Isaiah 8:21Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

In regard to the disasters he predicts, it is stated: ‘And they shall wander over the earth, cruelly oppressed and hungry; and in the time of famine they shall be angry, blaspheming their king and their god.’ The prophecy continues: a harsh famine shall arise, and when anger takes hold, there will be mourning and accusations directed against the rulers and the homeland, which symbolizes a rejection of false gods. This clearly illustrates the reason for the famine's arrival. It is communicated that idols are treacherous and devoid of power; if they are unable to halt the famine, how can they hope to prevent conflict?

The message is directed towards a nation that is disobedient, specifically Israel, which, despite receiving abundant comfort from God and being richly equipped with the commandments of the law to understand what was beneficial for them, ultimately rejected Christ. Consequently, they distanced themselves from Him both mentally and spiritually, leading to a state of despair akin to starvation. The Almighty declared through the prophets, "Behold, I bring plagues upon the earth, saith the Lord: not the plague of bread, nor thirst for water, but the plague of hearing the word of the Lord. And from the east to the west they shall search for the word of the Lord, and shall not find it” (Am. 8:11, 12).

‘A severe famine will come upon you,’ the prophet declares, ‘and when you fall ill, you will experience sorrow and speak ill of the ruler and your homeland.’ The Lord, who orchestrates all for our salvation, sometimes allows famine for the purpose of nurturing those who bear fruit. As it is written, ‘Thou shalt be embittered, and thou shalt be put to death by famine’ (Deuteronomy 8:3) for your own benefit. Consequently, the term ‘cruel’ refers to hunger that is both overwhelming and unimaginable. There are different types of hunger: one arising solely from a lack of bread, and another from the scarcity of everything needed for sustenance.

The affliction will sweep over the land, as the Lord will bring a famine upon His people. In that time of suffering, you will experience anguish and turn against your king. The populace, suffering from hunger, will express their grievances not only toward their king but also toward God, for failing to rescue them from their troubles.

The light will sweep over your gathering or the earth, and you will find yourself in despair and hunger; in that state of hunger, you will feel rage, as it is written, ‘If they are not filled, they will be hungry’ (Psalm 58:16); and you will speak ill of the Lord your king. But upon the unbelievers will come a profound famine, not one of food or thirst for water, but a famine of hearing the word of God. And when you feel hunger, you will grow wrathful and curse your ruler and the traditions of your ancestors, referring to the adversary and the ancient misconceptions. The Lord has provided us with the commandments and the witness of the Scriptures, which if you choose to disregard, you will be left in darkness, continually oppressed, which will overshadow your land and teachings. Therefore, as those misled by you recognize their errors and experience the famine of truth, they will be filled with distress and anger, cursing you, whom they had regarded as their deities and rulers.

After urging the Jewish people to place their faith in God and to rely solely on Him in times of trouble, the prophet anticipates their refusal to heed his counsel and responds with dire warnings. He warns them of an impending famine that will strike them due to the ravages inflicted by their adversaries on their land, as well as the arid conditions that arise as a customary consequence of their transgressions, as highlighted by Moses. They will suffer from hunger, which will be accompanied by bitterness and anger directed towards those they blame for their plight. They will speak ill of their ruler, who symbolizes the civil authority of their nation and who failed to avert the invasion of Judah or mount a formidable defense against it. Their homeland will not offer them solace, and they will express their grievances with spite.