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Good News Translation

Isaiah 45:20

The Lord says, "Come together, people of the nations, all who survive the fall of the empire; present yourselves for the trial! The people who parade with their idols of wood and pray to gods that cannot save them— those people know nothing at all!

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Carving;   Idolatry;   Isaiah;   Thompson Chain Reference - False;   Idolatry;   Worship, False;   Worship, True and False;   The Topic Concordance - Idolatry;   Knowledge;   Prayer;   Salvation;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Idolatry;   Salvation;  

Dictionaries:

- Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Idol, Idolatry;   Jesus Christ, Name and Titles of;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Idol;   Prayer;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Isaiah;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Election;   Micah, Book of;   Righteousness;   Servant of the Lord;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Gentiles;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Medes;   Persia;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Crafts;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Memra;   Salvation;   Shemoneh 'Esreh;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
“Come, gather together,and approach, you fugitives of the nations.Those who carry their wooden idolsand pray to a god who cannot savehave no knowledge.
Hebrew Names Version
Assemble yourselves and come; draw near together, you who have escaped from the nations: they have no knowledge who carry the wood of their engraved image, and pray to a god that can't save.
King James Version
Assemble yourselves and come; draw near together, ye that are escaped of the nations: they have no knowledge that set up the wood of their graven image, and pray unto a god that cannot save.
English Standard Version
"Assemble yourselves and come; draw near together, you survivors of the nations! They have no knowledge who carry about their wooden idols, and keep on praying to a god that cannot save.
New American Standard Bible
"Gather yourselves and come; Come together, you survivors of the nations! They have no knowledge, Who carry around their wooden idol And pray to a god who cannot save.
New Century Version
"You people who have escaped from other nations, gather together and come before me; come near together. People who carry idols of wood don't know what they are doing. They pray to a god who cannot save them.
Amplified Bible
"Assemble yourselves and come; Come together, you survivors of the nations! They are ignorant, Who carry around their wooden idols [in religious processions or into battle] And keep on praying to a god that cannot save them.
World English Bible
Assemble yourselves and come; draw near together, you who have escaped from the nations: they have no knowledge who carry the wood of their engraved image, and pray to a god that can't save.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Assemble your selues, & come: drawe neere together, ye abiect of the Gentiles: they haue no knowledge, that set vp the wood of their idole, and pray vnto a god, that cannot saue them.
Legacy Standard Bible
"Gather yourselves and come;Draw near together, you who have escaped from the nations;They do not know,Who carry about their graven image of woodAnd pray to a god who cannot save.
Berean Standard Bible
Come, gather together, and draw near, you fugitives of the nations. Ignorant are those who carry idols of wood and pray to a god that cannot save.
Contemporary English Version
to every survivor from every nation: "Gather around me! Learn how senseless it is to worship wooden idols or pray to helpless gods.
Complete Jewish Bible
Assemble, come and gather together, you refugees from the nations! Those carrying their wooden idols are ignorant, they pray to a god that cannot save.
Darby Translation
Gather yourselves and come; draw near together, ye that are escaped of the nations. They have no knowledge that carry the wood of their graven image, and pray unto a god that cannot save.
Easy-to-Read Version
"You people who escaped from other nations, gather together before me. (These people carry statues of false gods. They pray to useless gods, but they don't know what they are doing.
George Lamsa Translation
Assemble yourselves and come; draw near together, you who are delivered of the nations; they have no knowledge who carry a graven image of wood and pray to a god that cannot save.
Lexham English Bible
Assemble and come; draw near together, survivors of the nations! They do not know, those who carry their wooden idols and pray to a god who cannot save.
Literal Translation
Gather yourselves and come; draw near together, escaped ones of the nations; the ones who set up the wood of their carved image, and the ones who pray to a god who cannot save; they know nothing.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Let the be gathered & come together, let the drawe nye hyther, yt are escaped of the people: Haue they eny vnderstondinge, that set vp the stockes of their Idols, and praye vnto a god, that ca not helpe the?
American Standard Version
Assemble yourselves and come; draw near together, ye that are escaped of the nations: they have no knowledge that carry the wood of their graven image, and pray unto a god that cannot save.
Bible in Basic English
Come together, even come near, you nations who are still living: they have no knowledge who take up their image of wood, and make prayer to a god in whom is no salvation.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
Assemble yourselves and come, draw near together, ye that are escaped of the nations; they have no knowledge that carry the wood of their graven image, and pray unto a god that cannot save.
King James Version (1611)
Assemble your selues and come: draw neere together ye that are escaped of the nations: they haue no knowledge that set vp the wood of their grauen image, and pray vnto a god that cannot saue.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Gather you and come together, drawe nigh hither you that escaped of the people: they haue no vnderstanding that set vp the stockes of their idols, and pray vnto a god that can not helpe them.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
Assemble yourselves and come; take counsel together, ye that escape of the nations: they that set up wood, even their graven image, have no knowledge, nor they who pray to gods that do not save.
English Revised Version
Assemble yourselves and come; draw near together, ye that are escaped of the nations: they have no knowledge that carry the wood of their graven image, and pray unto a god that cannot save.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Be ye gaderid, and come ye, and neiye ye togidere, that ben sauyd of hethene men; thei that reisen a signe of her grauyng, knewen not, and thei preien a god that saueth not.
Update Bible Version
Assemble yourselves and come; draw near together, you that have escaped of the nations: they have no knowledge that carry the wood of their graven image, and pray to a god that can't save.
Webster's Bible Translation
Assemble yourselves and come; draw near together, ye [that have] escaped of the nations: they have no knowledge that set up the wood of their graven image, and pray to a god [that] cannot save.
New English Translation
Gather together and come! Approach together, you refugees from the nations! Those who carry wooden idols know nothing, those who pray to a god that cannot deliver.
New King James Version
"Assemble yourselves and come; Draw near together, You who have escaped from the nations. They have no knowledge, Who carry the wood of their carved image, And pray to a god that cannot save.
New Living Translation
"Gather together and come, you fugitives from surrounding nations. What fools they are who carry around their wooden idols and pray to gods that cannot save!
New Life Bible
"Gather together and come. Come near together, you who are left of the nations. They have no learning, who carry around their false god made of wood and pray to a god who cannot save.
New Revised Standard
Assemble yourselves and come together, draw near, you survivors of the nations! They have no knowledge— those who carry about their wooden idols, and keep on praying to a god that cannot save.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Assemble yourselves and come Draw near together, ye escaped of the nations, - They know not Who carry the wood of their carved image, And pray unto a GOD who cannot save.
Douay-Rheims Bible
Assemble yourselves, and come, and draw near together, ye that are saved of the Gentiles: they have no knowledge that set up the wood of their graven work, and pray to a god that cannot save.
Revised Standard Version
"Assemble yourselves and come, draw near together, you survivors of the nations! They have no knowledge who carry about their wooden idols, and keep on praying to a god that cannot save.
Young's Literal Translation
Be gathered, and come in, Come nigh together, ye escaped of the nations, They have not known, Who are lifting up the wood of their graven image, And praying unto a god [that] saveth not.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
"Gather yourselves and come; Draw near together, you fugitives of the nations; They have no knowledge, Who carry about their wooden idol And pray to a god who cannot save.

Contextual Overview

20 The Lord says, "Come together, people of the nations, all who survive the fall of the empire; present yourselves for the trial! The people who parade with their idols of wood and pray to gods that cannot save them— those people know nothing at all! 21 Come and present your case in court; let the defendants consult one another. Who predicted long ago what would happen? Was it not I, the Lord , the God who saves his people? There is no other god. 22 "Turn to me now and be saved, people all over the world! I am the only God there is. 23 My promise is true, and it will not be changed. I solemnly promise by all that I am: Everyone will come and kneel before me and vow to be loyal to me. 24 "They will say that only through me are victory and strength to be found; but all who hate me will suffer disgrace. 25 I, the Lord , will rescue all the descendants of Jacob, and they will give me praise.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

yourselves: Isaiah 41:5, Isaiah 41:6, Isaiah 41:21, Isaiah 43:9

escaped: Isaiah 4:2, Jeremiah 25:15-29, Jeremiah 50:28, Jeremiah 51:6-9, Ephesians 2:12, Ephesians 2:16, Revelation 18:3-18

they: Isaiah 42:17, Isaiah 42:18, Isaiah 44:17-20, Isaiah 46:7, Isaiah 48:7, 1 Kings 18:26-29, Psalms 115:8, Jeremiah 2:27, Jeremiah 2:28, Jeremiah 10:8, Jeremiah 10:14, Jeremiah 51:17, Jeremiah 51:18, Habakkuk 2:18-20, Romans 1:21-23

Reciprocal: Deuteronomy 4:28 - neither see 1 Samuel 12:21 - cannot profit Psalms 14:4 - Have Isaiah 44:9 - their own Isaiah 44:15 - he maketh a god Isaiah 44:18 - have not Isaiah 45:16 - General Isaiah 46:2 - they could Isaiah 46:6 - lavish Isaiah 46:12 - Hearken Isaiah 48:14 - assemble Isaiah 57:3 - draw Jeremiah 3:23 - in vain Jeremiah 10:3 - one Jeremiah 10:5 - do evil Jeremiah 11:12 - go Jeremiah 48:13 - ashamed Hosea 4:6 - for Hosea 8:5 - calf Hosea 13:2 - according Jonah 1:5 - cried Zechariah 9:1 - when Acts 14:15 - from Acts 28:11 - whose

Cross-References

Genesis 20:15
He said to Abraham, "Here is my whole land; live anywhere you like."
Genesis 45:3
Joseph said to his brothers, "I am Joseph. Is my father still alive?" But when his brothers heard this, they were so terrified that they could not answer.
Genesis 45:4
Then Joseph said to them, "Please come closer." They did, and he said, "I am your brother Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt.
Genesis 45:18
Let them get their father and their families and come back here. I will give them the best land in Egypt, and they will have more than enough to live on.
Exodus 22:7
"If anyone agrees to keep someone else's money or other valuables for him and they are stolen from his house, the thief, if found, shall repay double.
Deuteronomy 7:16
Destroy every nation that the Lord your God places in your power, and do not show them any mercy. Do not worship their gods, for that would be fatal.
Deuteronomy 19:13
No mercy will be shown to you. Israel must rid itself of murderers, so that all will go well.
Deuteronomy 19:21
In such cases show no mercy; the punishment is to be a life for a life, an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, a hand for a hand, and a foot for a foot.
Joshua 7:11
Israel has sinned! They have broken the agreement with me that I ordered them to keep. They have taken some of the things condemned to destruction. They stole them, lied about it, and put them with their own things.
1 Samuel 10:22
they asked the Lord , "Is there still someone else?" The Lord answered, "Saul is over there, hiding behind the supplies."

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Assemble yourselves, and come; draw near together, ye that are escaped of the nations,.... Not that escaped the sword of Cyrus's army, the Chaldeans; nor the Jews that escaped out of Babylon and other countries, by his means; but the remnant, according to the election of grace among the Gentiles; such who were called out of Heathenish darkness into the marvellous light of the Gospel, and escaped the idolatries that others continued in; these are called and summoned together, as to observe the grace of God to themselves, so to labour to convince others of their gross ignorance and stupidity in worshipping idols, and to judge and pass sentence on the obstinate among them:

they have no knowledge that set up the wood of their graven image; or that "lift up" or "carry the wood of their graven image" d; the inside of whose graven image is wood, though covered with some metal which is graved; and for a man to carry such an image on his shoulders, either in procession or in order to fix it in some proper place for adoration, argues great ignorance and stupidity; such persons can have no knowledge of deity, that can believe that a log of wood, covered with gold or silver, graved by art and man's device, and which they are obliged to carry upon their shoulders, can be a god, or a fit object of worship:

and pray to a god that cannot save; itself, nor them; cannot hear their prayers, nor return an answer to them; cannot help and assist them in distress, nor deliver them out of their troubles; and therefore it must be the height of madness and folly to pray unto it.

d הנושאים את עץ פסלם οι αιροντες το ξυλον γλυμμα αυτων, Sept. "qui efferunt", Pagninus; "extollentes", Montanus; "qui gestant", Piscator; "gestantes lignum sculptilis sui", Junius Tremellius "qui portant", Cocceius, Vitringa.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Assemble yourselves, and come - This, like the passage in Isaiah 41:1 ff, is a solemn appeal to the worshippers of idols, to come and produce the evidences of their being endowed with omniscience, and with almighty power, and of their having claims to the homage of their worshippers.

Ye that are escaped of the nations - This phrase has been very variously interpreted. Kimchi supposes that it means those who were distinguished among the nations, their chiefs, and rulers; Aben Ezra, that the Babylonians are meant especially; Vitringa, that the phrase denotes proselytes, as those who have escaped from the idolatry of the pagan, and have embraced the true religion; Grotius, that it denotes those who survived the slaughter which Cyrus inflicted on the nations. Rosenmuller coincides in opinion with Vitringa. The word used here (פליט pâlı̂yṭ) denotes properly one who has escaped by flight from battle, danger, or slaughter Genesis 14:13; Joshua 8:32. It is not used anywhere in the sense of a proselyte; and the idea here is, I think, that those who escaped from the slaughter which Gyrus would bring on the nations, were invited to come and declare what benefit they had derived from trusting in idol-gods. In Isaiah 45:16, God had said they should all be ashamed and confounded who thus put their trust in idols; and he here calls on them as living witnesses that it was so. Those who had put their confidence in idols, and who had seen Cyrus carry his arms over nations notwithstanding their vain confidence, could now testify that no reliance was to be placed on them, and could be adduced as witnesses to show the importance of putting their trust in Yahweh.

That set up the wood - The word ‘wood’ is used here to show the folly of worshipping an image thus made, and to show how utterly unable it was to save.


 
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