Jehovah summons the coastlands to a courtroom scene: who raised up the conqueror from the east who gives nations as dust to his sword? "I, Jehovah, the first, and with the last; I am he." The frightened nations fasten their idols with nails, but Israel ("my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham my friend"), hears "Fear thou not, for I am with thee." Worm Jacob becomes a sharp threshing instrument; rivers open on bare heights, and cedar, acacia, and myrtle are planted in the desert so that all may see the hand of Jehovah has done it. The trial resumes: the idol-gods are challenged to declare things to come (to do good or do evil, anything) and cannot; "ye are of nothing." Jehovah alone announced beforehand the one raised from the north and gives Jerusalem one who brings good tidings, while the idols' works are wind and confusion.

Drawn from Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory, Matthew Henry, Complete Commentary, John Wesley, Notes on the Old Testament and John Calvin, Commentaries.

Context

Prophecy · Isaiah — Isaiah overview

A. 1–7 Who Hath Raised Up One from the East?
B. 8–16 Fear Not, Thou Worm Jacob; I Will Help Thee
C. 17–20 Rivers on the Bare Heights for the Thirsty
D. 21–29 Produce Your Cause: the Idols Are Less Than Nothing

Top cross-references8 chapters ▾

Isaiah 445 verses
- Isaiah 44:3For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and currents on the dry ground. I will pour out My Spirit on your descendants, and My blessing on your offspring.
- Isaiah 44:7Who then is like Me? Let him say so! Let him declare his case before Me, since I established an ancient people. Let him foretell the things to come, and what is to take place.
- Isaiah 44:12The blacksmith takes a tool and labors over the coals; he fashions an idol with hammers and forges it with his strong arms. Yet he grows hungry and loses his strength; he fails to drink water and grows faint.
- Isaiah 44:23Sing for joy, O heavens, for the LORD has done this; shout aloud, O depths of the earth. Break forth in song, O mountains, you forests and all your trees. For the LORD has redeemed Jacob, and revealed His glory in Israel.
- Isaiah 44:28who says of Cyrus, ‘My shepherd will fulfill all that I desire,’ who says of Jerusalem, ‘She will be rebuilt,’ and of the temple, ‘Let its foundation be laid.’”
- Read Isaiah 44 →
Isaiah 415 verses
- Isaiah 41:2Who has aroused one from the east and called him to his feet in righteousness? He hands nations over to him and subdues kings before him. He turns them to dust with his sword, to windblown chaff with his bow.
- Isaiah 41:10Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will surely help you; I will uphold you with My right hand of righteousness.
- Isaiah 41:22“Let them come and tell us what will happen. Tell the former things, so that we may reflect on them and know the outcome. Or announce to us what is coming.
- Isaiah 41:24Behold, you are nothing and your work is of no value. Anyone who chooses you is detestable.
- Isaiah 41:29See, they are all a delusion; their works amount to nothing; their images are as empty as the wind.
- Read Isaiah 41 →
Isaiah 453 verses
- Isaiah 45:1This is what the LORD says to Cyrus His anointed, whose right hand I have grasped to subdue nations before him, to disarm kings, to open the doors before him, so that the gates will not be shut:
- Isaiah 45:21Speak up and present your case—yes, let them take counsel together. Who foretold this long ago? Who announced it from ancient times? Was it not I, the LORD? There is no other God but Me, a righteous God and Savior; there is none but Me.
- Isaiah 45:24Surely they will say of Me, ‘In the LORD alone are righteousness and strength.’” All who rage against Him will come to Him and be put to shame.
- Read Isaiah 45 →
Isaiah 462 verses
- Isaiah 46:10I declare the end from the beginning, and ancient times from what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and all My good pleasure I will accomplish.’
- Isaiah 46:11I summon a bird of prey from the east, a man for My purpose from a far-off land. Truly I have spoken, and truly I will bring it to pass. I have planned it, and I will surely do it.
- Read Isaiah 46 →

4 more chapters this one speaks with

Isaiah 402 verses
- Isaiah 40:9Go up on a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good news. Raise your voice loudly, O Jerusalem, herald of good news. Lift it up, do not be afraid! Say to the cities of Judah, “Here is your God!”
- Isaiah 40:19To an idol that a craftsman casts and a metalworker overlays with gold and fits with silver chains?
- Read Isaiah 40 →
Isaiah 432 verses
- Isaiah 43:1Now this is what the LORD says— He who created you, O Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine!
- Isaiah 43:14Thus says the LORD your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “For your sake, I will send to Babylon and bring them all as fugitives, even the Chaldeans, in the ships in which they rejoice.
- Read Isaiah 43 →
Isaiah 552 verses
- Isaiah 55:1“Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you without money, come, buy, and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost!
- Isaiah 55:13Instead of the thornbush, a cypress will grow, and instead of the brier, a myrtle will spring up; they will make a name for the LORD, an everlasting sign, never to be destroyed.”
- Read Isaiah 55 →
Isaiah 352 verses
- Isaiah 35:1The wilderness and the land will be glad; the desert will rejoice and blossom like a rose.
- Isaiah 35:6Then the lame will leap like a deer and the mute tongue will shout for joy. For waters will gush forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert.
- Read Isaiah 35 →

Cross-references from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and OpenBible.info.