They curse God rather than turn to Him for salvation.
“They will pass through the land hard-pressed and famished, and it will turn out that when they are hungry, they will be enraged and curse their king and their God as they face upward.” (v.21). In this passage, the prophet Isaiah, who preached primarily in the southern kingdom of Judah during the late 8th century BC (circa 740-700 BC), warns of a time of great hardship and desperation. The people’s physical hunger—wandering through the land “hard-pressed and famished”—reflects their spiritual state. Rather than turning back to the LORD for deliverance in their need, they will be enraged and curse their king and their God. This shows the depth of their rebellion, as they look upward and rail against the One who could provide them with true help (compare with Matthew 5:6, where Jesus speaks of hungering for righteousness).
The land referenced here is Judah (and possibly the broader region of Israel), an area that is often hot and arid, requiring reliable rainfall and fertile soil for sustenance. Famine in this region typically underscored divine judgment, calling the covenant people to repent and return to God. Yet, Isaiah depicts a stark response: the people do not cry out in humility for mercy but instead persist in anger toward both their human ruler and God Himself. By “cursing their king,” they reject earthly authority, and by railing against God, they reject the true Suzerain of their covenant. Their plight is thus not just physical deprivation but a profound moral and spiritual emptiness (Isaiah 1:2-5).
“They will pass through the land… and curse their king and their God” (v.21) highlights how rebellion leads to isolation and hopelessness. It also foreshadows the coming devastation brought by foreign invasion as the people forsake their only true source of rescue. Still, Isaiah’s broader message calls for repentance and places hope in the Messiah who ultimately satisfies spiritual hunger. Jesus, the Messiah, later offered Himself as the “bread of life” so that no one who comes to Him will ever hunger spiritually (John 6:35).
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Isaiah 8:21 meaning
“They will pass through the land hard-pressed and famished, and it will turn out that when they are hungry, they will be enraged and curse their king and their God as they face upward.” (v.21). In this passage, the prophet Isaiah, who preached primarily in the southern kingdom of Judah during the late 8th century BC (circa 740-700 BC), warns of a time of great hardship and desperation. The people’s physical hunger—wandering through the land “hard-pressed and famished”—reflects their spiritual state. Rather than turning back to the LORD for deliverance in their need, they will be enraged and curse their king and their God. This shows the depth of their rebellion, as they look upward and rail against the One who could provide them with true help (compare with Matthew 5:6, where Jesus speaks of hungering for righteousness).
The land referenced here is Judah (and possibly the broader region of Israel), an area that is often hot and arid, requiring reliable rainfall and fertile soil for sustenance. Famine in this region typically underscored divine judgment, calling the covenant people to repent and return to God. Yet, Isaiah depicts a stark response: the people do not cry out in humility for mercy but instead persist in anger toward both their human ruler and God Himself. By “cursing their king,” they reject earthly authority, and by railing against God, they reject the true Suzerain of their covenant. Their plight is thus not just physical deprivation but a profound moral and spiritual emptiness (Isaiah 1:2-5).
“They will pass through the land… and curse their king and their God” (v.21) highlights how rebellion leads to isolation and hopelessness. It also foreshadows the coming devastation brought by foreign invasion as the people forsake their only true source of rescue. Still, Isaiah’s broader message calls for repentance and places hope in the Messiah who ultimately satisfies spiritual hunger. Jesus, the Messiah, later offered Himself as the “bread of life” so that no one who comes to Him will ever hunger spiritually (John 6:35).