Isaiah 44:17-20

17 But the rest of it he 1makes into a god, his graven image. He falls down before it and worships; he also 2prays to it and says, "Deliver me, for you are my god."
18 They do not 3know, nor do they understand, for He has 4smeared over their eyes so that they cannot see and their hearts so that they cannot comprehend.
19 No one recalls * *, nor is there 5knowledge or understanding to say, "I have burned half of it in the fire and also have baked bread over its coals. I roast meat and eat it. Then I make the rest of it into an 6abomination, I fall down before a block of wood!"
20 He 7feeds on ashes; a 8deceived heart has turned him aside. And he cannot deliver himself, nor say, "9Is there not a lie in my right hand?"

Isaiah 44:17-20 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 9

  • 1. Isaiah 44:15
  • 2. 1 Kings 18:26, 28; Isaiah 45:20
  • 3. Isaiah 1:3; Jeremiah 10:8, 14
  • 4. Psalms 81:12; Isaiah 6:9, 10; Isaiah 29:10
  • 5. Isaiah 5:13; Isaiah 44:18, 19; Isaiah 45:20
  • 6. Deuteronomy 27:15; 1 Kings 11:5, 7; 2 Kings 23:13, 14
  • 7. Psalms 102:9
  • 8. Job 15:31; Hosea 4:12; Romans 1:21, 22; 2 Thessalonians 2:11; 2 Timothy 3:13
  • 9. Isaiah 57:11; Isaiah 59:3, 4, 13; Romans 1:25

Footnotes 5

New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, California.  All rights reserved.