Isaiah 44:1-10

Israel the Lord's Chosen

1 "But now hear, 1O Jacob my servant, Israel whom I have chosen!
2 Thus says the LORD who made you, 2who formed you from the womb and will help you: 3Fear not, O Jacob my servant, 4Jeshurun whom I have chosen.
3 5For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour my Spirit upon your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants.
4 They shall spring up among the grass 6like willows by flowing streams.
5 7This one will say, 'I am the LORD's,' another will call on the name of Jacob, and another will write on his hand, 'The LORD's,' and name himself by the name of Israel."

Besides Me There Is No God

6 Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel and 8his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts: 9"I am the first and I am the last; besides me there is no god.
7 10Who is like me? Let him proclaim it.[a] Let him declare and set it before me, since I appointed an ancient people. Let them declare what is to come, and what will happen.
8 Fear not, nor be afraid; have I not told you from of old and declared it? 11And you are my witnesses! 12Is there a God besides me? There is no 13Rock; I know not any."

The Folly of Idolatry

9 14All who fashion idols are nothing, and the things they delight in do not profit. Their witnesses neither see nor know, that they may be put to shame.
10 15Who fashions a god or casts an idol that is profitable for nothing?

Isaiah 44:1-10 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO ISAIAH 44

In this chapter the Lord comforts his people with the promise of the effusion of his Spirit, and the blessings of his grace upon them; the consequence of which would be fruitfulness in them, and the conversion of others, who should profess themselves the Lord's people, Isa 44:1-5, he proves his deity in opposition to all false gods from his eternity, omniscience, and foretelling future events, Isa 44:6-8, exposes the stupidity of idol makers and the worshippers of them, Isa 44:9-20, makes gracious promises of the remembrance of his people, the remission of their sins, and their redemption by Christ, Isa 44:21-23, of which redemption from Babylon was a type; and of that assurance is given, from the Lord's creating all things by his power; from his frustrating and infatuating diviners and wise men; from his fulfilling his predictions delivered by his prophets; and from his mentioning by name the instrument of their redemption, Cyrus, Isa 44:24-28, which makes way for a particular prophecy concerning him in the next chapter.

Cross References 15

  • 1. See Isaiah 41:8
  • 2. ver. 24; Isaiah 49:15; [Psalms 71:6; Jeremiah 1:5; Galatians 1:15]
  • 3. See Isaiah 43:5
  • 4. Deuteronomy 32:15
  • 5. Joel 2:28; John 7:38; Acts 2:18; See Isaiah 35:6
  • 6. [Psalms 1:3]
  • 7. [Isaiah 14:1]
  • 8. See Isaiah 43:14
  • 9. Isaiah 48:12; Revelation 1:8; See Isaiah 41:4
  • 10. Isaiah 41:26, 27
  • 11. Isaiah 43:10
  • 12. Isaiah 45:5; Deuteronomy 4:35, 39; Deuteronomy 32:39; 1 Samuel 2:2; Joel 2:27
  • 13. See Isaiah 30:29
  • 14. Isaiah 41:24, 29
  • 15. [Isaiah 40:19, 20; Isaiah 41:6, 7; Isaiah 46:6, 7; Habakkuk 2:18]; See Jeremiah 10:3-5

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Or Who like me can proclaim it?
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.