Isaiah 46:8

8 Keep this in mind and be shamed; let it come back to your memory, you sinners.

Isaiah 46:8 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 46:8

Remember this
Or "these things", as the Syriac version, concerning the matter of which, and the manner in which idols are made; their impotency to move themselves, and their inability to help their votaries, and the difference between them and the true God: and show yourselves men;
and not brutes, as the makers and worshippers of images are, or show themselves as if they were; who unmanly themselves, and act contrary to the natural reason of mankind: or "be ye strong" ^F17; so the Targum and Jarchi; fortify yourselves against all temptations to idolatry, and against all the arguments and persuasions of idolaters; or "burn ye" ^F18 or "be ye inflamed", so Rabenu Hal and Joseph Kimchi; that is, blush and be ashamed at such sottishness and stupidity, as men when they are ashamed look as if their faces were inflamed; so the Vulgate Latin version renders it, "be ye confounded" ^F19; or the sense is, be fervent in spirit, be fired ^F20 with zeal for God and his glory, and with indignation against such gross idolatry: bring it again to mind, O ye transgressors;
of the law of God, in this instance of idolatry; meaning either the Babylonians, or rather the Jews, who had been drawn in by them to idolatrous practices; calling upon them to return to their senses; to use and exercise their reason; to recollect and reconsider things, and observe and repent of the folly and wickedness they had been guilty of.

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FOOTNOTES:

F17 (wvvath) "roborat vos", Pagninus, Tigurine version; so Ben Melech interprets the word.
F18 Ardete, "comburite vos", some in Vatablus.
F19 "Confundamini", V. L. "et erubescite", Calvin.
F20 "Incendimini sive corripimini zelo", Vitringa.

Isaiah 46:8 In-Context

6 As for those who take gold out of a bag, and put silver in the scales, they give payment to a gold-worker, to make it into a god; they go down on their faces and give it worship.

7 They put him on their backs, and take him up, and put him in his fixed place, from which he may not be moved; if a man gives a cry for help to him, he is unable to give an answer, or get him out of his trouble.

8 Keep this in mind and be shamed; let it come back to your memory, you sinners.

9 Let the things which are past come to your memory: for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like me;

10 Making clear from the first what is to come, and from past times the things which have not so far come about; saying, My purpose is fixed, and I will do all my pleasure;