To the teaching and to the testimony! If they will not speak according to this word, it is because they have no dawn.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The phrase "no dawn" (Hebrew: shachar) isn't just about ignorance; it can also foreshadow a future of persistent calamity. When people reject God's clear teaching, they aren't just missing knowledge, they're essentially sentencing themselves to a perpetual night with no hope of a new day or deliverance. This highlights the profound spiritual and existential consequences of turning away from divine guidance.
To the teaching and to the testimony! If they will not speak according to this word, it is because they have no dawn.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Facing spiritual confusion and false mediums, Isaiah declares that the ultimate authority is God's written word, the Law and the Testimony. Those who ignore this divine standard and continue to seek guidance from forbidden sources are declared to be utterly without spiritual discernment, like being plunged into total darkness with no hope of a new day dawning.
When navigating confusing or conflicting advice, where do you turn? Isaiah gives us a clear, authoritative source.
Isaiah calls us to bring all claims – whether from supposed experts, popular trends, or even spiritual-sounding voices – to the 'law and to the testimony.' This isn't just a suggestion; it's the ultimate standard by which everything should be judged.
The Dual Nature of Revelation
Together, they form the complete, unchangeable Word of God, the bedrock for truth.
What does it truly mean to have 'light' in spiritual matters? Isaiah connects it directly to alignment with God's Word.
Isaiah's message is stark: if teachings or guidance don't align with 'this word' – God's law and testimony – then those speaking them are declared to have 'no dawn.' This 'no dawn' signifies more than just ignorance; it points to a profound spiritual darkness.
The Consequence of Disalignment
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Understand the original words
shachar · Hebrew Noun
A state of spiritual darkness or hopelessness, lacking the light of God’s revelation and truth, resulting in confusion and divine judgment.
This verse is a stark warning to the people of Judah during a time of intense political turmoil and the rising power of Assyria. The prophet Isaiah directs them to God's Law and prophetic testimony as the only true source of guidance, contrasting it with the deceptive practices of mediums and sorcerers that offered false hope and led to disaster.
c. 740 BC
Assyrian military campaigns in the region
Under kings like Tiglath-Pileser III and Shalmaneser V, the Neo-Assyrian Empire aggressively expanded its influence, leading to significant political instability and fear among the smaller kingdoms of the Levant, including Israel and Judah.
c. 734-732 BC
Syro-Ephraimitic War
Rezin of Syria and Pekah of Israel attempted to force Judah into an anti-Assyrian coalition. King Ahaz of Judah, facing invasion, turned to Assyria for help, leading to increased Assyrian dominance.
c. 732 BC
Fall of Damascus
Tiglath-Pileser III conquered Damascus, the capital of Syria, effectively ending the threat from Rezin and further solidifying Assyrian control over the region.
c. 722 BC
Fall of Samaria and the Northern Kingdom
The Assyrian Empire under Shalmaneser V and later Sargon II conquered the Northern Kingdom of Israel, deporting many of its citizens and ending its existence as an independent state.
c. 715-705 BC
Reign of Hezekiah begins in Judah
Hezekiah became king of Judah during a period of Assyrian dominance, inheriting a kingdom that had witnessed the destruction of its northern neighbor.
c. 705-701 BC— this verse
Assyrian campaigns under Sennacherib
Following Hezekiah's rebellion and alliance with Egypt, King Sennacherib of Assyria invaded Judah, capturing many fortified cities and ultimately besieging Jerusalem.
This passage emphasizes that obedience to God's word (His commands and testimonies) is far more valuable than any religious ritual or outward show, echoing Isaiah's call to rely on the divine instruction.
John 5:39Jesus directs people to search the Scriptures (the Law and the Prophets, serving as the 'testimony') because they bear witness to Him, reinforcing the idea that God's Word is the ultimate source of truth and spiritual light.
Galatians 1:8Paul pronounces a strong anathema on anyone, even an angel, who preaches a gospel contrary to the one received, highlighting the absolute authority of God's revealed word against any alternative teaching, much like Isaiah's challenge.
2 Timothy 3:16This verse declares that all Scripture is God-breathed and useful for teaching and correcting, underscoring the 'law and testimony' as the infallible standard for truth and spiritual discernment, without which there is no true understanding.
barnesIsaiah 8:20: "To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them."
To the law ... - To the revelation which God has given. This is a solemn call of the prophet to try everything by the revealed will of God; see Isaiah 8:16 . If they speak not - If the necromancers - those that pretended to have contact with the dead. According to this word - According to what God has revealed. By this standard all their pretended revelations were t…
pooleIsaiah 8:20: "To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them."
To the law and to the testimony; let this dispute between you and them be determined by God’s word, which is here and in many other places called the law, to signify their obligation to believe and obey it; and the testimony, because it is a witness between God and man of God’s mind and will, and of man’s duty; and so these two titles contain two arguments against t…
The phrase "no dawn" (Hebrew: shachar) isn't just about ignorance; it can also foreshadow a future of persistent calamity. When people reject God's clear teaching, they aren't just missing knowledge, they're essentially sentencing themselves to a perpetual night with no hope of a new day or deliverance. This highlights the profound spiritual and existential consequences of turning away from divine guidance.
Facing spiritual confusion and false mediums, Isaiah declares that the ultimate authority is God's written word, the Law and the Testimony. Those who ignore this divine standard and continue to seek guidance from forbidden sources are declared to be utterly without spiritual discernment, like being plunged into total darkness with no hope of a new day dawning.
Facing spiritual confusion and false mediums, Isaiah declares that the ultimate authority is God's written word, the Law and the Testimony. Those who ignore this divine standard and continue to seek guidance from forbidden sources are declared to be utterly without spiritual discernment, like being plunged into total darkness with no hope of a new day dawning.
"To the teaching and to the testimony! If they will not speak according to this word, it is because they have no dawn." — The phrase "no dawn" (Hebrew: shachar) isn't just about ignorance; it can also foreshadow a future of persistent calamity. When people reject God's clear teaching, they aren't just missing knowledg…
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Last reviewed October 2026