Isaiah 30:8

8 God told me to write down in a book what the people are like, so that there would be a permanent record of how evil they are.

Isaiah 30:8 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 30:8

Now go, write it before them in a table, and note it in a
book
Meaning their sins, their rebellion against God, their trust in an arm of flesh, and contempt of the divine word; or the prophecy of their destruction, for these things; and both may be meant; which the Lord orders to be written before their eyes, in some public place, as in the temple, upon a table, a table of wood covered with wax, on which they formerly wrote, and then hung it up against a wall, that it might be read by everyone; and he would have him also engross it in a book, that it might be kept for time to come: now what God would have thus written and engrossed, must be something considerable, and of consequence; and, as it may refer to the sins of this people, may denote the blackness and detestableness of them, as being what they had reason to be ashamed of, when thus set before them; and, as it may refer to their punishment, it may signify the certainty of it: that it may be for the time to come, for ever and ever;
and so continue to their eternal infamy, and for the justification of God in his proceedings against them, and be cautious unto others. The Vulgate Latin version renders it, "for a testimony for ever", a witness for God, and against the Jews; and so the Targum,

``and it shall be in the day of judgment for a witness before me for ever.''

Isaiah 30:8 In-Context

6 This is God's message about the animals of the southern desert: "The ambassadors travel through dangerous country, where lions live and where there are poisonous snakes and flying dragons. They load their donkeys and camels with expensive gifts for a nation that cannot give them any help.

7 The help that Egypt gives is useless. So I have nicknamed Egypt, "The Harmless Dragon.' "

8 God told me to write down in a book what the people are like, so that there would be a permanent record of how evil they are.

9 They are always rebelling against God, always lying, always refusing to listen to the Lord's teachings.

10 They tell the prophets to keep quiet. They say, "Don't talk to us about what's right. Tell us what we want to hear. Let us keep our illusions.