Isaiah 41:21-29

21 Make ye nigh your doom (Make ye your arguments now/State ye your case), saith the Lord; bring ye (it in), if in hap ye have anything, saith the King of Jacob.

22 Nigh, and tell to us, whatever things shall come (Come near, or come close, and tell us, what shall come); tell ye the former things that were, and we shall set (them in) our heart, and shall know (them); show ye to us the last things of them, and those things that shall come.

23 Tell ye what things shall come in time to coming, and we shall know, that ye be gods; also do ye well, either evil, if ye may (and also do ye good, or evil, if ye can, to make us afraid, and in awe); and speak we, and see we (it) together.

24 Lo! ye be of nought, and your work is of that that is not; he that choose you, is abomination. (Lo! ye be nothing, and your work is nothing; he who chooseth you, is an abomination.)

25 I (have) raised (up one) from the north, and he shall come from the rising of the sun; he shall call (on) my name. And he shall bring magistrates as clay, and as a potter defouling [the] earth (And he shall trample upon the magistrates like upon the earth, or upon the dirt, yea, like a potter defiling, or treading upon, his clay).

26 Who told (out) from the beginning, (so) that we (can) know, and from the beginning, (so) that we (can) say, Thou art just? none is telling, neither before-saying, neither hearing your words.

27 The first shall say to Zion, Lo! I am present; and I shall give a gospeller to Jerusalem. (The first shall say to Zion, Lo! I am here; and I shall bring a messenger of good news, or of glad tidings, to Jerusalem.)

28 And I saw, and none was of these, that took counsel, and he that was asked, answered (not) a word. (And I saw, and there was no one who gave any advice, and he who was asked, answered not a word.)

29 Lo! all men be unjust, and their works be wind and vain; the simulacra of them be wind, and (a) void thing. (Lo! all people be unrighteous, and their works be but wind, and in vain, or empty and futile; and their idols be but wind, and empty things too.)

Isaiah 41:21-29 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO ISAIAH 41

This chapter contains a summons to the enemies of Christ to come and try the cause between God and them before him; words of comfort to true believers, promising them help, protection, and provision; full conviction of idolaters, and their practices; and is closed with a promise of some great person, and what he will do unto them, and for the people of God. The summons is in Isa 41:1, expressed according to the forms used in courts of judicature. The issue of the controversy is put upon this foot, the raising up a certain person from the east, who it was that did it, which appearing to be the work of the Lord, proves the point contended about, Isa 41:2-4, the obstinate persistence of idolaters in their idolatry, notwithstanding this is observed, Isa 41:5-7, the people of God, under the names of Jacob and Israel, the objects of God's choice and affection, Isa 41:8,9 are encouraged against the fear of men, with promises of help and strength from the Lord, Isa 41:10,13,14 of confusion to their enemies, and victory over them, Isa 41:11,12,15,16, and of spiritual provisions, and great prosperity in their wilderness state, in which they should manifestly see the hand of the Lord, Isa 41:17-20 when the idolatrous nations are challenged to produce their strong reasons for their idolatry, and are put upon proving that their idols can foretell things to come, or do good or evil to men, or own they are nothing but an abomination, Isa 41:21-24,26 and then one is spoken of that should come as a mighty warrior, and tread down the Pagan princes, and a set of Gospel ministers should be sent, bringing good tidings to Zion, to the silencing of idolaters, and the cessation of idolatrous worship, Isa 41:25,27,28.