Isaiah 8:13 Meaning and Explanation
“Sanctify the LORD of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Instead of fearing Assyria or human powers, Isaiah and the faithful are called to hold God in reverent awe.
The Context of Isaiah 8:13
The solution to Judah's paralysis: redirect reverent awe from earthly powers to the God of all hosts.
What Does Isaiah 8:13 Mean?
'Sanctify the LORD of hosts' means to set Him apart as holy, to recognize His transcendent power and authority. This is the positive counterpart to 'fear ye not' in the previous verse. The fear that must be rejected (terror of enemies) must be replaced by a different kind of fear—the awe, reverence, and holy dread that acknowledges God's supremacy over all powers.
The phrase 'let him be your fear, and let him be your dread' is not about cowering, but about reorienting the soul's ultimate loyalty. If God fills the place of greatest reverence and awe, then earthly threats lose their paralyzing power. When the mighty God commands reverence, the mighty Assyrian king becomes secondary. This is the fear that gives freedom from all lesser fears.
Isaiah 8:13 in the Original Language
sanctify (קָדַשׁ, qadash), 'to set apart as holy'—to make God the center of reverent recognition, displacing all other authorities.
Frequently Asked Questions About Isaiah 8:13
What does Isaiah 8:13 mean?
Instead of fearing Assyria or human powers, Isaiah and the faithful are called to hold God in reverent awe.
What is the context of Isaiah 8:13?
The solution to Judah's paralysis: redirect reverent awe from earthly powers to the God of all hosts.