Isaiah 8:16

Tie up the scroll as legal evidence, ¹  seal the official record of God’s instructions and give it to my followers. ² 

Bind up the testimony and seal up the law among my disciples.

Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples.

I will write down all these things as a testimony of what the LORD will do. I will entrust it to my disciples, who will pass it down to future generations.

Gather up the testimony, preserve the teaching for my followers,

Let my teaching be kept secret: and my words be given to my disciples only.

Bind up the testimony, seal the teaching among my disciples.

Bind up the testimony, Seal the law among my disciples.

Tie up the scroll as legal evidence, ¹  seal the official record of God’s instructions and give it to my followers. ² 

¹ tn Heb “tie up [the] testimony.” The “testimony” probably refers to the prophetic messages God has given him. When the prophecies are fulfilled, he will be able to produce this official, written record to confirm the authenticity of his ministry and to prove to the people that God is sovereign over events.

² tn Heb “seal [the] instruction among my followers.” The “instruction” probably refers to the prophet’s exhortations and warnings. When the people are judged for the sins, the prophet can produce these earlier messages and essentially say, “I told you so.” In this way he can authenticate his ministry and impress upon the people the reality of God’s authority over them.