Isaiah 45:16

16 1All of them are put to shame and confounded; the makers of idols go in confusion together.

Isaiah 45:16 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 45:16

They shall be ashamed, and also confounded, all of them
This refers not to any persons spoken of before; not to Israel or the church, or converts among the Gentiles that came to her; but to those that follow, of whom the same is said in other words: they shall go to confusion together, that are makers of idols;
the Targum is,

``worshippers of images;''
both may be designed: this refers to the first times of the Gospel, and its coming into the Gentile world, and its success there; when the oracles of the Heathens were struck dumb; idols and idol temples were forsaken; and Paganism was abolished in the Roman empire; and when the gods they served could not help them, but they fled to the rocks to hide them from the wrath of God and the Lamb, ( Revelation 6:15-17 ) .

Isaiah 45:16 In-Context

14 Thus says the LORD: "The wealth of Egypt and the merchandise of Cush, and the Sabeans, men of stature, shall come over to you and be yours; they shall follow you; they shall come over in chains and bow down to you. They will plead with you, saying: 'Surely God is in you, and there is no other, no god besides him.'"
15 Truly, you are a God who hides himself, O God of Israel, the Savior.
16 All of them are put to shame and confounded; the makers of idols go in confusion together.
17 But Israel is saved by the LORD with everlasting salvation; you shall not be put to shame or confounded to all eternity.
18 For thus says the LORD, who created the heavens (he is God!), who formed the earth and made it (he established it; he did not create it empty, he formed it to be inhabited!): "I am the LORD, and there is no other.

Cross References 1

  • 1. See Isaiah 42:17
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.