Isaiah 8 — Dead Sea Scrolls
22 verses • 11 variants • Columns VII–VIII of 1QIsaiah-a contain Isaiah chapter 8.
Scroll Overview
Summary
Isaiah 8 contains the Maher-shalal-hash-baz sign-child narrative and two Immanuel references (vv. 8, 10). 1QIsaiah-a preserves this chapter well. Most variants are orthographic, with the Immanuel references reading identically to the MT.
Notable Variants
The two Immanuel references (vv. 8, 10) are textually identical in both traditions. The Maher-shalal-hash-baz naming (v. 1) reads the same. Verse 11 has a minor variant in the phrase 'with strength of hand' where 1QIsaiah-a uses a slightly fuller form.
Scroll Condition
Good condition. Fully legible throughout.
The LORD said to me, "Take a large tablet and write on it in ordinary script: Belonging to Maher-shalal-hash-baz."
Masoretic (WLC)
מַהֵ֥ר שָׁלָ֖ל חָ֥שׁ בַּֽז
Maher-shalal-hash-baz
Dead Sea Scroll
מהר שלל חש בז
Maher-shalal-hash-baz
The prophetic sign-name 'Swift-is-the-plunder, Speedy-is-the-prey' reads identically in both traditions. The four-word name is preserved intact.
1QIsaᵃ col. VII, line 17
And I called reliable witnesses to attest for me: Uriah the priest and Zechariah son of Jeberechiah.
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. VII, line 18
Then I was intimate with the prophetess, and she conceived and bore a son. And the LORD said to me, "Call his name Maher-shalal-hash-baz."
Masoretic (WLC)
הַנְּבִיאָה
the prophetess
Dead Sea Scroll
הנביאה
the prophetess
Identical consonantal text. Isaiah's wife is designated by the same title.
1QIsaᵃ col. VII, line 19
For before the boy knows how to say 'Papa' or 'Mama,' the wealth of Damascus and the spoil of Samaria will be carried off before the king of Assyria.
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. VII, line 20
The LORD spoke to me again:
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. VII, line 21
Because this people has rejected the waters of Shiloah that flow gently, and melt in fear before Rezin and the son of Remaliah --
Masoretic (WLC)
הַשִּׁלֹחַ
Shiloah
Dead Sea Scroll
השלוח
Shiloah
Plene spelling with waw. The 'gently flowing waters of Shiloah' reads the same in meaning.
1QIsaᵃ col. VIII, line 1
therefore the Lord is about to bring against them the mighty, massive waters of the River -- the king of Assyria and all his splendor. It will rise over all its channels and overflow all its banks.
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. VIII, line 2
It will sweep into Judah, flooding and overflowing, reaching up to the neck. Its spreading wings will fill the whole breadth of your land, O Immanuel!
Masoretic (WLC)
עִמָּנוּ אֵל
Immanuel
Dead Sea Scroll
עמנואל
Immanuel
The first Immanuel reference in this chapter. 1QIsaiah-a writes the name as a single word (עמנואל, 'Immanuel') rather than the MT's two-word form (עמנו אל, 'God is with us'). This is a spelling difference, not a meaning difference — both are the same name/phrase.
The single-word spelling suggests the scribe understood this as a proper name, while the MT's two-word form preserves the transparency of the name's meaning: 'God [is] with us.' The land is called 'your land, O Immanuel,' connecting the child of 7:14 to the land of Judah.
1QIsaᵃ col. VIII, line 3
Rage, O peoples, and be shattered! Listen, all distant lands! Arm yourselves -- and be shattered! Arm yourselves -- and be shattered!
Masoretic (WLC)
חָתּוּ
be shattered
Dead Sea Scroll
חתו
be shattered
Identical consonantal text. The warning to the nations is the same.
1QIsaᵃ col. VIII, line 4
Devise a plan -- it will be foiled! Speak a word -- it will not stand! For God is with us.
Masoretic (WLC)
עִמָּנוּ אֵל
God is with us
Dead Sea Scroll
עמנואל
God is with us
The second Immanuel reference, serving as the conclusion to the warning passage. Again, 1QIsaiah-a writes it as one word (עמנואל). The declaration 'for God is with us' (ki immanu El) functions as both a name-reference and a theological statement.
The identical meaning in both traditions underscores that the Immanuel promise from 7:14 continues to resonate through this chapter as a refrain of divine presence.
1QIsaᵃ col. VIII, line 5
For this is what the LORD said to me with a strong hand upon me, warning me not to walk in the way of this people:
Masoretic (WLC)
בְּחֶזְקַת הַיָּד
with strength of hand
Dead Sea Scroll
בחוזק היד
with strength of hand
1QIsaiah-a uses a slightly different nominal form: chozeq ('strength') instead of the MT's chezqat ('strength of'). Both convey the same meaning — God seizing Isaiah 'with strength of hand,' a forceful divine compulsion. The variant is morphological, not semantic.
1QIsaᵃ col. VIII, line 6
"Do not call 'conspiracy' everything this people calls a conspiracy. Do not fear what they fear, and do not dread it.
Masoretic (WLC)
קֶשֶׁר
conspiracy
Dead Sea Scroll
קשר
conspiracy
Identical consonantal text.
1QIsaᵃ col. VIII, line 7
The LORD of Hosts — he is the one you must regard as holy. He must be your fear. He must be your dread."
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. VIII, line 8
He will be a sanctuary, but also a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense to both houses of Israel -- a trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
Masoretic (WLC)
צוּר
rock
Dead Sea Scroll
צור
rock
Identical consonantal text. The 'stone of stumbling and rock of offense' passage reads the same. This passage is quoted in Romans 9:33 and 1 Peter 2:8.
1QIsaᵃ col. VIII, line 9
Many will stumble over them. They will fall and be broken, snared and captured.
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. VIII, line 10
Bind up the testimony; seal the teaching among my disciples.
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. VIII, line 11
I will wait for the LORD, who is hiding his face from the house of Jacob. I will put my hope in him.
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. VIII, line 12
Look -- here I am, with the children the LORD has given me. We are signs and portents in Israel from the LORD of Hosts, who dwells on Mount Zion.
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. VIII, line 13
When they say to you, "Consult the mediums and the spiritists who whisper and mutter" -- should not a people consult their God? Should they consult the dead on behalf of the living?
Masoretic (WLC)
הָאֹבוֹת
the mediums
Dead Sea Scroll
האובות
the mediums
Plene spelling with waw. The warning against consulting mediums and spiritists reads the same.
1QIsaᵃ col. VIII, line 14
To the Torah and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no dawn for them.
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. VIII, line 15
They will pass through the land, hard-pressed and hungry. And when they are famished, they will become enraged and curse their king and their God. They will look upward,
Masoretic (WLC)
צוּקָה
distress
Dead Sea Scroll
צוקה
distress
Identical consonantal text. The description of distress and darkness reads the same.
1QIsaᵃ col. VIII, line 16
and they will look to the earth -- and see only distress and darkness, the gloom of anguish. And they will be driven into thick darkness.
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. VIII, line 17