Isaiah 41:26

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.

Isaiah 41:26 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 41:26

Who hath declared from the beginning, that we may know?
&c.] Who of the idols, or of their priests, that have declared things future before they came to pass, or ever predicted such an event as this before mentioned; which, if understood of Cyrus, was an hundred and fifty years before it came to pass; and if of Constantine, near a thousand years: and before time, that we may say, he is righteous?
that is, who hath declared things before the time of the accomplishment of them, and they have come to pass, as they have been declared? by which it may be known that they are gods, or the priests of such that are so, by their having prescience of future events, or the spirit of prophecy; and so it may be said of them, that they are just in their pretensions, and have a rightful claim to deity, or are true prophets; so the Targum,

``that we may say it is true''

yea, there is none that showeth, yea, there is none that declareth;
that shows and declares things to come, or such as the true God shows and declares: yea, there is none that heareth your words;
none of your worshippers that ever heard you speak a word, who, when they have prayed to you, could never have an answer; and therefore you have no just claim to deity; or ever heard any of your prophets say such a thing should come to pass, and it did.

Isaiah 41:26 In-Context

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.)