Isaiahchapter 46

13 verses · ASV

This chapter sends 210 cross-references outward and receives 308 — heaviest partner: Isaiah.

Chapter summary

Bel bows and Nebo stoops: Babylon's gods are loaded as burdens onto weary beasts and carried into captivity, unable to deliver even themselves. Against this image Jehovah sets the reverse: he has carried the house of Jacob from birth and will carry Israel to old age and gray hairs — "I have made, and I will bear." The idol-manufacture scene repeats in miniature: gold lavished from the bag, silver weighed, a goldsmith hired, the finished god borne on shoulders and set in its place, where it cannot move or answer. Jehovah's counter-claim is predictive sovereignty: "declaring the end from the beginning," his counsel standing, summoning a "ravenous bird from the east," the man of his counsel from a far country. The chapter closes with righteousness brought near and salvation placed in Zion for Israel.

Drafted from Matthew Henry, Calvin, Gill, Clarke, JFB, and Barnes.

Context

Prophecy · Isaiah — see the Isaiah overview for the book's full setting.

1 Bel boweth down, Nebo stoopeth; their idols are upon the beasts, and upon the cattle: the things that ye carried about are made a load, a burden to the weary beast.

2 They stoop, they bow down together; they could not deliver the burden, but themselves are gone into captivity.

3 Hearken unto me, O house of Jacob, and all the remnant of the house of Israel, that have been borneby mefrom their birth, that have been carried from the womb;

4 and even to old age I am he, and even to hoar hairs will I carry you; I have made, and I will bear; yea, I will carry, and will deliver.

5 To whom will ye liken me, and make me equal, and compare me, that we may be like?

6 Such as lavish gold out of the bag, and weigh silver in the balance, they hire a goldsmith, and he maketh it a god; they fall down, yea, they worship.

7 They bear it upon the shoulder, they carry it, and set it in its place, and it standeth, from its place shall it not remove: yea, one may cry unto it, yet can it not answer, nor save him out of his trouble.

8 Remember this, and show yourselves men; bring it again to mind, O ye transgressors.

9 Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me;

10 declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done; saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure;

11 calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man of my counsel from a far country; yea, I have spoken, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed, I will also do it.

12 Hearken unto me, ye stout-hearted, that are far from righteousness:

13 I bring near my righteousness, it shall not be far off, and my salvation shall not tarry; and I will place salvation in Zion for Israel my glory.

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