And I will appoint
The phrase "And I will appoint" indicates a deliberate and sovereign action by God. The Hebrew root for "appoint" is "שׂוּם" (sum), which means to set, place, or establish. This reflects God's authority and intentionality in choosing individuals for His purposes. In the biblical context, God's appointments are not arbitrary but are part of His divine plan, underscoring His omniscience and omnipotence.

for Myself
The phrase "for Myself" emphasizes God's personal involvement and interest in the matter at hand. It signifies that the witnesses are chosen not for human purposes but for God's own divine reasons. This highlights the personal nature of God's relationship with His people and His direct intervention in human affairs.

trustworthy witnesses
The term "trustworthy" comes from the Hebrew word "אֱמוּנָה" (emunah), meaning faithfulness or reliability. In the biblical context, a trustworthy witness is one who is faithful to the truth and can be relied upon to testify accurately. This reflects the importance of integrity and truthfulness in God's kingdom. The role of witnesses in ancient Israel was crucial, as they were responsible for confirming the truth in legal and covenantal matters.

Uriah the priest
Uriah the priest is mentioned here as one of the trustworthy witnesses. The name "Uriah" means "Yahweh is my light." As a priest, Uriah held a position of spiritual authority and responsibility in Israel. His inclusion as a witness underscores the importance of spiritual leaders in upholding God's truth and serving as mediators between God and His people. Historically, priests were seen as custodians of the law and were expected to live lives of holiness and integrity.

and Zechariah son of Jeberekiah
Zechariah, whose name means "Yahweh remembers," is identified as the son of Jeberekiah. The mention of his lineage serves to distinguish him from other individuals named Zechariah in the Bible. In the context of Isaiah, Zechariah's role as a witness alongside Uriah highlights the importance of having multiple credible witnesses to confirm God's message. This practice aligns with the biblical principle found in Deuteronomy 19:15, which states that a matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.

1. Isaiah
The 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 Priest
A 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 Jeberekiah
Another 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. Judah
The 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 Immanuel
The broader context of Isaiah 8 includes prophecies concerning the coming of Immanuel, a sign of God's presence and future deliverance.The Importance of Trustworthy Witnesses
In 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 Leaders
God 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 Assurance
Prophecies, 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 Compromise
Uriah'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.(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 ...


And I will appoint
וְאָעִ֣ידָה (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, restore

for myself
לִּ֔י (lî)
Preposition | first person common singular
Strong's Hebrew

trustworthy
נֶאֱמָנִ֑ים (ne·’ĕ·mā·nîm)
Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 539: To confirm, support

witnesses—
עֵדִ֖ים (‘ê·ḏîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 5707: A witness, testimony, a recorder, prince

Uriah
אוּרִיָּ֣ה (’ū·rî·yāh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 223: Uriah -- 'flame of Yah', the name of a Hittite and of two Israelites

the priest
הַכֹּהֵ֔ן (hak·kō·hên)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3548: Priest

and Zechariah
זְכַרְיָ֖הוּ (zə·ḵar·yā·hū)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 2148: Zachariah -- the name of a number of Israelites

son
בֶּ֥ן (ben)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1121: A son

of 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)