Bible Commentaries
Isaiah 46

Introduction

Overview

Isaiah 46:1, The idols of Babylon could not save themselves; Isaiah 46:3, God saves his people to the end; Isaiah 46:5, Idols are not comparable to God for power, Isaiah 46:12. or present salvation.

Verse 1

Bel: Bel, called Belus by the Greek and Roman writers, is the same as Baal; and Nebo is interpreted by Castell and Norberg of Mercury; the two principal idols of Babylon. When that city was taken by the Persians, these images were carried in triumph. Isaiah 21:9, Isaiah 41:6, Isaiah 41:7, Exodus 12:12, 1 Samuel 5:3, Jeremiah 48:1-25, Jeremiah 50:2, Jeremiah 51:44, Jeremiah 51:47, Jeremiah 51:52

a burden: Isaiah 2:20, Jeremiah 10:5

Reciprocal: Genesis 31:30 - my gods Numbers 32:38 - Nebo Judges 6:31 - if he be Judges 18:17 - the graven 2 Samuel 5:21 - burned them 2 Kings 19:18 - have cast 2 Chronicles 25:15 - which could Job 39:11 - leave Psalms 96:5 - For Psalms 115:4 - Their idols Isaiah 19:1 - the idols Isaiah 30:6 - burden Isaiah 37:19 - And have Isaiah 44:9 - and their Jeremiah 25:12 - that I Jeremiah 43:12 - in the Jeremiah 48:7 - Chemosh Jeremiah 48:13 - ashamed Jeremiah 50:38 - the land Jeremiah 51:18 - in the Ezekiel 23:14 - portrayed Daniel 3:14 - my gods Daniel 4:8 - Belteshazzar Daniel 11:8 - their gods Hosea 10:6 - carried Nahum 1:14 - out Habakkuk 2:18 - profiteth

Verse 2

they could: Isaiah 36:18, Isaiah 36:19, Isaiah 37:12, Isaiah 37:19, Isaiah 44:17, Isaiah 45:20

but: Judges 18:17, Judges 18:18, Judges 18:24, 2 Samuel 5:21, Jeremiah 43:12, Jeremiah 43:13, Jeremiah 48:7

themselves are: Heb. their soul is

Reciprocal: Genesis 31:30 - my gods 1 Samuel 5:3 - Dagon was 2 Kings 19:18 - have cast 2 Chronicles 25:15 - which could Psalms 96:5 - For Psalms 115:4 - Their idols Isaiah 19:1 - the idols Isaiah 21:9 - all Isaiah 30:6 - burden Isaiah 44:9 - and their Jeremiah 2:28 - But where Jeremiah 48:13 - ashamed Jeremiah 51:44 - I will punish Jeremiah 51:47 - I will Daniel 11:8 - their gods Hosea 10:6 - carried Nahum 1:14 - out Habakkuk 2:18 - profiteth

Verse 3

Hearken: Isaiah 44:1, Isaiah 44:21, Isaiah 48:1, Isaiah 48:17, Isaiah 48:18, Isaiah 51:1, Isaiah 51:7, Psalms 81:8-13

the remnant: Isaiah 1:9, Isaiah 10:22, Isaiah 11:11, Isaiah 37:4

borne: Isaiah 44:1, Isaiah 44:2, Isaiah 49:1, Isaiah 49:2, Isaiah 63:9, Exodus 19:4, Deuteronomy 1:31, Deuteronomy 32:11, Deuteronomy 32:12, Psalms 22:9, Psalms 22:10, Psalms 71:6, Ezekiel 16:6-16

Reciprocal: Exodus 2:8 - Go 1 Samuel 7:12 - Hitherto 1 Samuel 12:2 - I am old Job 3:11 - when I came Psalms 9:10 - hast Psalms 27:9 - thou Psalms 58:3 - as soon Psalms 61:3 - thou Psalms 91:12 - They Psalms 139:13 - covered me Song of Solomon 7:2 - thy belly Isaiah 1:2 - I have Isaiah 29:22 - Jacob shall Isaiah 41:4 - with the Isaiah 44:24 - and he Isaiah 46:12 - Hearken Isaiah 48:12 - Hearken Hosea 11:3 - taught Amos 3:1 - Hear Mark 4:3 - Hearken Luke 1:54 - General Luke 15:5 - he layeth Romans 9:4 - are Israelites 2 Corinthians 1:10 - General

Verse 4

even to your: Isaiah 41:4, Isaiah 43:13, Isaiah 43:25, Psalms 92:14, Psalms 102:26, Psalms 102:27, Malachi 2:16, Malachi 3:6, Romans 11:29, Hebrews 1:12, Hebrews 13:8, James 1:17

even to hoar: Psalms 48:14, Psalms 71:18

Reciprocal: Genesis 42:38 - bring Exodus 2:8 - Go Deuteronomy 1:31 - bare thee Deuteronomy 32:11 - General Deuteronomy 32:12 - the Lord Deuteronomy 32:39 - even I Joshua 24:17 - General Ruth 4:15 - a nourisher 1 Samuel 7:12 - Hitherto 1 Samuel 12:2 - I am old Psalms 9:10 - hast Psalms 22:10 - cast Psalms 27:9 - thou Psalms 37:40 - the Lord Psalms 61:3 - thou Psalms 71:6 - By thee Psalms 71:9 - Cast Ecclesiastes 12:5 - the almond Isaiah 1:2 - I have Isaiah 27:3 - I the Isaiah 29:22 - Jacob shall Isaiah 44:2 - formed Isaiah 44:24 - and he Isaiah 51:1 - Hearken Isaiah 63:9 - carried Luke 1:54 - General Luke 15:5 - he layeth Philemon 1:9 - Paul

Verse 5

Isaiah 40:18, Isaiah 40:25, Exodus 15:11, Psalms 86:8, Psalms 89:6, Psalms 89:8, Psalms 113:5, Jeremiah 10:6, Jeremiah 10:7, Jeremiah 10:16, Philippians 2:6, Colossians 1:15, Hebrews 1:3

Reciprocal: Exodus 20:4 - General Numbers 12:8 - similitude 2 Kings 22:17 - the works Psalms 77:13 - who Isaiah 37:12 - the gods Isaiah 46:9 - and there is none like Zechariah 10:2 - the idols Acts 17:29 - graven Acts 19:26 - that they Ephesians 4:18 - the understanding Revelation 9:20 - and idols

Verse 6

lavish: Isaiah 40:19, Isaiah 40:20, Isaiah 41:6, Isaiah 41:7, Isaiah 44:12-19, Isaiah 45:20, Exodus 32:2-4, Judges 17:3, Judges 17:4, 1 Kings 12:28, Jeremiah 10:3, Jeremiah 10:4, Jeremiah 10:9, Jeremiah 10:14, Hosea 8:4-6, Habakkuk 2:18-20, Acts 17:29

they fall: Isaiah 2:8, Isaiah 44:17, Daniel 3:5-15

Reciprocal: Exodus 32:3 - General Exodus 32:4 - fashioned Exodus 34:17 - General Numbers 23:14 - built seven Nehemiah 3:8 - the goldsmiths Psalms 115:4 - Their idols Psalms 135:15 - idols Isaiah 2:20 - his idols of silver Isaiah 30:22 - thy graven images of silver Isaiah 44:9 - and their Isaiah 55:2 - spend Jeremiah 2:13 - broken cisterns Jeremiah 2:27 - to a stock Daniel 3:1 - made Daniel 5:4 - of gold Daniel 5:23 - which Hosea 2:8 - which they prepared for Baal Hosea 13:2 - have made Habakkuk 2:19 - it is Luke 4:7 - worship me

Verse 7

they carry him: 1 Samuel 5:3, Jeremiah 10:5, Daniel 3:1

one shall cry: Isaiah 37:38, Isaiah 45:20, Judges 10:12-14, 1 Kings 18:26, 1 Kings 18:40, Jeremiah 2:28, Jonah 1:5, Jonah 1:14-16

Reciprocal: Exodus 34:17 - General Deuteronomy 4:28 - neither see Judges 6:31 - if he be Judges 17:4 - two hundred Judges 18:17 - the graven 1 Samuel 12:21 - cannot profit 1 Chronicles 21:13 - but let me Psalms 115:4 - Their idols Psalms 135:15 - idols Isaiah 40:19 - General Isaiah 40:20 - shall not Isaiah 41:7 - the carpenter Isaiah 41:23 - do good Isaiah 44:9 - and their Isaiah 44:12 - The smith Isaiah 44:18 - have not Jeremiah 2:13 - broken cisterns Jeremiah 3:23 - in vain Jeremiah 10:4 - fasten Jeremiah 10:14 - man Daniel 5:4 - of gold Daniel 5:23 - which Acts 14:15 - from

Verse 8

Remember: Isaiah 44:18-21, Deuteronomy 32:29, Psalms 115:8, Psalms 135:18, Jeremiah 10:8, 1 Corinthians 14:20

bring: Isaiah 47:7, Ezekiel 18:28, Haggai 1:5, Haggai 1:7, Luke 15:17, Ephesians 5:14

Reciprocal: Deuteronomy 30:1 - thou shalt call Psalms 22:27 - All the ends Isaiah 40:21 - General Isaiah 43:10 - that ye Isaiah 44:19 - considereth in his heart Isaiah 44:21 - Remember Jeremiah 3:23 - in vain Jeremiah 10:14 - man Ezekiel 1:10 - the face of a man Hosea 13:2 - according Micah 7:18 - a God

Verse 9

the former: Isaiah 42:9, Isaiah 65:17, Deuteronomy 32:7, Nehemiah 9:7-37, Psalms 78:1-72, Psalms 105:1 - Psalms 106:48, Psalms 111:4, Jeremiah 23:7, Jeremiah 23:8, Daniel 9:6-15

I am God: Isaiah 45:5, Isaiah 45:6, Isaiah 45:14, Isaiah 45:18, Isaiah 45:21, Isaiah 45:22

and there is none like: Isaiah 46:5, Deuteronomy 33:26

Reciprocal: Exodus 8:10 - there is none Exodus 20:3 - General Job 10:13 - I know Psalms 22:27 - All the ends Proverbs 29:26 - ruler's favour Isaiah 27:3 - I the Isaiah 40:18 - General Isaiah 41:23 - that we may know Isaiah 43:10 - that ye Isaiah 43:12 - my witnesses Isaiah 43:18 - General Isaiah 44:7 - who Isaiah 44:8 - Is there Isaiah 44:21 - Remember Isaiah 47:7 - so that Isaiah 48:3 - declared Jeremiah 10:6 - there Jeremiah 32:17 - there Micah 7:18 - a God Mark 12:32 - for John 8:58 - I am Acts 15:18 - General James 2:19 - General

Verse 10

the end: Isaiah 41:22, Isaiah 41:23, Isaiah 44:7, Isaiah 45:21, Genesis 3:15, Genesis 12:2, Genesis 12:3, Genesis 49:10, Genesis 49:22-26, Numbers 24:17-24, Deuteronomy 4:24-31, Deuteronomy 28:15-68, Acts 15:18

My counsel: Isaiah 46:11, Isaiah 43:13, Psalms 33:11, Psalms 135:6, Proverbs 19:21, Proverbs 21:30, Daniel 4:35, Acts 3:23, Acts 4:27, Acts 4:28, Acts 5:39, Romans 11:33, Romans 11:34, Ephesians 1:9-11, Hebrews 6:17

Reciprocal: Genesis 21:12 - hearken Genesis 41:32 - it is because Numbers 22:38 - have I Numbers 23:27 - peradventure Deuteronomy 31:21 - I know 1 Kings 11:40 - Solomon sought 1 Kings 12:15 - that he might 1 Kings 13:2 - Josiah by name 2 Kings 19:25 - Hast thou not 2 Kings 24:3 - Surely 1 Chronicles 29:12 - power 2 Chronicles 22:7 - was of God 2 Chronicles 25:16 - determined Job 12:13 - counsel Job 23:13 - and what Job 33:13 - giveth not account Job 42:2 - can be withholden from thee Psalms 2:7 - the decree Psalms 115:3 - he hath Proverbs 16:9 - General Ecclesiastes 3:14 - whatsoever Ecclesiastes 5:8 - matter Ecclesiastes 7:13 - who Isaiah 7:7 - General Isaiah 10:12 - when the Lord Isaiah 14:6 - and none Isaiah 14:24 - Surely Isaiah 19:17 - because Isaiah 23:9 - Lord Isaiah 25:1 - thy counsels Isaiah 37:26 - how I Isaiah 40:8 - the word Isaiah 41:4 - calling Isaiah 41:25 - raised Isaiah 42:9 - new things Isaiah 43:9 - who among Isaiah 43:12 - declared Isaiah 48:3 - declared Isaiah 48:5 - even Isaiah 55:11 - it shall accomplish Jeremiah 4:28 - because Jeremiah 25:28 - Ye Jeremiah 29:11 - I know Jeremiah 32:17 - there Jeremiah 32:19 - Great Jeremiah 44:28 - shall know Jeremiah 47:7 - the Lord Jeremiah 49:20 - the counsel Jeremiah 50:25 - this Jeremiah 50:45 - hear Jeremiah 51:29 - every Lamentations 3:37 - saith Ezekiel 9:11 - I have Daniel 4:24 - the decree Daniel 11:36 - for Hosea 5:9 - have Amos 6:11 - the Lord Zechariah 6:1 - and the Matthew 11:26 - for Matthew 24:25 - General Matthew 26:5 - Not Mark 15:26 - the superscription John 7:30 - but Acts 2:23 - being Acts 20:27 - all Acts 23:11 - must Acts 25:12 - unto Caesar shalt Romans 9:11 - that the Romans 9:19 - Why doth 1 Corinthians 12:18 - as it Ephesians 1:11 - according Ephesians 3:11 - General 2 Thessalonians 2:13 - from James 1:17 - no variableness Revelation 17:17 - until

Verse 11

Calling: Isaiah 13:2-4, Isaiah 21:7-9, Isaiah 41:2, Isaiah 41:25, Isaiah 45:1-6, Jeremiah 50:29, Jeremiah 51:20-29

a ravenous bird: Or, "an eagle," a very proper emblem for Cyrus, says Bp. Lowth, as in other respects, so particularly because the ensign of Cyrus was a golden eagle,  קסץףןץע, the very word ayit which the prophet uses here, expressed as near as may be in Greek letters. Ezekiel 39:4

the man: Isaiah 44:28, Isaiah 45:13, Isaiah 48:14, Isaiah 48:15, Ezra 1:2, Psalms 76:10, Acts 4:28

that executeth my counsel: Heb. of my counsel, Psalms 119:24, *marg.

I have spoken: Isaiah 14:24-27, Isaiah 38:15, Numbers 23:19, Job 23:13, Jeremiah 50:45, Acts 5:39, Ephesians 1:11, Ephesians 3:11

Reciprocal: Genesis 41:32 - it is because Numbers 23:27 - peradventure 1 Kings 12:15 - that he might 2 Kings 19:25 - Hast thou not 2 Kings 24:3 - Surely Proverbs 21:30 - General Ecclesiastes 5:8 - matter Ecclesiastes 7:13 - who Isaiah 7:7 - General Isaiah 10:12 - when the Lord Isaiah 14:6 - and none Isaiah 14:27 - the Lord Isaiah 19:17 - because Isaiah 22:25 - for the Isaiah 23:9 - Lord Isaiah 37:26 - how I Isaiah 40:8 - the word Isaiah 46:10 - My counsel Isaiah 54:16 - I have Jeremiah 4:28 - because Jeremiah 25:28 - Ye Jeremiah 29:11 - I know Jeremiah 30:10 - I Jeremiah 30:24 - fierce Jeremiah 32:19 - Great Jeremiah 44:28 - shall know Jeremiah 47:7 - the Lord Jeremiah 49:20 - the counsel Jeremiah 50:25 - this Jeremiah 50:44 - who is a Jeremiah 51:11 - the Lord hath Jeremiah 51:29 - every Ezekiel 9:11 - I have Daniel 4:24 - the decree Daniel 4:35 - and he Amos 6:11 - the Lord Habakkuk 2:7 - they Zechariah 6:1 - and the Matthew 24:25 - General Acts 2:23 - being Acts 20:27 - all Acts 25:12 - unto Caesar shalt Romans 9:11 - that the Romans 9:19 - Why doth Ephesians 1:9 - purposed Revelation 17:17 - until

Verse 12

Hearken: Isaiah 46:3, Isaiah 28:23, Isaiah 45:20, Psalms 49:1, Proverbs 1:22, Proverbs 1:23, Proverbs 8:1-5, Ephesians 5:14, Revelation 3:17, Revelation 3:18

ye stouthearted: Isaiah 48:4, Psalms 76:5, Zechariah 7:11, Zechariah 7:12, Malachi 3:13-15, Acts 7:51

that: Psalms 119:150, Psalms 119:155, Jeremiah 2:5, Ephesians 2:13

Reciprocal: 2 Kings 22:19 - thine heart Isaiah 9:9 - in the pride Isaiah 42:21 - well Mark 4:3 - Hearken

Verse 13

bring: Isaiah 51:5, Isaiah 61:11, Romans 1:17, Romans 3:21-26, Romans 10:3-15

shall not tarry: Psalms 14:7, Psalms 46:1, Psalms 46:5, Habakkuk 2:3, Hebrews 10:37

salvation: Isaiah 12:2, Isaiah 28:16, Isaiah 61:3, Isaiah 62:11, Joel 3:17, 1 Peter 2:6

Israel: Isaiah 43:7, Isaiah 44:23, Isaiah 60:21, Isaiah 61:3, Jeremiah 33:9, Haggai 1:8, John 17:10, Ephesians 1:6, 2 Thessalonians 1:10, 2 Thessalonians 1:12

Reciprocal: 1 Kings 8:1 - out of the city Psalms 22:1 - helping Psalms 24:5 - righteousness Psalms 69:35 - God Psalms 84:7 - in Zion Psalms 85:9 - Surely Psalms 89:16 - righteousness Psalms 98:2 - righteousness Psalms 103:17 - his righteousness Isaiah 4:5 - all the glory Isaiah 10:24 - O my people Isaiah 18:4 - consider in my dwelling place Isaiah 30:19 - dwell Isaiah 42:21 - well Isaiah 45:15 - O God Isaiah 49:6 - that thou mayest Isaiah 51:8 - my righteousness Isaiah 55:6 - while he is near Isaiah 56:1 - for Jeremiah 29:11 - thoughts Jeremiah 30:10 - I Joel 2:32 - for Obadiah 1:17 - upon John 4:22 - for Acts 13:26 - to you 2 Corinthians 3:9 - the ministration of righteousness Philippians 3:9 - the righteousness 2 Peter 3:9 - is not