Isaiah 46:7

7 They lift it to their shoulders and carry it; they set it up in its place, and there it stands. From that spot it cannot move. Even though someone cries out to it, it cannot answer; it cannot save them from their troubles.

Isaiah 46:7 in Other Translations

7 They bear him upon the shoulder, they carry him, and set him in his place, and he standeth; from his place shall he not remove: yea, one shall cry unto him, yet can he not answer, nor save him out of his trouble.

7 They lift it to their shoulders, they carry it, they set it in its place, and it stands there; it cannot move from its place. If one cries to it, it does not answer or save him from his trouble.

7 They carry it around on their shoulders, and when they set it down, it stays there. It can’t even move! And when someone prays to it, there is no answer. It can’t rescue anyone from trouble.

7 They carry it around in holy parades, then take it home and put it on a shelf. And there it sits, day in and day out, a dependable god, always right where you put it. Say anything you want to it, it never talks back. Of course, it never does anything either!

7 They lift it to their shoulder and bear it along; they set it in its place, and there it stands; it does not budge from its place. They cry out to it but it doesn't answer; it saves no one from his trouble.

Isaiah 46:7 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 46:7

They bear him upon the shoulder, they carry him
That is, the idol; men carry him upon their shoulders in procession, and expose him to the view and veneration of the people, just as the host is carried in procession by the Papists; or the idol being made, the workman or his men lift it up, for it cannot lift up itself, and take it upon their shoulders, and carry it home to the proprietor: and set him in his place;
in his house, if an household god: or in the temple, church, or place of public worship, if designed for that: or cause him to rest under him
^F16, or "in his place"; under the roof of his house or temple; a jeer upon him, as if he was weary of his long journey, though carried. Here again the idols are distinguished from the true God, and he from them; they are on men's shoulders, and set in a certain place, but he carries all his people, and is not limited to, or included in any place: and he standeth, and from his place he shall not remove;
the idol being set in his place stands fast, being nailed; he stands upright as a palm tree, and can never stir from the place where he is, to help any of his worshippers, in whatsoever distress they may be; nor can he get out of the way of any danger to which he may be exposed; if the temple or house, in which he is, is on fire, or overflowed with water, or broke into by thieves, he cannot move out of his place, and escape the danger; a fine deity to be worshipped indeed! see ( Isaiah 44:13 ) ( Jeremiah 10:4 Jeremiah 10:5 ) . Yea, one shall cry unto him, yet can he not answer;
as Baal's priests and worshippers cried to him, but no voice was heard, nor answer returned, ( 1 Kings 18:26 1 Kings 18:29 ) for though they have ears, they hear not, and mouths, yet they speak not, ( Psalms 115:5 Psalms 115:6 ) nor save him out of his trouble;
that is, the idol cannot save the idolatrous worshipper out of his distress, which has caused him to cry unto him; see ( Isaiah 45:20 ) .

---

FOOTNOTES:

F16 (wytxt whxyny) "et quiescere eum faciunt suo loco", Musculus.

Isaiah 46:7 In-Context

5 “With whom will you compare me or count me equal? To whom will you liken me that we may be compared?

6 Some pour out gold from their bags and weigh out silver on the scales; they hire a goldsmith to make it into a god, and they bow down and worship it.

7 They lift it to their shoulders and carry it; they set it up in its place, and there it stands. From that spot it cannot move. Even though someone cries out to it, it cannot answer; it cannot save them from their troubles.

8 “Remember this, keep it in mind, take it to heart, you rebels.

9 Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me.

Cross References

• 1. S ver 1
• 2. S 1 Samuel 5:3; S Isaiah 41:7
• 3. S 1 Kings 18:26
• 4. S Isaiah 44:17; S Isaiah 47:13; Isaiah 45:20