Isaiah 8:2
And I took unto me faithful witnesses to record, Uriah the priest, and Zechariah the son of Jeberechiah.
Original Language Analysis
וְאָעִ֣ידָה
And I took
H5749
וְאָעִ֣ידָה
And I took
Strong's:
H5749
Word #:
1 of 11
to duplicate or repeat; by implication, to protest, testify (as by reiteration); intensively, to encompass, restore (as a sort of reduplication)
עֵדִ֖ים
witnesses
H5707
עֵדִ֖ים
witnesses
Strong's:
H5707
Word #:
3 of 11
concretely, a witness; abstractly, testimony; specifically, a recorder, i.e., prince
נֶאֱמָנִ֑ים
unto me faithful
H539
נֶאֱמָנִ֑ים
unto me faithful
Strong's:
H539
Word #:
4 of 11
properly, to build up or support; to foster as a parent or nurse; figuratively to render (or be) firm or faithful, to trust or believe, to be permanen
אֵ֚ת
H853
אֵ֚ת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
5 of 11
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
הַכֹּהֵ֔ן
the priest
H3548
הַכֹּהֵ֔ן
the priest
Strong's:
H3548
Word #:
7 of 11
literally one officiating, a priest; also (by courtesy) an acting priest (although a layman)
וְאֶת
H853
וְאֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
8 of 11
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
זְכַרְיָ֖הוּ
and Zechariah
H2148
זְכַרְיָ֖הוּ
and Zechariah
Strong's:
H2148
Word #:
9 of 11
zecarjah, the name of twenty-nine israelites
Historical Context
Uriah the high priest is mentioned in 2 Kings 16:10-16 as serving under Ahaz. Zechariah may be the father of King Hezekiah's mother (2 Chronicles 29:1), making him a significant court figure. The use of official witnesses was standard practice in ancient Near Eastern legal contracts and prophecies. This prophetic witness would authenticate Isaiah's ministry when Damascus and Samaria fell to Assyria in 732 BC.
Questions for Reflection
- Why does God establish His word through proper legal and covenantal witnesses?
- How does the historical fulfillment of prophecy strengthen our confidence in Scripture's reliability?
- What role do credible witnesses play in authenticating God's work in our lives and communities?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
God provides faithful witnesses to authenticate the prophecy, following Deuteronomic law requiring two or three witnesses (Deuteronomy 19:15). Uriah the priest represents religious authority, while Zechariah son of Jeberechiah represents civil authority. This legal framework demonstrates that God's prophetic word operates within covenantal and legal structures. The witnesses would verify when the child was born and named, and when the prophecy was fulfilled—showing God's word as historically reliable and legally binding.