Isaiah 41:28

28 "But ¹when I look, there is no one, And there is no ²counselor among them Who, if I ask, can ³give an answer.

Isaiah 41:28 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 41:28

For I beheld, and there was no man
Among all the Pagan priests and prophets, that could foretell things to come; or could prove that their idols did or could say anything in favour of them: even amongst them, and there was no counsellor:
none that could be advocates for these idols, and plead their cause; or could give any good advice and counsel to persons that needed it, and who applied to them or their idols for it: that, when I asked of them, could answer a word;
when asked what they had to say on behalf of their gods they worshipped, were dumb and speechless; moreover, all this may be said of the idols themselves, that there was none among them that could foretell a future event, or give any wholesome counsel to their worshippers, or could say anything in their own defence; and therefore, to close the controversy, the following sentence is pronounced.

Isaiah 41:28 In-Context

26 Who has declared this from the beginning, that we might know? Or from former times, that we may say, "He is right!"? Surely there was no one who declared, Surely there was no one who proclaimed, Surely there was no one who heard your words.

27 "Formerly I said to Zion, 'Behold, here they are.' And to Jerusalem, 'I will give a messenger of good news.'

28 "But when I look, there is no one, And there is no counselor among them Who, if I ask, can give an answer.

29 "Behold, all of them are false; Their works are worthless, Their molten images are wind and emptiness.

Cross References

• 1. Isaiah 50:2; Isaiah 59:16; Isaiah 63:5
• 2. Isaiah 40:13, 14
• 3. Isaiah 46:7

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit "out of those"