Isaiah 41:23

Christian Standard Bible ®

Tell us the coming events,then we will know that you are gods.Indeed, do something good or bad,then we will be in awe when we see it.

Parallel Translations

Hebrew Names Version
Declare the things that are to come hereafter, that we may know that you are gods: yes, do good, or do evil, that we may be dismayed, and see it together.

King James Version
Shew the things that are to come hereafter, that we may know that ye are gods: yea, do good, or do evil, that we may be dismayed, and behold it together.

English Standard Version
Tell us what is to come hereafter, that we may know that you are gods; do good, or do harm, that we may be dismayed and terrified.

New American Standard Bible
Declare the things that are going to come afterward, So that we may know that you are gods; Indeed, do good or evil, that we may be afraid and fear together.

New Century Version
Tell us what is coming next so we will believe that you are gods. Do something, whether it is good or bad, and make us afraid.

Amplified Bible
Tell us the things that are to come afterward, That we may know that you are gods; Indeed, you should do something good or do evil, that we may be afraid and fear [you] together [as we observe the miracle].

World English Bible
Declare the things that are to come hereafter, that we may know that you are gods: yes, do good, or do evil, that we may be dismayed, and see it together.

Geneva Bible (1587)
Shewe the things that are to come hereafter, that we may know that you are gods: yea, doe good or doe euill, that we may declare it, and beholde it together.

Legacy Standard Bible
Declare the things that are to come afterward,That we may know that you are gods;Indeed, do good or evil, that we may anxiously look about us and fear together.

Berean Standard Bible
Tell us the things that are to come, so that we may know that you are gods. Yes, do something good or evil, that we may look on together in dismay.

Contemporary English Version
Prove that you are gods by making your predictions come true. Do something good or evil, so we can be amazed and terrified.

Complete Jewish Bible
state what will happen in the future, so that we can know you are gods. At least, do something, either good or bad — anything, to make us awestruck and fearful!

Darby Translation
declare the things that are to happen hereafter, that we may know that ye are gods; yea, do good, or do evil, that we may be astonished, and behold it together.

Easy-to-Read Version
What signs did you give in the past to prove that you really are gods? Do something! Do anything, good or bad, so that we can see that you are alive. Then we might fear and respect you.

George Lamsa Translation
Show us the wonders that are to come hereafter, that we may know that you are gods; yea, do good, or do evil, that we may relate it and behold it together.

Good News Translation
Tell us what the future holds— then we will know that you are gods! Do something good or bring some disaster; fill us with fear and awe!

Lexham English Bible
tell us the things coming hereafter, that we may know that you are gods. Indeed, do good or do evil, that we may be afraid and see together.

Literal Translation
Reveal the near things hereafter, so that we may know that you are gods. Yea, do good, or do evil, that we may gaze and see together.

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Ether, let the shewe vs thinges for to come, and tel vs what shalbe done herafter: so shal we knowe, that they be goddes. Shewe somthinge, ether good or bad, so wil we both knowlege ye same, & tel it out.

American Standard Version
Declare the things that are to come hereafter, that we may know that ye are gods: yea, do good, or do evil, that we may be dismayed, and behold it together.

Bible in Basic English
Give us word of what will be after this, so that we may be certain that you are gods: yes, do good or do evil, so that we may all see it and be surprised.

JPS Old Testament (1917)
Declare the things that are to come hereafter, that we may know that ye are gods; yea, do good, or do evil, that we may be dismayed, and behold it together.

King James Version (1611)
Shewe the things that are to come hereafter, that wee may knowe that ye are gods: yea doe good or doe euill, that we may be dismayed, and behold it together.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
Either shewe vs thinges for to come, and tell vs what shall be done hereafter, so shall we know that ye are gods: do something either good or bad, so wyl we both knowledge the same, and tell it out.

Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
tell us, declare ye to us the things that are coming on at the last time, and we shall know that ye are gods: do good, and do evil, and we shall wonder, and see at the same time

English Revised Version
Declare the things that are to come hereafter, that we may know that ye are gods: yea, do good, or do evil, that we may be dismayed, and behold it together.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Telle ye what thingis schulen come in tyme to comynge, and we schulen wite, that ye ben goddis; al so do ye wel, ethir yuele, if ye moun; and speke we, and see we togidere.

Update Bible Version
Declare the things that are to come hereafter, that we may know that you are gods: yes, do good, or do evil, that we may be dismayed and watch it together.

Webster's Bible Translation
Show the things that are to come hereafter, that we may know that ye [are] gods: yes, do good, or do evil, that we may be dismayed, and behold [it] together.

New English Translation
Predict how future events will turn out, so we might know you are gods. Yes, do something good or bad, so we might be frightened and in awe.

New King James Version
Show the things that are to come hereafter, That we may know that you are gods; Yes, do good or do evil, That we may be dismayed and see it together.

New Living Translation
Yes, tell us what will occur in the days ahead. Then we will know you are gods. In fact, do anything—good or bad! Do something that will amaze and frighten us.

New Life Bible
Tell us what will happen after this, that we may know that you are gods. Yes, do good or bad, that we may together be afraid and fear.

New Revised Standard
Tell us what is to come hereafter, that we may know that you are gods; do good, or do harm, that we may be afraid and terrified.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Tell ye the events which shall be here-after, That we may perceive that gods, ye are, - Surely ye must do something - good or bad, That we may be amazed and behold it, at once.

Douay-Rheims Bible
Shew the things that are to come hereafter, and we shall know that ye are gods. Do ye also good or evil, if you can: and let us speak, and see together.

Revised Standard Version
Tell us what is to come hereafter, that we may know that you are gods; do good, or do harm, that we may be dismayed and terrified.

Young's Literal Translation
Declare the things that are coming hereafter, And we know that ye [are] gods, Yea, ye may do good or do evil, And we look around and see [it] together.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
Declare the things that are going to come afterward, That we may know that you are gods; Indeed, do good or evil, that we may anxiously look about us and fear together.

Contextual Overview

²¹“Submit your case,” says the Lord.“Present your arguments,” says Jacob’s King. ²²“Let them come and tell uswhat will happen.Tell us the past events,so that we may reflect on themand know the outcome,or tell us the future. ²³Tell us the coming events,then we will know that you are gods.Indeed, do something good or bad,then we will be in awe when we see it.²⁴Look, you are nothingand your work is worthless.Anyone who chooses you is detestable. ²⁵“I have stirred up one from the north, and he has come,one from the east who invokes my name.He will march over rulers as if they were mud,like a potter who treads the clay. ²⁶Who told about this from the beginning,so that we might know,and from times past,so that we might say, ‘He is right’?No one announced it,no one told it,no one heard your words. ²⁷I was the first to say to Zion,‘Look! Here they are!’And I gave Jerusalem a herald with good news. ²⁸When I look, there is no one;there is no counselor among them;when I ask them, they have nothing to say. ²⁹Look, all of them are a delusion;their works are nonexistent;their images are wind and emptiness.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

that we may know: Isaiah 42:9, Isaiah 44:7, Isaiah 44:8, Isaiah 45:8, Isaiah 46:9, Isaiah 46:10, John 13:19, Acts 15:18

do good: Isaiah 45:7, Isaiah 46:7, Jeremiah 10:5

Reciprocal: Genesis 41:25 - God Judges 6:31 - if he be 1 Samuel 12:21 - cannot profit 1 Kings 18:27 - for he is a god 2 Kings 1:6 - Thus saith Isaiah 19:12 - let them Isaiah 41:26 - righteous Isaiah 45:3 - that thou Isaiah 45:21 - who hath declared Daniel 2:9 - I shall Daniel 2:28 - that revealeth Daniel 10:21 - I will Matthew 12:17 - it John 16:4 - that when Revelation 5:2 - Who

Cross-References

Genesis 41:6
After them, seven heads of grain, thin and scorched by the east wind, sprouted up.

Genesis 41:7
The thin heads of grain swallowed up the seven plump, full ones. Then Pharaoh woke up, and it was only a dream.

2 Kings 19:26
Their inhabitants have become powerless,dismayed, and ashamed.They are plants of the field,tender grass,grass on the rooftops,blasted by the east wind.

Hosea 8:7
Indeed, they sow the windand reap the whirlwind.There is no standing grain;what sprouts fails to yield flour.Even if they did,foreigners would swallow it up.

Hosea 9:16
Ephraim is struck down;their roots are withered;they cannot bear fruit.Even if they bear children,I will kill the precious offspring of their wombs.

Hosea 13:15
Although he flourishes among his brothers,an east wind will come,a wind from the Lord rising up from the desert.His water source will fail,and his spring will run dry.The wind will plunder the treasuryof every precious item.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Show the things that are to come hereafter,.... From henceforward to the consummation of all things: so the Targum,

"show what shall come to the end;''

or at the end, the end of all things; or show wonderful things, which shall be hereafter; so Jarchi interprets the word; a word like this having the signification of signs and wonders:

that we may know that ye are gods; as ye are said to be; that we may own and acknowledge you to be such, there being this clear proof of it, if it can be made out, foretelling things to come, both near and far off. The Targum is,

"that we may know whether ye worship idols, in whom there is any profit;''

as if the words were spoken not to the idols, but to the worshippers of them: "yea, do good, or do evil"; not in a moral, but in a civil sense; do good to your friends, to your worshippers; bestow favours upon them, as I do on mine; or inflict punishment on your enemies, such as despise your deity, and will not worship you, as I do on those that despise me, and will not regard my service and worship:

that we may be dismayed, and behold it together: that when we see your deity, and are convinced of it by the above proofs, we may be amazed and astonished, as not expecting such proof, and be confounded, and have no more to object unto it. The Targum is,

"that we may consider and reason together;''

and bring the matter in controversy to an issue, as it is in the next verse.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

That we may know that ye are gods - The prediction of future events is the highest evidence of omniscience, and of course of divinity. In this passage it is admitted that if they could do it, it would prove that they were worthy of adoration; and it is demanded, that if they were gods they should be able to make such a prediction as would demonstrate that they were invested with a divine nature.

Yea, do good, or do evil - Do something; show that you have some power; either defend your friends, or prostrate your foes; accomplish something - anything, good or bad, that shall prove that you have power. This is said in opposition to the character which is usually given to idols in the Scriptures - that they were dumb, deaf, dead, inactive, powerless (see Psalms 95:1-11) The command here to ‘do evil,’ means to punish their enemies, or to inflict vengeance on their foes; and the idea is, that they had no power to do anything; either to do good to their worshippers, or harm to their enemies; and that thus they showed that they were no gods. The same idea is expressed in Jeremiah 10:3-5 : ‘They (idols) are upright as the palm-tree, but speak not; they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them, for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good.’

That we may be dismayed - (See the note at Isaiah 41:10). The word ‘we’ here refers to those who were the friends and worshippers of Yahweh. ‘That I, Yahweh, and my friends and worshippers, may be alarmed, and afraid of what idols may be able to do.’ God and his people were regarded as the foes of idols, and God here calls on them to prove that there is any reason why he and his people should be afraid of their power.

And behold it together - That we may all see it; that I and my people may have full demonstration of your power.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Isaiah 41:23. That we may be dismayed, and behold it together - "Then shall we be struck at once with admiration and terror."] The word ונרא venere is written imperfectly in the Hebrew text; the Masoretes supply ה he at the end; and so it is read in twenty-two MSS. and four editions; that is, ונראה venireh, and we shall see. But the true reading seems to be ונירא venira, and we shall fear, with י yod supplied, from ירא yara.