# General Information:

Isaiah is speaking.

# They will say to you, "Consult with the mediums and spiritists," those who chirp and mutter incantations. But should a people not consult their God? Should they consult the dead on behalf of the living? To the law and to the testimony!

Other possible meanings are 1) "They will say to you, 'Consult with the mediums and spiritists, those who chirp and mutter incantations. Should a people not consult their gods? They should consult the dead on behalf of the living for teaching and for testimony.'" or 2) "When they say to you, 'Consult with the mediums and spiritists, those who chirp and mutter incantations,' should a people not consult their God? Should they consult the dead on behalf of the living? To the law and to the testimony!"

# They will say to you

The word "they" refers to those who do not trust Yahweh. The word "you" is plural and refers to those who trust Yahweh. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-you]])

# Consult with the mediums and spiritists

"Ask the mediums and spiritists what you should do"

# mediums and spiritists

people who claim to speak with those who have died

# those who chirp and mutter incantations

The words "chirp" and "mutter" refer to the sounds mediums and spiritists made when trying to speak to dead people. AT: "those who whisper and mutter their magic words to try and speak to dead people"

# chirp

make sounds like birds

# But should a people not consult their God? Should they consult the dead on behalf of the living?

These questions are to show that people should consult God instead of foolishly trying to talk to dead people. AT: "But people should ask Yahweh to guide them. They should not seek answers from those who have died." (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-rquestion]])

# To the law and to the testimony

Possible meanings are 1) "Pay attention to God's instructions and teaching" or 2) "Then you must remember the teaching and testimony I gave." ([Isaiah 8:16](./16.md)).

# the law

This is the same word translated "official record" in [Isaiah 8:16](./16.md).

# the testimony

See how you translated this in [Isaiah 8:16](./16.md).

# If they do not say such things

"If they do not speak of the law and the testimony"

# it is because they have no light of dawn

Isaiah speaks of people who do not know God as if they were people walking in darkness without any light. AT: "it is because they are like a person lost in the dark" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])

# translationWords

* [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/other/magic]]
* [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/god]]
* [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/other/death]]
* [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/life]]
* [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/lawofmoses]]
* [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/kt/testimony]]
* [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/other/light]]