And I will appoint for Myself trustworthy witnesses—In the context of
Isaiah 8, God is instructing the prophet Isaiah to take a significant action that requires validation by reliable witnesses. The appointment of witnesses is a common practice in ancient Near Eastern cultures to ensure the credibility and authenticity of a message or event. This phrase emphasizes God's sovereignty and His direct involvement in the unfolding events. The use of "trustworthy" highlights the importance of integrity and reliability in those who bear witness to God's words and actions.
Uriah the priest—
Uriah the priest is mentioned here as one of the witnesses. He is likely the same Uriah who is referenced in2 Kings 16:10-16, where he is involved in constructing an altar in Jerusalem based on a model sent by King Ahaz from Damascus. This connection suggests that Uriah was a prominent religious figure during the reign of Ahaz, and his role as a priest would have given him significant influence and authority. His inclusion as a witness underscores the importance of having religious leaders who are seen as credible and authoritative in matters concerning God's revelations.
and Zechariah son of Jeberekiah.”
Zechariah, identified as the son of Jeberekiah, is the second witness appointed by God. While there is limited information about this specific Zechariah, the mention of his father's name serves to distinguish him from other individuals with the same name. In biblical times, lineage was crucial for establishing identity and credibility. The choice of Zechariah as a witness, alongside Uriah, indicates the need for a balanced testimony from both religious and possibly civic leaders. This duality of witnesses reflects the biblical principle found inDeuteronomy 19:15, which requires two or three witnesses to establish a matter. The presence of these witnesses in Isaiah's prophecy serves to authenticate the message and ensure its acceptance among the people.
Persons / Places / Events
1.
IsaiahThe prophet who is delivering God's message. He is a major prophet in the Old Testament, known for his prophecies concerning the coming of the Messiah and the future of Israel.
2.
Uriah the PriestA priest during the time of King Ahaz. He is mentioned as a trustworthy witness in this context, although elsewhere in the Bible, he is noted for building an altar in Jerusalem based on a design from Damascus, which was contrary to God's instructions.
3.
Zechariah son of JeberekiahAnother trustworthy witness appointed by God. Not much is known about him outside of this reference, but his inclusion signifies his reliability and standing in the community.
4.
JudahThe southern kingdom of Israel, where these events are taking place. The political and spiritual climate of Judah during Isaiah's time was one of turmoil and apostasy.
5.
Prophecy of ImmanuelThe broader context of
Isaiah 8 includes prophecies concerning the coming of Immanuel, a sign of God's presence and future deliverance.
Teaching Points
The Importance of Trustworthy WitnessesIn times of spiritual and political turmoil, God appoints individuals who can be trusted to uphold His truth. We should strive to be trustworthy witnesses in our own communities.
God's Sovereignty in Appointing LeadersGod chooses specific people for His purposes, even when they may seem unlikely. This reminds us that God’s plans are higher than our understanding.
The Role of Prophecy in AssuranceProphecies, like those in Isaiah, serve to assure God's people of His presence and future deliverance. We can find comfort in God's promises, knowing they are fulfilled in His timing.
Faithfulness Amidst CompromiseUriah's dual role as a witness and a participant in unfaithful practices highlights the tension between faithfulness and compromise. We must guard against compromising our faith for societal or political gain.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1.What is the meaning of Isaiah 8:2?
2.How does Isaiah 8:2 emphasize the importance of trustworthy witnesses in our lives?
3.What role do Uriah and Zechariah play in confirming God's message in Isaiah 8:2?
4.How can we ensure our actions align with God's truth, as seen in Isaiah 8:2?
5.How does Isaiah 8:2 connect to the theme of divine testimony in Scripture?
6.What steps can we take to be reliable witnesses for God's truth today?
7.What is the significance of Uriah the priest in Isaiah 8:2?
8.Why does Isaiah choose reliable witnesses in Isaiah 8:2?
9.How does Isaiah 8:2 relate to the prophecy of Immanuel?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Isaiah 8?
11.Why did Jesus resolutely head to Jerusalem?
12.Isaiah 8:1–2: How can we verify the existence of these specific witnesses (Uriah and Zechariah) historically or archaeologically?
13.Why does Zechariah 6:8 mention God's spirit finding rest in the north country if He is believed to be present everywhere?
14.What does Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz mean?What Does Isaiah 8:2 Mean
And I will appoint for MyselfGod steps forward as the One taking the initiative.
• He is not borrowing human authority; He is the authority (Isaiah 46:10;Isaiah 45:23).
• By using the phrase “for Myself,” He signals that the whole process—prophecy, documentation, and validation—belongs to Him.
• This echoes the pattern of the Lord personally raising up evidence for His word, as when He said, “I myself will raise up a prophet” (Deuteronomy 18:18).
trustworthy witnessesIn Scripture, truth is confirmed by multiple reliable voices.
•Deuteronomy 19:15 reminds us, “A matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses”.
• Jesus appeals to the same principle inJohn 8:17, and Paul repeats it in2 Corinthians 13:1.
• By calling them “trustworthy,” the Lord underlines that their character and standing were recognized in the community.
• Their purpose is clear: to verify Isaiah’s prophetic inscription (“Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz,”Isaiah 8:1) so no one can deny its accuracy once fulfilled.
Uriah the priestA priestly witness adds weight.
• Uriah (also called Urijah) is likely the same priest who served under King Ahaz (2 Kings 16:10-16).
• Even though Uriah earlier compromised by copying a pagan altar for Ahaz, God still employs his official position to attest the prophecy—showing that divine truth is bigger than human frailty.
• His temple role links the prophecy to the sanctuary, reinforcing that this is a holy declaration, not a private opinion (compareMalachi 2:7).
Zechariah son of JeberekiahA second, non-priestly witness balances the testimony.
• Zechariah may be the man whose daughter Abijah became Hezekiah’s mother (2 Chronicles 29:1;2 Kings 18:2), giving him ties to the royal household.
• His name means “Yahweh remembers,” fitting perfectly with a prophecy that God will soon “remember” Judah’s situation by judging her enemies.
• Together with Uriah, he represents the lay leadership of Judah, fulfilling the “two or three witnesses” requirement and giving the record civil as well as religious credibility.
summaryIsaiah 8:2 shows the Lord personally securing two respected men to certify Isaiah’s written prophecy. By appointing both a priest (religious authority) and a prominent layman (civil credibility), God satisfies His own standard for confirmed testimony. Their signatures ensure that when the foretold events unfold—the swift Assyrian advance symbolized in Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz—no one can deny that the warning was given plainly and in advance, proving yet again that every word of Scripture is utterly reliable.
(2)
And I took unto me faithful witnesses.--That the prophet's challenge to his gainsayers might be made more emphatic, the setting-up of the tablet is to be formally attested. And the witnesses whom the prophet calls were probably men of high position, among those who had been foremost in advising the alliance with Assyria. Of Uriah or Urijah, the priest, we know that he complied with the king's desire to introduce an altar after the pattern which he had seen at Damascus (
2Kings 16:10-11). Of Zechariah we know nothing; but the name was a priestly one (
2Chronicles 24:20), and it has been conjectured, from his association with Isaiah, that he may have been the writer of a section of the book that bears the name of a later Zechariah (Zechariah 9-12), which bears traces of being of a much earlier date than the rest of the book. The combination of "Zachariah, son of Jeberechiah" reminds us of Zacharias, the son of Barachias, and points to a priestly family. (See Note on
Matthew 23:35.) In
2Chronicles 29:13 the name appears as belonging to the Asaph section of the Levites. A more probable view is that he was identical with the father of the queen then reigning, and was therefore the grandfather of Hezekiah (
2Chronicles 29:1). Probably, looking to the prophet's habit of tracing auguries in names, the two witnesses may have been partly chosen for the significance of those which they bore, Uriah,
i.e., "Jah is my light," Zechariah,
i.e., "Jah will remember," each of which comes in with a special appropriateness.
Verse 2. -
And I took unto me; rather,
and I will have taken for me. It is still God who is speaking.
Uriah the priest. Probably the high priest of the time, mentioned in
2 Kings 16:10-16, as the ready tool of Ahaz at a later date. Though a bad man, he may have been a trustworthy witness to a fact.
Zechariah. Perhaps the father of Abi or Abijah, Ahaz's queen (
2 Kings 18:2;
2 Chronicles 29:1). It would serve to call public attention still more to the tablet, if it bore the names of two such eminent persons as witnesses.
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew
And I will appointוְאָעִ֣ידָה(wə·’ā·‘î·ḏāh)Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative - first person common singular
Strong's 5749:To duplicate, repeat, to protest, testify, to encompass, restorefor myselfלִּ֔י(lî)Preposition | first person common singular
Strong's Hebrewtrustworthyנֶאֱמָנִ֑ים(ne·’ĕ·mā·nîm)Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 539:To confirm, supportwitnesses—עֵדִ֖ים(‘ê·ḏîm)Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 5707:A witness, testimony, a recorder, princeUriahאוּרִיָּ֣ה(’ū·rî·yāh)Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 223:Uriah -- 'flame of Yah', the name of a Hittite and of two Israelitesthe priestהַכֹּהֵ֔ן(hak·kō·hên)Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3548:Priestand Zechariahזְכַרְיָ֖הוּ(zə·ḵar·yā·hū)Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 2148:Zachariah -- the name of a number of Israelitessonבֶּ֥ן(ben)Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1121:A sonof Jeberekiah.”יְבֶרֶכְיָֽהוּ׃(yə·ḇe·reḵ·yā·hū)Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3000:Jeberechiah -- 'Yah blesses', the name of several Israelites
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OT Prophets: Isaiah 8:2 And I will take for myself faithful (Isa Isi Is) 
