Isaiah 46:8

8 "Remember this, you sinners; consider what I have done.

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 People open their purses and pour out gold; they weigh out silver on the scales. They hire a goldsmith to make a god; then they bow down and worship it.

7 They lift it to their shoulders and carry it; they put it in place, and there it stands, unable to move from where it is. If any pray to it, it cannot answer or save them from disaster.

8 "Remember this, you sinners; consider what I have done.

9 Remember what happened long ago; acknowledge that I alone am God and that there is no one else like me.

10 From the beginning I predicted the outcome; long ago I foretold what would happen. I said that my plans would never fail, that I would do everything I intended to do.