Isaiah 8:19

when = should.

familiar spirits. See note on Leviticus 19:31 .

peep. Hebrew. zaphaph . Occurs only in Isaiah; and this form, only in Isaiah 10:14 , elsewhere, in Isaiah 29:4 (whisper); Isaiah 38:14 (chatter). It is used of an unearthly sound.

mutter: i, e. with indistinct sounds. This refers to the low incantations which, in the Babylonian and Egyptian "mysteries", had to be recited in a whisper (like certain parts of the Roman Missal). A whole series is called "the ritual of the whispered charm".

God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4 .

for the living to the dead. Supply the Figure of speech Ellipsis from the preceding clause ( App-6 ), and render: "Should not any People seek unto its God? for [should] the living [seek unto] the dead? "This is a solemn warning against all ancient and modern Spiritists.