Isaiah 8:14
New International Version
He will be a holy place; for both Israel and Judah he will be a stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall. And for the people of Jerusalem he will be a trap and a snare.

New Living Translation
He will keep you safe. But to Israel and Judah he will be a stone that makes people stumble, a rock that makes them fall. And for the people of Jerusalem he will be a trap and a snare.

English Standard Version
And he will become a sanctuary and a stone of offense and a rock of stumbling to both houses of Israel, a trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

Berean Standard Bible
And He will be a sanctuary—but to both houses of Israel a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense, to the dwellers of Jerusalem a trap and a snare.

King James Bible
And 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.

New King James Version
He will be as a sanctuary, But a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense To both the houses of Israel, As a trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

New American Standard Bible
“Then He will become a sanctuary; But to both houses of Israel, He will be a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense, And a snare and a trap for the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

NASB 1995
“Then He shall become a sanctuary; But to both the houses of Israel, a stone to strike and a rock to stumble over, And a snare and a trap for the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

NASB 1977
“Then He shall become a sanctuary; But to both the houses of Israel, a stone to strike and a rock to stumble over, And a snare and a trap for the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

Legacy Standard Bible
Then He shall become a sanctuary; But to both the houses of Israel, a stone to strike and a rock to stumble over, And a snare and a trap for the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

Amplified Bible
“Then He shall be a sanctuary [a sacred, indestructible shelter for those who fear and trust Him]; But to both the houses of Israel [both the northern and southern kingdoms—Israel and Judah, He will be] a stone on which to stumble and a rock on which to trip, A trap and a snare for the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

Christian Standard Bible
He will be a sanctuary; but for the two houses of Israel, he will be a stone to stumble over and a rock to trip over, and a trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
He will be a sanctuary; but for the two houses of Israel, He will be a stone to stumble over and a rock to trip over, and a trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

American Standard Version
And 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.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And he shall be for a sanctuary and for a stone of offense and for a rock of stumbling to both the houses of Israel, for a trap and a net for the inhabitants of Jerusalem

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And 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.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And he shall be a sanctification to you. But for a stone or stumbling, and for a rock of offence to the two houses of Israel, for a snare and a ruin to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

English Revised Version
And 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.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
He will be a place of safety for you. But he will be a rock that makes people trip and a stumbling block for both kingdoms of Israel. He will be a trap and a snare for those who live in Jerusalem.

Good News Translation
Because of my awesome holiness I am like a stone that people stumble over; I am like a trap that will catch the people of the kingdoms of Judah and Israel and the people of Jerusalem.

International Standard Version
Then he will be a sanctuary, but for both houses of Israel he'll also be a stone with which someone strikes himself, a rock one stumbles over, a trap and a snare to those who live in Jerusalem.

JPS Tanakh 1917
And 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.

Literal Standard Version
And He has been for a sanctuary, | And for a stone of stumbling, and for a rock of falling, | To the two houses of Israel, | For a trap and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

Majority Standard Bible
And He will be a sanctuary—but to both houses of Israel a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense, to the dwellers of Jerusalem a trap and a snare.

New American Bible
He shall be a snare, a stone for injury, A rock for stumbling to both the houses of Israel, A trap and a snare to those who dwell in Jerusalem;

NET Bible
He will become a sanctuary, but a stone that makes a person trip, and a rock that makes one stumble--to the two houses of Israel. He will become a trap and a snare to the residents of Jerusalem.

New Revised Standard Version
He will become a sanctuary, a stone one strikes against; for both houses of Israel he will become a rock one stumbles over—a trap and a snare for the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

New Heart English Bible
And he will be a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock that makes them fall to both the houses of Israel, for a trap and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

Webster's Bible Translation
And he will be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offense to both the houses of Israel, for a trap and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

World English Bible
He will be a sanctuary, but for both houses of Israel, he will be a stumbling stone and a rock that makes them fall. For the people of Jerusalem, he will be a trap and a snare.

Young's Literal Translation
And He hath been for a sanctuary, And for a stone of stumbling, and for a rock of falling, To the two houses of Israel, For a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
A Call to Fear God
13The LORD of Hosts is the One you shall regard as holy. Only He should be feared; only He should be dreaded. 14And He will be a sanctuary— but to both houses of Israel a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense, to the dwellers of Jerusalem a trap and a snare. 15Many will stumble over these; they will fall and be broken; they will be ensnared and captured.”…

Cross References
Matthew 21:44
He who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed."

Luke 2:34
Then Simeon blessed them and said to His mother Mary: "Behold, this Child is appointed to cause the rise and fall of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against,

Romans 9:32
Why not? Because their pursuit was not by faith, but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone,

Romans 9:33
as it is written: "See, I lay in Zion a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense; and the one who believes in Him will never be put to shame."

1 Peter 2:8
and, "A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense." They stumble because they disobey the word--and to this they were appointed.

Psalm 140:5
The proud hide a snare for me; the cords of their net are spread along the path, and lures are set out for me. Selah

Isaiah 4:6
a shelter to give shade from the heat by day, and a refuge and hiding place from the storm and the rain.


Treasury of Scripture

And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offense to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

he shall be

Isaiah 26:20
Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast.

Psalm 46:1,2
To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, A Song upon Alamoth. God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble…

Proverbs 18:10
The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.

a stone

Isaiah 28:16
Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.

Luke 2:34
And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against;

Romans 9:32,33
Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone; …

a snare

Psalm 11:6
Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup.

Psalm 69:22
Let their table become a snare before them: and that which should have been for their welfare, let it become a trap.

Matthew 13:57
And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house.

Jump to Previous
Causes Fall Falling Gin Holy Houses Inhabitants Israel Jerusalem Makes Net Offence Offense Rock Sanctuary Snare Stone Strike Stumble Stumbling Trap Trouble
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Causes Fall Falling Gin Holy Houses Inhabitants Israel Jerusalem Makes Net Offence Offense Rock Sanctuary Snare Stone Strike Stumble Stumbling Trap Trouble
Isaiah 8
1. In Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz, he prophesies Syria and Israel shall be subdued by Assyria
5. Judah likewise for their infidelity
9. God's judgments shall be irresistible
11. Comfort shall be to those who fear God
19. Great afflictions to idolaters














(14) And he shall be for a sanctuary . . .--Literally, he shall become a hallowed thing, with the implied thought as in Ezekiel 11:16, that the sanctuary is also an asylum (1Kings 1:50; 1Kings 2:28). In that sanctuary, in the presence of Jehovah, there was a refuge from all terror, the answer to all misgivings (Psalm 73:17).

But for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence . . .--The words have become so familiar to us through their Christian application (Matthew 21:44; Romans 9:33; 1Peter 2:8) that we find it hard to measure their force and meaning as they came from Isaiah's lips. Are the contrasted clauses connected by any common link of imagery? To enter into fellowship with Jehovah, is to enter into the sanctuary. He who stands on the stone which forms the threshold of that sanctuary, has gained an asylum. But to do that requires the clear vision of faith. He who walks blindly (Isaiah 6:10; John 11:10), without faith, may stumble on that very stone of the threshold, and what was safety and life for others, might for him bring pain and shame. He might be there sorely bruised (Matthew 21:44) like the wild animals taken in a trap (synonyms are heaped one upon another to increase the force of the imagery), till a helper came to release him. So, Isaiah says, was Jehovah "to both the houses of Israel" (the phrase is peculiar, and implies a hope of the restored unity of the nation's life) in their self-chosen blindness. So St. Peter says, even the head corner-stone is to those who "stumble at the word, being disobedient" a "stone of stumbling and a rock of offence" (1Peter 2:8). It lies in the nature of the case that the fall is not necessarily final and irretrievable. Men may be braised, but not "ground to powder;" may "stumble" so that they may rise again (Matthew 21:44; Luke 2:34; Romans 11:11). . . .

Verse 14. - He shall be for a Sanctuary (comp. Ezekiel 11:16, "Yet will I be to them as a little Sanctuary"). A sanctuary is "a refuge" (Psalm 90:1; Psalm 91:9), and something more. It is a holy refuge, a place which is a refuge because of its holiness. Its material counterpart in the Mosaic system is, not "the city of refuge," but the altar (1 Kings 1:50; 1 Kings 2:28). Both the houses of Israel; i.e. "the two reigning houses of Samaria and Judaea," both of which were Israelite. Both the "houses" would ultimately forsake Jehovah, and find in him a "Snare" and a "Rock of offense."

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
and He will be
וְהָיָ֖ה (wə·hā·yāh)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

a sanctuary.
לְמִקְדָּ֑שׁ (lə·miq·dāš)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4720: A consecrated thing, place, a palace, sanctuary, asylum

But to both
לִשְׁנֵ֨י (liš·nê)
Preposition-l | Number - mdc
Strong's 8147: Two (a cardinal number)

houses
בָתֵּ֤י (ḇāt·tê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1004: A house

of Israel
יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ (yiś·rā·’êl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc

He will be a stone
וּלְאֶ֣בֶן (ū·lə·’e·ḇen)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 68: A stone

of stumbling
נֶ֠גֶף (ne·ḡep̄)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5063: A trip, an infliction

and a rock
וּלְצ֨וּר (ū·lə·ṣūr)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 6697: A cliff, a rock, boulder, a refuge, an edge

of offense,
מִכְשׁ֜וֹל (miḵ·šō·wl)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4383: A stumbling, means or occasion of stumbling, a stumbling block

a trap
לְפַ֣ח (lə·p̄aḥ)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6341: A, sheet, a spring net

and a snare
וּלְמוֹקֵ֔שׁ (ū·lə·mō·w·qêš)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4170: A bait or lure, a snare

to the dwellers
לְיוֹשֵׁ֖ב (lə·yō·wō·šêḇ)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3427: To sit down, to dwell, to remain, to settle, to marry

of Jerusalem.”
יְרוּשָׁלִָֽם׃ (yə·rū·šā·lim)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 3389: Jerusalem -- probably 'foundation of peace', capital city of all Israel


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OT Prophets: Isaiah 8:14 He will be a sanctuary (Isa Isi Is)
Isaiah 8:13
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