and fall and be trodden down, and men will safely approach and take them.
BrentonTherefore many among them shall be weak, and fall, and be crushed; and they shall draw nigh, and men shall be taken securely.
GreekΔιατοῦτο ἀδυνατήσουσιν ἐν αὐτοῖς πολλοὶ, καὶ πεσοῦνται καὶ συντριβήσονται, καὶ ἐγγιοῦσι, καὶ ἁλώσονται ἄνθρωποι ἐν ἀσφαλείᾳ.
KJVAnd many among them shall stumble, and fall, and be broken, and be snared, and be taken.
JPSAnd many among them shall stumble, and fall, and be broken, and be snared, and be taken.’
16
ThomsonThen shall they be manifest who seal up the law that it may not be learned.
BrentonThen shall those who seal themselves that they may not learn the law be made manifest.
GreekΤότε φανεροὶ ἔσονται οἱ σφραγιζόμενοι τὸν νόμον τοῦ μὴ μαθεῖν.
KJVBind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples.
JPS—
17
ThomsonThen will one say, I will wait for God, Who hath turned away His face from the house of Jacob; and I will trust in Him;
BrentonAnd one shall say, I will wait for God, who has turned away his face from the house of Jacob, and I will trust in him.
GreekΚαὶ ἐρεῖ, μενῶ τὸν Θεὸν τὸν ἀποστρέψαντα τὸ πρόσωπον αὐτοῦ ἀπὸ τοῦ οἴκου Ἰακὼβ, καὶ πεποιθὼς ἔσομαι ἐπʼ αὐτῷ.
KJVAnd I will wait upon the LORD, that hideth his face from the house of Jacob, and I will look for him.
JPSAnd I will wait for the LORD, that hideth His face from the house of Jacob, and I will look for Him.
18
Thomsonhere am I and the children whom God hath given me.
BrentonBehold I and the children which God has given me: and they shall be for signs and wonders in the house of Israel from the Lord of hosts, who dwells in mount Sion.
GreekἸδοὺ ἐγὼ καὶ τὰ παιδία ἅ μοι ἔδωκεν ὁ Θεός· καὶ ἔσται σημεῖα καὶ τέρατα ἐν τῷ οἴκῳ Ἰσραὴλ παρὰ Κυρίου σαβαὼθ, ὃς κατοικεῖ ἐν τῷ ὄρει Σιών.
KJVBehold, 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.
JPSBehold, I and the children whom the LORD hath given me shall be for signs and for wonders in Israel from the LORD of hosts, who dwelleth in mount Zion.
19
ThomsonNow when there shall be signs and wonders in the house of Israel from the Lord of Hosts, Who dwelleth on Mount Sion; if they should say to you, Apply to the trance-speakers, and to them who cause a voice to proceed from the ground—those vain babblers who speak from the belly. Should not a nation apply to their God? Why consult they the dead concerning the living?
BrentonAnd if they should say to you, Seek those who have in them a divining spirit, and them that speak out of the earth, them that speak vain words, who speak out of their belly: shall not a nation diligently seek to their God? why do they seek to the dead concerning the living?
GreekΚαὶ ἐὰν εἴπωσι πρὸς ὑμᾶς, ζητήσατε τοὺς ἐγγαστριμύθους, καὶ τοὺς ἀπὸ τῆς γῆς φωνοῦντας, τοὺς κενολογοῦντας, οἳ ἐκ τῆς κοιλίας φωνοῦσιν· οὐκ ἔθνος πρὸς Θεὸν αὐτοῦ ἐκζητήσουσι; τί ἐκζητοῦσι περὶ τῶν ζώντων τοὺς νεκρούς;
KJVAnd 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?
JPSAnd when they shall say unto you: ‘Seek unto the ghosts and the familiar spirits, that chirp and that mutter; should not a people seek unto their God? on behalf of the living unto the dead
20
ThomsonFor He hath given a law for assistance; that they may not speak like such an oracle as this, which is not worth the giving of gifts for it.
BrentonFor he has given the law for a help, that they should not speak according to this word, concerning which there are no gifts to give for it.
GreekΝόμον γὰρ εἰς βοήθειαν ἔδωκεν, ἵνα εἴπωσιν οὐχ ὡς τὸ ῥῆμα τοῦτο, περὶ οὗ οὐκ ἔστι δῶρα δοῦναι περὶ αὐτοῦ.
KJVTo the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.
JPSfor instruction and for testimony?’—Surely they will speak according to this word, wherein there is no light.—
21
ThomsonUpon you indeed there shall come a grievous famine; and it shall come to pass that when you are hungry, you will fret and curse the ruler and the customs of your country.
BrentonAnd famine shall come sorely upon you, and it shall come to pass, that when ye shall be hungry, ye shall be grieved, and ye shall speak ill of the prince and your fathers' ordinances: and they shall look up to heaven above,
GreekΚαὶ ἥξει ἐφʼ ὑμᾶς σκληρὰ λιμὸς, καὶ ἔσται ὡς ἂν πεινάσητε, λυπηθήσεσθε. καὶ κακῶς ἐρεῖτε τὸν ἄρχοντα καὶ τὰ πάτρια· καὶ ἀναβλέψονται εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν ἄνω,
KJVAnd they shall pass through it, hardly bestead and hungry: and it shall come to pass, that when they shall be hungry, they shall fret themselves, and curse their king and their God, and look upward.
JPS—
22
ThomsonAnd they will look up to the heaven above, then down on the earth beneath, and lo distress and darkness! tribulation and anguish and a gloom so as not to see! But he who is in distress for a season shall not be abandoned to despair.
Brentonand they shall look on the earth below, and behold severe distress, and darkness, affliction, and anguish, and darkness so that one cannot see; and he that is in anguish shall not be distressed only for a time.
Greekκαὶ εἰς τὴν γῆν κάτω ἐμβλέψονται· καὶ ἰδοὺ ἀπορία στενὴ, καὶ σκότος, θλίψις, καὶ στενοχωρία, καὶ σκότος ὥστε μὴ βλέπειν· καὶ οὐκ ἀπορηθήσεται ὁ ἐν στενοχωρίᾳ ὢν ἕως καιροῦ.
KJVAnd they shall look unto the earth; and behold trouble and darkness, dimness of anguish; and they shall be driven to darkness.
JPSor look unto the earth, behold distress and darkness, the gloom of anguish, and outspread thick darkness.
23
ThomsonDRINK this first; do it quickly. With regard to the region of Zabulon, the land of Nephthaleim and the rest who inhabit the seashore, and the banks of the Jordan, Galilee of the nations;
BrentonDrink this first. Act quickly, O land of Zabulon, land of Nephthalim, and the rest inhabiting the sea-coast, and the land beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles.
GreekΤοῦτο πρῶτον πίε· ταχὺ ποίει χώρα Ζαβυλὼν, ἡ γῆ Νεφθαλεὶμ, καὶ οἱ λοιποὶ οἱ τὴν παραλίαν, καὶ πέραν τοῦ Ἰορδάνου Γαλιλαία τῶν ἐθνῶν.
KJVNevertheless the dimness shall not be such as was in her vexation, when at the first he lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, and afterward did more grievously afflict her by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, in Galilee of the nations.
JPS—