Isaiah 57:8

The first part of the verse seems to allude to some form of household idolatry. Many commentators explain the expression as a violation of the command in Deuteronomy 6:9; Deuteronomy 11:20. In these passages the Israelites are directed to write certain sentences of Scripture on the doorposts of their houses, and it is supposed that the practice here denounced is placing the texts at the backof the door so as to be out of sight! This is an utterly improbable interpretation. The thing called "remembrance" (zikkarôn, better memorial, as R.V.) must be some heathen emblem, whose exact nature cannot be determined; and from the fact that it stood at the entrance of the house, it may be presumed to have represented the patron deity of the family.

for thou hast discovered … bed The last word appears to be the object to each of the three verbs: for away from me thou hast uncovered and ascended and enlarged thy bed. The connexion ("for") may lie in the thought that they sought every possible opportunity of being unfaithful to Jehovah, their household cults being an expression of their irresistible inclination to idolatry.

and made theea covenant with them &c. The sense is uncertain: either, "and thou hast made a contract with them" &c. (?); or, substituting a verb meaning "purchase" (in Deuteronomy 2:6; Hosea 3:2), "and thou didst procure for thee (some) of those whose bed thou lovest." For the idea, cf. Ezekiel 16:16 ff., Ezekiel 16:32 ff.

where thou sawest it Lit. "thou hast seen a hand." The rendering of E.V. cannot be maintained, but the real meaning of the expression is altogether obscure.