וְכִֽי־יֹאמְר֣וּ אֲלֵיכֶ֗ם דִּרְשׁ֤וּ אֶל־הָאֹבֹות֙ וְאֶל־הַיִּדְּעֹנִ֔ים הַֽמְצַפְצְפִ֖ים וְהַמַּהְגִּ֑ים הֲלֹוא־עַם֙ אֶל־אֱלֹהָ֣יו יִדְרֹ֔שׁ בְּעַ֥ד הַחַיִּ֖ים אֶל־הַמֵּתִֽים׃
(Isaiah 8:19)
And when they say to you, “Seek to the mediums and to the spiritists, who chirp and mutter,” should not a people seek to its God? Should they inquire of the dead on behalf of the living?
“It might seem like a lot, but each verb and suffix you master brings you closer to reading Hebrew as it was first spoken.”
Word-by-Word Explanation
- וְכִי־ — “and when.” The particle כִּי can introduce conditions; with וְ it often means “and when.”
- יֹאמְרוּ — “they say.” From אָמַר (“to say”), imperfect 3rd masculine plural.
- אֲלֵיכֶם — “to you (pl.).” Preposition אֶל (“to”) + suffix -כֶם (“you,” plural).
- דִּרְשׁוּ — “seek!” Imperative 2nd person plural from דָּרַשׁ (“to seek, inquire”).
- אֶל־הָאֹבֹות — “to the mediums.” אֹוב refers to a necromancer or medium; here in plural with article הַ.
- וְאֶל־הַיִּדְּעֹנִים — “and to the spiritists.” Another term for occult practitioners, plural with article.
- הַמְצַפְצְפִים — “who chirp.” Participle from צָפַף (“to chirp, twitter”), describing the sounds of spiritists in ritual.
- וְהַמַּהְגִּים — “and who mutter.” Participle from הָגָה (“to mutter, moan, meditate”).
- הֲלֹוא — “should not…?” Interrogative particle introducing a rhetorical question.
- עַם — “a people.” Subject of the rhetorical question.
- אֶל־אֱלֹהָיו — “to its God.” אֱלֹהִים (“God”) with suffix -ָיו (“its, their”).
- יִדְרֹשׁ — “should seek.” Imperfect 3rd masculine singular, from דָּרַשׁ.
- בְּעַד הַחַיִּים — “on behalf of the living.” Preposition בְּעַד means “for, on behalf of.”
- אֶל־הַמֵּתִים — “to the dead.” Preposition אֶל + הַמֵּתִים (“the dead”).
Word Order and Sentence Flow
The verse unfolds in two parts:
- When they say… seek the mediums and spiritists (who chirp and mutter)
- Should not a people seek their God? For the living, should one consult the dead?
This creates a sharp contrast between false voices (the muttering of mediums) and the true voice of God.
Structure Chart
| What the people say | Prophetic rebuttal |
|---|---|
| “Seek the mediums and spiritists…” | “Should not a people seek their God?” |
| Voices: chirping and muttering | Question: consult God, not the dead |
How the Sentence Works (Beginner’s View)
- Imperative: דִּרְשׁוּ shows a command, though from deceivers.
- Participles: הַמְצַפְצְפִים, הַמַּהְגִּים give a vivid soundscape of the occult rituals.
- Rhetorical question: הֲלֹוא introduces Isaiah’s challenge — true loyalty belongs to God, not the dead.
What This Verse Just Taught You
You’ve seen imperatives, participles, suffixes, and rhetorical questions at work in Hebrew. More than grammar, you’ve glimpsed how Hebrew poetry contrasts false practices with true devotion. You’re now able to trace not only the form but the force of the words that confront superstition with trust in the living God.
