Isaiah 42:17
in Isaiah 42But those who trust in idols and say to molten images, ‘You are our gods!’ will be turned back in utter shame.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
They shall be turned back, they shall be utterly put to shame, that trust in graven images, that say unto molten images, Ye are our gods.
KJV
They shall be turned back, they shall be greatly ashamed, that trust in graven images, that say to the molten images, Ye are our gods.
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This verse in Isaiah 42
Commentary
8 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
They shall be turned back - The phrases, to be turned back, and to be suffused with shame, are frequently used in the Scriptures to denote a state of disappointment in regard to an object of trust or confidence, and especially of those who had trusted in idols (see Psa 35:4; Psa 70:3; Psa 97:7; compare the notes at Isa 1:29; Isa 19:9; Isa 37:27; see also Eze 16:52).
This site's exposition
I will lead the blind by a way
on Isaiah 42:16-17
The blind of verse 7 return as a people led, I will lead the blind by a way they did not know. A promise is added, I will not forsake them. Those who say to molten images, You are our gods, will be turned back in utter shame.
This site's exposition
those who trust in idols
Barnes shows that turned back and put to shame is the set phrase of Scripture for trust disappointed, citing Psalms 35:4, 70:3 and 97:7. Matthew Henry names the onlookers. Babylon would see the Jews set free by a God worshipped without images.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
(Verse 17) They have turned back: let them be confounded with confusion, that trust in idols, that say to molten things: You are our gods. LXX: but they have turned backward; you will be confused with confusion, you who trust in idols, who say that they are gods. But when this was said, the Jewish people turned backward so as not to believe the promise, and in their errors they were confused and neglected the pledge of God, whom they had believed in before idols.
The Medieval Church1 voice
Concerning the first, he does two things: first, he shows their ingratitude: these things, namely, the aforementioned benefits. They are turned back, from me: you have forsaken me, says the Lord, you are gone backward (Jer 15:6); second, he calls down confusion on them: let …
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
The Babylonians shall when they see how the Jews, who despise their images, are owned and delivered by the God they worship without images, and the Gentiles when they see how idolatry falls before the preaching of the gospel, is scattered like darkness before the light of the sun, and melts like snow before its heat.
Called thee - To declare my righteousness, or faithfulness. With-hold - Will give thee counsel and strength for the work. Give thee - To be the mediator in whom my covenant of grace is confirmed with mankind.
They shall be turned back,....
The words behind it
10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| נָסֹ֤גוּ | nasogu | they will be turned back | H5472 → | |
| אָחוֹר֙ | ʾachor | backwards | H268 → | 41 times |
| יֵבֹ֣שׁוּ | yevoshu | they will be ashamed | H954 → | 127 times |
| בֹ֔שֶׁת | voshet | shame | H1322 → | 30 times |
| הַבֹּטְחִ֖ים | habotechim | those [who] trust | H982 → | 120 times |
| בַּפָּ֑סֶל | bapasel | in <the> idol | H6459 → | 31 times |
| הָאֹמְרִ֥ים | haomerim | those [who] say | H559 → | 5305 times |
| לְמַסֵּכָ֖ה | lemasekhah | to a molten image | H4541 → | 28 times |
| אַתֶּ֥ם | ʾatem | you | H859 → | 1094 times |
| אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ׃ ס | ʾeloheinu | [are] god our | H430 → | 2601 times |
נָסֹ֤גוּthey will be turned back
nasoguH5472 →
אָחוֹר֙backwards
ʾachorH268 →41 times
יֵבֹ֣שׁוּthey will be ashamed
yevoshuH954 →127 times
בֹ֔שֶׁתshame
voshetH1322 →30 times
הַבֹּטְחִ֖יםthose [who] trust
habotechimH982 →120 times
בַּפָּ֑סֶלin <the> idol
bapaselH6459 →31 times
הָאֹמְרִ֥יםthose [who] say
haomerimH559 →5305 times
לְמַסֵּכָ֖הto a molten image
lemasekhahH4541 →28 times
אַתֶּ֥םyou
ʾatemH859 →1094 times
אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ׃ ס[are] god our
ʾeloheinuH430 →2601 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
Psalms 97:7All worshipers of images are put to shame— those who boast in idols. Worship Him, all you gods!
it leads to
- Jeremiah 10:14
Every man is senseless and devoid of knowledge; every goldsmith is put to shame by his idols. For his molten images are a fraud, and there is no breath in them.
- Hebrews 1:6
And again, when God brings His firstborn into the world, He says: “Let all God’s angels worship Him.”
- Revelation 5:11–14
Then I looked, and I heard the voices of many angels and living creatures and elders encircling the throne, and their number was myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands.
- Leviticus 26:1
“You must not make idols for yourselves or set up a carved image or sacred pillar; you must not place a sculpted stone in your land to bow down to it. For I am…
- Jeremiah 10:14
Through
Isaiah 1:29Surely you will be ashamed of the sacred oaks in which you have delighted; you will be embarrassed by the gardens that you have chosen.
it leads to
- Isaiah 65:3
to a people who continually provoke Me to My face, sacrificing in the gardens and burning incense on altars of brick,
- Isaiah 57:5
who burn with lust among the oaks, under every luxuriant tree, who slaughter your children in the valleys, under the clefts of the rocks?
- Isaiah 66:17
“Those who consecrate and purify themselves to enter the groves—to follow one in the center of those who eat the flesh of swine and vermin and rats—will perish together,” declares the LORD.
- Isaiah 65:3
Through
Isaiah 44:11Behold, all his companions will be put to shame, for the craftsmen themselves are only human. Let them all assemble and take their stand; they will all be brought to terror and shame.
it leads to
- Isaiah 45:16
They will all be put to shame and humiliated; the makers of idols will depart together in disgrace.
- Isaiah 45:16
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies3
On this verse
On this chapter
About Isaiah
This page draws on Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Jerome, Commentary on Isaiah; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Isaiah.