Isaiah 41:22
in Isaiah 41“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.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Let them bring forth, and declare unto us what shall happen: declare ye the former things, what they are, that we may consider them, and know the latter end of them; or show us things to come.
KJV
Let them bring them forth, and shew us what shall happen: let them shew the former things, what they be, that we may consider them, and know the latter end of them; or declare us things for to come.
⋯
This verse in Isaiah 41
Commentary
10 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
Let them bring them forth - Let the idols, or the worshippers of idols, bring forth the evidences of their divine nature and power. Or more probably it means, ‘let them draw near or approach.’ And show us what shall happen - None but the true God can discern the future, and predict what is to occur. To be able to do this, is therefore a proof of divinity to which God often appeals as a demonstration of his own divine character (see Isa 44:7-8; Isa 45:3-7; Isa 46:9-10).
This site's exposition
Present your case
on Isaiah 41:21-23
The trial reaches its center with a challenge to the idols, Present your case, says the King of Jacob. The test set is prophecy, a demand for knowledge of time the idols cannot meet. The standard for deity is stated outright, so that we may know that you are gods.
This site's exposition
Tell the former things
The test has two halves. The idols must tell what the former things meant and what outcome they led to, or announce what is coming. Barnes lists the later places where the LORD rests His claim to be God on the same test, Isaiah 44:7-8, 45:3-7 and 46:9-10.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers3 voices
(Verse 22) Let them come near and declare to us what has happened: declare the past events, and we will set our hearts and know their outcome; and reveal to us what is yet to come. LXX: Let them draw near and announce to us what is to come: or tell us the former things that have happened, and we will set our minds on them: and we will know the last things. 'Tell us,' he says, 'either about the past or the future, and demonstrate your power from the events of things.'
Another indication is that idols are not gods, because they can neither do good nor do evil. Not that idols, or demons sitting on idols, have often not done evil; but rather, unless power has been granted to them by the Lord, they cannot do this. Finally, they implore in the Gospel to have power over a herd of pigs (Matthew VIII). And in Job we read, without the Lord's command (Diabolus) that a holy man was not even able to destroy animals and possessions. And it is not surprising that this is true about God, for the Apostle Paul also teaches that certain people belong to Satan, so that they may learn not to blaspheme. Or this may be said, that mute images of humans and insensible things are neither able to do good nor evil, nor to know the past nor the future, because they are made out of nothing and out of that which does not exist, and not they themselves, but rather the one who worships them, is deserving of abomination. For the idols of the nations are silver and gold, the work of human hands. They have mouths, but do not speak; they have eyes, but do not see (Psalm 115: 4-6). So how can they know and proclaim the future or recount the past, and do good or evil, when they have no understanding like humans and animals? It does not matter what material they appear to be made of, since they are all earthly.
If you do not want to demonstrate your personal strength from your knowledge or prescience, then do so through a demonstration of your power. Demonstrate your power, whether it be kind or punishing. "It is I who will put to death and I who will …
The Medieval Church1 voice
Second, he sets out a twofold argument: one is taken from divine knowledge, which knew all things fully, past and future, and which the idols do not have: tell us the former things what they were: for all things were known to the Lord God, …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
1 Keep silence before me, O islands; and let the people renew their strength: let them come near; then let them speak: let us come near together to judgment. 2 Who raised up the righteous man from the east, called him to his foot, gave the nations before him, and made him rule over kings? he gave them as the dust to his sword, and as driven stubble to his bow.
quarantine:scripture (2026-07-29) — verbatim-scripture
2 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
Let them bring them forth,....
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
what shall happen--"Let them bring near and declare future contingencies" [HORSLEY]. former things . . . the latter end of them--show what former predictions the idols have given, that we may compare the event ("latter end") with them; or give new prophecies ("declare things to come") (Isa 42:9), [MAURER].
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase
The words behind it
17 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| יַגִּ֙ישׁוּ֙ | yagishu | let them bring [them] near | H5066 → | 125 times |
| וְיַגִּ֣ידוּ | veyagidu | and they may tell | H5046 → | 370 times |
| לָ֔נוּ | lanu | to us | ||
| אֵ֖ת | ʾet | <obj.> | H853 → | 10935 times |
| אֲשֶׁ֣ר | ʾasher | [the things] which | H834 → | 5497 times |
| תִּקְרֶ֑ינָה | tikreinah | they will happen | H7136 → | |
| הָרִאשֹׁנ֣וֹת׀ | harishonot | the former [things] | H7223 → | 182 times |
| מָ֣ה | mah | what? | H4100 → | 752 times |
| הֵ֗נָּה | henah | [were] they | H2007 → | |
| הַגִּ֜ידוּ | hagidu | tell | H5046 → | 370 times |
| וְנָשִׂ֤ימָה | venasimah | so let us take [them] | H7760 → | 584 times |
| לִבֵּ֙נוּ֙ | libenu | heart our | H3820 → | 595 times |
| וְנֵדְעָ֣ה | venedeah | so we may know | H3045 → | 945 times |
| אַחֲרִיתָ֔ן | ʾacharitan | end their | H319 → | 61 times |
| א֥וֹ | ʾo | or | H176 → | 321 times |
| הַבָּא֖וֹת | habaot | the coming [things] | H935 → | 2568 times |
| הַשְׁמִיעֻֽנוּ׃ | hashmiunu | proclaim to us | H8085 → | 1159 times |
יַגִּ֙ישׁוּ֙let them bring [them] near
yagishuH5066 →125 times
וְיַגִּ֣ידוּand they may tell
veyagiduH5046 →370 times
לָ֔נוּto us
lanu
אֵ֖ת<obj.>
ʾetH853 →10935 times
אֲשֶׁ֣ר[the things] which
ʾasherH834 →5497 times
תִּקְרֶ֑ינָהthey will happen
tikreinahH7136 →
הָרִאשֹׁנ֣וֹת׀the former [things]
harishonotH7223 →182 times
מָ֣הwhat?
mahH4100 →752 times
הֵ֗נָּה[were] they
henahH2007 →
הַגִּ֜ידוּtell
hagiduH5046 →370 times
וְנָשִׂ֤ימָהso let us take [them]
venasimahH7760 →584 times
לִבֵּ֙נוּ֙heart our
libenuH3820 →595 times
וְנֵדְעָ֣הso we may know
venedeahH3045 →945 times
אַחֲרִיתָ֔ןend their
ʾacharitanH319 →61 times
א֥וֹor
ʾoH176 →321 times
הַבָּא֖וֹתthe coming [things]
habaotH935 →2568 times
הַשְׁמִיעֻֽנוּ׃proclaim to us
hashmiunuH8085 →1159 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
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.’
it leads to
- Proverbs 19:21
Many plans are in a man’s heart, but the purpose of the LORD will prevail.
- Isaiah 45:21
Speak 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…
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Psalms 33:11
The counsel of the LORD stands forever, the purposes of His heart to all generations.
- Ephesians 1:9–11
And He has made known to us the mystery of His will according to His good pleasure, which He purposed in Christ
- Isaiah 43:13
Even from eternity I am He, and none can deliver out of My hand. When I act, who can reverse it?”
- Proverbs 19:21
Through
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…
it leads to
- Isaiah 43:9
All the nations gather together and the peoples assemble. Who among them can declare this, and proclaim to us the former things? Let them present their witnesses to vindicate them, so that others may…
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Isaiah 45:5
I am the LORD, and there is no other; there is no God but Me. I will equip you for battle, though you have not known Me,
- Isaiah 43:9
Through
John 13:19I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it comes to pass, you will believe that I am He.
it leads to
- Isaiah 43:10
“You are My witnesses,” declares the LORD, “and My servant whom I have chosen, so that you may consider and believe Me and understand that I am He. Before Me no god was formed,…
- Isaiah 43:10
Where this verse is studied
About Isaiah
This page draws on 9 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Albert Barnes, Notes on the Book of Isaiah; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; Jerome, Commentary on Isaiah; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Theodoret of Cyrus, COMMENTARY ON ISAIAH 12:41.24 and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Isaiah.