6 They lavish H2107 gold H2091 out of the bag, H3599 and weigh H8254 silver H3701 in the balance, H7070 and hire H7936 a goldsmith; H6884 and he maketh H6213 it a god: H410 they fall down, H5456 yea, they worship. H7812
And Aaron H175 said H559 unto them, Break off H6561 the golden H2091 earrings, H5141 which are in the ears H241 of your wives, H802 of your sons, H1121 and of your daughters, H1323 and bring H935 them unto me. And all the people H5971 brake off H6561 the golden H2091 earrings H5141 which were in their ears, H241 and brought H935 them unto Aaron. H175 And he received H3947 them at their hand, H3027 and fashioned H6696 it with a graving tool, H2747 after he had made H6213 it a molten H4541 calf: H5695 and they said, H559 These be thy gods, H430 O Israel, H3478 which brought H5927 thee up out of the land H776 of Egypt. H4714
And when he had restored H7725 the eleven hundred H505 H3967 shekels of silver H3701 to his mother, H517 his mother H517 said, H559 I had wholly H6942 dedicated H6942 the silver H3701 unto the LORD H3068 from my hand H3027 for my son, H1121 to make H6213 a graven image H6459 and a molten image: H4541 now therefore I will restore H7725 it unto thee. Yet he restored H7725 the money H3701 unto his mother; H517 and his mother H517 took H3947 two hundred H3967 shekels of silver, H3701 and gave H5414 them to the founder, H6884 who made H6213 thereof a graven image H6459 and a molten image: H4541 and they were in the house H1004 of Micah. H4321
Whereupon the king H4428 took counsel, H3289 and made H6213 two H8147 calves H5695 of gold, H2091 and said H559 unto them, It is too much H7227 for you to go up H5927 to Jerusalem: H3389 behold thy gods, H430 O Israel, H3478 which brought thee up H5927 out of the land H776 of Egypt. H4714
Their land H776 also is full H4390 of idols; H457 they worship H7812 the work H4639 of their own hands, H3027 that which their own fingers H676 have made: H6213
The workman H2796 melteth H5258 a graven image, H6459 and the goldsmith H6884 spreadeth H7554 it over with gold, H2091 and casteth H6884 silver H3701 chains. H7577 He that is so impoverished H5533 H5534 that he hath no oblation H8641 chooseth H977 a tree H6086 that will not rot; H7537 he seeketh H1245 unto him a cunning H2450 workman H2796 to prepare H3559 a graven image, H6459 that shall not be moved. H4131
They helped H5826 every one H376 his neighbour; H7453 and every one said H559 to his brother, H251 Be of good courage. H2388 So the carpenter H2796 encouraged H2388 the goldsmith, H6884 and he that smootheth H2505 with the hammer H6360 him that smote H1986 the anvil, H6471 saying, H559 It is ready H2896 for the sodering: H1694 and he fastened H2388 it with nails, H4548 that it should not be moved. H4131
The smith H1270 H2796 with the tongs H4621 both worketh H6466 in the coals, H6352 and fashioneth H3335 it with hammers, H4717 and worketh H6466 it with the strength H3581 of his arms: H2220 yea, he is hungry, H7457 and his strength H3581 faileth: H369 he drinketh H8354 no water, H4325 and is faint. H3286 The carpenter H2796 H6086 stretcheth out H5186 his rule; H6957 he marketh it out H8388 with a line; H8279 he fitteth H6213 it with planes, H4741 and he marketh it out H8388 with the compass, H4230 and maketh H6213 it after the figure H8403 of a man, H376 according to the beauty H8597 of a man; H120 that it may remain H3427 in the house. H1004 He heweth him down H3772 cedars, H730 and taketh H3947 the cypress H8645 and the oak, H437 which he strengtheneth H553 for himself among the trees H6086 of the forest: H3293 he planteth H5193 an ash, H766 and the rain H1653 doth nourish H1431 it. Then shall it be for a man H120 to burn: H1197 for he will take H3947 thereof, and warm H2552 himself; yea, he kindleth H5400 it, and baketh H644 bread; H3899 yea, he maketh H6466 a god, H410 and worshippeth H7812 it; he maketh H6213 it a graven image, H6459 and falleth down H5456 thereto. He burneth H8313 part H2677 thereof in H1119 the fire; H784 with part H2677 thereof he eateth H398 flesh; H1320 he roasteth H6740 roast, H6748 and is satisfied: H7646 yea, he warmeth H2552 himself, and saith, H559 Aha, H1889 I am warm, H2552 I have seen H7200 the fire: H217 And the residue H7611 thereof he maketh H6213 a god, H410 even his graven image: H6459 he falleth down H5456 unto it, and worshippeth H7812 it, and prayeth H6419 unto it, and saith, H559 Deliver H5337 me; for thou art my god. H410 They have not known H3045 nor understood: H995 for he hath shut H2902 their eyes, H5869 that they cannot see; H7200 and their hearts, H3826 that they cannot understand. H7919 And none considereth H7725 in his heart, H3820 neither is there knowledge H1847 nor understanding H8394 to say, H559 I have burned H8313 part H2677 of it in H1119 the fire; H784 yea, also I have baked H644 bread H3899 upon the coals H1513 thereof; I have roasted H6740 flesh, H1320 and eaten H398 it: and shall I make H6213 the residue H3499 thereof an abomination? H8441 shall I fall down H5456 to the stock H944 of a tree? H6086
Assemble H6908 yourselves and come; H935 draw near H5066 together, H3162 ye that are escaped H6412 of the nations: H1471 they have no knowledge H3045 that set up H5375 the wood H6086 of their graven image, H6459 and pray H6419 unto a god H410 that cannot save. H3467
For the customs H2708 of the people H5971 are vain: H1892 for one cutteth H3772 a tree H6086 out of the forest, H3293 the work H4639 of the hands H3027 of the workman, H2796 with the axe. H4621 They deck H3302 it with silver H3701 and with gold; H2091 they fasten H2388 it with nails H4548 and with hammers, H4717 that it move H6328 not.
Silver H3701 spread into plates H7554 is brought H935 from Tarshish, H8659 and gold H2091 from Uphaz, H210 the work H4639 of the workman, H2796 and of the hands H3027 of the founder: H6884 blue H8504 and purple H713 is their clothing: H3830 they are all the work H4639 of cunning H2450 men.
Every man H120 is brutish H1197 in his knowledge: H1847 every founder H6884 is confounded H3001 by the graven image: H6459 for his molten image H5262 is falsehood, H8267 and there is no breath H7307 in them.
That at what time H5732 ye hear H8086 the sound H7032 of the cornet, H7162 flute, H4953 harp, H7030 H7030 sackbut, H5443 psaltery, H6460 dulcimer, H5481 and all H3606 kinds H2178 of musick, H2170 ye fall down H5308 and worship H5457 the golden H1722 image H6755 that Nebuchadnezzar H5020 the king H4430 hath set up: H6966 And whoso H4479 falleth H5308 not H3809 down H5308 and worshippeth H5457 shall the same hour H8160 be cast H7412 into the midst H1459 of a burning H3345 fiery H5135 furnace. H861 Therefore H6903 H1836 at that time, H2166 when H1768 all H3606 the people H5972 heard H8086 the sound H7032 of the cornet, H7162 flute, H4953 harp, H7030 H7030 sackbut, H5443 psaltery, H6460 and all H3606 kinds H2178 of musick, H2170 all H3606 the people, H5972 the nations, H524 and the languages, H3961 fell down H5308 and worshipped H5457 the golden H1722 image H6755 that Nebuchadnezzar H5020 the king H4430 had set up. H6966 Wherefore H6903 H3606 at that H1836 time H2166 certain H1400 Chaldeans H3779 came near, H7127 and accused H7170 H399 the Jews. H3062 They spake H6032 and said H560 to the king H4430 Nebuchadnezzar, H5020 O king, H4430 live H2418 for ever. H5957 Thou, H607 O king, H4430 hast made H7761 a decree, H2942 that every H3606 man H606 that shall hear H8086 the sound H7032 of the cornet, H7162 flute, H4953 harp, H7030 H7030 sackbut, H5443 psaltery, H6460 and dulcimer, H5481 H5481 and all H3606 kinds H2178 of musick, H2170 shall fall down H5308 and worship H5457 the golden H1722 image: H6755 And whoso H4479 falleth H5308 not H3809 down H5308 and worshippeth, H5457 that he should be cast H7412 into the midst H1459 of a burning H3345 fiery H5135 furnace. H861 There are H383 certain H1400 Jews H3062 whom H3487 thou hast set H4483 over H5922 the affairs H5673 of the province H4083 of Babylon, H895 Shadrach, H7715 Meshach, H4336 and Abednego; H5665 these H479 men, H1400 O king, H4430 have H7761 not H3809 regarded H2942 thee: H5922 they serve H6399 not H3809 thy gods, H426 nor H3809 worship H5457 the golden H1722 image H6755 which thou hast set up. H6966 Then H116 Nebuchadnezzar H5020 in his rage H7266 and fury H2528 commanded H560 to bring H858 Shadrach, H7715 Meshach, H4336 and Abednego. H5665 Then H116 they brought H858 these H479 men H1400 before H6925 the king. H4430 Nebuchadnezzar H5020 spake H6032 and said H560 unto them, Is it true, H6656 O Shadrach, H7715 Meshach, H4336 and Abednego, H5665 do not H3809 ye H383 serve H6399 my gods, H426 nor H3809 worship H5457 the golden H1722 image H6755 which I have set H6966 up? Now H3705 if H2006 ye be H383 ready H6263 that at what time H5732 ye hear H8086 the sound H7032 of the cornet, H7162 flute, H4953 harp, H7030 H7030 sackbut, H5443 psaltery, H6460 and dulcimer, H5481 and all H3606 kinds H2178 of musick, H2170 ye fall down H5308 and worship H5457 the image H6755 which I have made; H5648 well: but if H2006 ye worship H5457 not, H3809 ye shall be cast H7412 the same hour H8160 into the midst H1459 of a burning H3345 fiery H5135 furnace; H861 and who H4479 is that God H426 that shall deliver H7804 you out of H4481 my hands? H3028
They have set up kings, H4427 but not by me: they have made princes, H7786 and I knew H3045 it not: of their silver H3701 and their gold H2091 have they made H6213 them idols, H6091 that they may be cut off. H3772 Thy calf, H5695 O Samaria, H8111 hath cast H2186 thee off; mine anger H639 is kindled H2734 against them: how long will it be ere H3808 they attain H3201 to innocency? H5356 For from Israel H3478 was it also: the workman H2796 made H6213 it; therefore it is not God: H430 but the calf H5695 of Samaria H8111 shall be broken in pieces. H7616
What profiteth H3276 the graven image H6459 that the maker H3335 thereof hath graven H6458 it; the molten image, H4541 and a teacher H3384 of lies, H8267 that the maker H3335 of his work H3336 trusteth H982 therein, to make H6213 dumb H483 idols? H457 Woe H1945 unto him that saith H559 to the wood, H6086 Awake; H6974 to the dumb H1748 stone, H68 Arise, H5782 it shall teach! H3384 Behold, it is laid H8610 over with gold H2091 and silver, H3701 and there is no breath H7307 at all in the midst H7130 of it. But the LORD H3068 is in his holy H6944 temple: H1964 let all the earth H776 keep silence H2013 before H6440 him.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Isaiah 46
Commentary on Isaiah 46 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 46
Isa 46:1-13. Babylon's Idols Could Not Save Themselves, Much Less Her. But God Can and Will Save Israel: Cyrus Is His Instrument.
1. Bel—the same as the Phœnician Baal, that is, lord, the chief god of Babylon; to it was dedicated the celebrated tower of Babylon, in the center of one of the two parts into which the city was divided, the palace being in the center of the other. Identical with the sun, worshipped on turrets, housetops, and other high places, so as to be nearer the heavenly hosts (Saba) (Jer 19:13; 32:29; Zep 1:5). Gesenius identifies Bel with the planet Jupiter, which, with the planet Venus (under the name Astarte or Astaroth), was worshipped in the East as the god of fortune, the most propitious star to be born under (see on Isa 65:11). According to the Apocryphal book, Bel and the Dragon, Bel was cast down by Cyrus.
boweth … stoopeth—falleth prostrate (Isa 10:4; 1Sa 5:3, 4; Ps 20:8).
Nebo—the planet Mercury or Hermes, in astrology. The scribe of heaven, answering to the Egyptian Anubis. The extensive worship of it is shown by the many proper names compounded of it: Nebuchadnezzar. Nebuzar-adan, Nabonassar, &c.
were upon—that is, were a burden (supplied from the following clause) upon. It was customary to transport the gods of the vanquished to the land of the conquerors, who thought thereby the more effectually to keep down the subject people (1Sa 5:1, &c.; Jer 48:7; 49:3; Da 11:8).
carriages—in the Old English sense of the things carried, the images borne by you: the lading (Ac 21:15), "carriages," not the vehicles, but the baggage. Or, the images which used to be carried by you formerly in your solemn processions [Maurer].
were heavy loaden—rather, are put as a load on the beasts of burden [Maurer]. Horsley translates, "They who should have been your carriers (as Jehovah is to His people, Isa 46:3, 4) are become burdens" (see on Isa 46:4).
2. deliver—from the enemies' hands.
burden—their images laid on the beasts (Isa 46:1).
themselves—the gods, here also distinguished from their images.
3. in contrast to what precedes: Babylon's idols, so far from bearing its people safely are themselves borne off, a burden to the laden beast; but Jehovah bears His people in safety even from the womb to old age (Isa 63:9; De 32:11; Ps 71:6, 18). God compares Himself to a nurse tenderly carrying a child; contrast Moses' language (Nu 11:12).
4. old age—As "your"—"you"—"you," are not in the Hebrew, the sentiment is more general than English Version, though of course it includes the Jews from the infancy to the more advanced age of their history (Isa 47:6).
I am he—that is, the same (Ps 102:27; Joh 8:24; Heb 13:8).
I will bear … carry—Not only do I not need to be borne and carried Myself, as the idols (Isa 46:1).
5. (Isa 40:18, 25).
6. (Isa 40:19, 20; 41:7.) They lavish gold out of their purses and spare no expense for their idol. Their profuseness shames the niggardliness of professors who worship God with what cost them nothing. Sin is always a costly service.
7. cry … can … not … save—(Isa 45:20, with which contrast Isa 45:19).
8. show yourselves men—Renounce the childishness of idolatry as shown in what precedes (1Co 14:20; 16:13; Eph 4:14). In order to be manly we must be godly; for man was made "in the image of God," and only rises to his true dignity when joined to God; virtue is derived from the Latin vir, "a man."
bring … to mind—rather, "lay it to heart."
transgressors—addressed to the idolaters among the Jews.
9. former—namely, proofs of the sole Godship of Jehovah, from predictions fulfilled, and interpositions of God in behalf of Israel (Isa 45:5).
10. (Isa 45:21; 41:22, 23; 44:26).
yet—not in the Hebrew. Translate, "What had not been done" [Horsley].
do all my pleasure—(Isa 53:10; Ro 9:19).
11. ravenous bird—Cyrus so called on account of the rapidity of his marches from the distant regions of Persia to pounce on his prey (see on Isa 41:2; Isa 41:25; Jer 49:22; Eze 17:3). The standard of Cyrus, too, was a golden eagle on a spear (see the heathen historian, Xenophon, 7, where almost the same word is used, aetos, as here, ayit).
executeth my counsel—(Isa 44:28; 45:13). Babylon represents, mystically, the apostate faction: the destruction of its idols symbolizes the future general extirpation of all idolatry and unbelief.
purposed … also do it—(Isa 43:13).
12. stout-hearted—stubborn in resisting God (Ps 76:5; Ac 7:51).
far from righteousness—(Isa 59:9; Hab 2:4).
13. near—antithetical to "far" (Isa 46:12; Isa 51:5; 56:1; 61:10, 11; Ro 10:6-8).
righteousness—answering to "salvation" in the parallel clause; therefore it means here, "my righteous deliverance"; righteous, because proving the truth of God's promises, and so contrived as to not compromise, but vindicate, His righteousness (Isa 42:21; Ro 3:26).
Zion … my glory—rather, "I will give salvation in Zion; to Israel (I will give) my glory" [Horsley]. (Isa 63:11; Ps 14:7; Lu 2:32).